He’s done it.
After nearly twenty years since he won his first WWE Championship, John Cena has finally crossed back into the dark side. “Aidan, he’s back there? I thought he never went!” And you’d be almost correct in that assumption—he would debut as a heel (read: bad guy) in 2002, but from 2005 to 2025, John Cena was a babyface (read: good guy). Hustle, loyalty, and respect. An absolute menace between the ropes, but an even better ambassador outside of them. Even his theme music (which has not changed since March 17, 2005) stems from this babyface run! He’s been known as a good guy for so long, why make him evil now?
There are multiple reasons. In an interview on Chris Van Vliet’s INSIGHT ahead of the launch of “Ricky Stanicky,” a comedy film featuring Cena and Zac Efron, Cena discussed his initial plans to turn heel following a loss to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania 28 in 2012, with the plug being pulled after Cena indicated a complete commitment to a heel persona, saying he’d “lean into the opposite” of what he stood for previously. This included new music, new gear, new everything. But before the turn was made official, Cena acknowledged his presence as a face and that WWE was “in too deep.” It wasn’t that it was bad PR, but it wasn’t going to lead to better PR. Bad guys don’t do Make-a-Wish appearances.
The other reason is the story arc between Cody Rhodes and The Rock. While Rock and Cena had multiple showdowns at WrestleMania, this will be the first time both enter the Road to WrestleMania on the same team.
Rhodes returned to WWE in 2022 at WrestleMania 38 after nearly six years away from the company. He would main event WrestleMania 39’s Sunday card against Roman Reigns, losing in his first WWE title match in his current run. After WrestleMania, Rhodes went through separate but equally grueling campaigns against Brock Lesnar and the Judgment Day, a dominant four-wrestler stable including multiple veterans.
When Rhodes won his second consecutive Royal Rumble, Rhodes versus Reigns II seemed obvious until it wasn’t. The Rock would be booked into Rhodes’ place for the WWE Championship, but the “We Want Cody” movement caused WWE to pivot. As part of the buildup, a tag team match between Rhodes and Seth Rollins against Reigns and The Rock was booked for the main event during WrestleMania Saturday. The match had a special condition to it as well: If the team of Rhodes and Rollins won, Rhodes’ title match would be one-on-one, free of outside interference.
However, two stipulations were added when The Rock and Reigns won: Bloodline Rules. Simply put: There are no disqualifications or count outs, and the match would only end with a pinfall or submission between the ropes. This backfires horribly—a chorus of characters join the fray throughout the match—various members of the Bloodline, Cena, and the Undertaker run some form of interference to hinder or help Rhodes throughout the match. Finally, Rhodes successfully ends Reigns’ 1,316-day run as WWE Champion, and on the Raw after WrestleMania, The Rock made something clear: “Your story with Roman Reigns is over, and you did it. But our story has just begun.”
The Rock was right. Two weeks before Elimination Chamber, The Rock made an offer that Rhodes could not refuse: sell your soul to the Rock, and experience heights and fame you could only have dreamt of. Rhodes refuses in emphatic fashion, to the delight of the Rogers Centre, validating the “We Want Cody” movement and the fans’ support for the champion.
But how did Cena get here?
After losing the Royal Rumble as the runner-up to Jey Uso, John Cena quickly announced he would compete in the Elimination Chamber, stating that it was “best for business.” For those unfamiliar with the phrase, “best for business” usually is a cover for villainous behavior, mainly from authority, but for Cena to use it? Fans were confused but nonetheless understood: it’s his last chance to compete there, and it’s okay. But “best for business” wasn’t just a justification for politicking your way to a match; it was a setup. And as Rhodes followed up the Elimination Chamber match with his decision to The Rock, the crowd was amped up to the moment of refusal.
Almost as if communicating telepathically, The Rock sends off a throat slash signal, and Cena does the unthinkable—low blow to Rhodes. The crowd explodes with a mix of excitement and shock. There’s no way a childhood icon betrayed us all—over twenty years of being a people’s champ. Over twenty years of Make-a-Wish wishes granted and the record for them to boot. Over twenty years of hustle, loyalty, and respect. A legacy and memories built over twenty years, and Cena’s just throwing it all away?
But oh, he did. Cena lit up Rhodes with the WWE Championship multiple times, opening a cut on the “American Nightmare’s” face. Travis Scott would slap Rhodes, bursting an eardrum and giving Rhodes a black eye. And worst of all, The Rock returned with a weight belt inscribed with two words: “CODY’S SOUL,” now adorned with the “American Nightmare’s” blood as it was last year.
Cody Rhodes has crossed The Rock once again. This time, the beatings on the horizon look worse than last year’s, and now, there is so much more on the line. Rhodes is defending his family’s crowning achievement. Cena is looking to pass “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for most WWE title reigns with his last shot.
It’s almost like you couldn’t have it anywhere else but WrestleMania.
John Cena’s next appearance is slated for March 17 on Monday Night Raw from Brussels, Belgium. It’ll be the first of three European stops on Cena’s farewell tour.
