WWE’s decision to turn John Cena heel after over two decades as a face was made with little forethought, at least according to Vince Russo.
Cena shocked fans at WWE Elimination Chamber: Toronto in March 2025 by turning heel with a brutal assault on Cody Rhodes.
On a recent edition of his “Bro Down” podcast, Russo questioned WWE’s planning behind the most stunning heel turn in years. He said,
“They pulled this Cena heel turn out of their ass. Dutch (Mantell) will tell you, this is the Hogan and the nWo-sized) turn. If you’re going to have that kind of a turn, there’s got to be a story, and there’s got to be a build-up, and there’s got to be a reason. Something had to happen to John Cena over a period of time to make him turn heel. There was none of that.
“They needed something, so now we’re going to turn him heel. So, that’s why to me, it’s like when Cena is getting into his promo and he’s trying his hardest to make sense out of this thing, Mac, you just can’t make sense out of something that doesn’t make sense. And, and, he’s trying desperately to do it.”
Cena won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 (Night Two), kicking off the WWE icon’s 17th world title reign.
John Cena’s first title defense will come against long-time rival Randy Orton at the WWE Backlash pay-per-view event next month.
