Add as a preferred source on Google John Cena took responsibility for how he handled his win over Cody Rhodes in the WrestleMania 41 main event, admitting he wanted to deliver a frustrating match to turn fans further against his character.
The admission came in the first episode of Season 3 of WWE: Unreal, the Netflix series that goes behind the scenes of the former champion’s retirement tour. Cena explained he needed to come up with a justification for his heel turn, which began at Elimination Chamber alongside The Rock and Travis Scott.
“You can ask me about any moment on the tour and I can guarantee I can give you a ‘why’ for every single one. We’re doing this monumental switch. At the Chamber, you’re going to be a villain and align with Travis Scott and The Rock because of this story with Cody. ‘Ok, that works. Let’s go!’
I have to formulate a why. Why after 23 years am I doing this? Well, it could be I’m the last of the old guard and I don’t like the new guard. What does that mean, to ruin wrestling? That means to take the fun away from the fans.
That means to win the WWE championship, with methodical, catastrophically boring work. To make people be like ‘fuck this guy!’ People were like ‘that’s it? What a shitty main event.’ Yup – that’s what I was going for! Watch the next one.”
Cena defeated Rhodes on April 20 after Scott pulled the referee out of the ring during a pinfall attempt. Following the interference, Cena delivered a low blow, hit Rhodes with the Undisputed WWE Championship, and captured his 17th world title.
Cena’s pitch went even further than that. He suggested winning one of his title defenses by count-out, but Triple H turned down the idea, reasoning that the negative reaction was starting to affect WWE itself, not just the character.
WWE changed course on the storyline ahead of SummerSlam. Cena turned babyface again and dropped the title back to Rhodes, ending his reign after 104 days.