John Cena’s career is defined by era-shaping rivalries with the likes of Edge & Randy Orton to high stakes showdowns with CM Punk & Triple H and performances that have prove that he is well and truly the Greatest Of All Time.

His catalogue reads like a greatest hits anthology: emotional showdowns, technical masterclasses, bloody brawls and generational turning points (or should i say heel turns...). Each bout reflects a different version of Cena from Mr Hustle Loyalty & Respect, Leader of the Chain Gain or The Last Real Champion.

From hostile crowds to record breaking title wins, Cena consistently delivered when the spotlight burned brightest. Here are our ten matches that capture the heart of the never seen 17, the GOAT - John Cena

John Cena's Best Matches In WWE

In what would become his final international showdown, John Cena arrived to the land down under to face AJ Styles for one last chapter in their storied rivalry.
Whether you’re a diehard wrestling fan, a lapsed viewer, or someone who’s never quite understood this incredible form of entertainment, this match had everything you could want for their final encounter down under.

You might ask what caused the Australian crowd to blow the roof off RAC Arena?
It was the work of two incredible performers paying tribute to those who made their career so memorable, incorporating homages to wrestling legends throughout their emotional bout.
From the eruption after Cena paying tribute to Bray Wyatt to ending the match by letting AJ Style's Rest In Peace - this match was everything we love about professional wrestling

John Cena vs AJ Styles - Crown Jewel 2025

John Cena vs Rob Van Dam - ECW One Night Stand 2006

Inside the hostile Hammerstein Ballroom, John Cena walked into something Cena has never encountered early in his career, fought a war in enemy territory against Rob Van Dam for the WWE Championship.

For a monent you had to feel some sort of apathy for Cena as the Philly crowd hurled everything and anything possible at him, from insults to even denying Cena of throwing his shirt to the crowd - which in any other building would've been fought over!

The match itself was a clash of styles but finally shun a light on a side of Cena we have yet to see which was a more Extreme..
Though the night wouldn’t end in his favour, the match stands as one of Cena’s most unforgettable displays of resilience in the face of absolute adversity.

John Cena vs CM Punk - Money In The Bank 2011

One Night Stand wasn't the only time Cena would face a hostile crowd as he would step inside a white hot home of the second city saint, Chicago for a match that undisputedly changed WWE forever.

Coming off arguably the promo that changed the industry, "The Pipe Bomb" the fate of the WWE was in the hands on John Cena vs CM Punk had more than just the WWE Championship on the line but WWE as a whole, with Punk's contract expiring that night, Punks win would mean WWE would be without their main prize...

The battle of the Go To Sleep vs Attitude Adjustment & Anaconda Vice vs STF - this match alone created a wrestling relationship that would last a lifetime as both men 14 years later admit that they are well and truly each other's wrestling partner.

Even in defeat, his role in this seismic moment cemented the bout as one of the most important and emotional matches of John Cena's career

John Cena vs AJ Styles - Royal Rumble 2017

Shouldn't be a surpise that once again does AJ Style's pop once again in this list, with aptly history making clash at the 2017 Royal Rumble.

Previous showdowns between Cena and Styles including their unreal series of dream matches over the summer (In the US) of 2016, which culminated with Styles defeating Cena at SummerSlam led to their 2nd final bout for the WWE Championship.

As Cena sat on 15 World Championships leading into the match, this was his opportunity to tie the record alongside WWE Hall Of Famer, Rick Flair.

It was The Face That Runs The Place vs The Champ That Runs The Camp to capture his record-tying 16th world title and reaffirmed his status as WWE’s ultimate superstar

John Cena vs Brock Lesnar
- Extreme Rules 2012

To set the stage, its the Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania 29, a night that is synonymous with returns, surprises & crowd take overs, but this was definitely not John Cena's night.
After falling short again The Rock in the main event of WrestleMania, Cena came to Raw to apologise and give The Rock his flowers.. but he got a beast instead, retuning for the first time since his departure 9 years ago.

Which led to their bout at Extreme Rules,
Facing a freshly returned and ferocious Brock Lesnar, Cena endured one of the most brutal beatings of his career. Bloodied but unbroken, he showcased trademark "Never Give Up" moniker as he survived Lesnar’s onslaught and delivered an emphatic statement win.
The match signaled a violent new era while reminding fans that Cena could still thrive in chaos

John Cena vs Daniel Bryan
- SummerSlam 2013

In 2013, it was well and truly the year of the GOAT - just at that time the WWE Universe wasn't referring to John Cena but the ever loved Daniel Bryan who's popularity was undeniable in 2013.

Cena used to more powerhouse/heavyweight performers stepped into the ring and put his WWE championship on the line in a technical masterpiece alongside D-Bry.
Even battling through a torn triceps, Cena elevated the match into an instant classic before handing Bryan a clean, career-making victory.

Although the post match may have soured the moment with the Triple H heel turn and handing costing Daniel Bryan his newly one championship against Randy Orton, It was a rare moment of selflessness from Cena that still reflects one of Cena’s greatest in-ring performances & his sight for the future of professional wrestling

John Cena vs Shawn Michaels - Raw April 3rd 2007

A match? On Raw? On TV and not a PPV/PLE?!
You bet that when you pin John Cena and Shawn Michaels together they deliver a marathon performance that shattered expectations for a weekly television match.

Going nearly an hour, the bout unfolded like a PPV/PLE with epic slow-burn, tactical and driven by two performers who understood exactly how to hold an audience from bell to bell.
Cena matched Michaels’ precision with raw power, shifting from explosive bursts of offense to deliberate stretches of endurance as the match wore on.

Michaels pushed Cena into unfamiliar territory, forcing him to prove he could thrive in the long game storytelling usually reserved for Iron Man specialists which was appropo coming from HBK.
Though Cena ultimately fell short to this day, their Raw showdown stands as one of the greatest televised matches in WWE history.

John Cena vs CM Punk - Raw February 25th 2013

Another Raw match? Oh yeah and boy did this one burn the house down from the story behind the match to its mammoth implications for not just that years WrestleMania - but the future for both CM Punk & John Cena.

With Punk losing the WWE Championship a few months prior to The Rock, John Cena was slated to make Once In A Lifetime into Twice - but not along as CM Punk had anything to do with it...

With the WrestleMania main event on the line, John Cena and CM Punk delivered one of the most electric Raw matches of the decade. Their chemistry through years of animosity, contrasts in philosophy, and battles for the soul of WWE was on full display.
Cena refused to be outpaced, digging deep to counter Punk at every turn and unveiling moves rarely seen in his arsenal, including the now-famous hurricanrana that left the IWC stunned.

John Cena vs Cody Rhodes -
SummerSlam 2025

After their controversial match at WrestleMania 41, where John accomplished his goal to ruin wrestling in the main event winning his record breaking 17th World Championship, it was inevitable that we would see a second match in the Cena/Rhodes Saga.

Out of the gates everything was flipped on its head from their inital showdown - Cena no longer wanted to ruin wrestling and embrace his hustle loyalty & respect, but the match itself with it being made a Street Fight.

By far this match eclipsed their prior encounter not just due to the match type and the involvement of weapons but the performance itself was night and day which until Cena's encounter with AJ Style in Perth I would have confidently outline as Cena's best match in his Farewell Tour.

In the end the match truly was a symbolic passing of the torch cementing Cody Rhodes as WWE's ultimate baby face and a fantastic redemption match for Cena!

John Cena vs Kevin Owens -
Money In The Bank 2015

Cena has not been shy when it comes to making stars or elevating talent late in his career but when Kevin Owens arrived to turn Cena's United States Championship on his head - both men’s careers changed.

Both men having their own ambition, with KO determined to show not only Cena but the world that he wasn't just a big fish in a small pond in NXT as their champion, and Cena honoring his promise to always defend his United States Championship to all comers.

The match was nothing but pure explosivity and intensity with once again Cena being paired with a dance partner that developed and progressed his move sets but ultimately did the favours for Owens and got the 3 count.

Not only was it shocking to see Super Cena lose a match of this caliber but sent shockwaves for years to come to feel and was a massive stepping stone for both me with their future within WWE.