John Cena Opens Up On His 'Failed' Heel Run In 2025

After two decades as WWE's beloved hero, Cena turned heel at Elimination Chamber 2025, stunning fans worldwide.

[{"selector":"#anim-70f61617-fe29-4338-813b-9b4faac6a9f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.38817%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a306ebff-4773-4c32-9b6c-6b760de71ffe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f6e44d1-6582-4180-97ed-8a12e582debe","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Instead of resounding boos or cheers, Cena's villainous promo met a mixed, cold reaction amid years of anticipation.

[{"selector":"#anim-95e5c6e5-8837-4e44-8130-b3fc35b2f687","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.38817%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b8ed7f1-13c3-4695-b747-e635c7e512f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8d6237b-dd5e-4eb0-8594-a15ee2b1cd4f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Cena admitted at Fan Expo Chicago that his heel promo "bombed," viewing it as another lesson in his long wrestling career.

[{"selector":"#anim-a09cba27-b1ee-4b9c-8c51-54e7dc897b11","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-75.93168%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91c860f3-3e46-4e45-9bf1-f85caa21dea5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7eeed068-97f4-4435-9a21-430aa9ee4491","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Backstage, Triple H orchestrated the turn to freshen up storylines, while Cena himself wanted a creative challenge before retirement.

[{"selector":"#anim-49b488de-d7dc-429a-b50b-301a74406646","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.74836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-621f2aff-48e1-4540-9c5c-cacf17337f8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f2ce875-5676-4f15-a2f5-4a65d2b7490a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Cena’s heel arc included a shocking attack on champion Cody Rhodes, setting the stage for a dramatic WrestleMania rivalry.

[{"selector":"#anim-8b8ea2eb-4d1b-449c-9d88-d3571b8fcc83","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.74836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e8187bc-588a-4502-a4b2-60a401ab2be8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fa31bdb-c74e-41f5-a26e-0a2ec24ddf8f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

On Raw, Cena vowed to "ruin wrestling for every fan" and aimed to break Ric Flair’s record for world titles.

[{"selector":"#anim-d06462a0-7ea8-4b47-b588-427824104d48","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.74836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8526dcc-94e9-4ab5-adac-eae83aa45555","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fae9fa3-4300-4882-8006-b7662ffaa288","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Critics argued the turn felt forced and failed to deliver the deep story fans had wanted for years.

[{"selector":"#anim-9c331cbc-f9a6-4f50-a4d2-fdbf1622a92b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.74836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0a2c9d1-8d90-425d-aa5a-cbc860cacb59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc57c54f-1615-4807-80d3-63bc06af9159","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The failed heel run coincided with Cena’s farewell tour and impending retirement, making it even more controversial.

[{"selector":"#anim-89a304c0-d2f0-4dc4-ace3-4c3f4d4fc755","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.74836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d3e397d-f535-4dfb-b65e-fd3c9535c226","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-170a5ef3-63ff-4280-b163-e395399ec3e8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Cena remains positive, promising to reveal more after retiring, while fans debate the lasting legacy of his heel turn.

[{"selector":"#anim-537843f2-549b-4850-a3ac-744573cc661a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-94.74836%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0eb01f2-edde-4bd5-98c3-a7679c5581a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e036bd59-22f2-4649-928a-272ed08a9f5f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]