You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villian: John Cena’s heel turn explained | Hollywood News

When it comes to the WWE, there are few who have had a greater impact on the company’s reach and legacy than John Cena. Since the day a young and eager Cena stepped into the ring for a singles match against the legendary Kurt Angle, he has impressed the WWE front office with his skill and determination. The wrestler is arguably the greatest ‘face’ character in the modern era of WWE but at the Elimination Chamber 2025, Cena turned his back on Cody Rhodes and joined hands with The Rock, leaving fans in shock and dismay.
Cena has manged to win 16 world championships all while being the good guy, and throughout his illustrious career his opponents made fun of his persona and his motto of hustle, loyalty and respect. Yet, the champ stayed true to his character’s gimmick but something changed at the Elimination Chamber. After winning the Elimination Chamber match to become the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship, Cena ambushed Cody Rhodes—the current champion—as he came out to congratulate his WrestleMania opponent.
Also Read: When John Cena supported Triple-H after entire RAW roster walked out in protest: ‘You’re not my best friend, you are my boss’
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John Cena stood side side The Rock and Travis Scott at the same spot where he once stood alongside Cody Rhodes after he won the WWE championship at the previous Wrestlemania. Rhodes lay on the canvas bleeding from his forehead as his friend looked over him and with an air of pride and hostility. Everyone who ever jeered Cena for being the ‘vanilla, do no wrong, good guy’ finally got what they wanted, and everyone who stood the wrestler even when the ‘Cena Sucks’ chants grew to deafening levels, was let down.
John Cena making his debut against Kurt Angle back in 2002.
One has to understand that this isn’t just a ‘heel’ turn. Almost all wrestlers go though multiple phases in their career, but John Cena had been consent and true to his ideas, and this is his farewell year, just one last appearance at all the stops along the road and he was done. Why do this? Why do this now? As mentioned earlier Cena has been attacked for his gimmick as the good guy almost all his opponents, infact the WWE used his inherent goodness to amplify the evil aura around his opponents. Wrestlers like JBL, Randy Orton, Triple-H, CM-Punk have all faced Cena during their run as a ‘heel’ but none of them have ever been successful in pushing Cena to the other side. Maybe Cena had enough, maybe he had enough of being the good guy and still receiving unnecessary flack from the WWE Universe. For one of the most philanthropic superstars, maybe it was time to look out for himself.
From a business point of view, its better. Cody Rhodes is the current face of the company, in all senses of the word, and two good guys who respect each other, fighting for the gold at the biggest stage just doesn’t sell. Cena’s turn gives the fight the fuel it somewhat lacked. Betrayal and broken promises always make up for promising narratives, for example, Shawn Michaels and Triple-H. The duo was inseparable and fought together through defeat and victory whether it concerned one of them or both. Because their bond was that deeply cemented in the minds of the WWE universe, when the two feuded, it blew everyone’s brain. ‘Heel’ or ‘face’, Cena will be walking into Wrestlemania 41 with an opportunity of a lifetime. No one has ever managed to win 17 world titles in professional wrestling. Even Ric Flair with whom Cena is currently tied with, did not manage to win all his 16 titles in a single company, with 14 of his titles coming from NWA and WCW.
John Cena standing alongside The Rock after betraying Cody Rhodes.
From a pure numbers point of view, John Cena is already on the very top and it is unlikely that anyone will ever able reach that feat again. This is going to be Cena’s last Wrestlemania, his last chance at the big stage. For one final time those trumpets will play on the biggest stage and he will run down that long ramp towards a ring which holds for him either a defeat with no chance of redemption, or a victory which will cement his name as the greatest to ever do it.