WWE has long hailed John Cena as one of the greatest wrestlers ever, despite many fans who once relished booing him. Cena has been WWE’s top babyface for a decade, a character choice that frustrated some fans. His unexpected heel turn against Cody Rhodes at the Elimination Chamber was a memorable event. However, this was followed by a disappointing storyline that saw Cena revert back to a babyface during a SmackDown promotion. Fans were uncertain if this was a ploy, but at SummerSlam, neither Cena nor Rhodes betrayed each other. Rhodes reclaimed his title and later brought back Brock Lesnar in a surprising and controversial move. This raised questions: Was Cena’s heel turn simply to prepare him for a showdown with Lesnar? If so, what was the real purpose of his heel persona?
For two decades, fans hoped Cena would abandon his dull babyface role and embrace a heel character, similar to Hulk Hogan’s transformation. Yet Vince McMahon resisted this idea until Cena’s retirement tour under new management. At the Elimination Chamber, Cena’s heel turn was sudden but effective. He dominated Cody Rhodes and collaborated with The Rock, seemingly motivated by a desperate desire to become WWE Champion again. Sadly, this storyline didn’t pan out as fans expected.
Cena’s heel turn lacked polish and was poorly received. His only reason for turning heel appeared to be resentment towards his fans. The Rock was absent from WWE TV and WrestleMania 41. In Cena’s final months as a wrestler, fans found it difficult to boo him. It seemed WWE turned Cena heel without a clear plan. Cody Rhodes mocked Cena’s loss instantly, and The Rock vanished from the scene. WrestleMania’s main event ended in confusion with a disappointing match and little fan interest despite celebrity Travis Scott’s presence. Though Cena’s acting skills helped sell his heel role, the weak motivation behind it made it hard for fans to fully engage. As Cena neared retirement, fans preferred to show respect rather than boo him, and WWE failed to give a compelling reason to dislike his character.
Unexpectedly, Cena switched back to babyface on SmackDown to set up a match against Brock Lesnar. Fans speculated whether R-Truth’s influence or losing the title would bring Cena back from the dark side, but neither happened. Cena returned as a good guy abruptly, admitting he had been wrong, though this realization came without any significant new event. Fans immediately cheered him, but many wondered if this was simply a setup to embarrass Cody Rhodes. At SummerSlam, Rhodes defeated Cena cleanly, and the two shared a hug. Following this, Brock Lesnar returned after two years, clarifying why Cena had to return to being a babyface: to face Lesnar. Cena couldn’t remain a heel for that storyline. WWE appeared to have no long-term plan for Cena’s babyface return, seemingly hoping fans would forget his recent heel turn. Ultimately, returning Cena to a babyface role was likely the best move, as the past six months had been a confusing period for such a beloved figure.
Fan Take: This series of character changes highlights WWE’s struggle to balance fan expectations with storyline development for a major star like John Cena. How WWE handles Cena’s legacy in this transition phase could shape the future narrative direction and fan engagement in the sport.
