The 16-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena shocked the world this past weekend by turning heel at Elimination Chamber: Toronto. With only ten months left in his wrestling career, Cena, currently on his retirement tour, made the unthinkable decision to embrace his darker side.
Cena remained one of WWE’s greatest ambassadors for over two decades, never straying from his babyface persona. As he entered his final year in WWE, fans believed they would never witness a heel turn from him.
At WWE Elimination Chamber: Toronto, Cena won the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match, securing a shot at WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. After the match, Rhodes entered the ring to shake Cena’s hand, but The Rock and Travis Scott interrupted the moment.
The Rock confronted Rhodes, urging him to accept his offer to become WWE’s Corporate Champion and align with him. However, Rhodes firmly rejected the offer as Cena celebrated Rhodes’ decision and hugged him.
Suddenly, The Rock signaled for John Cena to strike, and Cena followed through, launching a shocking attack. Cena, The Rock, and Travis Scott then brutally assaulted Cody Rhodes, leaving him bloodied in the ring.
Since the betrayal, Cena has yet to appear on WWE programming, but he has remained active on social media. He has shared tweets and Instagram posts. Recently, on TikTok, he teased the idea of bringing back his iconic theme song, ‘Basic Thuganomics.’
John Cena hints at bringing back ‘Basic Thuganomics’ following heel turn
John Cena reposted a video from WWE Elimination Chamber: Toronto on TikTok, showcasing himself leaving the ring alongside The Rock and Travis Scott with ‘Basic Thuganomics’ playing in the background.
This sparked fan speculation that Cena might be bringing back his iconic old theme song, which he originally used during his Doctor of Thuganomics persona. Since 2005, Cena has been using “The Time is Now” as his entrance theme.
However, he briefly returned to his Basic Thuganomics persona once in 2012, during his feud with The Rock on WWE RAW, and again in 2019 at WrestleMania 35, when he confronted former WWE Superstar Elias in a special segment.
Cena is scheduled to make his first appearance since turning heel on March 17th at WWE RAW in Brussels. It will be interesting to see whether he sticks with “The Time is Now” or reintroduces “Basic Thuganomics” as part of his heel persona.
