8 Greatest Face & Heel Turns In Modern Wrestling History

Don't let what happened following Elimination Chamber 2025 fool you. John Cena finally dropping his near-lifelong face run to align with The Rock and turn heel was one of the most shocking and satisfying moments in the history of pro wrestling.

After weeks of The Rock seducing Cody Rhodes with promises to "open doors he didn't even know existed" and 'The Final Boss' offering Cody riches, cars, and private jets, Rhodes delivered one of the best lines of his career when telling Dwayne, "Go f**k yourself". With the pop from that bombshell still lingering in the air, Cena leaned in for a hug to begin their road to a match at WrestleMania 41. Rock then gave John a throat-slitting signal, and Cena turned his back on a lifetime of hustle, loyalty, and respect. 

Whatever happened between WWE creative and The Rock on the road to WrestleMania 41 is likely to remain a mystery, and though John insists that he failed as a heel, the evidence suggests otherwise. From legendary promos in Belgium and Glasgow to parodying CM Punk's famous pipebomb, Cena did what he could after being thrown to the dogs. Still, we will always have the insanity of this heel turn and the fallout from it.