WWE Hall of Famer Doesn't Want John Cena to Return as a Babyface
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T states on his podcast that John Cena must remain a heel throughout his farewell tour after shocking turn at Elimination Chamber in Toronto.
Booker T believes John Cena’s recent heel turn leaves no path for the 16-time World Champion to return to his babyface persona. The WWE Hall of Famer shared his perspective on the dramatic character shift during his Hall of Fame podcast.
He can’t turn back.
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That’s not going to work.
The conversation addressed Cena’s surprise attack on Cody Rhodes during Elimination Chamber in Toronto last Saturday. After two decades as WWE’s premier good guy, Cena brutally assaulted Rhodes, who has emerged as the company’s new fan-favorite star.
When asked if Cena would retire as a heel, Booker responded confidently:
Yeah, why not?
The attack appears to position Cena as the antagonist to Rhodes, with WWE seemingly establishing The American Nightmare as their new heroic figure. This dramatic shift comes during what Cena has announced as his farewell tour.
Cena revealed last year that he plans to retire from in-ring competition after a final run, with his last match scheduled for December 2025. His character change represents a significant departure from his long-standing role as the company’s moral compass.
WWE has announced several upcoming appearances for Cena later this month, though the company has not confirmed if he will appear on this Friday’s SmackDown following his heel turn at Elimination Chamber.
The assault on Rhodes marks Cena’s first villainous role since his initial “Doctor of Thuganomics” character in the early 2000s, before he became WWE’s standard-bearer for nearly two decades.
