You can’t see him, but he just shook the entertainment world. In one of the most shocking moments in WWE history, John Cena officially turned heel at Elimination Chamber 2025, leaving fans stunned and setting the wrestling world ablaze ahead of WrestleMania 41. Once the ultimate hero and WWE’s golden goose, Cena now finds himself in uncharted territory during his farewell tour. As fans process this seismic shift, they’re left to reflect on his legacy—and anticipate what a villainous John Cena will bring to the ring.
John Cena as WWE’s Ultimate Baby Face:
For those who are unaware, in WWE (and professional wrestling in general), the terms “face” and “heel” refer to the two main character personas that make up the storytelling structure of matches and rivalries. From the moment Cena became “the guy” in WWE in 2005 when he won his first WWE Championship, he was positioned as the company’s baby face. Essentially, Cena was WWE’s Captain America. His persona evolved from the trash-talking “Doctor of Thuganomics” into a squeaky-clean, never-give-up, always-do-the-right-thing superhero. This extended beyond the ring, Cena granted over 650 wishes with the Make-A-Wish Foundation—more than anyone else in history. Kids loved him, WWE’s corporate sponsors adored him, and he moved merch like it was nobody’s business.
However, some older, more hardcore wrestling fans hated this version of “Big Match John,” as they called him. They booed Cena relentlessly, arguing that he was stale, over-pushed and a symbol of WWE’s shift to a more family-friendly product. And yet, despite the boos, WWE never pulled the trigger on turning him heel. Cena himself has admitted that a heel turn was considered. He even had special gear made for it at one point, but WWE ultimately backed out, likely because he was simply too valuable as the ultimate good guy. Turning Cena heel would have risked alienating millions of fans, tanking merchandise sales and possibly shaking up WWE’s entire identity during their PG era.
The closest WWE ever came to giving us a heel Cena was during his feud with The Rock from 2011-2013. There were flashes of arrogance and bitterness, but he never fully went dark. Then, as Cena transitioned into a part-time role and eventually Hollywood stardom, the chance for a true heel turn seemingly disappeared.
Where Cena’s Heroism Turned:
In his brief return stints to WWE over the past decade, Cena shifted from the unbeatable hero to a more self-aware figure in WWE. While still a major star, Cena began losing more frequently, often putting younger wrestlers over to help elevate their careers. This shift, combined with his evolving persona and aging, began to make Cena seem less like the invincible icon he once was and more like a character who was losing touch with his audience. Cena felt more like a parody of his old “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” persona more than the “Super Cena” fans had come to know. His heel turn plays on the narrative, using his aging and past defeats to fuel his transformation into a villain, making it feel both natural and deeply personal. Cena couldn’t physically hang with WWE’s top superstars anymore, so he had to make a deal with the devil to reclaim his glory.
John Cena’s Heel Turn:
Mere moments after securing victory in the men’s “Elimination Chamber” match, and with it, the right to challenge Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. Cena found himself face-to-face with Rhodes in the ring. But this wasn’t just a moment of celebration, it was about something far bigger.
Rhodes wasn’t there just to acknowledge Cena’s win, he was there to deliver a response to the self-proclaimed Final Boss, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who had demanded that Rhodes align himself with him.
As the tension mounted, The Rock appeared on stage, flanked by rapper Travis Scott, pressing Rhodes for his answer. Without hesitation, and with some choice words, Rhodes made it clear that he would never sell his soul. Behind him, Cena appeared to be celebrating, nodding along in support.
Then, in an instant, everything changed.
Cena pulled Rhodes in for a hug, but as they embraced, his expression darkened. His trademark grin faded into something far more menacing. Across the ring, The Rock made a throat-slashing gesture: a silent signal. Cena didn’t hesitate. In a move that sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe, he drove his knee into Rhodes’ groin, delivering a devastating low blow that echoed throughout the arena.
The crowd erupted in stunned disbelief, but Cena wasn’t finished. With an eerie calmness, he grabbed Rhodes’ championship belt and began mercilessly attacking him, brutally cementing his betrayal.
This sets the stage for the rest of his farewell tour in what feels like just the tip of the iceberg for an all-time wrestling storyline to follow. Will Cena dethrone Rhodes, or will his record-breaking 17 championships remain elusive? How long will Cena be in the clutches of the Final Boss? This storyline has been anything but unpredictable, which will make it even more fun to try and look ahead to see where—as fans have coined—the “Break-A-Wish Foundation” will go.
What a Heel John Cena Could Look Like:
Cena could embrace a “Hollywood Cena” persona by blending the megastar charisma of The Rock with the over-the-top bravado of Hulk Hogan’s “Hollywood” heel turn (which would have been considered the most shocking heel turn in pro wrestling history before Cena’s) in the professional wrestling promotion WCW. Ditching the youthful antics of the Doctor of Thuganomics—an act he’s long outgrown—Cena could return to his heel roots with a cocky Hollywood elite gimmick, complete with designer suits and a larger-than-life attitude.
Cena embracing the “Hollywood Cena” persona would be fitting since he’s now working alongside The Rock, who famously reinvented himself with the same moniker during his transition from WWE to movie superstardom. Like Hogan reinventing himself with the wrestling faction nWo (New World Order), Cena could play off his mainstream success. With his signature humor, showmanship and ferocity on the mic, Cena could make his evolution both entertaining and iconic.
Predictions:
Cena’s shocking betrayal at Elimination Chamber wasn’t just about brutality—it was about breaking one of wrestling’s most sacred rules: using an opponent’s championship belt as a weapon. But beyond that, the idea of Cena capturing his 17 world titles as a villain feels unlikely. Instead, the more compelling story seems to be Rhodes overcoming both Cena and The Final Boss, The Rock, possibly with the help of his former rival—the Original Tribal Chief—Roman Reigns, in a “Cobra Kai”-style redemption arc.
This would set the stage for an inevitable showdown between Reigns and The Rock while allowing Cena to spiral further into desperation in his quest for championship glory. A shaken Cena, now fully embracing the dark side, would stop at nothing to reclaim his place at the top until he reaches a breaking point.
One of Cena’s greatest foes, CM Punk, will definitely have a role to play in Cena’s return to the light. Punk prides himself on being the “voice of reason,” and it would be no surprise if he helps Cena get back in touch with reality. The same applies to Randy Orton, who Cena’s faced off against numerous times and is in a similar legendary stratosphere, chasing the same record 17 world championships. Cena replaying some of his greatest hits with these two, the script being flipped with Cena now as the heel feels like a must.
Cena’s breaking point will be a moment of realization, potentially by SummerSlam in August, where Cena finally turns on The Rock, setting up the ultimate final act. The perfect stage for Cena’s final act? A Premium Live Event named after Cena’s first-ever words in WWE—”Ruthless Aggression”—in his hometown. And the opponent? The Rock, one last time, with a world title possibly on the line, stands as the final roadblock in Cena’s path to redemption.
Thrice in a lifetime, their trilogy of matches will conclude with Cena defeating The Rock and raising the championship high. Not as a villain, but as the hero once more. It would be the ultimate lesson in resilience, proving that even the greatest can lose their way, but as Alfred said in Batman Begins, “It’s not about how we fall, it’s about how we learn to pick ourselves back up.”
So, while Cena may have turned his back on the fans for now, don’t count out the return of the hero just yet.
Conclusion:
There are plenty of twists and turns ahead, but one thing is certain—wrestling fans are in for an unforgettable ride. We can’t see him, but Cena’s final time is now.
