John Cena ’s heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025 was really a turning point in professional wrestling folklore. Many compared it to the generation-defining turn of Hulk Hogan back in 1996, and for good reason. The 17-time world champion has been the poster boy and the evergreen good guy for the WWE for over 20 years.
However, the twist in his final year of in-ring action has surely generated massive buzz. And with such a turn, that famous ‘heel heat’ is the dream of every superstar. But ECW legend Tommy Dreamer believes that Cena’s heel turn has not worked the way it should have. But why?
Tommy Dreamer Says John Cena Has Not Been Able to Adapt the ‘Heel’ Side of Things
In a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Dreamer explained his take: “I still don't think the heel turn has worked because they just cheer for him…But it has given him different opponents. He is going out there and doing his best, and it's you, the fan, that continues to cheer for him."
He admitted that this reaction would not have erupted if it was anyone other than Cena. “If there was someone just coming up, if it was Austin theory – not that they're just coming up — and/or Grayson Waller doing the same thing John Cena was doing, they'd probably be the biggest heels in the business. But because it's John Cena, they are reacting that way."
The former ECW champion is right on point. Cena’s recent rivalries with Randy Orton and CM Punk have garnered praise and immense pop from the crowd, even though the WWE champion vows to “ruin wrestling” forever and claims to be “the last real champion”. His recent iteration of Punk’s famous ‘Pipebomb’ promo from 2011 on SmackDown garnered ballistic reactions from the crowd.
Dreamer even mentioned that Cena should stay in his heel persona both on and off the screen. "Here’s a difference, the thing that John can’t do that I would do… Like I would stop doing the things that I do. If somebody approached me in a grocery store, I would heel them. I would go 100% all in on social media. I even said this, I probably would quit this show, because why would I want to talk to people?… I couldn’t say, ‘John Cena, stop doing all these commercials.’… His social media is still uplifting. I don’t think he can do that."
It is safe to say that the veil of the professional wrestling setup has already fallen and it is nowhere near in terms of being secretive as it was in the 1990s and even the late 2010s. Everyone knows that it is a work and so fans are paying their tribute to perhaps the greatest wrestler of all time. And yes, even as a heel!
Also read: John Cena shares hilarious meme on social media to spread awareness about skin cancer
However, the twist in his final year of in-ring action has surely generated massive buzz. And with such a turn, that famous ‘heel heat’ is the dream of every superstar. But ECW legend Tommy Dreamer believes that Cena’s heel turn has not worked the way it should have. But why?
Tommy Dreamer Says John Cena Has Not Been Able to Adapt the ‘Heel’ Side of Things
In a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Dreamer explained his take: “I still don't think the heel turn has worked because they just cheer for him…But it has given him different opponents. He is going out there and doing his best, and it's you, the fan, that continues to cheer for him."
He admitted that this reaction would not have erupted if it was anyone other than Cena. “If there was someone just coming up, if it was Austin theory – not that they're just coming up — and/or Grayson Waller doing the same thing John Cena was doing, they'd probably be the biggest heels in the business. But because it's John Cena, they are reacting that way."
WWE alum Tommy Dreamer weighs on the success of John Cena's heel run since his shocking turn back in March.https://t.co/RYOBbZ3prp
— WrestlingINC.com (@WrestlingInc) July 1, 2025
The former ECW champion is right on point. Cena’s recent rivalries with Randy Orton and CM Punk have garnered praise and immense pop from the crowd, even though the WWE champion vows to “ruin wrestling” forever and claims to be “the last real champion”. His recent iteration of Punk’s famous ‘Pipebomb’ promo from 2011 on SmackDown garnered ballistic reactions from the crowd.
Dreamer even mentioned that Cena should stay in his heel persona both on and off the screen. "Here’s a difference, the thing that John can’t do that I would do… Like I would stop doing the things that I do. If somebody approached me in a grocery store, I would heel them. I would go 100% all in on social media. I even said this, I probably would quit this show, because why would I want to talk to people?… I couldn’t say, ‘John Cena, stop doing all these commercials.’… His social media is still uplifting. I don’t think he can do that."
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLk6IDspIEh/?igsh=MXJ5cGs3NGFodWF1NA== https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLk6IDspIEh/?igsh=MXJ5cGs3NGFodWF1NA==
It is safe to say that the veil of the professional wrestling setup has already fallen and it is nowhere near in terms of being secretive as it was in the 1990s and even the late 2010s. Everyone knows that it is a work and so fans are paying their tribute to perhaps the greatest wrestler of all time. And yes, even as a heel!
Also read: John Cena shares hilarious meme on social media to spread awareness about skin cancer
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