10 WWE Clashes That Defined John Cena’s Career
John Cena’s run in WWE has lasted nearly two decades and defined an era. He went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest stars to ever lace up boots. Now, with retirement on the horizon and 2025 likely marking his final chapter, it’s the right time to look back—not just at the titles or the catchphrases, but at the rivalries that shaped him.
Randy Orton – Bragging Rights 2009
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By the time Bragging Rights 2009 came around, Cena and Orton had already clashed many times, but this particular match was a 60-minute Iron Man match with the WWE Championship on the line—no disqualifications, anything goes. It featured everything from pyrotechnic stunts to handcuffs, and while the pace slowed at times, the storytelling was deliberate. Cena walked away with the title, but more importantly, this match marked the end of a long chapter between two competitors who were always being compared—and who always brought out something extra in each other.
Edge – Unforgiven 2006
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Their feud had personal stakes from the start. Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase earlier that year to beat Cena, and the two had been trading wins ever since. At Unforgiven 2006, they faced off in a TLC match—Edge’s specialty—inside his hometown of Toronto. The crowd was firmly behind Edge, which added pressure on Cena, who wasn’t used to being the outsider. Despite not having Edge’s experience with ladders and chairs, Cena adapted and delivered an Attitude Adjustment off a ladder through two tables, ending the match and the title reign.
The Rock – WrestleMania 28
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Cena vs. The Rock at WrestleMania 28 was all about pride and recognition. The buildup spanned a full year, with weekly exchanges that sometimes felt too personal for scripted television. The match itself was deliberate and didn’t rely on spectacle. The Rock got the win, but for Cena, the loss helped shape his character over the following year.
CM Punk – Money in the Bank 2011
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Few matches have carried the kind of real-world tension that Cena vs. Punk had at Money in the Bank 2011. Punk was days away from his contract expiring and threatened to leave with the title. Cena, playing the role of company figurehead, was caught in the middle of an evolving story about control, respect, and independence. The match ended with Punk escaping through the crowd after Vince McMahon’s last-ditch interference backfired. It was a turning point in modern WWE and a rare moment when fiction and reality blurred convincingly.
AJ Styles – Royal Rumble 2017
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Styles had established himself as a top name quickly after arriving in WWE, and Cena was looking to tie Ric Flair’s record with a 16th world title. What followed was one of the cleanest matches of that era—no run-ins, no shortcuts. Just two wrestlers working a tight, technically sound match from start to finish. Cena got the win, but the match elevated both men, particularly Styles, whose credibility was now fully established with fans who had once questioned whether he belonged.
Triple H – Night of Champions 2008
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When Cena stepped into the ring with Triple H at Night of Champions 2008, it was two workhorses colliding. Triple H brought a cerebral, methodical approach, while Cena countered with his usual high energy and brute-force style. The clash made for a tense, hard-hitting match that underscored how evenly matched they were, even as they brought different philosophies to the fight.
Kurt Angle – No Mercy 2003
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This was Cena’s first true test. He’d been building momentum, leaning into his rapper persona, and quickly winning over crowds. But No Mercy 2003 put him across from Kurt Angle—a master of in-ring technique with years of experience. Cena showed grit and growth, hanging with Angle in a match that stayed grounded and technical. Though he lost, it was clear he had moved up a level.
Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36
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The Firefly Funhouse Match wasn’t traditional in any sense, but it served a purpose. Wyatt used the setting to deconstruct Cena’s career, walking him through past gimmicks, moments of doubt, and public perception. It was scripted more like a short film than a match, and Cena allowed himself to be the subject of scrutiny, which wasn’t typical for a top-level name.
Kevin Owens – Money in the Bank 2015
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Owens debuted on the main roster and beat Cena in his first pay-per-view match. That doesn’t happen often, and when it does, it says something. Their match at Money in the Bank 2015 was intense but controlled. Owens matched Cena’s power and outmaneuvered him more than once. The result was a wake-up call: Cena wasn’t slipping, but the next wave was here. Their subsequent matches were just as compelling, but this first one stood out because it shifted the balance without needing any elaborate twist.
Brock Lesnar – Extreme Rules 2012
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When Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012, his first target was Cena. At Extreme Rules, they met in a violent, almost uncomfortable match that veered into MMA territory. Lesnar dominated early with elbows and ground-and-pound offense while leaving Cena bloodied. But in true fashion, Cena clawed his way back and won. It wasn’t pretty—but it was unforgettable.
Kurt Angle – Debut in 2002
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Cena’s first match on WWE television was a loss to Kurt Angle, but that wasn’t the point. What mattered was that he took Angle to the limit. Cena was still unknown to most fans, but his confidence—walking up to Angle and asking for a shot—set the tone for everything that followed.
The Undertaker – Vengeance 2003
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Facing The Undertaker has always meant measuring yourself against a benchmark. Cena wasn’t expected to win at Vengeance 2003, and he didn’t. But the way he held his ground, pushing The Deadman for most of the match, showed that he wasn’t just a loudmouth rookie anymore.
Daniel Bryan – SummerSlam 2013
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Cena didn’t need to accept this match. He was the champion and had nothing to prove. But he picked Bryan—then riding a wave of fan support—to challenge him at SummerSlam 2013. Cena worked through an elbow injury and still delivered a strong match that leaned more on wrestling than spectacle. Bryan won clean, and Cena raised his hand afterward. That gesture mattered and was Cena’s way of publicly acknowledging the next guy in line.
Seth Rollins – Night of Champions 2015
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Rollins was holding two belts—WWE and U.S.—when he faced Cena in a title-for-title match. Cena wasn’t interested in the flash or the dual-title spotlight. He wanted his belt back. The match was tight, with both men trading control. Cena won the U.S. title, but Rollins retained the other. What stood out was how well they worked together, especially given their different styles. It didn’t feel like an audition—it felt like two performers treating the match seriously, which helped both of them.
Roman Reigns – No Mercy 2017
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Cena and Reigns collided at No Mercy 2017 in a match that felt like a generational checkpoint. Reigns was being positioned as the next face of the company, but Cena wasn’t ready to hand over that title without a fight. Their war of words in the weeks leading up was almost as intense as the match itself.