WWE star Cody Rhodes, others hunt for John Cena in Clash of Clans, recalls why legend was booted from group

John Cena’s in-ring career may have come to a close, but WWE star Cody Rhodes is still dealing with him virtually.

Rhodes, Cena and several other WWE stars are a part of a second innovative crossover with Clash of Clans, the beloved mobile game that the "American Nightmare" has been playing for a decade. In this iteration, Rhodes and the rest of the Clash of Clans community are tasked with finding Cena’s base in the game.

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The "Search for Cena" is officially on and lasts through Sept. 30.

"We've got millions of players on Clash of Clans globally, global chat being back to millions of players," Rhodes told OutKick Dropkick hours before Sunday Night’s Main Event. "And when I was in a clan, that was how I got in Clash of Clans in the first place — John Cena on the road, all of us finding a game that we wanted to play and could bond over, and it was Clash. He had the O’Leary Klan (OLK) and he was a pretty good clan leader. He was until he wasn't -- real, real, real tyrant behavior, I would say, from the record-breaking John Cena.

"And now we have the opportunity to get our receipt back, all of us, the entire Clash community, because we can get out there, find his base, raid it, get a three-star 100 on it. But probably the most pinch-yourself thing for me, and so much fun stuff happens working at WWE, so many fun moments and crossovers and things that we do, partnerships and things of this nature, to be able to open the game and see the Clash app logo with me against a barbarian, and then to get in there and see a new barbarian skin like the ‘Barbarian King’ skin, this is the second one, and now he's got the shades on and the music has been added. That's a trip."

Rhodes previously told OutKick Dropkick that it was Cena who first got him into Clash of Clans. He was a part of the OLK before the group booted Cena. Rhodes and others then started the Nicky Clan, which still runs to this day.

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"The American Nightmare" explained that what Cena was doing was akin to going to an NFL game and everyone is only kicking field goals.

"I want to give him his due because he brings us all into the game. He certainly brings us all in. I think he was gemming a great amount — maybe too much gemming going on that not everyone wanted to do that.

"I think he also was notorious for what we'd call the 99% one-star, which is, man, that is not good. That's like going to an NFL football game and them just doing field goals the whole game and nobody actually scoring a touchdown. You got to get the town hall. The fact that you're getting 99% one-stars is bringing the clan down. Very notorious for it, and I'd say pretty hard on the clan in general, but also a good clan leader because he was giving the good troops. He really was. Wasn't as easy back then, but he was giving the good troops."

Cena said in a press release that his rivalry with Rhodes really began in Clash of Clans.

"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," Cena said. "Ten years later he still needs help. This time he’s asking millions of you to take on my base. That’s fine. As I have always said - if you want some, come get some."

Rhodes said it’s still a bit surreal to be featured in a game he had been playing for so long.

It’s a little bit different than being in a pro wrestling video game, which most fans expect Rhodes to be in because he’s at the pinnacle of the sport.

Rhodes has his own character as the "Barbarian King," which debuted last year.

"I got a couple of great memories from the fact that I get to do this and the ‘Search for Cena,’ and he's the one who brought us into the game and finding his base. But also, to do the commercial for all this with one of the greatest of all time, that being Shawn Michaels as the wise Clash player, Clash brings us as a group together, and for the guys, some of the OG's, some of the luminaries, some of the legends who don't know Clash," he said.

"Undertaker, for example. I remember texting him right away, ‘Hey, Clash of Clans, Supercell, this amazing company,’ and he's all in on it now, and he's on board, and this is his second time as the ‘Grand Warden.’ So, it's been a really good synergy that I don't think you would have ever expected, right? It doesn't seem like something that would happen. And maybe that's why it's so kind of at a loss for words almost over how cool this collaboration is."

Rhodes is not the only WWE star featured in the game.

Hero characters include Alexa Bliss as "Archer Queen," The Undertaker as "Grand Warden," Iyo Sky as "Royal Champion," Jey Uso as "Minion Prince" and Kane as "Dragon Duke."

Clash of Clans has been downloaded more than 2 billion times and is considered one of the best mobile games of all time.