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Why WWE Was Forced To Turn John Cena Babyface Revealed

John Cena WWE

John Cena turned heel at Elimination Chamber 2025 and turned babyface at SummerSlam 2025.

The Champ played the bad guy for 154 days, and fans had a bittersweet reaction to it. The older fans who always wondered about a John Cena heel turn finally saw it taking life, while the younger fans wanted the good guy back!

Nevertheless, analysts and experts in the industry had speculated that The Leader of Cenation would end his WWE career as a babyface, and that journey started at SummerSlam 2025.

John Cena’s babyface turn at SummerSlam 2025 was needed

Ahead of their clash at the premium live event, Cody Rhodes demanded that he fight good guy John Cena, the real Cena. The former Undisputed WWE Champion accepted it and entered MetLife Stadium as the babyface.

With Brock Lesnar’s return at the event, it showed the revival of the rivalry between babyface Cena vs. heel Lesnar. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained why WWE decided to turn Cena babyface.

They dropped [Cena’s heel story] because it sucked, but also, because a John Cena-Brock Lesnar program — which is obviously what they’re doing — does work better with Brock Lesnar as the heel. [h/t: Wrestlinginc]

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The story between the former WWE champions is yet to unfold on WWE TV.