John Cena’s Return to WWE Raw on March 17, 2025

On March 17, 2025, John Cena made a highly anticipated return to WWE Raw following his heel turn at the Elimination Chamber event earlier in the month. This marked his first appearance since he attacked Cody Rhodes and aligned himself with The Rock.  

The episode took place in Brussels, Belgium, and Cena’s entrance was met with a mixed reaction from the crowd, characterized by loud “John Cena sucks!” chants alongside the familiar “Let’s go Cena!” cheers. 

Upon entering the ring, Cena took a moment to absorb the crowd’s reaction before delivering a passionate promo. He expressed feelings of betrayal and frustration towards the fans, stating that for 25 years he had been in an “abusive relationship” with them.  

“I am not a babyface. I am not a heel. I am a human being.” He emphasized that he felt mistreated by fans who had turned him into an object of ridicule over the years. 

“He reminded Cena that while fans may have given him their worst reactions, they also gave him their best because they believed in his talent. Rhodes demanded to face the real John Cena at WrestleMania 41 rather than this new version of himself that was filled with complaints. 

Rhodes concluded by calling out for the real John Cena to return instead of this “whiny bitch,” further escalating tensions between them.   

Cena left the ring after dropping the microphone, leaving behind a divided crowd still chanting various slogans. Commentary during this segment highlighted how shocking it was for someone like Cena—who had long embraced any reaction from fans—to finally express such disdain towards them.  

 The segment effectively set up heightened anticipation for their upcoming match at WrestleMania 41 while showcasing a dramatic shift in Cena’s character dynamics within WWE.    

 John Cena returned to WWE Raw on March 17, 2025, delivering a powerful promo explaining his heel turn by expressing frustration towards fans and declaring independence from their expectations.