John Cena’s shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025 wasn’t a last-minute move—it was a calculated decision backed by some of the biggest names in WWE.
Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast, WWE President Nick Khan opened up about how creative calls involving megastars come together—and made it clear Cena’s dark turn wasn’t done lightly. According to Khan, everyone from Triple H to The Rock to Cody Rhodes signed off on the major shift ahead of one of WWE’s most talked-about storylines in years.
“The sort of collective decision to make that heel turn [or major angle], Triple H, Cena, Dwayne Johnson, Cody, everyone immediately on board with the whole thing,” Khan said.
Cena stunned fans when he aligned with The Rock and Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber, attacking Cody Rhodes and flipping the entire WrestleMania season upside down. While fans had speculated for over a decade about a possible heel run for Cena, internal resistance—especially due to his massive merchandise sales—kept him on the good guy track.
Khan didn’t ignore that factor, either. “Number one, John Cena’s merchandise is still off the charts. Top of show at every event, or almost every event,” he pointed out, explaining why WWE held off on pulling the trigger for so long.
But when the moment finally came in Perth, Australia, the top names were all aligned creatively—and Cena’s long-teased heel turn became reality in front of a stunned international crowd.
Now, Cena’s actions have fueled the biggest Bloodline story yet, and with WrestleMania 41 behind us, fans are still processing one of the most dramatic character shifts in recent memory.
Was John Cena’s heel turn at Elimination Chamber worth the wait—or should WWE have done it years ago? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.