Ric Flair has shared his perspective on why Hulk Hogan’s WWE heel turn succeeded while John Cena’s recent villainous shift did not fully engage fans. Cena’s shocking heel turn took place earlier this year at the Elimination Chamber event, marking his first time as a villain since 2005 during his farewell tour before retiring in 2025. Despite the initial excitement, Flair suggests Cena struggles to embody the top antagonist role in WWE.
Flair Reflects on the Distinct Impact of Hogan and Cena’s Villain Roles
During an appearance on the Ariel Helwani show on July 28, Ric Flair discussed the recent death of Hulk Hogan, who passed away from cardiac arrest on July 24. Flair praised Hogan’s career and contrasted his ability to portray a convincing heel with Cena’s attempts. Hogan, a dominant figure throughout the 1980s and a wrestling icon, famously shocked fans in 1996 with his villainous turn in WCW when he helped form the New World Order (NWO) alongside Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
When asked about the differences between Hogan’s and Cena’s character changes, Flair expressed admiration for Cena’s ambition but doubted his ability to fully play the “bad guy” role due to his natural persona:
It’s hard to measure the two. But I loved the thing with John. The thing about John… John is Ricky Steamboat. There’s nothing bad about John. Some guys like Jack Brisco, Ricky Steamboat, Sting and all that… they just can’t be a heel. John, as great as he is, he’s just not a bad guy. Hulk could be a prick, but it’s from all those years of battling for his spot. Everybody wanted Hulk’s spot.
—Ric Flair, WWE Hall of Famer
Flair highlighted that Hogan’s decades-long fight to remain at the top and his real-life rivalries gave his villainous persona authenticity. The formation of the influential NWO faction also played a key role in making Hogan’s heel turn resonate deeply with fans.
Meanwhile, Cena has had multiple matches playing the antagonist, including his victory over Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41 and subsequent defenses against Randy Orton at Backlash and CM Punk at Night of Champions, but these actions have not felt as compelling as Hogan’s.
Hogan Critiques The Rock’s Role in Cena’s Heel Storyline
Hulk Hogan himself weighed in on Cena’s heel turn a few months after the event, sharing thoughts that echoed Flair’s views. Hogan emphasized the importance of narrative buildup and ongoing character development in successful heel turns, referencing his own experience with the NWO:
At the end of the day, when he turned heel—like the [nWo] storyline, like Eric said—we set it up, we set up, we set up, then we delivered. And then not only did we deliver, we rolled out with me, Hall and Nash. And that story kept snowballing and snowballing, and we kept getting more evil and more evil.
—Hulk Hogan, WWE Legend
Hogan criticized how Cena’s storyline faltered after The Rock’s entrance at WrestleMania 41 night two when, instead of Rocky himself, only Travis Scott appeared to the stage. Fans had expected The Rock to play a more active role in disrupting Cody Rhodes, but this did not materialize, weakening the storyline’s momentum.
The Rock was the catalyst behind Cena’s heel turn, serving as the “Final Boss” who demanded Cody’s soul, resulting in Cena’s dark alliance. Hogan remarked on his disappointment:
And so for me, watching that story with John Cena, when The Rock did the throat thing, cut his throat, and John Cena turned heel, I expected more of the same. And then John Cena came out and there was no Rock, and I just got disconnected at that point, ’cause I was expecting the characters to keep rolling out like we did.
—Hulk Hogan, WWE Legend
Looking Ahead: Cena’s Farewell Tour and SummerSlam Match
John Cena is currently midway through his farewell tour, with his in-ring retirement planned for the end of 2025. This Sunday, August 3, Cena will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. With speculation that this event might lead to Cena’s return to a heroic role before his retirement, fans are eager to see how the ongoing storyline will unfold.
Cena’s character evolution is significant in WWE’s narrative, reflecting the challenges of reinventing a long-established hero as a convincing villain. Hogan’s legacy, Flair’s insights, and The Rock’s involvement all highlight how crucial storytelling and character consistency are to maintaining fan investment in such transformations.
