John Cena Reveals He 'Flat Out Steals' From Surprising WWE Name

Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 4:49 pm

John Cena Admits He "Steals" From Stephanie McMahon to Perfect His Heel Persona

WWE superstar John Cena, currently on his 2025 retirement tour, has revealed a surprising source of inspiration for his new heel character: Stephanie McMahon. In a recent interview on McMahon's ESPN+ show, *Stephanie's Places*, Cena openly admitted to "flat out steal[ing]" from McMahon, acknowledging her significant influence on his ability to portray a compelling villain.

This admission is particularly noteworthy given Cena's long history as WWE's ultimate good guy. He famously turned heel earlier this year at the Elimination Chamber, aligning with The Rock. Cena spent the majority of his two-decade career as a babyface, often clashing with McMahon, who played a powerful heel authority figure alongside Triple H in the storyline "The Authority" from 2013-2016.

Cena's respect for McMahon's character work is evident. He highlighted her ability to generate reactions from WWE fans, noting how her performances helped shape his understanding of being an effective heel. He specifically mentioned her role as SmackDown General Manager earlier in his career, where she often disapproved of his "Doctor of Thuganomics" persona. These on-screen rivalries provided Cena with ample opportunities to observe McMahon's mastery of heel tactics, crowd manipulation, and promo delivery.

Now, as the Undisputed WWE Champion and fully embracing his heel side, Cena is set to retire in December 2025. Fans can see him in action at the Money in the Bank premium live event on June 7th, where he will team with Logan Paul to face Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes. Speculation is that Cena will face Rhodes in a future match. This revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of a WWE icon and the influences that have shaped his career.

Keywords: John Cena, Stephanie McMahon, WWE, heel turn, retirement tour, Undisputed WWE Champion, Money in the Bank, Logan Paul, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, wrestling, WWE News, heel, babyface, The Authority, Elimination Chamber, ESPN+, Stephanie's Places

Full Story