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John Cena’s heel turn last month was one of the biggest swerves in WWE history, but just wait, because the 16-time world champion says there’s a lot more ‘unpredictability’ coming.
Cena, 47, recently spoke with PEOPLE while in Budapest and opened up for one of the first times publicly about the historic moment.
“I’m going to say that there’s more unpredictability on the way,” Cena says of his next WWE matches, during an interview about his role in Neutrogena’s new ad campaign surrounding its SPF products and the importance of UV protection.
Cena shocked WWE fans when he joined sides with his longtime rival Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and attacked WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at the end of the Elimination Chamber event last month, turning heel for the first time in 22 years — the longest any WWE character has ever gone without a soap opera-esque change of heart.
The moment made headlines around the world and set up a highly anticipated one-on-one world title match between Cena and Rhodes, 39, at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas on April 20.
Cena politely deflected when PEOPLE asked him for more details about what to expect from his character in the coming weeks leading up to the match.
“Here’s the stance I’m going to take on it, and I think hopefully I can put it in terms you can understand: We’re in the middle of a very riveting season of episodic television and you are kindly asking me to give you spoilers, and I can’t do that,” Cena says. “What I did really enjoy about your question is you expressed the unpredictability of WWE programming, and I think that’s one strong point of the current state of WWE is its unpredictability in its programming.”
Last year, the Fast & Furious star announced his plans to retire from professional wrestling in 2025, telling fans next month’s WrestleMania “will be the last I compete in.”
“I know, I know, that’s a lot to take in, right? Probably a lot of questions out there,” Cena said upon the announcement.
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The two biggest questions now: Will Cena have a change of heart at WrestleMania? And will he win a record-breaking 17th world championship, breaking his tie with Ric Flair for the most all-time in pro wrestling history?
Cena, who first debuted in WWE in 2002, also opened up about what his decades-long career in the ring has meant to him and whether there’s anything left for him on his WWE bucket list.
“Gosh, I think if anything, if you get to that point … man, I don’t know,” Cena wonders. “I want to be careful by not spoiling the cool moments that we have, but this is something that goes beyond WWE programming. I just love it, and I think that when I can no longer compete, I will always be a member of the WWE family in some capacity, whether I can pass on my wisdom through mentorship or be an advocate and a spokesperson for the brand. They certainly will have to shoo me away, because I’m like you, I’m a fan first and I love it so much.”
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