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John Cena ’s legacy as the GOAT ofWWEis largely conceived from hisWrestleManiaperformances . Professional grappling is litter with iconic character and performer deserving of a locating in the medium ’s Mount Rushmore . In John Cena ’s case , his " Big Match John " moniker was birthed mostly due to his consistentWrestleManiaappearances .
The Leader of the CENAtion was always consistent throughout his career , but withWrestleManiabeing the Showcase of the Immortals , his whiz status in the mainstream glare was immortalized through hisManiaoutings . Whether he ’s main eventing in high spirits - stakes championship match , orrapping at cardboard cut - out of celebrities , Cena always impart his arena crowds something to utter about . However , not all the talk was flattering , as Cena has had just as manyManialows as he ’s had highs , all of which are worth ranking from bottom to top .
16John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse
WWE WrestleMania 33
It ’s rarefied that John Cena can be accused of phoning in a carrying into action , as he ’s notorious for overachieving and exceeding expectation in his career . However , for his mixed tag end team correspond alongside his then - romantic partner , Nikki Bella , Cena feels like he ’s on autopilotfor much of the match . It urinate the mate feel like an reconsideration , and maybe it was considering it largely serves as a gateway for Cena to propose to his girl . Unfortunately , knowing that the couple unwrap up before walking down the aisle makes the match palpate all the more wasted on replay value .
15John Cena vs. Austin Theory for the WWE United States Championship
WWE WrestleMania 39
In perhaps one of hismost cad moments as a babyface , John Cena would " swallow up " Austin Theory in a promo essentially calling him , his title sovereignty , and overall push a flop . What made this promo flimflam so severely is thatTheory failed to try out critics wrongon the night it count most . Despite adding a profits over John Cena to his resume , Theory failed to turn in a friction match worth remembering . The bout underwhelms with a by - the - numbers , arguably safe bookng . Theory has yet to recuperate or return to independent effect - level relevancy , and it leave a blemish on Cena ’s Mania performance .
14John Cena vs. The Rock II for the WWE Championship
WWE WrestleMania 29
For " Twice in a Lifetime , " this sequel already had enough knead against it despite the WWE Championship adding newfangled stakes this time around . Most of the match reads like a less - sharp retread of the original lucifer , but in their defense , The Rock suffered some serious injuriesduring this match , including tearing two sinew off his pelvis . An wound like that alone is painful to endure , and Johnson fight ahead for much of the match with it . Had he not been injured , perhaps the sequel would have been welcome just as savory , if not salutary , than the first go - one shot .
13John Cena vs. JBL for the WWE Championship
WWE WrestleMania 21
It ’s a ignominy to think that John Cena ’s breakout into the main event picture and mainstream centre was n’t a memorable mates . Everyone remembersJohn Cena ' first WWE Title winnings , but his literal match with JBL is usually a fuzz for a pot of rooter who commend it . Neither Bradshaw nor the Doctor of Thuganomics do anything untimely , needfully . The match ’s cardinal sin issimply being boring . Thankfully , they ’d make up for it mere months later with one ofWWE ’s most extreme matches , an unforgettable I Quit match .
12John Cena vs. Batista for the WWE Championship
WWE WrestleMania XXVI
There was a time when John Cena and Batista were both considered the face of the WWE simultaneously . For that reason , this mates was weigh a dream match , but the dream was impair two years before at SummerSlam 2008 , where both humanity - still in their prime - had an admittedly great match . Perhaps the allurement of the dream lucifer was spoiled because it already fall out , or perhaps their chemical science just was n’t as sharp , but their Mania bout isdisappointingly forgettable by comparability .
11John Cena vs. Rusev for the WWE United States Championship
WWE WrestleMania 31
Cena ’s match with Rusev is another shell of two performers who performed well , but simply do n’t go away an impression becausethe match itself is forgettable . The match is exclusively booked on the back of the classic USA vs. Russia story . Some will say that it ’s a play - out story that felt go steady even by 2015 touchstone . However , the gang was hot for it , pay Cena some of the big cheers of the night and Rusev some of the dark ’s loudest boos . That has to count for something and deliver the mate on some level .
10John Cena vs. The Miz for the WWE Championship
WWE WrestleMania XXVII
In 2011 , The Miz had become one of the fellowship ’s hottest heels as WWE Champion , arguably the most hated going intoWrestleMania . Meanwhile , John Cena at his most beloved and popular in the heart of WWE ’s PG Era . pit the WWE ’s biggest good hombre against the expectant bad guy cable should ’ve produced rich results , but there was oneshadow overcast the principal event : The Rock . The returning Great One ’s result feud with John Cena managed to overshadow both the catch and the actual WWE Championship feud .
As a result , thematch itself felt like an afterthoughtwhen the ending was a forgone ending . Most hearing member wait theWrestleMania 27host to eventually cost Cena the match , making an unenthusiastic crowd wait on mitt and knees for 15 minute until it fall out . It put a damper on the match , and a damper on what could ’ve been a shining moment for Miz .
9John Cena vs. Edge vs. The Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship
WWE WrestleMania 25
This match had the tough project of befall immediately after The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels , a match that not only stands out as one ofTaker ’s best Streak matches , but also one ofthe few perfectWrestleManiamatchesin the event ’s history . That ’s a tall order to ask of any performer , even three Hall of Fame - caliber lead . Even worse , John Cena affirm in aTikTokvideo commentary that because The Deadman and The Heartbreak Kid go as long as they did for their catch , ittook time away from the triple threat .
Losing second from their match unexpectedly likelyhurt the match in the longsighted runand throw the performers off as far as everything they had already planned . Still , though , at 15 minutes , the match still managed to bring forth a fun spectacle with the time they were give . The round is best remember for Cena lifting Edge and Big Show on his shoulders .
8John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
WWE WrestleMania XXX
The benefit ofJohn Cena ’s 2025 heel turnis that it puts his past matches and feuds into a new retrospect , particularly his 2014 storyline with Bray Wyatt . The Eater of Worlds was hellbent on not only exposing who he believe John Cena was , but was intent on getting him toembrace the hatethat purportedly flowed through him . This storyline would weave its agency into the match , as Wyatt ’s character seemed more interested in getting John Cena to give in to his darkest desire rather than advance the mates .
This story of John Cena defend his legacy against a nefarious , fiendish villain is compelling enough to make up for the peer not being as striking on a technical , in - ring perspective . The story go more than anything . Best of all , even when it stop with Cena once again overcoming the odds , Cena ’s actual heel turnrecontextualizes this match ’s account .
7John Cena vs. The Big Show for the WWE United States Championship
WWE WrestleMania XX
While John Cena ’s greenhorn twelvemonth was acidify by failing to have a match atWrestleMania XIX , he ’d have buyback the keep abreast twelvemonth in a breakout moment . He kill aWrestleManiamain eventer in The Big Show for the WWE United States Championship in a match that , in retrospect , wouldcome to limit John Cena ’s future tense . John Cena , as a character , walk into this match outmatched in size and experience by a giant who dwarfed over him . Keep in mind , John Cena was never belittled man , but he was the David to Big Show ’s Goliath on this Nox .
John Cena appeared at WrestleMania XIX , but not on the main wit . He was on the Sunday Night Heat pre - show , and it was n’t even in a wrestle lucifer . He execute in a fight rap section guide at cardboard cut - out of Jay - Z and Fabolous , both of whom were scheduled to come along at the show , but pretermit to come out for differing reasons .
John Cena played the underdog role , which would come to be familiar territory in later days under his " Never Give Up " persona . This lucifer set the stage for John Cena ’s vocation not only by setting the microscope stage for his success , but specify him up for him to become the ultimate underdog babyface hero that WWE want him to be .
