WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Cody Rhodes lays John Cena out in London after intense war of words

Monday's episode of Raw also saw the women's world championship on the line

With less than a month until WrestleMania 41, tensions continued to ramp up between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. For the first time since Cena turned on Rhodes at Elimination Chamber, the two came to blows on Monday's episode of Raw.

For the third consecutive week, Rhodes and Cena came face-to-face. Unlike the previous weeks, this week's episode of Raw saw the two coming to blows and Rhodes standing tall as he held his championship over the fallen body of Cena.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from The O2 in London.

Cody Rhodes lays John Cena out in London

Cody Rhodes and John Cena came face-to-face to start the show. Rhodes pointed out his own flaws, including having "an arm tattoo, but on my neck." Rhodes said that he used to drive to shows with Cena but now sees Cena is struggling with the idea that Superman is dead. Cena responded by saying that fans have said for years that he buries talent, but it is mediocrity that he buries. Cena went on to say that Rhodes doesn't look, act or work like himself but rather an amalgamation of pop culture and other wrestlers he idolizes and is something mediocre wearing something meaningful (the undisputed WWE championship).

Rhodes said that he was chosen by the fans while Cena was chosen by one man sitting in an office who doesn't work there anymore. After more back-and-forth, Cena again closed by saying Rhodes isn't worthy of living up to the standards he left. Rhodes' last shot was saying that in the time he has been in the business, nobody chanted "You can't wrestle." The two stared each other down before Cena tried to land a cheap shot only for Rhodes to catch him, hit Cross Rhodes and end the segment holding his title while Cena was laid out.

This was a great confrontation between champion and challenger. The heel version of Cena has had some valid points, but he was finally put in his place by Rhodes on Monday. While Cena has been drawing on more than two decades of resentment in recent promos, Rhodes tapped into those same things to push Cena to the edge. After weeks of not coming in contact, the first physical blow since Elimination Chamber was struck and Rhodes got the better of the situation. This could be Cena's last appearance before WrestleMania, which would be unfortunate, but at least it would end the pre-WrestleMania hype on a high note. Grade: A-

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• New Day def. New Catch Republic via pinfall after Daybreak on Pete Dunne. After the match, New Day demanded a shot at the world tag team championships, leading War Raiders to come out for a staredown.
• Gunther def. Jimmy Uso via submission with a sleeper hold. Gunther continued the attack after the match until Jey Uso ran in to chase him off. Gunther returned and attacked both Usos, eventually zip-tying Jey to the ropes before making him watch a continued attack on Jimmy, leading to Jimmy pouring blood from his forehead as Gunther choked him out.
• Finn Balor & Dominik Mysterio def. Bron Breakker & Penta via pinfall after Balor hit a Coup de Grace on Penta. Breaker accidentally hit Penta with a spear to set up the finish. Penta confronted Breakker later in the show, calling the intercontinental champion "stupid."
• AJ Styles challenged Logan Paul to a match at WrestleMania before the two brawled. Paul got the better of Styles after hitting a Paulverizer.
• Women's World Championship -- Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley ended in a double disqualification. Ripley accidentally hit special guest referee Bianca Belair first. Sky hit Belair shortly after leading to the double disqualification. The three women brawled after before Ripley hit both Belair and Sky with Riptides. As the crowd chanted "One more time," Ripley hit another Riptide on Belair, this time from the second rope.