Ric Flair on John Cena’s heel turn: ‘He’s just not a bad guy’

Though Ric Flair loved the angle where John Cena turned heel, he believes Cena is much more natural as a babyface.

Flair was a guest on The Ariel Helwani Show yesterday, discussing the passing of his good friend Hulk Hogan. The subject of Hogan’s 1996 heel turn came up with Flair being asked to compare it to Cena’s.

“It’s hard to measure the two,” the 76-year-old Flair said. “I loved the thing with John, but the thing about John — John is Ricky Steamboat. There’s nothing bad about John. You know, some guys like Jack Brisco and Ricky Steamboat [and] Sting and all that, they just can’t be a heel. And John, as great as he is and all that, he’s just not a bad guy. He’s such a good guy.”

Flair lightheartedly admitted that Hogan could be a “prick,” but Flair said that’s because Hogan had to spend so many years fighting for his spot in the business.

“Anything Hulk touched worked. It is what it is,” Flair said about Hogan’s turn. “Former wrestler and agent Jay Strongbow called him the golden goose. Anything that Hulk touched worked out. He was over that much.”

The Cena turn happened earlier this year on the road to WrestleMania, where he defeated Cody Rhodes to win the 17th World Championship of his career and break Flair’s record for what WWE recognizes as the most World title reigns in history. A rematch between Cena and Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship will headline night two of SummerSlam this Sunday, with the two set to face off in a street fight.

Flair’s full appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show can be watched below: