John Cena Confesses Failure In His First WWE Heel Promo
On March 1, 2025, WWE Elimination Chamber rocked the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In an unforgettable twist, John Cena turned heel for the first time in nearly two decades. He allied with The Final Boss Rock and, shockingly, attacked Cody Rhodes after the Elimination Chamber match in the show’s main event.
The crowd watched in disbelief as Big Match John left Rhodes bloodied, then joined The Rock and rapper Travis Scott for a new era of rebellious attitude, defining his heel turn as one of the most significant moments in wrestling history.
On the March 17 episode of WWE Monday Night RAW, John Cena delivered a lengthy first heel promo after embracing his darker side. He explained his betrayal, stating fans had “used him as a puppet for years” and that he had given his all, but it was never enough.
He lambasted the crowd’s fickle loyalty, proving his point as they drowned him in boos and chants of “Cena sucks.” Cody Rhodes then interrupted his promo, vowing revenge and challenging Cena’s newfound disdain.
John Cena Opens Up About His First Heel Promo
Speaking at Fan Expo Chicago, Cena reflected on the 03/17 RAW heel promo. When asked how he felt about the reaction he got from the crowd, he confessed that he wasn’t just upset; he felt like he had failed the audience as a heel character.
“I wasn’t upset. No, I failed… Ain’t nothing wrong with that. You can learn from failure, right? I went up there and bombed. Sh*t happens.”
John Cena officially turned back into a babyface on the August 1, 2025, episode of WWE SmackDown. Then at SummerSlam 2025 at MetLife Stadium, he faced Cody Rhodes during his main event as a babyface. Both men engaged in a brutal street fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
As the match ended, Cody Rhodes won and raised Cena’s hand in a heartfelt gesture. Chants of “thank you Cena” filled the stadium, signifying the crowd’s acceptance and his transition back to the hero role. But before the babyface celebrations could go any further, Brock Lesnar made a shocking return and attacked the 17-time World Champion with an F-5.
H/T to Popverse