John Cena candidly admits his heel turn in WWE 'bombed' after delivering what he calls a failed promo
stood as WWE's ultimate good guy, carrying the company as its top babyface and global ambassador. But in March 2025, the 17-time world champion shocked fans with a long-awaited heel turn.
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The move created one of the most dramatic moments in recent wrestling memory, yet Cena now admits his first promo in the new role was a flop. Speaking openly at Fan Expo Chicago, he confessed he 'bombed' but insists he has no regrets.
John Cena admits his heel promo fell flat
The heel turn came at Elimination Chamber 2025 when John Cena betrayed
and aligned himself with The Rock's 'Final Boss' persona. A few weeks later, on the March 17 episode of Monday Night Raw, Cena delivered a promo in a 32-minute segment, blaming fans for turning on him over the years.
The crowd responded with dueling chants, leaving the segment feeling disjointed. Cena himself doesn't disagree.
'I wasn't upset. No, I failed,' Cena told fans in Chicago. 'Ain't nothing wrong with that. You can learn from failure, right? I went up there and bombed. Shit happens.'
The admission drew laughs and nods from the audience, a reminder that Cena has never shied away from addressing criticism directly. He compared the moment to his early WWE struggles when his 'Ruthless Aggression' persona failed to connect, joking he wasn't 'actually ruthless or aggressive.'
'I've changed a lot over the years. I'm not the same person I was yesterday,' Cena added, framing the setback as another step in his evolution.
John Cena's heel turn was historic on his road to retirement
Cody Rhodes and John Cena. Image via: WWE
Despite the rocky start, Cena's heel run delivered history. At WrestleMania 41, he captured a record-breaking 17th World Championship by defeating Rhodes. The reign didn't last long; Rhodes reclaimed the title at SummerSlam, but the storyline reminded fans why Cena remains central to WWE's biggest moments.
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Reactions to the heel turn were mixed. Some fans view the pivot as a creative disaster, while others applaud Cena for taking risks after achieving nearly everything in the business. Triple H defended the decision, saying Cena himself embraced the change: 'Oh my god, I love that. It's… man, I can creatively sink my teeth into that and have fun and do something different.'
For Cena, though, the bigger picture is legacy. Now balancing Hollywood success with his WWE farewell tour, he has confirmed that his final match will take place in December 2025. Until then, he's careful not to spoil storylines. Asked about the long-term vision for his heel character, he declined to comment, promising he would share his full perspective only after retiring.
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Beyond WWE, Cena is also busy with his Hollywood schedule. He is currently promoting his Peacemaker Season 2, which is scheduled for Aug. 21 on HBO Max.
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