In a fun crossover that blends professional wrestling with mobile gaming, WWE superstar Cody Rhodes announced a new Clash of Clans event that tasks players with locating and raiding former champion John Cena’s virtual base. The “Search for Cena” challenge, which runs until September 30, is being promoted by Rhodes on the OutKick Dropkick podcast ahead of WWE’s Sunday Night Main Event.
Wrestlers bring their fan base to the game
Rhodes explained that the partnership grew out of his own long‑time love of Clash of Clans, a game he has played for more than a decade. He recalled how Cena first introduced him to the game and how the two once shared a clan called the O’Leary Klan (OLK). After a split that saw Cena removed from the clan, Rhodes and other wrestlers formed a new group, the Nicky Clan, which remains active.
“We’ve got millions of players on Clash of Clans globally,” Rhodes said. “When I was in a clan, that’s how I got into the game – John Cena on the road, all of us finding a game we could bond over, and it was Clash.” He added that the event gives fans a chance to “get our receipt back” by finding Cena’s base, earning a three‑star 100‑point raid.
In‑game rewards and wrestler avatars
Participants can unlock special content, including a new “Barbarian King” skin featuring Rhodes himself. The game also showcases other WWE talent: Alexa Bliss appears as the Archer Queen, The Undertaker as the Grand Warden, Iyo Sky as the Royal Champion, Jey Uso as the Minion Prince, and Kane as the Dragon Duke. The collaboration highlights how the entertainment and gaming worlds can intersect to create shared experiences for fans.
John Cena’s perspective
In a press release, Cena noted that his rivalry with Rhodes actually began in Clash of Clans, not in the wrestling ring. “People think this started in the ring with Cody. It didn’t. It started when I out‑raided him in the game and he threw me off his team,” he said. Cena encouraged players to join the hunt, adding, “If you want some, come get some.”
Why the event matters to fans
Beyond the novelty, the challenge underscores the growing trend of athletes and entertainers leveraging popular digital platforms to engage their audiences. For families and younger fans, the event offers a wholesome, community‑building activity that aligns with the values of teamwork and friendly competition.
Clash of Clans, downloaded more than two billion times, remains one of the most successful mobile games worldwide. By partnering with high‑profile WWE personalities, the game reinforces its cultural relevance while giving wrestlers a new avenue to connect with supporters outside the arena.
What’s next?
Rhodes said the collaboration is just the beginning of a series of cross‑promotional efforts between WWE and gaming companies. He praised the synergy, noting that the partnership feels “like something you would never have expected,” and expressed excitement for future joint ventures that bring together fans of both wrestling and mobile gaming.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
