WWE Hall of Famer JBL discussed why fans did not respond as expected to John Cena’s heel turn, stating that the audience simply wasn’t ready to boo the legendary wrestler. The John Cena heel turn reaction fell flat despite the effort to change his character ahead of a Street Fight on WWE SmackDown.
John Cena initially surprised fans by adopting a more hostile persona but soon returned to his babyface role in his WWE SummerSlam match against Cody Rhodes. Instead of generating heat, Cena’s return as a fan-favorite confirmed the crowd’s preference for supporting him rather than rejecting him.
Challenges Behind Implementing John Cena’s Heel Persona
Speaking on the Something to Wrestle podcast, JBL admitted that sometimes carefully planned storylines fail when presented in the ring. He noted,
“I think sometimes when you draw something up, it’s a great plan, and all of a sudden it doesn’t work. And I think that’s what it was… you put it out there on the field or the ring or wherever you put it out there to implement it, and it doesn’t work like you thought it would. And I think that’s what happened here.”
—JBL, WWE Hall of Famer
JBL emphasized that John Cena remains one of wrestling’s greatest figures, often considered part of the sport’s “Mount Rushmore.” He highlighted that the heel persona did not resonate with the audience in the way WWE anticipated, explaining,
“You got one of the greatest of all time, in John Cena, certainly on the Mount Rushmore of almost anybody’s Mount Rushmore for people. And he had something that was not resonating. I didn’t think it was resonating, you know, as well as the people wanted to see Cena. I’m not sure they wanted to see the heel Cena. I think they just wanted to like, ‘you know what? We just love this guy. We want to see him.’”
—JBL, WWE Hall of Famer
Implications for Cena’s Character and WWE Storytelling
The failed heel turn reveals the challenges WWE faces when attempting to alter the presentation of a long-established and beloved figure like John Cena. Fans clearly remain loyal to Cena’s babyface character and are reluctant to accept him as a villain. This response shapes how WWE may approach storytelling with Cena moving forward, likely favoring his heroic persona over antagonistic roles.
As John Cena continues his WWE appearances, the company seems to recognize that his true value lies in his ability to connect with fans positively rather than forcing a heel narrative that does not engage the audience as intended.
