Eric Bischoff Grades John Cena’s Retirement Tour
Eric Bischoff Grades John Cena’s Retirement Tour a “C,” Cites Botched Heel Turn
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Former WCW and WWE executive Eric Bischoff has given a critical assessment of John Cena’s ongoing retirement tour, attributing its struggles to a problematic initial heel turn. Bischoff shared his thoughts on the 83 Weeks podcast, as transcribed by WrestlingNews.co.
Initial Reaction and Concerns
Bischoff expressed concern over the initial direction of the tour,especially the alliance between Cena and The Rock. He stated that a scenario involving Brock Lesnar appearing at Wrestlepalooza consequently of this alignment would be “worrisome.” This suggests a potential disruption of Cena’s farewell narrative and a shift towards a more chaotic storyline.
overall Tour Grade: A “C”
Bischoff graded the tour a “C,” primarily due to the execution of the heel turn.He qualified this by saying that removing the problematic turn would elevate the tour to a “B” or even an “A-.” he believes the tour has been ”pretty good” aside from its initial misstep.
The “Botched” Heel Turn as a Narrative Disconnect
Bischoff likened the failed heel turn to a movie with a strong ending undermined by a poor beginning. He explained, “The heel turn attempt, its like the end of the movie ended up being pretty good, but you got up and walked out mentally or emotionally during the first 15 minutes of the movie, as it just didn’t make any sense.” He emphasized the difficulty of regaining audience investment after such a disconnect.
The Importance of a Satisfying Farewell
Bischoff underscored the importance of giving fans a satisfying conclusion to a legendary career. He drew a parallel to baseball icon Babe ruth, stating, “Give everybody what they want is to see the guy go out on top. Everybody would love to see Babe Ruth hit his last home run. Nobody wants to see Babe Ruth strike out.” This highlights the desire for a triumphant and memorable send-off for a beloved performer like John Cena.
Tour Timeline and Current Status
John Cena’s retirement tour began following a heel turn at Elimination Chamber, where he aligned with The Rock. However, he reverted to a babyface character before losing the WWE Title to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. His final scheduled match is currently set for a Saturday Night’s Main Event special in December 2025.