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| John Cena heel turn 2025 |
😈 John Cena Turns Heel at Saturday Night’s Main Event
At Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXIX, John Cena faced R-Truth in a non-title bout. The match, meant to showcase Cena’s new villainous persona, saw him resort to underhanded tactics. He low-blowed R-Truth before pinning him for the win, solidifying his heel status.
However, this move didn’t have the intended effect. Instead of jeering, fans appeared to cheer Cena, undermining WWE’s attempt to generate heat for the 16-time world champion.
🧠 Vince Russo Criticizes WWE Creative Over Cena Booking
During the latest episode of Sportskeeda’s Legion of RAW, Vince Russo shared his candid thoughts on how WWE handled Cena’s turn:
“I’m thinking this was typical WWE writing and booking. They set up the match to get heat on Cena by beating down the lovable R-Truth. But it didn’t work. Cena didn’t get booed—he got cheered.”
Russo explained that WWE booked themselves into a creative corner, as fans today tend to cheer even the most dastardly acts when performed by iconic figures like Cena. He added:
“If Cena started beating on Truth more, the crowd would’ve chanted, ‘One more time!’ So now WWE can’t even build proper heel heat for a character that desperately needs it.”
💥 Cena's Heel Turn Fails to Generate Heat
Rather than becoming the villain, John Cena is being embraced by fans for his ruthless behavior. According to Russo, this signals a deeper issue in WWE’s booking strategy—particularly when it comes to managing aging legends who remain beloved despite character shifts.
This misfire not only weakens Cena’s heel persona but also wastes opportunities to elevate rising babyfaces like R-Truth, who could’ve benefited from sympathy and crowd support.
🧩 Cody Rhodes Challenges John Cena and Logan Paul
As the show wrapped up, Cody Rhodes appeared on RAW and issued a challenge to John Cena and Logan Paul for Money in the Bank 2025. The match will feature Cody teaming up with Jey Uso in a high-stakes tag team clash that could redefine Cena’s farewell run.