As the second night of WrestleMania 41 was coming to an end on Sunday night in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, WWE Superstar, Cody Rhodes, finally got a chance to give Travis Scott some payback for the flagrant pounding the rapper had gave him last month.
However, in a surprise development, it was Scott standing triumphant in the ring after the bell rang, as he helped John Cena beat Rhodes in the Main Event of WrestleMania, making Cena an historic 17-time World Champion.
This unusual turn of events requires a play-by-play of its own. As the match reached its closing moments, Scott’s official Mania theme song — his hit “Fein” — played throughout the arena. Fans booed as a smiling Cena helped Scott onto the ring apron. Scott was then chased back to the floor by Rhodes. But when Rhodes began his finishing maneuver on Cena, Scott pulled the ref — by the legs — out of the ring to the floor.
Rhodes then challenged Travis Scott to get in the ring — noting that both the rapper, Cena and the Rock had been the ones who’d ganged up on him last month during the WWE PLE Elimination Chamber.
When Scott obliged, Rhodes hit him with his trademark “Cross Rhodes” finisher and drove the rapper’s head to the mat, incapacitating him temporarily. However, the distraction allowed Cena to grab the WWE Undisputed Championship belt and hit Rhodes over the head with it — which clinched his victory. Scott and Cena brashly celebrated, holding up both of their belts in the ring.
Some fans and observers cheered; others not so much.
“This guy’s the biggest musician in the world. He’s out getting out there, getting hit with the ‘Cross Rhodes,’ doing all this stuff where if he gets injured, I’m sure that’s not helpful to his music career,” said WWE Chief Creative Officer Triple H at a post Mania press conference. “To me, working with someone like Travis Scott, who has every reason in the world to walk in with an ego — for him to come in here and put all that aside and be a little kid living a dream … He walked back there after he was finished and said ‘dude, this is my full-time job now.’ He loves it, and to me that’s what this is all about, right? If he’s out there having fun and you feel it.”
Triple H also was asked if an actual match or matches — rather than his recent guest appearances — were in Scott’s future. He responded enthusiastically.
“He is the most respectful guy, and he is like a kid in a candy store with all this stuff,” Triple H replied. “So when people are like that, that makes me wanna work hard for them and help them see that dream come true. Could we see him step in the ring? Just gotta tune in.”
“You never know [how Scott might do in the ring],” former WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron BreaKKer told Variety. “There’s been a lot of celebrities that have come into our world and done what we do or given it a try at some point. We would welcome him with open arms if he wants to step into the ring and give this a shot. I’m sure that’s something we would be open to seeing.”
“If he trains properly and takes it seriously, he can do it,” said Damien Priest at Mania After Dark on Sunday, who teamed up with and fought Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny in the ring in a five-star match, adding that Scott’s skills.
“He ain’t no Bad Bunny, dawg,” Priest told Variety. “The way he worked to perform the way he did in WWE, I don’t see no other celebrity doing that.”
Scott was hardly the only notable musician at WrestleMania 41. Guitarist Kerry King of Slayer played Priest’s theme song as he came to the ring, while Living Colour performed during CM Punk’s entrance. Quavo, Rick Rubin, Flavor Flav, Metro Boomin, Rich The Kid and Nascar kingpin Kyle Larson were among those attending.
