Well, John Cena’s unexpected heel turn has been everything the WWE and its fans could have asked for.
John Cena’s historic 22-year streak as a babyface/good guy in WWE ended at the Elimination Chamber: Toronto event heel when he attacked Cody Rhodes and aligned himself with The Rock after winning the main event.
Cena’s stunning and long-awaited heel turn has already drawn comparisons to Hulk Hogan’s switch to bad guy at the 1996 WCW Bash at the Beach pay-per-view, widely regarded as the golden standard of pro wrestling betrayals.
16 days after turning on the fans, Cena returned to WWE programming on Monday night to cut a villainous promo for the ages. The 16-time world champion performed his passionate promo so well that it led to expletive-filled chants from the Brussels, Belgium, crowd. Netflix even had to censor out the chants.
At one point, John Cena pointed to a kid in the crowd and said the boy, like everyone else, “is a toxic, dysfunctional relationship.” And let’s just say the young’s fan reaction really spoke for itself:
still surreal 🤯 pic.twitter.com/1muy72cO8u
— WWE (@WWE) March 18, 2025
He may portray a bad guy now, but WWE fans were loving John Cena’s savage comment toward the fan.
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“That kid will remember that moment for the rest of his life,” one user said.
That kid will remember that moment for the rest of his life
— Roller (@wrestleroller) March 18, 2025
“That kid will grow up and become a wrestler. Mark this 😂,” another wrote.
That kid will grow up and become a wrestler. Mark this 😂
— Ꭲɑʏᴏ (@TayoPSG) March 18, 2025
“This kid is devastated at this John Cena promo lol,” said Fightful Wrestling.
This kid is devastated at this John Cena promo lol #WWERAW pic.twitter.com/mUYRjfcYDi
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) March 17, 2025
“The 3 GOATS of WWE 1. Green Shirt Guy 2. John Cena Kid 3. Brock Lesnar Guy,” quipped another.
The 3 GOATS of WWE
— Vampire Squid (@VampireSquid0) March 18, 2025
1. Green Shirt Guy
2. John Cena Kid
3. Brock Lesnar Guy#WWE pic.twitter.com/50TQbS7CJg
“Imagine growing up a Cena fan just to get COOKED like this on live TV,” said a user.
Imagine growing up a Cena fan just to get COOKED like this on live TV.
— WAIGER (@waigerHQ) March 17, 2025
“Kid’s life flashed before his eyes 😭 I lowkey feel bad for him,” a fan wrote.
Kid’s life flashed before his eyes 😭 I lowkey feel bad for him
— malachi (@malthechamp) March 17, 2025
Cena will face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41, which runs on Apr. 19-20 weekend at the Las Vegas Raiders’ home venue of Allegiant Stadium.
John Cena Would Break Historic Record With Victory Over Cody Rhodes At WrestleMania
Cena and Hall of Famer Ric Flair share the record for the most World Championships with 16 apiece. With Cena on his retirement tour, the clock is ticking on the 47-year-old getting that elusive 17th championship.
All Cena needs is a victory over Rhodes on the Grandest Stage of Them All to surpass The Nature Boy and smash the record for world titles. We’ll see in a month’s time if he reaches it.
