As the calendar flipped over to bring in 2025, it signified an important point in wrestling history.John Cena, perhaps the most decoratedWWEperformer ever, will have his farewell tour this year. As he makes his final laps in the squared circle, many have been reflecting on his amazing career. Of course, the people who worked with Cena directly during his wrestling days have the best perspective and anecdotes to share.
In a recent radio show, current TNA star and host of Busted Open Radio, Nic Nemeth, reflected with his co-host Bully Ray on working with the Cenation Leader. In particular, he pointed to an interaction regarding Cena turning heel or changing his character, a long-standing topic of debate among fans. During an episode ofBusted Open Radio, the former Dolph Ziggler talked about working closely with The Doctor of Thuganomics, and some of the creative decisions that were being made at the time.
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Nemeth, the current TNA World Champion, is widely considered one of the best and most underrated wrestlers of this era.He rose to stardom in WWE, but many fans and observers feel that he was held back in the promotion. In essence, the commonly shared opinion was that his awesome in-ring ability and charisma were often overlooked.
In dealing with Cena, Nemeth pointed out how The Champ has protected his character over the years. Nemeth stated that he believes a heel turn at the wrong time would have killed off Cena’s superhero persona. He also reflected on what could happen if the legend attempted to finally play a ‘bad guy’ in his final farewell to the fans.
Nemeth told a story about having a discussion with Cena when they were touring overseas, with Nemeth often (or always) working with Cena in the main event. Nemeth recalls often arguing with John that “we need another Cena” to change things up, and in case Cena got hurt. It’s not hard to assume that Nemeth’s ideas included Cena turning heel, something that many fans advocated for a long time. Cena, however, answered by making a comparison with the song Thunderstruck from AC/DC: “not their best song, but everybody knows it, everybody likes it, and if we throw a monkey wrench into it we risk ruining the encore.”
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It’s a great story that shows Cena was always smart and aware of his role: “Go with what works and don’t play the new song. Play what people have paid to see”. This may seem dull from a creative standpoint, but it’s also a tried-and-true entertainment and business law. In 2025, some fans may believe that things have evolved, but Cena’s wisdom remains mostly true. After all,Cody Rhodes is playing a very similar role as the WWE Championto what Cena was doing, kissing babies and being the underdog babyface that always comes up victorious.
Nemeth admits understanding and agreeing with Cena, and that a heel turn could perhaps even derail John’s farewell tour: “Maybe you get the cheers and responses at first, but all of a sudden it’s like, nah, we’re not really feeling this. I like the cool, good guy Cena, who can zing the hell out of people in the ring, and then he can have that match where we’re rooting for him.”
Cena Was Wrestling’s Top Star For Over a Decade
Cena’s Farewell Tour Will Be the Highlight of 2025
While Cena never took on a heel persona in WWE, there’s no doubting his resume during his 23 years with the promotion. Likewise,it’s impossible to doubt his impact on not just sports entertainment, but pop culture in general. One can only look at how many athletes in other sports use his signature ‘you may’t See Me’ wave to see that Cena’s appeal extended far beyond the squared circle.
At the same time, he headlined numerous pay-per-views for the company, is a 16-time World Champion, and essentially carried World Wrestling Entertainment through some pretty dark times. So, it only makes sense that his last ride is occurring now - when the company is seeing its highest of highs.
While no one can be sure what the next 12 months hold for the inevitable Hall of Famer, it’s assumed that he might try for his 17th world title -one that would surpass ‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair’s totalin the ‘official’ WWE record books. Whatever the case may be, fans will have an opportunity to see history in the making every time Cena appears inWWEin 2025.
