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When a young John Cena won the WWE Championship from JBL at WrestleMania 21, that April night in 2005 changed the world of WWE forever.
Since then, Cena has become one of the biggest stars in wrestling, tying Ric Flair with 16 World Championship reigns, with his name being held in the same esteem as Flair, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, The Rock, and Hulk Hogan.
But, all good things must come to an end, and in recent years, Cena has taken a step back from the WWE, focussing on his growing acting career, with the Doctor of Thuganomics appearing in films such as Blockers, Ferdinand, and the soon to be released Transformers prequel, Bumblebee.
Cena himself has said recently that his time has come, and that the company should look for a replacement.
Here are 5 Superstars who could replace John Cena as WWE's top Superstar.
5: Roman Reigns
Just a few months ago, Roman Reigns would've by far been the obvious choice as the next top star in the WWE.
That was until October, when the Big Dog relinquished the Universal Championship, announcing his leukaemia had returned and that he would be leaving to fight it.
Now, Reigns' future is unknown, and he could be already finished, a real shame when you consider how many people lambasted him for the booking he had no control over.
If he is able to return, Reigns could finally be accepted by the WWE Universe, who would hopefully appreciate the Big Dog's effort to return after the horrific illness.
If he returns, Reigns could be put back into his spot as the company's next top guy, a position he has been building to ever since he was thrust into the main event in 2014.
4. Seth Rollins
When Seth Rollins betrayed the Shield in 2014, no-one could've expected that there'd come a time when the Architect could ever be loved by the fans again.
But in 2016, Rollins did just that and has become one of the top faces on RAW in recent history.
Already the Intercontinental Champion, Rollins has impressed fans each week with entertaining matches and captivating feuds, such as his current one with former Shield-brother, Dean Ambrose.
Having Rollins replace Cena makes perfect sense, as the 32-year-old Superstar is nearly a decade younger than Cena, and has plenty of years left in his career.
Also, Rollins has already dethroned the Chaingang leader once before, defeating him at Summerslam 2015.
How fitting, therefore, would it be for the Architect to do it again, as the top guy in the WWE.
3. Dolph Ziggler
Whilst he may not exactly be a rookie, Dolph Ziggler has impressed the WWE Universe for years, ever since his debut a decade ago.
A former two-time World Champion, Ziggler has shone brightest in the mid-card, where he has been both the United States and Intercontinental Champion, as well as holding tag team gold.
Now a face once again, it's unlikely but not impossible for Ziggler to be given a huge push, especially in the absence of Brock Lesnar.
Maybe a feud with the Universal Champion could be exactly what Ziggler needs to rise to the top, as a huge David Vs. Goliath match between the two could shock the WWE Universe with a Ziggler win.
With that said, Ziggler's contract is often under scrutiny, with the ShowOff hinting at leaving several times over the past few years.
2. Braun Strowman
He may not look too much like the clean-cut Cena, but there's no denying that Braun Strowman has become a huge star on Monday Nights in the past year.
While he has received multiple shots at the Universal Championship though, Strowman has yet to capture the title, most recently losing to Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel.
Despite these setbacks, Strowman's popularity with the fans is unwavering and he could become the next top guy in the near future, replacing Cena.
Dethroning Lesnar would be the biggest step on this path, as the WWE Universe would certainly be pleased to have the top championship in WWE back on TV.
Whilst Strowman's recent injury has caused some doubts on whether he can carry the company into the next decade, hopefully, this shoulder injury was a one-off for the Monster Among Men.
1.Finn Balor
Finn Balor's time in the WWE has been a tad mixed.
Arguably the best Superstar in NXT history and the longest reigning NXT Champion, Balor continued his winning ways when he moved to the main roster, becoming the first Universal Champion.
Surrendering the title a day later due to injury though, Balor has fallen down the company's totem pole and is now a fixture of the mid-card.
Having Balor rise once again in 2019 would be huge for him, and the WWE Universe, who have supported the Demon since his debut.
Outside of the ring, Balor has always carried himself well, being friendly to all he meets, a good look for a WWE top guy.
Could 2019 be the year of the demon to rise again?
