Cody Rhodes has had his say on the polarising John Cena heel turn that made headlines everywhere during his retirement tour.
For the first time since 2004, Cena turned to the dark side in order to win the record-setting 17th world title at Rhodes’ expense at WrestleMania 41.
Fans had been pining for Cena to turn for years after Vince McMahon had booked the Boston-native as a modern day superman; the ultimate babyface who could overcome any odds.
Not only was that idea tired, but to do that for 15 years or so really leaves fans wanting something fresh.
Fresh is exactly what they got this year, but the execution of the idea left a lot to be desired.
The Rock was the one who ordered Cena to turn on Rhodes and kick start the heel turn, but then we never saw the Great One again or had it explained why they aligned in the first place.
Rhodes say he admires Cena for taking the chance with his character, but feels the good-will he had built with the audience made it very hard for him.
“We’re at this point now, where the longer that it goes for me, the less I am able to turn to this nefarious, demon, bad guy,” Rhodes explained about his own potential heel turn during an interview on “ALL THE SMOKE.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS8W6NY6QjQ
“We actually saw this with John Cena recently. I admired him taking the challenge and loved him going for the idea of being a bad guy in the end, but you’ve got decades of equity built with [the audience].”
“Today it’s easier to be a heel, I suppose,” Rhodes added, recalling how traditional heels needed to read the crowd and lead matches. “Whereas in 2025, now, and in the last five years or so? Babyfaces were essentially an endangered species.”
Rhodes noted that being a babyface hasn’t been cool since the 80s, but believes being authentic resonates far better than trying to be the hero and ‘doing the right thing’ per se.
“When they see me, they are 100% sure that is authentically who I am.”
Rhodes is undoubtedly the top babyface in the company today – certainly on a full-time basis – but he is the first to admit he has learned a lot on how to work in that position from Cena himself.
“You hear these stories of him going on set all over town, here, and being the most professional guy you’d ever met. The most prepared guy you’d ever met. I think John has tons of natural talent,” Rhodes expressed.
“He had tons of talent for being a professional wrestler, but the thing he’ll be remember for is the work – is the work ethic he had.”
Rhodes went on to explain how much he respects Cena and hopes he earned some of the legend’s as they worked together this year, too.
“To wrestle a person who gave me his playbook, who was the model for how I like to be as a babyface professional wrestler, … how I would work seven days a week, the rhythm of wrestling and going to every town, to be able to stand across from a guy who was your mentor, … it’s really rare you can stand across from that guy, look him in the eye, and not just be grateful and thankful, but also hope he sees you and go ‘Ah, there he is.
Cena will be on many Mount Rushmores when fans look back on his career with his final outing just under a month away at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington DC.
His final opponent has yet to be revealed, but he will defend his newly won Intercontinental title against the winner of the Last Time is Now tournament, widely expected to be Gunther.
When Cena dropped the WWE title back to Rhodes at SummerSlam, he turned babyface in the process and WWE making that decision with the end of his career looming seems to be their best bit of room reading in a good while.
