John Cena Addresses Fans Not Liking His WWE Heel Turn & Tapping Out In His Final Match, ‘I Always Enjoy A Creative Challenge, I’m Not Afraid To Take Those Risks’

WWE

John Cena has commented on many fans not liking his WWE heel turn and the fact he tapped out in his final match.

Cena’s retirement tour took place last year, including a polarizing heel run and then tapping out in his final match against GUNTHER, essentially closing down Cena’s “never give up” catchphrase.

On the Rich Eisen Show today, Cena spoke about fans not liking his run as a heel, saying:

“A lot of fans (didn’t like it). When I did, I tried to do it in the most realistic manner. There are many different ways that could have gone, but I kinda stayed as myself.

“I didn’t change up the uniform, I didn’t change up the music, and I started to try to find a real place of why I would choose a non-virtuous path.

“Me being frustrated with the audience, of all these years of being such a polarizing character, seemed like the strongest connection.

“The audience got a taste of it and they were like, ‘Nah, we want the you back.'”

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Asked to share his own thoughts on his heel run, Cena said:

“I always like new creative challenges. I honestly don’t think I’ve said no to any creative decision in WWE. I’ve always tried to embrace it and do the best I can.

“Right up until my final moment of tapping out with fulfillment on my face – very mixed reviews on that as well – I always enjoy a creative challenge and I’m not afraid to take those risks.”

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‘Mixed Reviews’ To John Cena’s WWE Farewell

When he was asked why he thinks there were “mixed reviews” to him tapping out in his last match, the record 17-time WWE World Champion replied:

“There’s no right way to please everyone when you’re truly closing a 23/24 year old journey, where our fans have invited me into their living room 52 weeks a year, plus ancillary premium live events, for 23/24 years.

“The best you can do is do all you can. Honestly that’s where the moment of clarity and fulfillment came from where it’s like, at the end of my physical journey in WWE after that last match, listening to the noise one final time knowing, ‘Man, I don’t think I can give another ounce.’ What a way to close that chapter.

“But it’s a bold creative decision, just like the John Cena heel turn is a bold creative decision. You’re not gonna please everyone.

“Our fans are very vocal and very involved, which is why I’m excited about the future of what’s to come and we can try to involve them more in hopefully crowning a champion of the John Cena Classic.

“But it’s those moments where you do take a risk, you do travel outside the predictable norm, and that incites conversation, and you’ve gotta be ready for all angles of that.”

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