At this year's Elimination Chamber PLE, John Cena shocked the world when he turned heel and attacked Cody Rhodes. It was a game-changing, long-awaited moment that was somewhat overshadowed by The Rock and Travis Scott's initial involvement and subsequent disappearance.
The heel run itself was only okay, and no one was too bothered when Cena reverted to being a babyface shortly before his SummerSlam match with Cody Rhodes (it didn't make a ton of sense, story-wise, but his stint as a bad guy had run its course).
During a recent interview with ALL THE SMOKE, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes shared his take on Cena's heel run and why he thinks now is a better time to be a babyface.
"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 started. "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," the American Nightmare continued. "Whereas in 2025, now, and in the last five years or so? Babyfaces were essentially an endangered species. When [fans] see me, they are 100% sure that is authentically who I am."
Rhodes went on to reflect on his rivalry with the Leader of the Cenation—it made up a big part of Cena's Retirement Tour—and says he's grateful for the chance to have shared the ring with the GOAT before he hangs up his jorts.
"He has given everything, as far as you can possibly give, body-wise and mind-wise, to the industry," Rhodes said of Cena. "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."
"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."
"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,'" he concluded.
Cena has passed the torch to Rhodes in a lot of ways; one of them is the mixed response the 17-time WWE Champion always received from fans as there have been noticeable boos for Cody in recent months.
You can watch the full interview with Rhodes in the player below.