John Cena Sr., a devoted supporter of his son, expressed his disappointment over the wasted opportunity of John Cena’s heel turn during the wrestler’s farewell run. The John Cena Heel Turn initially promised to shake up WWE’s storylines but ultimately fell flat due to crucial absences and mismanagement, Cena Sr. revealed during an interview.
On the March 1, 2025, episode of Elimination Chamber PLE, John Cena stunned fans by turning heel. Cena Sr. said on UnSKripted with Dr. Chris Featherstone:
“Turning John Cena heel was a great idea, the shock factor was great but I think the storyline was destroyed. And that was a poor move in my opinion because it was a big gamble for everyone that was involved. And to see how it started and then to see the characters that were involved no longer be present, the heel turn almost became non essential.” – John Cena Sr.
Cena Sr. blamed the failure largely on the absence of key figures such as Dwayne “The Rock,” who initially played an integral role but later stopped appearing. The Rock’s absence made the storyline lose its impact, leaving fans—and Cena Sr.—feeling let down. Cena’s heel turn originally involved a shocking low blow to Rhodes, catalyzed by an on-stage appearance from The Rock alongside rapper Travis Scott at Elimination Chamber.
How The Rock’s Absence Weakened The Heel Turn Storyline
At the Elimination Chamber event, Cena earned a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship by defeating a formidable field that included CM Punk, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, and Seth Rollins. After winning the title match at WrestleMania 41 against Rhodes, Cena’s heel turn culminated in a tense face-off involving The Rock and Travis Scott. However, The Rock’s failure to follow through with further appearances left the storyline hollow.
Following this, Cena lost the championship back to Rhodes at SummerSlam, a critical moment in his heel arc that failed to generate the expected excitement without The Rock’s presence. Cena Sr. and fans alike viewed the storyline as increasingly irrelevant as these key players faded from WWE programming.
Upcoming Matches Mark the End of Cena’s Wrestling Career
John Cena is now in the final phase of his farewell tour. After suffering a quick defeat to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, Cena’s momentum has sharply declined. Fans eagerly anticipated his upcoming matchup with AJ Styles, scheduled for October 11 at Crown Jewel in Perth.
Interestingly, Cena publicly engaged with fans on social media about the AJ Styles match, which prompted WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H to officially schedule the bout. This interaction stirred significant fan interest, highlighting the desire for a meaningful conclusion to Cena’s in-ring journey.
The final chapter of Cena’s career is set to unfold on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. Although his opponent for this farewell match remains unconfirmed, it is expected to be a significant and memorable contest, concluding his storied legacy.
Implications of the Heel Turn Failure on Cena’s Legacy
The collapsed potential of John Cena’s heel turn leaves a bittersweet mark on his career. While the shock factor offered a fresh direction, WWE’s inability to sustain the supporting cast and capitalize on story momentum undermined the angle’s effectiveness. This missed opportunity not only frustrated John Cena Sr., who witnessed firsthand the gamble’s fallout but also disappointed many fans eager for a captivating end to Cena’s in-ring story.
As Cena’s farewell tour progresses toward its conclusion, the wrestling world awaits how WWE will honor his legacy and whether his final matches will recapture the excitement that the John Cena Heel Turn moment once promised.
John Cena Sr. says John Cena’s heel turn was ‘destroyed’ when the characters involved were no longer present:
“Turning John Cena heel was a great idea, the shock factor was great but I think the storyline was destroyed.
And that was a poor move in my opinion because it was a… pic.twitter.com/Iejc1dF166
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) September 24, 2025
