THE BIGGEST HEEL TURNS AND BETRAYALS IN WWE HISTORY
John Cena's recent turn into a villain during the Elimination Chamber 2025 event took WWE fans by surprise. Known for his heroic stance throughout his 23-year career, Cena shocked everyone by teaming up with The Rock and attacking Cody Rhodes, marking his first turn to heel.
This unexpected turn by Cena is reminiscent of other historic moments in WWE, where great heroes, or "babyfaces", became villains, or "heels". Below, we recall some of these notable transformations:
HULK HOGAN AND THE FORMATION OF THE NWO
In 1996, during the Bash at the Beach event, Hulk Hogan shocked the wrestling world by teaming up with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to form the New World Order (nWo). Known for years as the hero in red and yellow, Hogan adopted the name "Hollywood Hogan" and a new attitude, marking one of the most significant turning points in the history of professional wrestling.
THE ROCK AS "HOLLYWOOD ROCK"
After a successful career in Hollywood, The Rock returned to WWE in 2003 with a new, arrogant persona, titled "Hollywood Rock". His transformation into a heel was marked by provocations to the audience and other wrestlers, highlighted by his rivalry with Hulk Hogan at No Way Out that year.
SETH ROLLINS AND THE AUTHORITY
In 2014, Seth Rollins betrayed his fellow members of The Shield by attacking Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose with a steel chair. He allied himself with the Authority faction, led by Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, becoming one of WWE's top villains and winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
KOFI KINGSTON AND XAVIER WOODS BETRAYING BIG E
In December 2024, after years of success as the group The New Day, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods surprised everyone by attacking their colleague Big E, breaking up the trio and starting an intense rivalry. This betrayal marked a significant change in the group's dynamics and in Big E's career.
JOHN CENA ALLIES WITH THE ROCK
Recently, at Elimination Chamber 2025, John Cena shocked the WWE Universe by allying himself with The Rock and betraying Cody Rhodes. Known for his heroic demeanor throughout his 23-year career, Cena turned villainous for the first time, attacking Rhodes after an apparent show of respect. This unexpected turn of events left fans stunned and set up a looming showdown between Cena and Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.
These moments underscore the unpredictability and excitement of the world of professional wrestling, where alliances and rivalries can change drastically, keeping fans engaged.
