Full Circle Fandom: Growing Up WWF, John Cena's Heel Turn, and the Evolution of Wrestling

 Full Circle Fandom: Growing Up WWF, John Cena's Heel Turn, and the Evolution of Wrestling

By Brian "nottheman" Keane

If you grew up in the '80s and '90s, you probably spent hours glued to the TV, watching WWF, where the heroes were as iconic as the villains, and every match felt like an epic battle between good and evil. Hulk Hogan had the legendary shirt rip, Ultimate Warrior had the unforgettable entrances, and Macho Man had the best voice we all loved to imitate.

Back then, it was simple—there were the good guys (the babyfaces) and the bad guys (the heels), and the crowd went wild depending on which side you were on. It was as much about the characters as it was about the action. Now, here we are, decades later, and the wrestling world has undergone a complete rebrand. Gone are the days of clear-cut good vs. evil. Today, it’s a world where the lines blur and the characters evolve.

But here’s the thing—I wasn’t always a die-hard wrestling fan. As a kid, I was all in, living and breathing the drama, the storylines, and the chaos of the WWF. Then, as I grew older, life got in the way. I “grew up” and, like many people, found myself drifting away from the sport. The excitement faded, and I put my fandom on pause. Wrestling seemed like something I left behind in my childhood—an era of big characters and big moves that didn’t fit with my grown-up world.

That is, until recently, when I found myself getting pulled back in by the drama at the latest Eliminator Challenge event held in Toronto. Who would’ve thought that the immovable John Cena—Mr. Never Give Up himself—would turn heel in a shocking twist that had fans screaming at their screens? Watching Cena pull off this character transformation was a major moment for me, and not because I had been a fan of his. To be honest, by the time he first appeared in his signature jorts, WWE had already been left far behind in my rearview mirror. But seeing that moment on social media (then later on Peacock when I replayed the whole match) brought me right back to the heart of wrestling—when anything could happen, and no one was safe from a good swerve.

Suddenly, it wasn’t just nostalgia—I was hooked again, just like I was when I was 10 years old. John Cena’s heel turn reignited that old spark, and before I knew it, I was downloading walkout songs, researching the latest rivalries, and having whispered conversations with my poker league buddies about how we were all secretly watching again.

And the best part? I now get to experience that thrill with my two sons. They’re just beginning to dive into the world of WWE, and it's been a blast watching them get caught up in the excitement of it all. They’re fascinated by the characters, the rivalries, and the sudden plot twists that keep the action unpredictable. Seeing them get lost in it—the same way I did all those years ago—is a new kind of magic.

Watching my sons experience the highs and lows of WWE these last few weeks has been an absolute joy. They're learning that wrestling isn't just about the moves; it's about the storytelling and the unexpected turns. I get to introduce them to the same thrill I felt as a kid—from the first time I saw Bret Hart pull off a Sharpshooter to watching The Undertaker finish someone off with his Tombstone.

So here I am, in my early 40s, reconnecting with a piece of my childhood while watching my kids fall in love with the same world I did decades ago. Sitting alongside them, watching entrances with the same wide-eyed enthusiasm I had as a kid, feeling the rush as the crowd erupts with every high-flying move—I realized I hadn’t really “outgrown” it after all. Wrestling had changed, but the excitement—the pure, unadulterated joy of the spectacle—hadn't lost its grip on me. I’m right back where I started, excited for the next big reveal, the next shocking heel turn, and the next unforgettable moment—only this time, I get to share it with the next generation.

From Hulk Hogan’s leg drop to John Cena’s unexpected betrayal, one thing is clear: wrestling will never be the same. But some things—like the excitement of a great story—never change. And maybe, just maybe, I’m not the only one who’ll find themselves downloading theme songs and getting a little too hyped for Monday Night Raw.

Yeet!