John Cena Did Not Sell His Soul To The Rock As Now He's Calling Shots

It seems there's a misunderstanding about John Cena's storyline with The Rock.

[{"selector":"#anim-f32c86b6-a85e-4558-81fd-34c336dc07cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-93.67089%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f87b8bf4-7e8a-4835-a40c-21951ad233d6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3dd77229-2879-4d63-9a25-013bbccb163a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

While Cena did align himself with The Rock at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025, turning heel and attacking Cody Rhodes, The Rock has not been actively involved in WWE since that event.

[{"selector":"#anim-c59b0f5c-f510-4128-9c40-63db6c1113a5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-52.11268%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a59263a-819b-420b-af06-fe18ef12b7bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e8f6fb5-f6b2-4844-b40a-e3cda3883a1c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Despite this, Cena has continued to embrace his new heel persona, suggesting that he is indeed following through on his own initiative rather than direct orders from The Rock.

[{"selector":"#anim-f7f7a7fa-5724-4ede-b2ca-c0788b4c636a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-96.73202%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3314bc39-3f1c-4b9a-9118-a7bfc4669201","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e34999f0-3742-452d-ab00-dbbcd6de3640","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Cena has been doing his own promos, hinting at more unpredictability to come, which indicates he is driving his character's development independently.

[{"selector":"#anim-d1e320c4-d44c-42c0-933d-3b7870a191ce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-96.73202%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99af781c-5ddd-4cbf-9167-4a455bb81b92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4432303e-cc29-4cfd-8c43-143d553e06f5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The storyline seems to focus on Cena's personal ambition and legacy, particularly his quest for a record-breaking 17th world championship title at WrestleMania 41.

[{"selector":"#anim-98d553bf-207f-46ba-8434-d6ac1c288057","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-96.73202%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7021137a-4ef2-4ec7-945f-b8380d41b6d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-726a5852-31fd-4c8b-8085-fd876ade89a7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The narrative of "selling his soul" to The Rock might be more symbolic, representing Cena's willingness to abandon his long-standing heroic persona to achieve his goals.

[{"selector":"#anim-119a13c8-b1d6-4aa6-8f62-6923e4837716","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-96.73202%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9e0367d-728c-4092-83e9-65fcadb8b779","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6452f116-bb6b-47df-9b52-270f32862e20","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

However, with The Rock's absence from WWE programming, Cena's actions appear to be self-motivated rather than directly controlled by The Rock.

[{"selector":"#anim-6dbbfe61-1afc-450b-b152-5d33c05d8095","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-96.73202%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bbbe4cc-43d1-4b1e-a05d-0b675f26d422","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61456f78-205b-4934-a30f-071ca3316712","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]