John Cena’s recent heel turn has sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe, but his first promo as a villain on the March 17, 2025 episode of RAW in Brussels, Belgium left an unexpected mark on one young fan.
During the show, Cena, who turned heel at Elimination Chamber by betraying Cody Rhodes and aligning with The Rock, delivered a blistering promo that targeted the WWE audience, calling out their “toxic” and “dysfunctional” relationship with him. In a moment that quickly went viral, Cena singled out a young boy in the front row, dressed head-to-toe in Cena merchandise, as a symbol of the fanbase he claimed to be fed up with.
The child’s stunned and heartbroken reaction, captured by WWE’s cameras, struck a chord with viewers, sparking widespread discussion about Cena’s new villainous persona.
Cena didn’t let the moment fade. On the March 24 episode of RAW in Glasgow, Scotland, he referenced the incident again, calling the young fan the “clueless kid” he had “put on blast” during his earlier promo. The follow-up comment underscored Cena’s commitment to his heel role, as he continued to lean into his disdain for the fans who once cheered him as a 16-time World Champion.
However, the young fan at the center of this moment has now spoken out, sharing his perspective with a local outlet in Brussels and demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of the emotional encounter.
“Since I was 4 years old I have been a fan of John Cena. He’s been my hero for 10 years now and he’s my favourite superstar,” the young fan told the outlet. Now 14 years old, the boy explained that he had paid to attend the show specifically to see Cena, making the moment even more significant for him. “I paid to see him. When he pointed at me, it was a source of pride for me that he pointed the finger at me because I didn’t know he was going to talk down to me,” he said.
Despite Cena’s harsh words, which included describing the fanbase as “toxic” and “dysfunctional,” the young fan showed an understanding of Cena’s new role, noting, “I understood he said toxic and dysfunctional, but it’s in his character as a heel, so I understand.” Most poignantly, he affirmed his unwavering admiration, stating, “For me, John Cena is still my hero.”
You can watch it below:
Young John Cena fan reacts to being roasted on RAWpic.twitter.com/VhfancpYpp
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) March 27, 2025
