John Cena has addressed one of the most debated elements of his 2025 heel turn — the idea that he sold his soul to The Rock when he turned on Cody Rhodes at WWE Elimination Chamber.
Speaking at a recent FAN EXPO New Orleans appearance, Cena rejected the widespread claim outright, saying his reason for the alliance was far simpler: he wanted to win the top championship in WWE.
“So everybody says I sold my soul. A few people say I sold my soul to the Rock just because Cody and the Rock were talking about soul selling and I happened to get in there.”
The turn traced back to a storyline in which The Rock demanded that Rhodes hand over his “soul” and serve as his champion. Rhodes refused. Moments later, Cena — fresh off winning the Elimination Chamber match — embraced Rhodes, only to receive a signal from The Rock and launch a vicious attack on the American Nightmare alongside Travis Scott.
Despite how the angle played out, Cena maintains there was never any soul-selling arrangement between himself and The Final Boss.
“Does that mean Travis Scott sold his soul as well? I don’t know. Is there a soul for sale thing? No.”
“No. I just wanted to win a championship. The Rock doesn’t have my soul. He doesn’t. I don’t think he ever got Cody’s.”
The alliance paved the way for Cena to defeat Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 and capture the Undisputed WWE Championship, his record-breaking 17th world title.
The Rock, notably, has not appeared on WWE television since Elimination Chamber 2025.
Cena’s own direction shifted a few months later. On the August 1, 2025 episode of SmackDown, WWE announced the return of “the real John Cena,” effectively wrapping up his heel run ahead of a rematch with Rhodes at SummerSlam.
Cena wrestled his final match on December 13, 2025, losing to Gunther by submission.