John Cena Turns Babyface On SmackDown

The go-home episode of Friday Night SmackDown prior to SummerSlam 2025 featured a very notable moment in the farewell retirement tour of WWE Champion John Cena - his long-awaited babyface turn after spending the majority of this year as a cheating, cowardly, angry heel. 

In a face-to-face promo with challenger Cody Rhodes just hours before their clash in the main event of SummerSlam 2025 Sunday over the WWE Title, Cena returned to his true self after a rallying and emotional promo in which he thanks Rhodes for attacking him and forging his signature on their contract (we’re still not sure how this was legally binding), as it was the “kick up the ass” he needed to re-find himself. Cena came to the realisation that those who convinced him to give into his demons at Elimination Chamber simply just left him high and dry, and that he now wants to walk away as WWE Champion so that the fans remember him, not to ruin wrestling. Cena is set to retire in December, with recent reports suggesting that WWE may have already picked his final opponent.

Cena also fired some shots in the way of Travis Scott, declaring to Rhodes that the only platinum rapper to kick his ass will be himself. It was reported in recent weeks that WWE and Scott had a falling out, leading to him no longer training for an in-ring showcase.

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