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One of the most requested things from John Cena's professional wrestling career has been a brief heel run. The old school fans kept on requesting WWE to turn him heel for years. But Vince McMahon was adamant never to turn him heel. Cena even addressed the man who wanted him on screen, and he said that he did not care about them, but the children who love his babyface gimmick.
But John Cena finally shocked the entire world when he turned heel for the first time in over 21 years during his retirement this year. After winning the Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber event, he surprised everyone by turning heel. Literally nobody expected this turn at this stage of his professional wrestling career.
John Cena discusses his heel turn earlier this year
This had been one of the most talked about heel turns in WWE history, although it did not continue for a long time, as he returned to his babyface persona before SummerSlam. Cena recently talked about his heel turn, and he revealed that he was unaware of the fact that he was turning heel in the way he did. Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on the Insight Podcast, he stated the following;
John Cena turned heel at the Elimination Chamber event
“Who cares? It doesn’t matter. We can talk about what could have been until the cows come home. And I think that’s what’s great about the people who are left standing. Certainly me and Cody. What’s the change? this? All right, let’s go. I don’t dwell for one second on what could have been, because what could have been is Brock doesn’t leave for the NFL and there’s no John Cena.”
He also discussed whether it is being talked about, “I don’t care. First of all, I’m always the last to know. It doesn’t trickle down to me. If you watch Unreal, that process is genuine. ‘I talked to Rock and then the last guy I gotta call is John.’ I’m usually the last guy they call because I’m the easiest. ‘Yeah, let’s do it. No problem. I’m in.’
Overall, his heel turn is considered a failed run
"So I don’t sweat the [small stuff]. ‘Yo, we don’t have those guys anymore.’ Cool, what do you want to do? We would like to do this. We need you to start being more competitive. We want to put you in these matches. We were going to build to this. That’s over. I didn’t even get that. Okay, fine, great. What are we doing now? That’s what’s though.
John Cena may have granted the wish of millions, but it is considered one of the worst angles in WWE history since it has been pretty much clear that WWE did not have any proper plans to execute is much awaited heel run. It is already being considered one of the worst storylines of 2025, and Triple H had to go through a lot of criticism for this angle. But no matter what, the first heel run of Cena in over 21 years will always be talked about.
