John Cena Wins Record 17th WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 41 Wearing the APL TechLoom Pro
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Wrestlemania, "The Showcase of the Immortals," has been a staple in the WWE universe since 1985. Forty years later, Wrestlemania 41 was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, over two nights on April 19 and 20, culminating in one of the most historic moments in professional wrestling history. John Cena, one of the most popular and beloved wrestlers of all time, walked out of Wrestlemania 41 as WWE champion for a record-setting 17th time.
For decades, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair held the record for the most heavyweight championships held with 16, solidifying him as GOAT status. This is a record many people never thought would be broken. That all changed when Cena began his farewell tour to kick off 2025 with his eyes on the prize.
Cena, whose professional career started in June 2002 with his "Ruthless Aggression" promo, would have a long, illustrious career spanning over 20+ years. At the 2017 Royal Rumble, he would tie Flair by winning his 16th championship against AJ Styles. Unfortunately, that title reign was short-lived, as Bray Wyatt (RIP) would de-throne him two weeks later at Elimination Chamber. Since then, Cena has become more of a part-time fixture, taking a back seat to his wrestling career to pursue Hollywood.
John would pop in occasionally, but the Cena of old seemed to be in the past as he amassed an impressive losing streak that lasted 2,446 days in singles competition. This ended at the 2025 Elimination Chamber when he outlasted five other WWE superstars, including CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre, to earn a title shot at WM 41. With his eyes set on the prize, Cena became a man on a mission to win his 17th championship.
Then, the unthinkable happened. After winning the chamber match and securing his spot against Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania 41 for the Undisputed WWE Championship, Cena turned heel for the first time in his career, aligning with The Rock, attacking Rhodes, and leaving him bloody as he turned his back on the Cenation. Despite a change in character, John Cena kept his wardrobe the same, continuing to sport a cap, signature t-shirt, jorts, and sneakers, specifically the APL TechLoom Pro.
From baby face to heel, Cena ditched his colorful attire and went with black for his highly anticipated Wrestlemania match. While wearing white-based sneakers at the Elimination Chamber, Cena opted for an all-black pair of the APL TechLoom Pro that fits better with his heel persona. While the match was controversial, to say the least, in the eyes of fans, John Cena would best his adversary, Cody Rhodes, and de-throne him en route to his record-setting 17th WWE heavyweight championship.
Once again, the king of the mountain, John Cena, plans to keep the Undisputed WWE Championship for the rest of the year, retiring and going home as the last champion. Will Cena be able to do this, or will he be de-throned before all is said and done in his wrestling story? Only time will tell; don't expect a conclusion for another eight months.
You know WWE is planning to stretch out Cena's last hurrah for as long as possible. In the meantime, if you’re interested in rocking the same shoes as John Cena at Wrestlemania, we’ve added a link to purchase the APL TechLoom Pro in all-Black below. While we can all "see him" for now, his time is coming to an end sooner rather than later, so if you're a fan, enjoy this final run as it lasts.
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APL TechLoom Pro Black
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Steve Jaconetta is the Head of Content based out of Connecticut. An encyclopedia for sneaker releases, he's covered the industry for over fifteen years. His stops have included Sole Collector, Complex, and StockX, to name a few. He considers the Air Jordan 11 Concord the greatest sneaker of all time and has a strong affection for 80s pop culture. Email: steve@soleretriever.com
