The John Cena heel turn has officially flipped the WWE universe on its head – and it’s not even close to being over. For the first time in 22 years, Cena ditched the white hat and embraced the dark side, aligning himself with none other than The Rock. Fans were left speechless when it all went down at the end of the Elimination Chamber, where Cena blindsided WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in a brutal post-match attack.
It was the ultimate swerve, and now, Cena’s dropping hints that things are just getting started. “There’s more unpredictability on the way,” he said during a recent chat with PEOPLE. That interview, done while Cena was in Budapest filming a project and promoting his new Neutrogena campaign, marked one of his first public comments since the dramatic moment. While he stayed tight-lipped on specifics, it’s obvious he’s loving this unexpected twist in his career.
The John Cena heel turn is a big deal not just because he turned, but because of how long it took. For over two decades, Cena was WWE’s ultimate babyface – the guy kids looked up to, the merch machine, the guy who never wavered. That kind of consistency is rare in wrestling, where most characters flip from good to bad and back again like it’s nothing. Cena stayed true to the character, until now.
And when he finally flipped? He did it in the most Cena way possible – bold, loud, and headline-grabbing. Teaming up with The Rock and beating down Cody Rhodes was the kind of shock moment fans dream about. It instantly set the stage for one of the most anticipated main events in recent WrestleMania memory: John Cena vs Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas on April 20.
So what’s the endgame? That’s the question everybody’s asking. Will Cena stay heel through WrestleMania? Is this just a short-term twist before he goes back to being a good guy? Or is this part of a full-circle legacy story as he heads into retirement?
If you missed it, Cena announced last year that 2025 would be his final year in the ring, and that this upcoming WrestleMania will be his last on the grand stage. That’s already emotional for longtime fans – but now that he’s added this wild heel turn, it’s even more intense. It feels like everything he’s done over the past 20 years has led to this.
Of course, fans want more info, but Cena’s not giving away much. When PEOPLE asked him to reveal where the story’s going, he compared it to someone asking for spoilers during a dramatic TV show. “We’re in the middle of a riveting season of episodic television,” he said. “And you’re kindly asking me for spoilers – I can’t do that.” Classic Cena.
But he did make one thing super clear: unpredictability is the name of the game right now. He praised WWE’s current vibe, saying its biggest strength is how unexpected things have become. No one thought The Rock would return full-time. No one thought Cena would ever turn heel. And no one thought Cody’s reign as champ would get this complicated, this fast.
The truth is, the John Cena heel turn might just be the smartest move WWE has made in years. It’s injected pure chaos into the top of the card. It’s created buzz across every social platform. And it’s given fans something they didn’t even know they wanted: the bad guy version of Cena, finally unleashed after decades of holding back.
As for what’s left on his bucket list? Cena says it’s not really about crossing off items anymore – it’s about passing the torch, and continuing to be involved in the business even after he stops competing. “They’ll have to shoo me away,” he said with a laugh, hinting that he’ll always be around in some form, whether that’s mentoring young talent or just showing up to support.
That brings us back to WrestleMania 41. It’s shaping up to be the biggest show of the year, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Cody Rhodes is fighting to keep his momentum as the face of the company. Cena’s fighting to win a record-breaking 17th world championship – something no one else in history has done. If he pulls it off, he’ll officially surpass Ric Flair’s long-standing record and go down as the GOAT with no debate.
Then there’s The Rock, whose role in all this remains a little murky. Is he just backing Cena? Are they forming a long-term alliance? Or is this part of an even bigger twist – maybe involving Roman Reigns or a new heel stable forming at the top of the card? With WWE being this unpredictable right now, literally anything feels possible.
One thing’s for sure – the John Cena heel turn has changed the landscape of WWE, and we’re all just watching it unfold in real time. It’s rare that a single move can have this kind of impact, but Cena pulled it off with perfect timing. And now, with retirement looming and one final title shot on the horizon, he’s in full legacy mode.
Love him or hate him, this version of Cena is way too fun to ignore. Whether he walks out of WrestleMania as a 17-time champ or not, he’s already succeeded in doing what every wrestler dreams of: keeping fans guessing, talking, and tuning in.
Where do you stand on the John Cena heel turn – genius move or betrayal of everything he stood for? And do you think he walks out of WrestleMania 41 with that 17th world title? Sound off in the comments and join the conversation.
