WWE made a shocking change to John Cena's character at the Elimination Chamber premium live event Sunday (March 1) night, turning him "heel" for the first time since 2003.
Cena, 47, who won the Elimination Chamber match to challenge Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes for his title at WrestleMania 41, viciously attacked Rhodes to align himself with WWE legend and board member Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Johnson had spent the past week attempting to goad Rhodes into giving him his soul, which the champion declined before Cena attacked him.
Cena, along with Johnson and rapper Travis Scott, brutally beat down Rhodes for several minutes to end the show.
The 16-time world champion also declined to speak during his press conference appearance after Elimination Chamber, instead dropping a microphone on the table and walking out.
Cena, who announced his plan to retire from wrestling after 2025, is widely regarded as one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling history, served as WWE's franchise player for more than a decade, having played the role of a babyface since 2003, which included headline WrestleManias 28 and 29 against Johnson. Rhodes, the son of late WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, has emerged as WWE's top babyface since returning from All Elite Wrestling, a promotion he helped launch, in 2022.