Heel John Cena Is THE BEST Version Of The Man Yet

There’s been a lot of chatter—some of it loud, most of it just simmering under the surface—about this so-called "heel" John Cena run. Is it disappointing? Did it come ten years too late? Should it have happened during the rise of the PG Era? Maybe. But here’s the thing: this version of Cena, unleashed and unfiltered, might just be the most fun we’ve had in years.

Let’s talk about that promo on SmackDown. Cena eviscerated Randy Orton. Like, dragged him through the mud, power-washed the remains, and set it on fire for good measure. Paraphrasing here, but Cena said Randy’s “coasted” through his career, called him the “GOAT of being lazy,” trashed his family’s wrestling legacy, and flat-out said Randy’s been leeching off him for 25 years. And then… then he dropped that scorcher: tomorrow’s match would be like Randy’s 2006 drug test—“a complete failure.” Yeah, you read that right.

That’s not PG Cena. That’s not Hustle-Loyalty-Respect Cena. That’s “I’ve got six months left and nothing to lose” Cena. And I love it.

The Best Time to Turn Cena Heel?

Sure, there’s an argument to be made that Cena should’ve gone heel in 2010, 2012, 2015… pick your era. But the truth is, the best time to do something bold is “ten years ago or right now.” WWE didn’t flip the switch back then because the guy was printing money in merch sales and carrying the company on his back. But now? The company’s got depth. The spotlight can shift. Cena’s free to cook.

His feud with Orton is pure gold. They’re both bulletproof legends. They can bury each other on the mic and still walk away with their aura intact. And the matches? Yeah, they're slower, more deliberate—but there's something to it. Cena vs. Cody. Cena vs. Punk. Cena vs. Orton. Sign me up. Every. Single. Time.

Also, don’t sleep on the R-Truth variable. I love the idea of R-Truth being Cena’s ride-or-die, potentially causing chaos in the main event. Maybe he helps him accidentally. Maybe he becomes the first target of Cena’s new ruthless streak. Either way? I’m in.

SmackDown Tag Scene: Depth, Chemistry, Chaos

Now, let’s pivot. The tag team division? Low-key thriving.

You had Damian Priest and LA Knight tagging up, pretending to get along (spoiler: they didn’t). But they did get the win over Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, which was chaos in the best way. LA Knight was over huge here, and it kinda feels like Priest might be heading back to the dark side. That slapfest-turned-victory? Chef’s kiss.

Then there's Fraxiom (Fraser + Axiom), who knocked off the Street Profits—still limping from TLC. WWE leaned into the logic there, and I respect it. Dawkins refused to give them a title shot, but Nick Aldis booked it anyway. Boom, Fraxiom wins, tag division gets fresh blood, and Montez Ford still sells like a champ.

The other banger? Los Lotharios vs. Andrade and Rey Fenix. Ray is unreal, by the way. There's some breakup tease for Legado Del Fantasma coming, but that just means more story. I’ll take it.

Alexa Bliss Is Back. Charlotte Is Pissed. What’s Next?

Alexa Bliss returned with a win, pairing up with Zelina Vega to beat Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. She’s as over as ever—possibly more so. Sister Abigail, DDT, win. Boom.

But then we got a curveball. Charlotte Flair came back, and she wants to talk. Not yell. Not pose. Just talk. That’s dangerous. Charlotte being booed out of the building and told to get to the back of the line by Jade Cargill? That’s money. Now we’re looking at Bliss, Flair, Jade, and maybe Naomi in the title mix. Add some spooky rumors about Alexa and the Wyatt 6, and I’m fully invested.

Also: Chelsea Green is still crushing it as WWE’s female Miz. Totally bulletproof. Totally hilarious.

Women’s Division Getting Meaner—and Better

Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax? Two tanks slamming into each other. That’s it. That’s the match. And it was awesome. Naomi ran interference, which led to Jax winning, but the real takeaway? Jade vs. Naomi is the feud we didn’t know we needed. Big power spots, splashy moves, and a reminder that both women have something to prove.

Meanwhile, Nia vs. Tiffany Stratton might get run back. It’s a little soon, but if it means Naomi vs. Jade at Backlash? Book it.

Black Mass > All

Aleister Black vs. Carmelo Hayes was tight. Smooth transitions, excellent timing, and a roll-up finish that felt earned. Miz did Miz things, jumped on the apron, and got booted for his troubles. The post-match Black Mass? Pure heat.

Black’s backstage vignette also helped reframe his spooky persona into something more serious. Less Wyatt ripoff, more goth terminator. It’s working.

TL;DR: SmackDown Is in a Damn Good Place

Every match hit. Every segment moved a story forward. The tag team scene has legs. The women’s division is heating up. And John Cena—this John Cena—is delivering week after week.

The only thing left to do? Let it breathe. Don’t overbook. Let the players talk. Let the action speak.

And hey, if Cena holds onto the belt until December, so be it. The second he loses, the crowd will turn him into a babyface again. That’s just how it works. Until then? Let the man talk his trash. He’s earned it.

What did you think of SmackDown? Drop your thoughts below, and while you’re at it—like, share, subscribe, and hit that bell. And yes, click that video on the right—it’s our fan-made Backlash predictions, and they’re hilarious.

Let’s keep this energy going.