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Stone Cold Steve Austin Says John Cena’s Heel Turn Came Too Late

He argues the turn arrived too late in Cena’s career to resonate.

Overview

  • Speaking on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet, Austin said he prefers Cena as a babyface and felt the late switch was unnecessary.
  • Austin characterized the 2025 heel run as merely okay and suggested WWE should have let Cena continue as the beloved hero fans expected.
  • Cena turned heel at Elimination Chamber 2025 by attacking Cody Rhodes alongside Travis Scott and The Rock.
  • The run lasted about six months before WWE restored Cena as a babyface near SummerSlam after momentum faded, with The Rock’s absence cited as a factor.
  • Cena’s December 13 retirement match ended with him tapping to Gunther, drawing fan backlash over how it fit with his long-held image.