Stephanie McMahon On Current WWE Star: “The Grossest Babyface Of All Time”

Stephanie McMahon didn’t like John Cena as a babyface.

When John Cena began his WWE run in 2002, he debuted as the “Doctor of Thuganomics,” a heel character.

But soon, he turned into a babyface and went on to become one of the OG babyfaces in the company.

Stephanie McMahon Wasn’t A Fan Of Babyface John Cena

Stephanie McMahon, who has played the role of a classic heel in WWE, didn’t like Cena as a babyface.

In a recent interview with Megan Morant, she revealed she hated Cena as a babyface and thought that he “was the grossest baby face of all time.”

She doubted that fans would connect with his character. However, Cena, who’s set to retire on December 13, proved her wrong with his sheer will and determination.

It’s a special gift that some people have, and it’s very few people have the ability to connect with the audience the way that John did.

And I have to say, he started off as the Doctor of Thuganomics as a heel, but then he turned baby face, and then he was the grossest baby face of all time.

You know, hustle, loyalty, respect, just, you know, I mean. I like the heels. And I would feel like it was too much, you know?

And I thought at some point, this isn’t gonna work. This isn’t gonna work. He’s too much that way. He’s too strongly that way. We need to pull him back a little bit.

But he proved me wrong on countless occasions, and he really stayed true to himself and his character and who he believed he was for so long.

And I think that’s part of it because he believed so strongly that the audience believed with him. (From 8:30)

Cena turned heel after nearly 20 years earlier this year at Elimination Chamber, when he started a rivalry with Cody Rhodes.

He then turned back into a babyface right before SummerSlam 2025.

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