WWE "Ecstatic" With John Cena's Raw Heel Promo (WWE News)
John Cena broke up an "abusive relationship" on WWE Raw.
After weeks of anticipation, last night's WWE Raw saw John Cena cut his first full heel promo in 22 years. And by all accounts, that promo was received extremely well by those backstage in WWE.
As per Fightful Select, WWE was said to be "ecstatic" by the reception Cena got from the crowd in Brussels, Belgium.
Where that Forest National crowd is concerned, one WWE source told Fightful that it was the "hottest TV environment they've ever experienced", with that a positive sign that the promotion could return to Belgium for future TV tapings.
For those who may have missed it, Raw opened with John Cena addressing the fans and addressing his actions at Elimination Chamber earlier this month. Of course, those actions saw Big Match John turn on Cody Rhodes and align with The Rock ahead of Cena vs. Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 - all with Cena chasing that elusive, record-setting 17th World Title.
The Reason For John Cena's Heel Turn
Once John Cena got into the meat of the matter, he told the wider WWE Universe that he was breaking up with them, noting how he'd been in an abusive relationship with those fans for years. As Cena put it, those fans treated him as their puppet, they acted like bullies, and he was abused for the simple fact that he won a lot.
Doubling down on his words, Cena even came down on those still proclaiming to be John Cena fans. Scanning the Brussels crowd, the 16-time World Champ singled out people wearing his merchandise, even at one point calling a crying child "pathetic". Make-A-Wish Cena, this was not.
In response to all of this, John was greeted at various points with chants of "F**k you, Cena" and "Cena's a f**king b**ch" - to which the 47-year-old calmly responded with "classy".
And for those anticipating new music and new gear for John Cena, that's seemingly not happening. Cena told fans that they don't get a new look, they don't get new music, and instead, they get to look in the mirror and reflect on how "awful" they've been to him over the years.
Cena's diatribe was only halted when Cody Rhodes made his way out to the ring, with Rhodes questioning who he was seeing before him, telling Cena to find the real John Cena for WrestleMania 41 or he'll run through him. Oh, and Cody also called John a "whiny b**ch" for good measure.
All in all, this was a thoroughly excellent Raw opening and a segment only amplified in impact by the white-hot Brussels crowd.