On The Ariel Helwani Show, Paul Heyman provided his in-depth analysis of John Cena’s five-month run as a heel character, calling the experiment a “fascinating” look into the modern WWE audience. He also confirmed that the planned involvement of The Rock and Travis Scott in the storyline “fell apart” before reaching a conclusion on television.
Assessing the Heel Run
When asked if John Cena’s turn as a villain was a mistake, Heyman was definitive. “No,” he said. When asked if it went as he thought it would, he replied, “No, neither… because it opened my eyes to the fact that this is an audience that is here to see stars and performances as much as they are rooted into the storylines. They are there to appreciate the twisted performance art known as professional wrestling in WWE.”
A Fascinating Audience Dynamic
Heyman explained how the live crowds reacted to Cena during this period, booing him during the show but cheering him after, showcasing a new level of understanding from the audience. “The moment they saw the red light go off, and they knew the show was over… they all gave him a standing ovation, because it’s his last time as an in ring performer in that city, and they’re all chanting, ‘Thank you, Cena,'” he described. “So the audience knew their role, and that’s fascinating to watch, that the audience now understands their role in all of this.”
A Risk for Cena
Heyman also stated that he believes Cena “delivered” in the role and that it was a significant personal and professional risk for him to take given his global brand. “He took a risk in doing it. Number one, that man sells a lot of merchandise,” Heyman began. “Number two… you never know who you’re gonna piss off… John Cena has much bigger deals in Hollywood than I do… you don’t know what studio head you’re gonna piss off.” He cited a specific line from a Cena promo—”I’ve been the one to raise your kids because you parents have done such a lousy job of doing it”—as the kind of statement that could have jeopardized his outside business endeavors.
What Happened to The Rock and Travis Scott?
The storyline began with Cena aligning himself with The Rock and Travis Scott, but both figures disappeared from the angle without a clear resolution. “It fell apart, and we moved forward without it,” Heyman confirmed. When asked specifically about The Rock’s lack of an appearance at WrestleMania, Heyman was direct. “I don’t know what happened with Dwayne. That’s something you should have Dwayne come into these beautiful Yahoo studios and answer for himself… I really don’t know.” He added that he was too focused on his own WrestleMania main event to be concerned with storylines that weren’t going to make the show.
No More “What Ifs”
Ultimately, Heyman stated he was glad the heel turn happened because it answered one of the biggest “what ifs” in modern wrestling history. “I hate what ifs as long as it’s about the past… ‘What if John Cena had ever turned heel?’… Well now we know,” he said. “I thought he took it as far as he could possibly take it. He even took it places I didn’t think he was going to. And he put his heart and soul and his passion into it.”
John Cena’s run as a heel character concluded on the final SmackDown before SummerSlam, and his farewell tour is now set to continue with a major feud against the returning Brock Lesnar. The full interview can be heard on The Ariel Helwani Show.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
