John Cena is the jack of all trades at this point in his career. Wrestler, Movie Star, Reality Show Star, Kids Awards Show Host, he's done it all. And he's even overwhelmingly favored to propose to Nikki Bella at WrestleMania, checking that box as well.
The one things he's never done (in the last decade or so, anyway) is turn heel.
But to hear Stephanie McMahon tell it, the heel turn almost happened, and it was her pushing for it that nearly sealed the deal. However, now she realizes it wouldn't have been the right way to go.
Speaking to Peter Rosenberg on the Cheap Heat podcast, Steph said:
"At one point in his career I really wanted to see him turn heel. I wanted it, as a fan, and I also thought it was the right thing to do. But it turns out I was wrong."
Rosenberg asked her if she actually spoke up and fought for the heel turn in creative meetings:
"Oh yeah, totally I did, yeah. But I'm glad we didn't go that way. I think now it would be odd for John to turn heel. I guess never say never because anything can happen in WWE but I don't think I would really miss it. I think that we would miss him, I don't know that we would miss the heel turn."
There was definitely a time and a place for the John Cena heel turn, and maybe there will be again before he hangs up the ol' jorts and retires. But Steph might be right. If he did it now, after the initial shock and novelty wore off, we'd miss the hustle.
Not to mention the loyalty and the respect.
