Did John Cena turn heel during the 2010s? At least, in Boston, he did. The WWE Superstar and “Peacemaker” actor Cena grew up a Boston Red Sox fan. That naturally made him a major rival of the New York Yankees. However, he still became a fan of Derek Jeter; that’s still acceptable for Red Sox fans. But then Cena went ahead and gave up on the Red Sox, and that turned everything around. 

It’s common in sports for fans to switch teams when they stop recognizing their existing favorites. While most people remain ride-or-die with their team, some, like Cena, look for a team that matches their beliefs. So why did Cena give up on the legendary Boston Red Sox? The superstar answered that a few years ago.

One thing that WWE fans remember quite fondly is the “Summer of Punk” in 2011. That was when CM Punk feuded with John Cena. In one of their many memorable promo battles, he called Cena a “dynasty” like the Yankees. Cena seems to agree with the general sentiment of it. As reported by CBS News in 2012, the “face that runs the place” said that he gave up on the Red Sox because they’ve “become the team that the Red Sox used to hate. They’ve become the Yankees.”

Cena noted that this statement did make him public enemy no. 1 in Boston, but he believed in it earnestly. During that time, the Red Sox were one of the most dominant teams in baseball. More importantly, they were heavy spenders, and that didn’t sit well with Cena. As a result, he shifted his loyalties to the Tampa Bay Rays. “They just somehow make it happen,” Cena said about the Rays. “They’re what the Red Sox used to be.” 

While Cena giving up on the Sox was enough to turn Boston on him, things took an even wilder turn later on. In 2014, John Cena decided to pay tribute to the Yankees captain as Derek Jeter prepared for his retirement. It was there that he revealed how much Jeter inspires him.

Did Derek Jeter’s humility inspire John Cena?

“I know he doesn’t speak loudly of himself, which I also admire. But I’ll speak loudly for him,” John Cena said to YES Network in 2014. WWE’s connection with New York City made it obvious that they’d be the first ones to pay tribute to the retiring captain. However, Cena’s personal touch to this was a surprising development. Jeter’s been an idol for many athletes, perhaps its time to add Cena’s name to that list.

“I think he’s a class act through and through—both on and off the field. And he is someone that I try to emulate,” John Cena said about Derek Jeter. On a closer look, one can see how Jeter can inspire Cena. After all, both of them were, at one point, the faces of their respective organizations. More importantly, they were the leaders who guided the team to new heights. 

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The fact that Cena’s “hustle, loyalty, respect” motto aligns with Jeter’s “work hard” mantra is yet another proof of their similarities. So within two years, Cena did two highly sacrilegious things for Red Sox fans: praise a Yankee and change his loyalties. Certainly, that was a heel turn for the perennial face.