JBL explains Vince McMahon's hesitation to turn John Cena heel in WWE
Wrestling Inc • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 24, 2026, 12:30 PM
Last updated Oct 24, 2026

During a discussion on 'Something To Wrestle,' JBL revealed that Vince McMahon's decision not to turn John Cena heel was influenced by the prior reaction to Stone Cold Steve Austin's heel turns. Despite fan demand for a Cena heel turn, McMahon consistently dismissed the idea, citing the significant merchandise sales generated by Austin. JBL noted that similar marketing concerns would likely apply to Cena, indicating that the WWE learned from their experiences with Austin's character shifts. This perspective sheds light on the booking decisions made during Cena's career at the height of his popularity in WWE.
- •JBL claims McMahon avoided a Cena heel turn due to Austin's past.
- •Fan requests for a heel Cena were consistently dismissed by McMahon.
- •Austin's merchandise success influenced McMahon's decisions about character turns.
- •JBL discussed this topic during an episode of 'Something To Wrestle.'
- 12:30 PMWrestling Inc — JBL: Vince McMahon Never Turned John Cena Heel In WWE Due To Previous Lesson Learned
"JBL believes that it was the botched heel turn of another WWE star that kept Vince McMahon from ever turning Cena.
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