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John Cena has won 16 world championships in WWE throughout his storied career. He will look to surpass Ric Flair and win his record-breaking 17th world title at SummerSlam, where he will face Roman Reigns.
Whether he beats the Universal Champion or not, he has already made history. With most of Flair's title reigns coming in WCW and NWA, the Hollywood star holds the most world titles in WWE.
While some of Cena's 16 world title reigns were not exactly memorable, he has won those titles in some iconic matches. The Cenation Leader has endured some absolute wars to come out with the WWE Championship.
Here is a look at every single time Cena won a world title in WWE and how it happened. This ranking is based on the magnitude of the moment, the quality of the match, and the general booking behind it.
Tell us your favorite John Cena world title win in the comments section below.
Read here: What does John Cena's workout routine include?
#16 John Cena def. Rey Mysterio (WWE RAW 25/7/2011)
In terms of the quality of the match, John Cena's WWE Championship win over Rey Mysterio ranks in the upper echelons of this list. However, the booking brings it down an enormous deal. Under no circumstances should babyface Cena have defeated Mysterio for the title on the same night the masked superstar won it.
The Master of the 619 won a tournament to become WWE Champion after CM Punk had left with the belt, but he lost it less than two hours later to Cena. The story was completely rushed and did neither man any favors. Mysterio had an embarrassing title reign, while Cena came across as entitled and selfish.
#15 John Cena def. Edge (WWE Royal Rumble 2006)
Edge's Money in the Bank cash-in on John Cena at New Year's Revolution 2006 should have instantly made him a star. He would eventually become one, but The Rated-R Superstar was made to look inferior three weeks later at Royal Rumble. Cena regained the WWE Championship from him in frustrating fashion.
This ended Edge's first world title reign prematurely, while the fans were growing tired of seeing Cena always come out on top. He looked unnecessarily strong by making his opponent tap out. The match itself wasn't very good. Both men would have much better encounters with each other, as we will get to.
#14 John Cena def. Chris Jericho (WWE Survivor Series 2008)
Like his WWE Title victory over Rey Mysterio, John Cena and Chris Jericho put on a good match at Survivor Series 2008. The only problem was the booking, which saw the Hollywood star waltz into a world title match after three months out with an injury. His win was counterproductive, with Jericho going on the run of his career.
The current AEW star was incredible as a cunning heel on RAW at the time, having just finished up his legendary feud with Shawn Michaels. He should have kept the World Heavyweight Title longer, instead of Cena immediately winning it back upon his return. He did not even earn the match.
#13 John Cena def. Alberto Del Rio (WWE Hell in a Cell 2013)
In a repeat from five years earlier, John Cena returned from elbow surgery directly into a World Heavyweight Championship match against Alberto Del Rio. Their match at Hell in a Cell 2013 was solid, with The Cenation Leader winning the big gold belt.
This was a much more well-received move, as Del Rio's world title reign wasn't the most exciting. Cena gave the World Heavyweight Title a huge shot in the arm before it got unified with the WWE Championship a few months later. But again, the title shot was not earned.
#12 John Cena def. Alberto Del Rio (WWE Night of Champions 2011)
John Cena defeated Alberto Del Rio twice for a world title, with the first time coming at Night of Champions 2011. While it could be argued that CM Punk should have been WWE Champion at the time, Cena and Del Rio did put on an enjoyable match for the title.
The 16-time world champion made his opponent tap out to capture the WWE Championship. This win isn't among Cena's greatest triumphs, but it should get a mention. Alberto Del Rio was one of his most underrated rivals, as showcased by their solid in-ring chemistry.
#11 John Cena def. JBL (WWE WrestleMania 21)
While it seems like John Cena's first WWE Championship win should be high up the list, the match he had with JBL weighs it down quite a bit. The celebration after the match completely overshadowed the fact that it was painfully average, especially considering this was one of the top matches for WrestleMania 21.
The contest lasted 11 minutes, which did not do both superstars any justice. This should have felt more epic, considering it marked the end of a 279-day long title reign. Nevertheless, Cena did build on this to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history.
#10 WWE Title Elimination Chamber Match (WWE Elimination Chamber 2010)
John Cena is one of the greatest competitors in Elimination Chamber history, surviving three matches inside the satanic structure. One of them came in 2010, as he pulled out a gutsy performance to win the WWE Championship that was defended by Sheamus.
After making Triple H tap out, he sold the victory as he had just been through a war. It added to the magnitude of it, even if it would come crashing down moments later. Batista's instant victory over Cena did not take away from his big win inside the Elimination Chamber in 2010.
#9 John Cena def. Edge vs. The Big Show (WWE WrestleMania 25)
Given the unfortunate task of having to follow The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, John Cena did get to enjoy a memorable moment at WrestleMania 25. While his match against Edge and The Big Show was alright, everybody remembers his entrance.
Cena entered the stadium with an army of Cenation clones right through the long ramp. He also showcased his superhuman strength, lifting both of his opponents on his shoulders before winning the match in style. That finish helped his WrestleMania 25 win climb a few places, while the match evidently suffered.
#8 John Cena def. The Rock (WWE WrestleMania 29)
WWE hoped to produce an epic sequel to the "Once in a Lifetime" encounter between John Cena and The Rock, one year after it had happened. While the WrestleMania 28 match felt special, that was not the case the following year. The addition of the WWE Championship did not help much, either.
The result seemed obvious - Cena getting his win back. The Rock's injury hampered the match, but it did not go off the rails. The two megastars ended it with a finisher-fest, followed by a "passing of the torch" moment. It felt pretty big, as a victory over The Brahma Bull would feel, but Cena has had several better WWE Title wins.
#7 John Cena def. The Miz vs. John Morrison (WWE Extreme Rules 2011)
Extreme Rules 2011 presented John Cena and The Miz with the opportunity to redeem themselves following a disappointing WrestleMania main event. They did just that, while the addition of John Morrison only enhanced their Steel Cage Match.
While this match is usually remembered by Cena's post-victory announcement, the drama and intrigue were top-notch. Morrison was particularly impressive. The Cenation Leader eventually pinned The Miz after a super Attitude Adjustment to win his 10th world title.
#6 John Cena def. Randy Orton (WWE Breaking Point 2009)
There were quite a few issues with this move, but John Cena's victory over Randy Orton at Breaking Point 2009 was pretty incredible. He endured hell before finally making The Viper say "I Quit" and win the match. It may have been a predictable outcome, but Cena produced a heroic performance to offset that.
The finish was incredibly inventive, as he wrapped Orton's own arm around his neck using handcuffs, for a modified and brutal-looking STF. Cena won the WWE Championship here, but this rivalry was far from over.
#5 WWE World Heavyweight Title Ladder Match (WWE Money in the Bank 2014)
Kicking off the top five is one of the more important title wins in John Cena's illustrious WWE career. After Daniel Bryan got injured in 2014, the company held an eight-man Ladder Match at Money in the Bank to determine the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Cena overcame a mix of experienced names - like Randy Orton and Kane - and fresh stars - like Roman Reigns and Cesaro - to come out on top. The match was great, with the right amount of high spots.
But the main reason why his 15th world title win ranks so high is that it led to his unbelievable destruction at the hands of Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. He was the only (healthy) star in WWE, at the time, who could be squashed like that and still recover.
#4 John Cena def. Batista (WWE WrestleMania 26)
John Cena's greatest WrestleMania win came in 2010, when he challenged Batista for the WWE Championship. The story heading into the match was how The Animal constantly had Cena's number, even boasting about breaking his neck at SummerSlam 2008.
It was compelling and intriguing heading into WrestleMania 26. Both superstars would craft a great contest, filled with a multitude of impactful moves from both stars. It was a thrilling match that ended with an intense STF spot, as Batista tapped out.
John Cena's victory is among the most underrated moments in his WWE career. This match does not get enough recognition, but it lived up to the star power involved.
#3 John Cena def. Randy Orton (WWE Bragging Rights 2009)
Having spoken about John Cena and Randy Orton's rivalry in WWE, this hour-long Iron Man Match was the best and worst thing to happen to it. The negative is that nothing they ever did together after Bragging Rights 2009 could live up to this match, because of how good it was.
Additionally, it was Falls Count Anywhere. This led to an hour of epic and intense action all around the arena. Cena and Orton pinned each other every few minutes, keeping things fresh. Legacy and Kofi Kingston got involved before it boiled down to a close finish.
Orton submitted to the STF with six seconds to go, which led to a spent Cena earning a hard-fought victory. Say what you will about their rivalry, but nobody can deny how brilliant this match was.
#2 John Cena def. Edge (WWE Unforgiven 2006)
Alongside Randy Orton, Edge can be considered John Cena's biggest rival in WWE. This TLC Match at Unforgiven 2006 was the peak of their feud. The Cenation Leader took on Edge in his specialty match, with the event emanating from The Rated-R Superstar's hometown of Toronto.
Cena truly stepped out of his comfort zone here, entering into enemy territory. He had to dig down deep like never before, eventually becoming a respected star in the process. The intensity was off the charts in this match. The finish was also one of the most iconic moments Cena has ever had.
He sent Edge through a stack of tables from atop a ladder, before slowly unhooking the WWE Championship. John Cena had beaten the latter in his own match in front of his people, to win (literally) his belt, doing so with zero emotion on his face. What a way to kick off a year-long title reign.
#1 John Cena def. AJ Styles (WWE Royal Rumble 2017)
There it is. John Cena's greatest world title win in WWE is his last one. But it is not just because he tied the record, although that was a factor. Nobody in the past few years has brought the best out of Cena as AJ Styles did so, in 2016 and 2017.
The two of them had some excellent matches against each other, as The Phenomenal One became a main-event fixture in WWE thanks to the 16-time world champion. Styles had beaten Cena at Money in the Bank and SummerSlam in 2016, before capturing the WWE Championship soon after.
His reign lasted until Royal Rumble 2017 - the site of the third singles encounter between the fierce rivals. John Cena and AJ Styles somehow managed to top their previous efforts, thanks to a brilliant atmosphere at the Alamodome and the emotion attached to the former's 16th world title win.
This match was contested entirely in the ring, as the fans remained hooked throughout its duration. The finish saw Cena avoid a repeat of SummerSlam, as he countered a Phenomenal Forearm attempt into two Attitude Adjustments to become a 16-time world champion.
This was a special moment. Perhaps, Cena's greatest victory. Couple the magnitude of 16 world titles with the brilliance of the match, and it is hard to argue against it. AJ Styles proved as formidable a foe could be, playing a huge part in making this moment feel epic.
Would John Cena be able to top this win once he becomes a 17-time world champion? It is a tough ask for the increasingly part-time superstar.
