WWE Universal Championship Cena vs Rhodes
- Apr 19, 2025, Nevada, USA
Who hasn’t heard of WrestleMania?
WrestleMania 41 is scheduled for April 19 and 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, USA, and it can be streamed online and is available to watch on multiple networks around the world.
This is the main annual event of the WWE, with championship matches from the Women’s Championship match to the Heavyweight Championship. Another match that excited fans can’t wait for is the Universal Championship match between soon-to-be WWE Hall Of Famer John Cena and Cody Rhodes.
This match could cement Cena in the WWE Hall of Fame or could tip the scales in the favor of relative newcomer Rhodes. Everything you need to know about the Universal Championship, its history, the wrestlers, and the odds is right here, so read on.
1xBet odds show that there is an 85.47% chance that John Cena will win the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 41::: Discover the current Odds now HERE.
WWE Universal Championship: What is it?
The WWE Universal Championship is a professional wrestling championship within the WWE, and since 2022, it has been defended on the SmackDown brand division as the Undisputed WWE Championship.
It is one of three world titles in the WWE, and, at the time of writing, the current holder is Cody Rhodes, who is set to defend the title at WrestleMania 41 against John Cena. The winner will get to hold and wear the Universal Championship Belt, and, ideally, they will get to hold it for 365 days unless there is a match called within the Smackdown brand relating to defending the title.
The match occurring in 2025 between Cena and Rhodes is highly anticipated, especially ahead of the announcement that Cena’s appearance in WrestleMania is part of his retirement tour.
History at the WWE: When Did This Title Start?
The WWE Universal Championship was introduced to the WWE in 2016, and it was aimed at being the top title for the brand RAW, even though the title now belongs to the Smackdown brand. It followed the brand split in 2016 and has been one of the most coveted titles in the WWE, with it often being defended at WrestleMania.
History of Winners: Who Has Won The Universal Championship?
At the time of writing, there have been 15 reigns between nine winners in the WWE, who have usually held the WWE Universal Championship, with the longest reign being over three years.
The first champion was Finn Balor, and then heavyweight Brock Lesnar held the championship for the most reigns, with three wins in a row. Following this, Roman Reigns held the title for two, with the singular longest reign being 1,316 days, whereas Finn Balor held it for 22 hours. Sadly, when he won the title, he could not defend it due to a significant injury, so he had to forfeit it.
The youngest winner of the WWE Universal Championship is Kevin Owens, who won it at 32 years old, and heavyweight Raw legend Goldberg is the oldest winner, holding it at the age of 53, albeit for the second time. To date, this title has only been held by heavyweights within the WWE.
Do I Have To Pay To Watch WrestleMania 2025?
In simple terms, it depends on where you live.
If you are in the UK and intend to watch the event via Virgin-Pay-Per-View, you will likely have to pay an extra fee. Fans in the US can watch the event for free on the Peacock network.
