Eric Bischoff did not mince words when discussing the execution of John Cena’s long-awaited heel turn in 2025. While the moment itself at Elimination Chamber was memorable, Bischoff believes the storyline failed to reach its potential due to a lack of proper setup.
A Missed Opportunity
Speaking on 83 Weeks, Bischoff categorized the turn as a “disappointment” within the context of the year’s “Bad” moments. He argued that the shock value was there, but the emotional investment was missing because there were no subtle hints laid out beforehand.
“The heel turn was definitely a disappointment. And I think what disappointed me specifically was the lack of build-up towards that moment,” Bischoff said. “Just that freeze that moment with the hug and looking over the shoulder, that moment right there. That was kind of cool. I liked it. I would have freaking loved it if something would have happened along that journey to that point that would have least nurtured my interest in seeing something happen.”
The Importance Of Act One
Bischoff noted that a major character shift requires a foundation, something he felt was absent in Cena’s storyline. He suggested that small changes in Cena’s demeanor or commentary could have enhanced the eventual payoff without spoiling the surprise.
“I want to sense something’s different, but I don’t know what. I don’t want to know what it is. I just want to feel something that’s noticeable,” Bischoff explained. “If they could have found that line and built up to that on top of that killer moment, maybe things would have ultimately been different. I just think the whole thing from the get go, for something that big, for there not to have been a better act, one to this day, confuses me.”
Cena’s heel run in 2025 included a high-profile rivalry with Dominic Mysterio, which saw Mysterio defeat Cena in San Diego. Cena has since stepped away from a full-time schedule, while WWE prepares for its next major era with Raw moving to Netflix in January 2026.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit 83 Weeks with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can listen to the full episode on the 83 Weeks podcast feed.
