Backstage News on John Cena Heel/Face Turn – John Cena’s brief run as a heel appears to be over just as quickly as it started.
On the final SmackDown before SummerSlam 2025, WWE began reversing course on Cena’s character direction, signaling a return to his long-standing babyface persona. The adjustment came only months after his dramatic heel turn at Elimination Chamber: Toronto, where he won the Undisputed WWE Championship in controversial fashion. While the character shift was subtle on SmackDown, it was clear that WWE had no plans to fully pursue the heel direction moving forward.
At SummerSlam, Cena dropped the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes in the main event. Immediately after the match, Cena was left laying following a surprise return by Brock Lesnar, who delivered a punishing F5 to close out the show.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE ultimately abandoned the heel turn because “it sucked.” Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez explained that the decision was made internally to end the experiment early, especially as the company moved ahead with plans for a John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar storyline. With Lesnar better suited for the heel role, Cena’s return to the babyface alignment makes more sense for the planned feud.
Triple H hinted during the post-show press conference that Cena had personally requested the match with Lesnar. WWE is reportedly trying to accommodate Cena’s preferences for his farewell run, which could culminate in a retirement bout later this year.
While fans had mixed reactions to Cena’s brief stint as a villain, the company now appears fully committed to celebrating his legacy with one final high-profile program. As Cena enters what may be the last chapter of his legendary career, WWE is setting the stage for a marquee clash with “The Beast” that could headline a future PLE.
Backstage News on John Cena Heel/Face Turn
