Summary
- After 22 years as a face, John Cena turned heel at Elimination Chamber: Toronto, shocking fans.
- Cena attacked Cody Rhodes in a brutal manner, marking the end of his heroic streak.
- Cena’s heel turn has sparked excitement for WrestleMania 41.
WWE‘s latest Premium Live Event, Elimination Chamber: Toronto, ended with John Cena finally turning heel after 22 years as a babyface. John Cena started his WWE career as a fan favorite, but turned heel in late 2002 by attacking his then-tag team partner Billy Kidman. Cena’s heel run lasted for about a year, though the crowd started warming up to him well before he officially turned back into a babyface.
John Cena turned face in late 2003 and stuck with that alignment for a 22-year stretch. Despite sometimes getting incredibly negative reactions from crowds, John Cena held true to his heroic character, preaching “hustle, loyalty, and respect” and inspiring fans with his “Never Give Up” slogan. With John Cena announcing his retirement tour for 2025, many assumed that the time had long passed for Cena to ever turn heel again, but that’s exactly what happened at the end of Elimination Chamber: Toronto in what will go down as one of the most shocking moments in WWE history.
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At Elimination Chamber: Toronto, John Cena won the titular Elimination Chamber match to earn the right to face Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Cena controversially won the match by applying an STF on CM Punk after the latter was attacked by the already-eliminated Seth Rollins, perhaps foreshadowing what was to come. After the match was over, Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring, followed by The Rock and Travis Scott. The Rock asked for Cody Rhodes’ “soul” – essentially, The Rock wanted Cody to be his corporate champion. Rhodes turned down the offer and even yelled, “F*** you, Rock!” to the roar of the crowd and the apparent joy of Cena.
John Cena Heel Turn at Elimination Chamber
John Cena and Cody Rhodes then embraced, with Rhodes’ back to The Rock. Cena’s smiling face turned to a sinister frown, with Rock giving him the signal to kill Rhodes. Cena kicked Cody in the groin, punched him repeatedly in the head with a Rolex watch, and then smashed his face with the WWE Championship. Rhodes began to bleed profusely, but the punishment was far from over.
Cena and Travis Scott positioned Cody so that his back was exposed to The Rock, who took off his weight-lifting belt, adorned with “CODY’S SOUL” and began whipping the current champ. Rock then wiped Cody’s blood on his belt and Cena posed in the ring with the championship.
John Cena’s heel turn breaks the 22-year WWE streak of him being a pure fan favorite, and creates an incredible amount of excitement for WrestleMania 41 in the process. John Cena’s retirement tour has been criticized for lacking the thrills that fans have been expecting, but this has certainly kicked it up a notch, and it will be exciting to see how things play out in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania on April 19 and 20.