There's no debatingJohn Cenais one of the greatest wrestlers of all time − evident by several signature moments that defined a generation of wrestling.
After a career like no other, Cena will be hanging up the jorts withhis final WWE match at Saturday Night's Main Eventon Dec. 13. It will be an emotional send-off with plenty of tributes and looking back at all of the accomplishments and memories he left with the WWE universe. While there are undoubtedly hundreds of those unforgettable performances, which ones stand out above the rest?
Entrances:Ranking the 10 best of John Cena's career
Feuds:John Cena's 10 greatest rivalries of his WWE career
From the entrances, promos, matches and more, it's a tough task to come up with the best moments of Cena's career. A case could be made for so many, thinking of just a top 10 list is as challenging as trying to beat "Super Cena" in a match yourself. So, to commemorate the never-before-seen 17-time WWE Champion, here are the top 17 moments of Cena's legendary time in WWE.
John Cena salutes the crowd during the 10th anniversary of WWE Tribute to the Troops at Norfolk Scope Arena on Dec. 9, 2012 in Norfolk, Virginia." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena enters the ring at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on Aug. 23, 2015 in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena runs down the ramp during WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium on April 1, 2023 in Inglewood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena makes his entrance WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium on April 1, 2023 in Inglewood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena makes his entrance before the match against Cody Rhodes during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 3, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The titantron as John Cena makes his entrance before the match against Cody Rhodes during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 3, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena appears in front of the camera during SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 3, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena makes his entrance before the match against Cody Rhodes during the WWE 2025 SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 3, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena makes his way to the ring during WWE RAW at Mass Mutual Center on Sept. 15, 2025 in Springfield, Massachusetts." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena makes his entrance during WWE Crown Jewel at RAC Arena on Oct. 11, 2025 in Perth, Australia." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Intercontinental Champion John Cena makes his entrance during WWE Raw at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2025 in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Intercontinental Champion John Cena enters the ring during WWE Raw at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, 2025 in New York City." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
John Cena makes his introduction during Survivor Series at Petco Park on Nov. 29, 2025 in San Diego, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> John Cena entrances through his legendary WWE career
17. Firefly Funhouse match
No crowds due to COVID-19 allowed WWE to get creative with its matches, and nothing was off limits in the Firefly Funhouse match. Cena and the late Bray Wyatt took a cinematic journey through Cena's WWE career, and there were so many Easter eggs and subplots, yet it made crazy, fun sense.
Was the match actually great? Far from it. Was it actually a match? You could argue no. But Wyatt was all about taking risks, and seeing Cena willing to go on that journey results in a piece of wrestling art that won't be forgotten. It showed the respect and appreciation the two stars had for each other, and is a great memory from Wyatt's career.
16. Thuganomics diss against Brock Lesnar
There's nobody the Doctor of Thuganomics loved clowning on more than Lesnar, even if Cena rarely backed it up in the ring against The Beast Incarnate.
Less than a year after his WWE debut, Cena delivered one of his most memorable freestyle rap disses at the expense of Lesnar, whom he compared to a Neanderthal.
"Me Brock Lesnar, here comes the pain," Cena rhymed. "God built me strong, forget to give me brain."
Lesnar, as was usually the case, had the last laugh in the ring, defeating Cena in less than 7 minutes. It would be more than 9 years until Cena finally earned a singles victory over Lesnar.
15. Cena and Randy Orton vs. whole Raw roster
Cena, Orton and Triple H were headed toward a monster showdown at WrestleMania 24, but weeks before, Cena and Orton were put in one of the most unusual tag team matches.
The duo were forced to face the entire Raw roster, resulting in a 17-on-2 handicap match that sounds insane. The graphic promoting the match during the show is an all-time image, and a testament to both Cena and Orton being strong stars at the peak of their careers.
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As for the match, it wasn't the actual entire Raw roster, but Cena and Orton held their own as long as they could before losing due to the numbers advantage. That might have been the only way Cena could be taken down at the time.
14. Edge's Money in the Bank cash-in
One would think a Cena loss wouldn't be one of his greatest points, but this one completely changed the game in WWE.
Cena survived the gruesome Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution to retain the WWE Championship, but his night wasn't done. It was announced Edge, the inaugural winner of the Money in the Bank briefcase, was cashing in his title opportunity at that moment. A bloodied and fatigued Cena stood no chance as Edge took the title.
It was such a shocking moment because no one knew how Money in the Bank would work. It was used against WWE's top star, cementing the reality that no champion is safe whenever someone possesses that opportunity. The moment wasn't Cena's, but it was a pivotal one in the perception of the Money in the Bank cash-in and set the bar for the prize.
13. Promo on Roman Reigns
Simply put, this might be Cena's most devastating burial of an opponent via the microphone. During a contract signing, Cena and Reigns had an intense sharing of words, but it was Cena who delivered some of the hardest-hitting disses in WWE history.
At one point, Cena tells Reigns, "I'm still here because you can't do your job," implying Reigns' shortcomings as WWE's flagship talent forced the company to stay reliant on Cena, who by this point was already a 15-year veteran − albeit with a part-time schedule.
The mic-drop moment, however, came at the end of Cena's monologue.
"You should be ashamed I'm a part-timer," Cena said. "Because I can do this part-time better than you could ever do it full-time."
12. ECW One Night Stand entrance
For nearly his entire career, Cena had one of the most animated entrances in WWE, showing off why he was a fan favorite. But that wasn't the case one night in 2006, and Cena knew exactly how to portray it.
Cena was in enemy territory at ECW One Night Stand, defending the WWE title against Rob Van Dam. The crowd was anti-WWE the entire night, but the hostility turned up a notch against Cena.
When Cena emerged for his entrance, there was no feeding off the crowd. He simply walked down the tight aisle with his head down, holding the championship up in the air as the crowd yelled and gave him NSFW gestures. That shot of Cena is one of the lasting images of his career.
John Cena's Entrance at ECW One Night Stand 2006The aura of Cena's entrance was that of a man stepping into enemy territory, walking through a storm of hatred with an almost surreal intensity.One of John Cena's greatest entrancespic.twitter.com/9pCtfuBd1g
— A L L D A Y 🚀 (@AllDAYZ77)April 2, 2025
11. Parking lot brawl with Eddie Guerrero
Sure, a 9-minute match is a tad long to qualify as a moment, but this action-packed fight with Guerrero played a huge role in accelerating the early part of Cena's career as he built his Doctor of Thuganomics character.
In the climax of his feud with Guerrero, then the United States Champion, Cena and Latino Heat duked it out in a concrete-laden parking lot surrounded by cars as other SmackDown superstars watched. The brutal match saw both Cena and Guerrero get their heads sent through car windows, among other carnage.
And despite Guerrero prevailing, thanks to the involvement of Chavo Guerrero, Cena's performance propelled him to the top of the mid-card division, which culminated in his United States Championship victory over Big Show just 7 months later.
And let's be honest: Who doesn't love a wrestling match where lawnmowers are weapons, seatbelts are used as a choking device and window-washing fluid is used to incapacitate the opponent?
10. SummerSlam 2025
We can all admit the heel run went poorly, but it was glorious when it came to an official end.
The Cena everyone knew and loved was supposed to be back, and it was thunderous when he brought back his signature entrance with the Titantron lit up and run to the ramp. In one entrance, Cena got three pops from the crowd.
As for the match, Cena delivered one of his best performances against Cody Rhodes. He turned back the clock in spectacular fashion to make a contender for match of the year. This was the Cena everyone wanted during the farewell tour, and SummerSlam 2025 was a blast from the past that would make even casual fans emotional.
9. Roasting The Rock on the mic
Not only was the Cena-Rock feud one of the greatest in magnitude, it felt like there was genuine distaste for each other, and it was only proven with an infamous exchange of words.
In February 2012, Cena noticed The Rock wrote notes on his wrist for a promo, and he revealed it to the entire audience.
"Just like I don't need my notes for my promo on my wrist. Nice tattoo," Cena said as he revealed his wrist.
The line stopped The Rock in his tracks and the heat was raised. One of the greatest speakers and trash talkers in WWE history got owned by the new superstar. It's debated if it genuinely upset The Rock, but the tension was certainly palpable, and it showed Cena had the skill and talent to be at the same level as "The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment."
8. The spinner WWE Championship
After he won his first WWE Championship in 2005, Cena wanted to add some style to the title, and he ended up creating an iconic piece of wrestling history.
He brought out his personalized WWE title, and it was a shiny, jewelry-studded belt with a stunning WWE logo that spun. The spinner title was polarizing, reflective of the hip-hop era of the 2000s, but it was for the company's top prize.
There was controversy, but it was a hit. It became one of WWE's best-selling items of merchandise, and it was so popular WWE continued to use it even after Cena dropped the title, all the way to 2013. That's one way to leave a legacy.
7. Attitude Adjustment to Batista off car
An underrated feud Cena had was with Batista, who coincidentally became a movie star just like him. Their rivalry reached its end at Over the Limit 2010, where Cena delivered his finisher with major impact.
The two faced off in an "I Quit" match and both stars were trying everything they could to force their opponent to give up. The match culminated on the stage where a car was, in reference to the car-theme of the show. Cena gave Batista an Attitude Adjustment on the car, but Batista didn't quit. Cena decided to take it a step further and got on top of the car and prepped to deliver another AA before Batista quit.
The match was over, but Cena wasn't. Even though he was victorious, Cena decided to go through with it anyways and delivered a powerful AA that sent Batista through the stage. He stood on the car victorious for an amazing shot, and it was definitely one of the best finishers he's performed.
6. First WWE Championship win
After becoming the Doctor of Thuganomics, it was clear Cena was on the rise to the top of the business. All he needed was the title to prove it, and there was no better place than WWE's grandest stage.
John Bradshaw Layfield was a top-tier heel champion and Cena was already over with the fans. The challenger needed a performance that would solidify his capabilities in the company. Cena was able to do it and ended JBL's nine-month reign to win the WWE Championship, his first world title.
It's not the most memorable match of Cena's career or of his rivalry with JBL, but it was an important milestone that solidified the star he became. Had it not happened here, who knows if Cena would have had the success he had. WWE Championship No. 1 is a critical part of the rise of the 17-time champion.
5. Royal Rumble 2008
The return no one saw coming.
Cena completely tore his pectoral muscle off the bone in October 2007, which required surgery and would sideline him through WrestleMania season. He had to forfeit the WWE title as a result.
Three months later, Royal Rumble 2008 took place at Madison Square Garden, and everyone awaited to see who would be the final entrant in the Royal Rumble match. The buzzer went off, Cena's music played and pandemonium ensued.
No one could believe Cena returned so quickly. The announcers didn't know what to say and the wrestlers in the ring stood still. The doors opened and Cena emerged looking down, and gave one of the signature shots of his career with him nodding, letting everyone know "yeah, I'm back."
It's arguably his best entrance and it was a big night for him as he went on to win the match.
4. Heel turn
After the entrance no one saw coming is the moment no one anticipated.
Cena won the 2025 men's Elimination Chamber match for the right to face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, but overshadowing it was The Rock wanting Rhodes' "soul." The WWE Champion denied The Rock, which led The Rock to turn to plan B – getting Cena.
It's a moment where everyone remembers where they were. Cena ditched the smile and brought out his sadistic side and attacked Rhodes, shocking all of wrestling. It was a brutal attack. People couldn't believe the man that had been a baby face his entire career finally went heel in his last year wrestling.
As mentioned, the heel run itself wasn't great and fell short, but how it started is undoubtedly one of the most stunning moments ever in WWE.
3. Beats Big Show for United States title
Cena's rise in WWE could be attributed to Big Show, as he was the man Cena feuded with for his first title in WWE, leading to an epic clash at WrestleMania 20.
The two started the event with a match for the United States Championship. It started with a bang as the crowd at Madison Square Garden was fully behind Cena, eager to see the man they loved capture some gold. Big Show presented a great challenge, but Cena did what he needed to do to cement his baby face status. It took some cheating, but Cena picked up the 500-pound Big Show for the Attitude Adjustment and got the pin for his first title in WWE.
The win and celebration were just a sneak peek into what was in store for his career, and put him on the trajectory to stardom.
2. Debut
Debuts can be the reason why a star succeeds or fails. Cena's introduction to WWE was special and the very beginning ends up being one of the top memories of his career.
Kurt Angle called for a challenger. Along with some generic music, there emerged a man in tight red shorts no one knew. He entered the ring and said his name was John Cena and when asked what he possessed to be able to face Angle, he uttered the words that will last a lifetime.
"Ruthless aggression," Cena said before landing a slap heard around the world.
It definitely caught the eye of WWE fans. Cena lost the match, but there was something different about the newbie. That was no ordinary debut, foreshadowing someone to keep an eye on.
Turns out, we ended up not ever taking our eyes off of him.
1. Beating The Rock
Thousands of moments to choose from. There are several contenders, but the top moment of Cena's career is the win in arguably the biggest match of his career.
The WrestleMania 28 loss to The Rock sent Cena on a spiral, desperate to not only get back to the top of WWE, but defeat the man that defied the generations before him. It was a gutsy, long road to get another opportunity, and Cena was able to get the rematch at WrestleMania 29.
In another big-time showdown, Cena showed all he learned from the first meeting and showed the dedication it took to get back. The Rock readied for another Rock Bottom, but Cena countered it with an AA and got the pin to finally win the WWE Championship back.
John Cena beating The Rock at WrestleMania 29 for the WWE Championship after losing to him clean at WM 28.pic.twitter.com/I0yhDlLQoZ
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful)December 6, 2025
The win was monumental, but what happened afterward was just as important. WWE shared footage of the words exchanged between the stars, and there was much love between the two after years of animosity.
It was a win Cena needed. By beating The Rock, Cena was cemented as the top guy of WWE, with The Rock graciously passing the torch. It cemented Cena as one of the greatest WWE stars and stands above every moment of his career.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ranking the top 17 moments of John Cena's historic WWE career
