John Cena’s shocking heel turn at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 has left the WWE Universe stunned—but perhaps no one is more affected than R-Truth. A longtime admirer of Cena, Truth has often parodied and mimicked the 16-time world champion, even calling him his childhood hero. Now, with Cena embracing the dark side in brutal fashion, Truth is struggling to accept the change.
Denial Runs Deep: “Say It Ain’t So, John”
Following Cena’s vicious assault on Cody Rhodes inside the Elimination Chamber, Truth took to social media to express his disbelief. In one of his posts on X (formerly Twitter), he questioned why Cena would do such a thing. He even went so far as to suggest that the brutal images of a bloodied Cody Rhodes were AI-generated, seemingly unable to process the reality of Cena’s betrayal.
Truth also made a subtle but telling change to his X profile header, which now reads: “Say it ain’t so, John.” It’s clear that Cena’s heel turn has hit Truth on a deeply personal level.
A Long and Complicated History
Truth and Cena’s history goes back nearly two decades. From their battles over the WWE Championship to their moments of friendship and rivalry, their paths have intertwined many times. Interestingly, Truth recently revealed that he and Cena recorded a rap song together, dispelling rumors that there was any real-life tension between them.
However, one fan on X reminded Truth of his own dark past, posting a throwback image of Truth smoking a cigarette during his 2011 heel run on Monday Night Raw. The implication? That Truth knows exactly what it’s like to embrace villainy, even if he refuses to accept Cena’s current transformation.
Could Truth Get Involved in Cena’s Feud with Cody Rhodes?
While Cena’s betrayal of Rhodes is set to play a major role in the ongoing Road to WrestleMania 41, Truth’s recent interactions with Cody on Raw raise an interesting question—could he somehow be pulled into this high-profile feud?
Cena and Truth last shared a ring on the Raw after WrestleMania 40, teaming with The Miz to defeat The Judgment Day. But with Cena now aligned with The Rock and seemingly embracing a darker persona, Truth may find himself at a crossroads. Will he stand against his former hero, or will he try to reason with the man who once inspired him?
One thing is certain: R-Truth isn’t ready to accept this new version of John Cena just yet.
“Just trying to stay positive,” Truth wrote on social media, sharing the music video for his new single “For Real.” The single was released on February 28, just a day before Cena joined “The Final Boss” Dwayne Johnson’s quest to take Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes’s soul.
Men’s Elimination Chamber: John Cena def. CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, Damian Priest, and Seth Rollins
Cody Rhodes refuses to sell his soul to the Rock… but John Cena is more than happy to.
WWE’s Road to WrestleMania took a jaw-dropping turn at Elimination Chamber 2025, delivering brutal showdowns, a monstrous return, and one of the most shocking betrayals in recent memory. With two Chamber matches determining title challengers for The Grandest Stage of Them All, the night was already destined for fireworks—but nobody could’ve predicted the chaos that unfolded.
The Women’s Elimination Chamber match kicked off the night with six superstars vying for a chance to challenge for the WWE Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania. However, the match took a shocking turn before it could even get going.
Just as Liv Morgan and Naomi were set to start the match, Jade Cargill made her stunning return—and wasted no time making an impact. Instead of going after Morgan, Cargill viciously attacked Naomi, slamming her into the Lexan pod wall and leaving her unable to continue. As a result, Naomi was eliminated by forfeit before the action truly began.
From there, chaos reigned. Bianca Belair, furious over the attack on Naomi, tried to regain her focus while battling Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, Bayley, and Alexa Bliss. In a brutal series of eliminations, Bayley was taken out by Morgan, Perez fell to Bliss, and Morgan capitalized on an opening to eliminate Bliss.
The final two came down to Belair and Morgan, and despite Liv’s relentless offense, the EST of WWE proved why she’s one of the most dominant forces in the division. Belair planted Morgan with the KOD for the win, securing her spot at WrestleMania.
But the night wasn’t over for Belair. As she celebrated, WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY emerged on the stage, staring down the new No. 1 contender in an intense moment that signaled the battle ahead.
Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus Score a Huge Win Over Nia Jax & Candice LeRae
The unexpected pairing of Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus proved to be a force to be reckoned with as they took on Nia Jax and Candice LeRae in tag team action.
Jax dominated early, but Stratton and Stratus worked seamlessly together to wear down their opponents. After an intense back-and-forth, Stratton sealed the victory by hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Nia Jax for the pin. With this win, Stratton continues to prove she belongs among WWE’s elite.
Kevin Owens Survives a War with Sami Zayn, Only to Face the Viper’s Wrath
In what was nothing short of an all-out war, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn tore each other apart in an Unsanctioned Match that saw steel chairs, tables, and even barbed wire come into play.
Owens ultimately secured the win after a brutal apron powerbomb, but the violence didn’t stop there. KO continued his assault on Zayn post-match, ripping the protective mats off the floor—only to be interrupted by Randy Orton!
The Viper stormed the ring and dropped Owens with an RKO, teasing an even more vicious attack. As Orton geared up for his infamous Punt Kick, a swarm of WWE officials and security rushed in to prevent him from delivering the final blow. A frustrated Orton took out several security guards with RKOs before finally leaving the ring, setting the stage for what could be a heated rivalry in the weeks to come.
John Cena Outlasts the Men’s Elimination Chamber, But His Night Was Far From Over
The Men’s Elimination Chamber match featured some of WWE’s biggest names battling for a chance to challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania.
The match started with Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins, but as the chambers opened, Damian Priest, Logan Paul, John Cena, and finally CM Punk entered the fray.
Eliminations came fast and furious, with McIntyre and Priest both taken out early, followed by Logan Paul falling to Punk’s Go to Sleep. After an intense exchange, Rollins was eliminated by Punk, leaving Cena and Punk as the final two.
In a shocking turn of events, Cena locked Punk in the STF, forcing a referee stoppage to become the No. 1 contender. But his night wasn’t over yet.
As Cena celebrated, Cody Rhodes made his entrance, setting up a dramatic face-off for the WrestleMania main event. However, what happened next stunned the entire WWE Universe.
John Cena Shocks the World, Aligns with The Rock in Brutal Betrayal of Cody Rhodes
Just as it seemed like WrestleMania’s main event was set in stone, The Rock made his way to the ring, offering Cody Rhodes a chilling ultimatum—either embrace him as his champion, or watch his dreams die again.
Rhodes, showing his signature defiance, responded with a full-throated rejection, telling The Rock to go f* himself.** The crowd erupted, but what followed was pure chaos.
Cena—who had just earned his shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship—blindsided Rhodes with a vicious low blow. The 16-time world champion then went on a rampage, repeatedly assaulting Cody with his own wristwatch, a microphone, and finally, the championship title itself.
With The Rock watching on with a sinister smile, Cena wrapped Cody’s tie around his throat and choked him, bringing back haunting memories of his past brutality.
To add insult to injury, Travis Scott, the WWE Hardcore Champion, got in on the assault, landing stiff shots on Cody. The Rock then took Rhodes’ weight belt—engraved with the date of Dusty Rhodes’ passing—and whipped Cody mercilessly.
As Cena, Rock, and Scott stood tall on the ramp, the camera lingered on Cody—a bloody, broken mess in the ring, staring up at the championship that had just been stolen from him.
The message was clear: John Cena is no longer the hero WWE fans once knew. With WrestleMania 41 on the horizon, the biggest question now is—how will Cody Rhodes respond to this unthinkable betrayal?
Final Thoughts: The Road to WrestleMania Just Got Personal
With Elimination Chamber 2025 in the books, the Road to WrestleMania has taken a dramatic, violent turn. Bianca Belair and John Cena have secured their title shots, but the bigger story is the Cena-Rock alliance and their merciless assault on Cody Rhodes.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown is the go-home show for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber premium live event and will air live on the USA Network in the US and Netflix internationally. from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
WWE United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. LA Knight
WWE Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green vs. a mystery opponent
With WrestleMania 41 fast approaching, WWE’s top stars are locking in their spots for the grandest stage of them all. Now, a new report suggests that Randy Orton could soon be back in the mix, just in time for the event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to PWInsider Elite, Orton is expected to return to WWE by March, potentially making his in-ring comeback during WWE’s Road to WrestleMania tour in Europe. This timeline would put “The Viper” on track to compete at WrestleMania itself, marking his 19th appearance at WWE’s biggest event.
Orton’s Road to Recovery and a Potential Owens Feud
Orton has been out of action since November 2024 after WWE says he suffered a cervical cord neurapraxia following a brutal piledriver from Kevin Owens. The injury put a sudden halt to Orton’s momentum, but with WWE officials reportedly expecting his return soon, the speculation has already begun about what his WrestleMania match could look like.
One likely scenario? A showdown with Owens. The two superstars initially teamed up heading into WrestleMania 40, joining forces with Cody Rhodes to battle The Bloodline. However, after Owens turned on Rhodes at Bash in Berlin, he also betrayed Orton, setting the stage for a heated rivalry. With Owens already set to face Sami Zayn in an unsanctioned match at Elimination Chamber this weekend, Orton could make his return soon after to reignite their unfinished business.
Orton’s WrestleMania Legacy Continues
If Orton does compete at WrestleMania 41, it will further solidify his status as one of WWE’s most consistent performers on the grandest stage. With 18 previous WrestleMania matches, he trails only Triple H (23 WrestleMania appearances) and The Undertaker (27 WrestleMania appearances) in all-time history.
Despite missing WrestleMania 32 (2016) and WrestleMania 39 (2023), Orton has been a fixture at the event ever since his first appearance at WrestleMania 20 in 2004. Whether he faces Owens or another top WWE star, his return would add another major name to an already stacked WrestleMania 41 card.
With March right around the corner, Orton’s return could be imminent—will he get revenge on Owens, or does WWE have another plan in store for “The Viper”? Stay tuned as the Road to WrestleMania heats up!
A major champion in WWE NXT is reportedly dealing with an injury, which may explain the high-stakes title match set for NXT Roadblock.
On this week’s episode of NXT, General Manager Ava announced that NXT Women’s Champion Giulia will face Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer in a rare double-title match, with both championships on the line. However, new reports suggest that this match may have been booked due to an injury concern.
Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live revealed that one of the competitors is currently banged up and needs time off, though he didn’t specify which one. However, WrestlePurists and Ibou of Self Made later confirmed on social media that Giulia is the one dealing with an injury. PWInsider Elite also reported that the NXT Women’s Champion is hurt, though the exact nature of her injury remains unknown. Despite this, multiple sources confirm that Giulia is still scheduled to compete at Roadblock.
Giulia has been on a dominant run since capturing the NXT Women’s Championship from Roxanne Perez at New Year’s Evil on January 7. She successfully defended the title against Perez, Bayley, and Cora Jade in a Fatal 4-Way at Vengeance Day, and her upcoming clash with Vaquer marks her second defense.
With both titles at stake, Roadblock could significantly shake up NXT’s women’s division. However, with Giulia reportedly competing through an injury, fans will be watching closely to see how it impacts the match—and what the future holds for her reign.
As WWE continues to rake in record-breaking revenue following its merger with UFC under the TKO umbrella, behind the scenes, employees are feeling the pressure—and not in a good way. Despite the company’s booming financials, many WWE staff members are seeing cutbacks in benefits, limited promotions, and heavier workloads, leading to growing frustration and declining morale.
Financial Success vs. Employee Struggles
TKO Group Holdings is set to report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings, with projections placing revenue between $2.67 billion and $2.75 billion and an adjusted EBITDA of up to $1.24 billion. These figures come on the heels of WWE’s most lucrative period ever, marked by a $5 billion streaming deal with Netflix, record-breaking live event ticket sales, and blockbuster deals such as its ongoing partnership with Saudi Arabia.
However, despite the company’s financial windfall, employees say they aren’t seeing the benefits. In an anonymous report to Wrestlenomics, multiple WWE staff members described a significant decline in workplace morale. Their concerns? Reduced benefits, stagnant pay, and increased workloads—all while WWE’s corporate messaging continues to emphasize “valuing” its workforce.
Perks Cut and Pay Raises Stagnant
One of the major sore points for employees is the elimination of several perks that once made working for WWE more rewarding. Among the key changes:
Stock Purchase Program Eliminated – WWE employees previously had the option to buy shares at a 15% discount, allowing them to invest in the company’s success. With the merger, this program was scrapped, leaving staff without a similar opportunity.
Fewer Pay Raises and Promotions – Many employees received only a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, despite strong performance reviews. Some who expected significant raises or career advancements were told the company wasn’t in a position to offer them due to “budget constraints” tied to the merger.
Cutting of Employee Recognition Programs – WWE’s popular “Superstar” peer-recognition program was discontinued, removing one of the ways employees could be acknowledged for their contributions.
No More Free Event Tickets – WWE previously provided complimentary tickets to live events as a perk, but this benefit has also been taken away.
For many employees, these cutbacks come at a time when workloads have only increased. With WWE and UFC operations consolidating under Endeavor’s oversight, many staff members report working 50 to 60 hours a week, particularly as WrestleMania season approaches. Some have even seen their job responsibilities expand beyond WWE, now tasked with supporting Endeavor properties like UFC and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) without additional compensation.
The Growing Gap Between Executives and Employees
While WWE employees are being told that financial constraints are limiting raises and benefits, top TKO executives have been raking in massive payouts. CEO Ari Emanuel received a $20 million cash bonus on top of stock grants, while other executives were awarded millions in bonuses and stock options following the merger.
At the same time, TKO recently announced a $2 billion stock buyback program and continues to pay out quarterly dividends to institutional investors. While these moves benefit shareholders and executives, they do little for the rank-and-file employees who help drive WWE’s success.
Is WWE’s Work Culture Changing?
For years, WWE has thrived on a culture of passion and dedication, with employees willing to go the extra mile to help put on world-class entertainment. However, with morale at an all-time low, some staff members now say they’re hesitant to give the same level of effort.
With WWE employees not unionized and limited avenues for recourse, many fear that workloads will continue to increase without additional benefits or compensation. With TKO likely to pursue further acquisitions, concerns are growing that the situation could get even worse.
For now, WWE may be setting financial records, but internally, its workforce is feeling increasingly undervalued. If this trend continues, the company could soon find itself facing another challenge—retaining the very employees who helped make its success possible.
The Hardy Boyz are heading back to WWE—this time for their NXT debut. The legendary tag team, currently holding the TNA World Tag Team Championship, is set to take on No Quarter Catch Crew on Tuesday’s episode of NXT. This marks Matt and Jeff Hardy’s first WWE match in years, with Matt last competing in 2020 and Jeff departing in 2021.
Since leaving WWE, the brothers had stints in AEW and later TNA, where they are now a key part of the promotion’s resurgence. Their NXT appearance is the latest crossover in the growing partnership between WWE’s developmental brand and TNA, which has seen talent like Joe Hendry and Moose step into the NXT ring.
Matt Hardy on the Last-Minute Booking
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt revealed that this match came together at the last minute but sees it as a major opportunity for both parties.
“It’s very cool because… NXT and TNA have this partnership right now… It has been so beneficial for TNA and it has also been so beneficial for NXT,” Hardy explained.
Matt also emphasized that the Hardys’ popularity remains strong despite the ups and downs of their careers.
“Our popularity is great right now. It’s been off the charts… The people have a connection with us and that connection is very strong. It hasn’t faded away.”
The Hardys’ AEW Run and Moving Forward
While their return to WWE programming is an exciting development, Matt reflected on their time in AEW, admitting they never fully regained momentum there. Jeff’s DUI arrest in 2022 led to a suspension, and according to Matt, it may have permanently damaged their standing with AEW President Tony Khan.
“I think we’re still a draw… I think we could’ve been that in AEW,” Matt said. “I understand, my brother, he made that mistake. I understand Tony didn’t feel good about trusting him… It just didn’t happen [there].”
Now, with a fresh opportunity in WWE’s NXT, the Hardys have a chance to remind fans why they are one of the most iconic tag teams in wrestling history. Whether this is a one-off appearance or the start of something bigger remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—the Hardy Boyz are still extreme and ready to thrill the WWE Universe once again.
Stay tuned for NXT this Tuesday to see the Hardys in action!
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