A wrestling icon has expressed frustration that WWE is acting as if John Cena heel turn ignored, denying the reality of his recent villainous shift. Despite a shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber, Cena reverted to a fan-favorite role before SummerSlam and is expected to remain a good guy through his final match later this year.
John Cena’s Surprising Heel Turn Falls Flat
John Cena, widely regarded as one of WWE’s greatest, stunned audiences by adopting a heel persona for the first time in over twenty years. However, this controversial change failed to connect, largely because Cena’s usual presence was missing during much of the storyline. The absence of his signature energy left the heel run feeling unconvincing and short-lived.
Konnan, a recently inducted member of the AAA Hall of Fame and former WCW star, criticized WWE’s handling of Cena’s character transition. He pointed out that the company seems to be erasing the heel run from memory, as Cena quickly returned to his heroic persona, to the disappointment of many fans.
“I just didn’t think it was a good heel turn. I think he was forced into it, and therefore, it didn’t come out like they expected it. And now they’re pretending nothing ever happened, which people are going along with cause they like Cena, and they know they’re never gonna see him again. And he’s doing babyface interviews like the one he did on SmackDown on Friday. But it’s so bad that they’re trying to pretend it never happened. That, to me, was not a good heel turn,” Konnan said. —Konnan, AAA Hall of Famer
John Cena’s Reflection on His Final Match Announcement
Amid the mixed reception to his heel turn, John Cena has also spoken publicly about his upcoming retirement from full-time wrestling. During an interview with Justin Barrasso of The Boston Herald, Cena revealed that his last match is scheduled for December, although details about his opponent remain undecided.
“I’ve been doing this for 23 years, and I’ve never once chosen my opponent. I’ve always lived by the philosophy that life will give you opportunities every single day, and you have to do the best you can every single day with what life gives you. So whoever challenges me for that last match, I’m going to give it my best shot,” Cena said. —John Cena, WWE Superstar
Speculation suggests that Gunther may be Cena’s final adversary, and the match could take place in Massachusetts, Cena’s home state. This event will mark the conclusion of an iconic career spanning more than two decades.
WWE’s Reluctance to Embrace Cena’s Villainous Side
Despite Cena’s brief stint as a heel, WWE appears to be distancing itself from that storyline, quickly returning Cena to his familiar heroic character. This reluctance may stem from a fear that Cena’s heel turn was poorly received, undermining the intended dramatic impact. Consequently, Cena’s villainous run has been quietly erased in favor of maintaining his popular babyface status as he prepares to exit the ring.
Though he admitted to fans that his heel promo “flopped,” Cena is expected to finish his final months in WWE portraying the inspiring figure that has defined his career. This decision reveals WWE’s priority to preserve Cena’s legacy as “The Last Real Champion” rather than risk tarnishing it with a failed character shift.
