John Cena’s long-awaited heel turn, initially met with a surge of excitement after his brutal attack on Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber, has faced a critical assessment from WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff. While the shock value was undeniable, Bischoff believes the follow-up promo on RAW in Brussels failed to capitalize on the moment’s potential.
“Oh, the Potential”: Initial Excitement Turns to Disappointment
Bischoff, speaking on his podcast “83 Weeks,” acknowledged the initial buzz surrounding Cena’s heel turn. “It was exciting, ‘John Cena is turning heel. Oh, the potential,’” he stated. However, this excitement quickly dissipated when he watched the subsequent promo.
“But there wasn’t anything dramatic about it other than the fact that he turned heel. It was interesting… I did see the clip of his promo. I didn’t see it live. I saw the clip of it. It was okay. I mean, the delivery was great but just the message was kind of weak for that moment,” Bischoff critiqued.
A “Weak” Message: John Cena’s “Toxic” Fan Narrative
John Cena’s explanation for his heel turn centered on a narrative of being “bullied” by WWE fans for two decades, labeling them as “toxic.” He notably avoided direct mention of his apparent alliance with The Rock and Travis Scott, opting for a more ambiguous approach.
Bischoff found this narrative lacking in impact. “Just the message was kind of weak for that moment,” he reiterated. He felt that Cena’s words didn’t resonate with the magnitude of his heel turn, failing to deliver the dramatic punch that the moment demanded.
The Brussels Factor: A Potential Loss of Emotional Resonance
Adding to Bischoff’s critique was the decision to air the promo in Brussels, Belgium. He questioned the potential loss of emotional resonance due to language barriers and audio challenges. “A lot of that promo and the emotion that should go with it could have been lost on that audience. Between the audio and the English challenge, yeah, someone should have thought of that one,” Bischoff pointed out.
He felt that the nuances of Cena’s message, and the emotional weight of his heel turn, might have been lost on a non-English speaking audience, diminishing the promo’s impact.
WrestleMania 41: A High-Stakes Showdown Awaits For John Cena
Despite the critical reception of his promo, Cena’s heel turn has set the stage for a high-stakes showdown at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. He is now slated to face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
A victory for Cena would not only solidify his heel turn but also propel him to a record-breaking 17th World Championship reign, surpassing Ric Flair’s legendary record. This potential achievement adds significant weight to the storyline, and will be a major draw for WrestleMania.
Whether or not Cena’s heel turn ultimately succeeds will depend on the reception of his future actions and matches. The wrestling world will be watching closely to see if he can deliver on the initial promise of his villainous transformation.
Bischoff’s critique highlights the high expectations surrounding Cena’s heel turn, and the pressure on him to deliver a compelling narrative.
