In a stunning turn of events, WWE superstar John Cena shocked fans by turning heel for the first time in nearly two decades during the 2025 Elimination Chamber event, aligning himself with the legendary The Rock and ruthlessly betraying Cody Rhodes. This marked a pivotal moment not only in Cena's illustrious career but also in WWE storylines heading into WrestleMania 41, drawing widespread commentary from fellow wrestlers and fans alike.
Immediately following this unexpected heel turn, Cena re-emerged on the March 17, 2025 episode of WWE RAW, held in Bologna, Italy. During the show, Cena delivered his first heel promo, a moment rife with tension as he explained his motives for joining forces with The Rock. "You don’t get anything. You get this. Keep in mind, I don’t dress like you, you dress like me," Cena fiercely declared, setting a new, darker tone for his character.
While many fans relished this new narrative direction, others, including seasoned wrestler Matt Hardy, had mixed feelings about Cena's debut heel promo. On his podcast, The Extreme Life Of Matt Hardy, he praised Cena's delivery and unwavering commitment to his new role. However, he noted a significant gap: the promo lacked depth in addressing why Cena allied himself with The Rock. "Probably the only thing I would be critical of is just maybe if they would have kind of delved into why he chose to side with Rock like that," Hardy remarked, emphasizing a desire for more exposition of Cena's character transformation.
The reactions to Cena's promo spoke volumes, with some expressing concern over the absence of The Rock's name in Cena's taunts. This prompted an outcry online, as fans wondered about the motivations for Cena's perceived betrayal of the WWE Universe. However, one noteworthy opinion came from WWE Hall of Famer The Great Khali, who had a longstanding history of rivalry with Cena dating back to their feuds in 2007. On the Rewind Recap Relive show, Khali endorsed Cena's heel turn, labeling it "awesome" and suggesting it breathed new life into Cena's character. "I think it was the first time he turned heel? That was great. I think this works, man; this works," said Khali, voicing his approval of the direction WWE is taking with one of its most iconic figures.
Cena's heel turn has not only changed his character arc along with his feud with Cody Rhodes but also the dynamics leading into WrestleMania 41. With every promo and match leading up to the event, Cena's new persona has generated a mix of anticipation and speculation from fans eagerly awaiting how this transformation will unfold in the ring.
Adding to the intrigue, Cena previously hinted at a new theme song to accompany his revamped character through cryptic posts on social media. Recently, he shared a nostalgic throwback to his rap album, You Can’t See Me, which had previously peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200. Speculation has arisen that we might hear a new rendition of one of his classic tracks, providing a fitting soundtrack for his heel phase. "I would love to see it happen, and I'm hoping he took a page out of the book of his classic feuds with The Rock," commented one wrestling analyst on Cena’s musical evolution.
As Cena prepares for his next appearance on WWE RAW in Scotland on March 24, 2025, the wrestling community remains abuzz with discussions about what will happen next. Fans are eager to see him embrace a more villainous role, with hopes that The Rock's influence will contribute to this shift. Following his Scottish appearance, Cena is also slated to compete again in London on March 31, 2025, as part of his farewell tour.
In summary, John Cena's turn to the dark side has created ripples of excitement and curiosity across the wrestling world. His evolution as a character reflects the ever-changing nature of professional wrestling storytelling, inviting audiences to engage with WWE in new and unexpected ways. As Cena embarks on this journey, his performances are certain to shape the landscape heading into WrestleMania 41.
