You may not want to hear this, but the former Doctor of Thuganomics is actually a good wrestler. The majority of fans over the last decade plus have taken it upon themselves to neglect that ideology, but it’s come to a point now where there is simply no denying the fact that John Cena is one of the best in the business. Fact.
It’s not like we’re going to choose from the same old batch of matches either because there’s one or two in here that don’t get mentioned all too much when it comes to Cena’s legacy. Sure some of them are going to be somewhat predictable, but that should be considered a good thing as opposed to us ‘beating a dead horse’ so to speak.
We aren’t forcing you to love John Cena, but what we are doing is opening your eyes to the possibility that he isn’t the god-awful Great Khali-standard wrestler that people think he is. There’s a reason why he’s been positioned atop the company since 2005, and sure, his merchandise sales are one of the causes of that, but if you look a bit deeper, then you’ll find something special.
With that being said, here are five times John Cena proved he can put on stellar matches.
#1 CM Punk – Money in the Bank 2011
You all knew it was going to be in here, and there’s a good reason for it – this was the best match of the current era in professional wrestling. Period. Punk was all set to leave the company following his pipebomb promo, with his final showdown set to be a WWE Championship match against John Cena in his hometown of Chicago.
The stage was set for a picture-perfect night, and boy oh boy did it deliver. With the match going beyond half an hour, Punk eventually outlasted Cena before picking up the victory and leaving through the crowd with the most prestigious title in all of wrestling. Honestly, this was absolutely perfect, and Cena was a big part of that.
He’s much more than just a sexy boy.
Also read: An open letter to the Doctor of Thuganomics, John Cena
#2 Shawn Michaels – Raw 2007
When Big Match John defeated Shawn Michaels in the main event of WrestleMania 23, a lot of fans were left feeling deflated. Many had attended the showcase of the immortals hoping to see the old veteran pull off a miracle one more time, and they were left with Cena holding the WWE Championship up high for a third consecutive Mania.
It was still a great match, but it had nothing on their bout a few weeks later. On a random episode of Monday Night Raw, Cena and HBK battled for more than 45 minutes in a match that wasn’t even for the title. In the end, the Heartbreak Kid managed to pull off the upset. However, there is no denying that this match helped to establish Cena as a main event player.
Brock smash.
#3 Seth Rollins & Brock Lesnar – Royal Rumble 2015
Brock Lesnar is the definition of a scary individual, but he’s a man who Cena has faced many times in the past. Because of this the addition of Seth Rollins into their 2015 Royal Rumble title match felt incredibly fresh and much needed, injecting a source of adrenaline that left us with one of 2015’s most exhilarating spectacles.
The psychology in this match took it to the next level and then some, with Brock fighting back from a broken rib before going into Super Brock mode. After a thrilling final sequence with The Architect Seth Rollins, Lesnar caught him in mid-air and retained his title. Still, Cena’s influence on the match cannot be understated.
What a monster.
#4 Umaga – Royal Rumble 2007
Umaga, also known as the Samoan Bulldozer, was unlike anything we’d ever seen in WWE. The newest monster heel on the block was running through everyone who stepped in his path, with his rise to the top inevitably leading to a WWE Championship match against John Cena at the 2007 Royal Rumble.
But not just any match, no no – it was a last man standing contest. That stipulation can occasionally put people to sleep, but in this instance, it helped to bring out an edgier side in Cena that we hadn’t seen in quite some time. In order to destroy the villain he had to become the villain, and that’s what made it so must see.
Here comes The Phenomenal One.
#5 AJ Styles – Royal Rumble 2017
Following AJ Styles’ victory over John Cena at SummerSlam 2016, many members of the WWE Universe were panicking over the prospect of Big Match John returning to avenge his defeat. Well, at the 2017 Royal Rumble in San Antonio he did just that by capturing the WWE Championship from AJ and becoming a record-equalling 16-time World Champion.
But wait, there’s more. The actual match itself was right up there with his summer effort against the former TNA standout, with some arguing that it was better. Whichever side of the coin you look at it from this was a magnificent effort from John, once again proving that he knows how to turn it on when the lights shine brightest.
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