If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

John Cena believes his recent WWE heel turn "bombed" after his first promo

John Cena's promo explaining why he turned heel when he had been a babyface for most of his career was poorly received, but the 17-time world champion takes it in stride as he nears retirement from the wrestling ring.

News by Joseph Pete, Contributing Writer

Published on Sun Aug 17 2025

Popverse's top stories

Marvel TV, DC K.O. an Agents of SHIELD reunion, and a new Game of Thrones show head up New York Comic Con 2025's loaded panel schedule
Despite blistered feet and a 12-inch wig, a young girl reminded me why I only cosplay heroes like All Might and Captain America
DC’s Tom King, Spider-Man’s Dan Slott, Transformers’ Daniel Warren Johnson and so many, many more are tabling at NYCC ‘25’s Artist Alley: Get a look at the full list right here

Fans poorly received the promo explaining why John Cena took a heel turn after being a babyface for most of his career, but you won't see the 17-time world heavyweight champion stressing out about it as he nears his WWE in-ring retirement. He told an audience member at Fan Expo Chicago 2025 this weekend he wasn't upset with the crowd reaction to his initial heel promo this year.

"I wasn't upset. No, I failed," he says at Fan Expo Chicago. "Ain't nothing wrong with that. You can learn from failure, right? I went up there and bombed. Shit happens."

Cena says he's taken failures as teaching moments during his WWE career, saying he was given a second chance by the company after his Ruthless Aggression gimmick didn't go over, joking he was neither actually ruthless nor aggressive.

"I've changed a lot over the years. I'm not the same person I was yesterday," he says.

Cena, the longtime face of the WWE who's found acting success in roles like Peacemaker, has been on his farewell tour as he looks to retire from the wrestling ring. He shocked fans at Elimination Chamber where he turned on Cody Rhodes and sold out to 'The Final Boss' The Rock for a chance to win his record 17th title in what was described by some as the most stunning heel turn since the formation of the NWO in the now-defunct WCW.

Cena admits at Fan Expo Chicago that he felt he failed at delivering the heel promo but later declined to voice his opinion about his character taking a heel turn, saying he would address it after his retirement and didn't want to spoil anything for some fans in the meantime.

He says at Fan Expo Chicago that even though WWE has loosened up about kayfabe, or maintaining the illusion of wrestling storylines, he respects that there are different levels of fan perspectives. He says he will open up more about what he thought about the heel turn after retiring from the ring.

Cena has said his final match will be in December 2025 at an event to be announced.

Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to: