John Cena extended his antagonistic character beyond the television broadcast following his segment with Cody Rhodes at SmackDown in Las Vegas. The T-Mobile Arena crowd witnessed additional heel antics after the WWE cameras stopped rolling on Friday night.
Following Rhodes’ execution of the Cross Rhodes that concluded the televised portion of the show, Cena remained in the ring while the broadcast ended. The veteran superstar grabbed a microphone, creating anticipation for potential comments, but deliberately chose to stand in silence. The wordless standoff added to his recent character shift ahead of WrestleMania.
Cena eventually exited the ring accompanied by Travis Scott’s track “FE!N” playing throughout the arena, a move perceived as deliberately provoking the live audience. This off-air interaction came after the final televised confrontation between the two competitors before WWE’s premier event.
During the broadcast portion of SmackDown, Cena attempted to blindside the Undisputed WWE Champion with a surprise attack, but Rhodes successfully countered and gained the upper hand in the exchange. The post-show actions by Cena further established the intensity of their rivalry heading into WrestleMania weekend.
This continued character work from Cena demonstrates the company’s commitment to his new direction as the two prepare to square off at wrestling’s biggest showcase.
