Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has weighed in on John Cena’s current run as a heel, offering his take on why he believes the longtime babyface is not naturally suited for the role. Flair compared Cena to legendary good guys like Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, arguing that some performers are simply too inherently likable to be convincing villains.
“He’s Just Not a Bad Guy”
On The Ariel Helwani Show, Flair was asked to compare Cena’s recent turn to Hulk Hogan’s iconic NWO heel turn. Flair explained that he believes Cena is a natural babyface at his core.
“The thing about John, John is Ricky Steamboat. There’s nothing bad about John… You know, some guys like Jack Brisco and Ricky Steamboat, Sting and all that, they just can’t be a heel. And John, as great as he is all that, he’s just not a bad guy. He’s such a good guy.”
The Difference Between Cena and Hogan
Flair contrasted Cena’s persona with that of Hulk Hogan, suggesting that Hogan had an underlying edge that made his transformation into the villainous “Hollywood” Hogan believable to the audience.
John Cena is currently in the midst of his highly publicized farewell tour as a heel in WWE. He is scheduled to defend the WWE Title against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam this coming Sunday.
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.
