A big moment shook the WWE world at the Elimination Chamber 2025. John Cena, known for his babyface persona, turned heel on Cody Rhodes, the Undisputed WWE Champion. This surprising twist left Rhodes bloodied in the ring and set Cena up for a title match at WrestleMania 41, where he aims to claim his 17th world championship. It’s been over 20 years since Cena embraced the dark side, but hints of this change have been lurking for a while.
In July 2024, during his retirement tour announcement, Cena claimed he had no interest in becoming a heel. However, just months earlier, while appearing on “Insight” with Chris Van Vliet, he revealed that a heel turn was planned back in 2012. Cena was ready to switch things up for his iconic match against The Rock at WrestleMania 28, even crafting a new entrance theme and designing radically different gear. He wanted to shed his usual jorts and t-shirts for more dramatic boxing robes and singlets.
Initially, he was excited about this shift. He wanted to move away from his “Never Give Up” mantra, as it conflicted with the character he envisioned. But as he considered what that meant for his career and his charity work with Make-A-Wish, he realized he was too deep into his babyface character. So, the heel turn never happened.
Hints Leading Up to the Turn
Prior to the turn, Cena started displaying some behaviors typical of a heel. For instance, he hinted at working fewer events. Fans might have missed this since he has been a part-timer recently, but it was surprising that Elimination Chamber was only his second appearance in 2025. After losing at the Royal Rumble, he said he didn’t feel the need to qualify for the men’s Elimination Chamber match, showcasing a more arrogant side.
At the post-show, instead of addressing the media, Cena dropped the microphone and left without a word. This silent exit was a clear heel move, especially compared to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who spoke as himself during post-show interviews. Cena’s silence underlined his shift into a darker persona.
Cena had also mentioned that if he had turned heel in 2012, he would be unreliable and go against everything he stood for. This link surfaced during the Elimination Chamber when Cena attacked CM Punk with a brutal STF submission hold without hesitation. This ruthless action should have clued fans in, but many were still caught off guard by the heel turn.
