John Cena disclosed in the latest season of "WWE Unreal" on Netflix that his 2025 heel turn was originally set to conclude at SummerSlam. The revelation comes amid ongoing discussion of his divisive farewell tour.
Cena explained that Cody Rhodes was scripted to defeat him at the event, restoring his babyface status through a virtue-themed match. "Cody, at SummerSlam, was supposed to beat virtue into me," he said.
The heel turn began at the Elimination Chamber in March 2025 when Cena aligned with The Rock and Travis Scott. He captured the Undisputed WWE Title from Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 before reverting to a fan-favorite character.
Paul "Triple H" Levesque noted challenges in booking the run, stating that adjustments were needed after WrestleMania to maintain quality. Cena later confirmed the pivot allowed him to deliver stronger in-ring performances while retaining heel elements.
His final 2025 matches included victories over AJ Styles and Dominik Mysterio before a submission loss to GUNTHER at Saturday Night's Main Event.
