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Cena announced himself as heel for the first time in nearly two decades and a recent report claims that the segment was secretly planned and was kept under wraps till the final moment.
John Cena. (X)
John Cena produced one of the most shocking moments in WWE history, turning heel at the recently concluded Elimination Chamber in Toronto. Having sealed his main event berth at WrestleMania 41, Cena is now set to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE championship at the mega event in Las Vegas. Before the recent premier live event (PLE), Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson asked Rhodes to be his “personal champion” in exchange for “his soul”. The champ turned down the offer, which seemingly delighted Cena. But what happened next was perhaps beyond anyone’s imagination.
When Cene was sharing a hug with Rhodes, The Rock gestured something at him. In a jaw-dropping turn of events, The Cenation Leader hit a low blow on Rhodes. With this move, the veteran announced himself as heel for the first time in nearly two decades. Now, a recent report by Fightful Select claimed that the segment was secretly planned and was kept under wraps till the final moment.
It was initially listed as the third act of the show. But later, it was rescheduled right after the Men’s Elimination Chamber match. The last-minute change was made to protect Cena’s heel return, the Fightful Select report added. Not only fans but some WWE officials were also left stunned by Cena’s surprise attack on Rhodes.
After the event concluded, Paul “Triple H” Levesque admitted that a very few people in the company were aware of the segment. He was more involved in the segment rather than the production team.
After the Elimination Chamber, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair sent a stern message to Cena, with whom he shares the record for the most world title wins. “Let’s get serious! John Cena, I love you and respect you, but you ain’t taking nothing from Cody Rhodes! If I have to fight my way through security to hit the ring, I will. I’ll take the day off of blood thinners. LFG! Let’s do this,” Falir wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
It’s Been 25 Years Since I Won My Last, 16th World Championship, According To The @WWE. Blood, Sweat, And Tears! Harley Race, Bruiser Brody, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Brett Hart, Undertaker, Ricky Steamboat. The List Is Endless Of World Class Opponents. Unparalleled! My 1984… pic.twitter.com/2WKvdW0gHN— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) March 2, 2025
Fans may expect the 16-time World Champion to assist Rhodes during his WrestleMania match against Cena. The Rock is also likely to be there but the creative team of WWE has yet to confirm his participation at the biggest wrestling event of the year.
