The John Cena yearbook (2002-2025): The quintessential Cena match of every year

John Cena’s career is one of the most traceable and transformational journeys in modern professional wrestling. Few performers have evolved so dramatically, year after year, while simultaneously becoming the unshakable foundation of WWE’s identity. From a wide-eyed rookie walking into an open challenge to a global superstar returning for a legacy-defining finale, Cena’s trajectory can be told by one match per year — each representing a chapter of growth, reinvention or cultural impact.

Along the way, two matches emerge as the clearest distillation of who John Cena is and what he meant to the business. His showdown with CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011 is often held up as the purest expression of his in-ring and narrative power — a generational main event that captured the culture. Fourteen years later, his final battle with Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2025 stands as the perfect epilogue in his retirement tour — a man who once fought to seize the torch now choosing exactly how, and to whom, he passes it. For his final match, he battles "The Ring General," Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

2002

vs. Kurt Angle — SmackDown (June 27, 2002)

Cena’s first night on WWE programming reads almost like a myth in hindsight. Answering Kurt Angle’s open challenge, he steps into the ring with nothing but intensity and drive. His slap across Angle’s face becomes a thesis statement for an entire career: Cena would be defined by audacity, fearlessness and an ability to create moments out of thin air. He doesn’t win the match, but he wins credibility — which, for a rookie, is even more valuable. It’s the spark that lights the fuse.

In that one night, before the T-shirts, before the theme music was iconic, before the catchphrases, he proved that he could make the crowd believe in him on sheer force of will. It’s the prologue to everything.

2003

vs. Brock Lesnar — Backlash 2003

This is the year Cena finds his voice. Fully embracing the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, he becomes one of WWE’s most charismatic acts. His match with Brock Lesnar marks his arrival in the main-event conversation. He’s a heel with swagger, punching above his weight and proving he belongs in the deep waters of championship contention. It is not the victory that matters — it’s the validation. Cena shows he can hang with the company’s most dominant force.

Standing across from a monster like Lesnar, Cena’s confidence doesn’t wilt — it sharpens. He turns what could’ve been a one-sided beating into a statement: This loud-mouthed, chain-swinging rapper is more than a gimmick, he’s a threat.

2004

vs. Big Show — WrestleMania XX (United States Championship)

Cena’s WrestleMania XX victory represents a pivot point. It’s his first title win and his first truly massive crowd connection. The performance signals WWE’s commitment to him as a major player. With every “Let’s Go Cena” chant, the audience confirms that the future has arrived. This is the beginning of Cena carrying the banner for an entire generation.

Hoisting the Big Show for the FU in Madison Square Garden looked impossible until he did it. That image — Cena lifting the giant and the crowd erupting — is the visual that marks his transition from fun act to foundational star.

2005

vs. JBL — WrestleMania 21 (WWE Championship)

This is the night John Cena becomes the guy. His win over JBL is the coronation WWE had been building toward, transforming him from rising star to franchise face. In defeating the ruthless, old-money champion, Cena establishes himself as the new standard-bearer of a post-Austin, post-Rock WWE. This match is the official beginning of the John Cena era.

It’s the closing of one book and the opening of another: no longer chasing the title, he is the title picture. From this point on, WWE is unmistakably built around John Cena.

2006

vs. Edge — Unforgiven 2006 (TLC Match)

Cena and Edge produce one of the defining rivalries of the decade. Their TLC match in Edge’s hometown of Toronto is a career-defining proving ground. Cena steps into Edge’s specialty — tables, ladders, chairs and chaos — and survives hostile territory to reclaim the championship. This is where Cena proves he’s not just the safe, polished hero; he can thrive in violent environments, adapt to any opponent, and silence doubters on their own turf.

In a match designed to favor his rival, Cena absorbs punishment that would break most wrestlers and comes back stronger. Walking out of Toronto with the title, he doesn’t just win a match — he wins the argument about whether he’s “tough enough.”

2007

vs. Shawn Michaels — RAW (April 23, 2007)

In a stunning nearly one-hour television classic, Cena goes hold for hold with Shawn Michaels, one of the greatest of all time. This match shows Cena’s evolution from charismatic powerhouse to complete performer. He matches HBK’s pace, psychology and storytelling in a format typically reserved for wrestling purists. If 2005 made him the top star, 2007 confirmed he could perform at the level of legends.

For nearly sixty minutes on live TV, Cena proves he’s not just the face on the poster — he’s a guy who can go bell to bell with the best technician the company has ever seen. It’s the kind of performance that makes critics reconsider and peers nod in respect.

2008

vs. Randy Orton — SummerSlam 2008

Cena’s year is defined by rivalries and resilience, and Orton is the perfect foil. Their SummerSlam match continues the push-and-pull dynamic of two generational talents jockeying for supremacy. Cena’s return from injury and immediate collision with Orton underscores their legacy as WWE’s eternal rivals — destined to circle each other for over a decade.

Every time they lock up, it feels like a chapter in a much bigger novel. This SummerSlam encounter is another reminder that Cena vs. Orton isn’t just a feud; it’s a long-running conversation about who truly owns their era.

2009

vs. Randy Orton — Bragging Rights 2009 (60-Minute Iron Man Match)

The Orton rivalry reaches its violent zenith here. In a stipulation-heavy Iron Man Match filled with pyro, backstage brawling, and nonstop brutality, Cena shows the depth of his endurance and the intensity of his will. This match feels like a full blockbuster film condensed into one hour. It closes a defining chapter of Cena vs. Orton with a dramatic, exhausting exclamation point.

It’s Cena as action hero: sprinting through chaos, fighting through exhaustion, and somehow still summoning enough fire in the last ten minutes to will the story toward his side.

2010

vs. Nexus — SummerSlam 2010

This is a controversial year, but undeniably a defining one. Cena positions himself as the defender of WWE’s established order against the rebellious Nexus faction. The match tells the story of Cena as WWE’s moral compass and its immovable foundation. It reflects the reality of his role: the locker-room leader, the face of the brand, the figure everything revolves around.

Rightly or wrongly, this is Cena as the wall — the last line between chaos and the company’s core identity. It’s the on-screen reflection of his off-screen influence.

2011

vs. CM Punk — Money in the Bank 2011

A match remembered not just for its quality, but for its cultural impact. The Chicago crowd reaches fever pitch as Punk threatens to leave WWE with the championship. Cena plays the steady, principled company representative in a story that feels more like a showdown of ideologies than a wrestling match. The result is one of the most iconic main events in modern wrestling history.

For many, this is the John Cena match — the one that will be replayed and reanalyzed decades from now. Wrestling-wise, storytelling-wise, atmosphere-wise, it’s the perfect storm. Punk may have walked out with the title, but Cena walked out having proven why everything — crowd love, crowd hate, company stakes — always seemed to orbit around him.

2012

vs. The Rock — WrestleMania 28

“Once in a Lifetime” is as much a movie poster tagline as it is a wrestling match. Cena stands across from The Rock, a global superstar whose fame transcends WWE. Cena more than holds his own in the spectacle, proving he belongs in the rare class of performers whose reach extends beyond wrestling. It’s the biggest box-office match of his career.

This wasn’t just two stars meeting; it was a clash of eras, of mediums, of pop culture realities. Even in defeat, Cena earns something priceless: proof that his name can live on the same marquee as The Great One and not look out of place.

2013

vs. The Rock — WrestleMania 29 (WWE Championship)

Cena’s redemption story finds closure as he defeats The Rock in their rematch. This isn’t just a win — it’s validation of Cena’s longevity and relevance. With the WWE Championship back around his waist, Cena enters the second decade of his career ready to carry the company yet again.

Coming off a year defined by doubt and disappointment, he steps into MetLife Stadium with the weight of “Once in a Lifetime” on his shoulders and walks out having evened the score. The rematch stands as one of WWE’s biggest box-office successes and as the night Cena firmly takes the mantle from Rock in the story of WWE’s all-time centerpieces.

2014

vs. Bray Wyatt — WrestleMania 30

Here, Cena steps into a deeply psychological narrative. Wyatt is positioned as a dark mirror, trying to expose the hypocrisy and insecurity beneath Cena’s clean-cut heroism. The match becomes a battle for Cena’s moral center — not just his win-loss record. It’s layered storytelling that sets the stage for a thematic payoff six years later.

Those moments where Cena nearly snaps — steel chair in hand, darkness whispering for him to give in — play completely differently once you’ve seen what Bray drags out of him in the Firefly Funhouse. This is the first crack in the armor.

2015

vs. Kevin Owens — Elimination Chamber 2015

This year reinvents Cena as a work-rate machine. His U.S. Open Challenge elevates both the title and the midcard. Kevin Owens’ arrival — capped by a clean victory over Cena — signals a new era. Cena’s generosity in defeat makes Owens a star overnight. This match symbolizes Cena’s shift into the role of kingmaker.

There’s something powerful about seeing the top guy willingly become the measuring stick others are invited to surpass. Owens doesn’t just upset Cena — he validates the entire next wave of talent, and Cena makes sure the win feels massive.

2016

vs. AJ Styles — SummerSlam 2016

Cena meets his in-ring equal in AJ Styles. Their chemistry is instant, their conflict organic, and their SummerSlam match stands as one of the greatest bouts of the decade. Styles wins clean, stamping his legacy, while Cena shows humility, pride and brilliance in performance. This is a year of mutual elevation.

By the end, both men are bigger than when they walked in. Styles gets the definitive WWE win he needed, and Cena reminds everybody that he can share the ring with a world-class technician and not get lost — he enhances it.

2017

vs. AJ Styles — Royal Rumble 2017

The rematch is a masterpiece. Cena ties Ric Flair’s record-setting 16 world championships in a dramatic, technically dazzling performance. It’s the culmination of everything Cena has learned — pacing, psychology, grit and adaptability — wrapped inside one of WWE’s finest modern main events.

The image of Cena clutching the title, exhausted and emotional, is a career portrait: the kid who slapped Kurt Angle in 2002 now holding a record that once felt untouchable. Sixteen world titles, and almost all of them earned in big-fight, big-story environments like this.

2018

vs. The Undertaker — WrestleMania 34

In a year defined by sporadic appearances, Cena’s quick, almost ceremonial loss to The Undertaker becomes iconic. It subverts every expectation: Cena doesn’t deliver an epic — instead, he gets humbled. It’s surreal, self-aware, and strangely poetic. Even in defeat, Cena creates a moment.

After weeks of calling out the Deadman, he gets exactly what he asked for — and it goes nothing like he imagined. Instead of a back-and-forth epic, he’s steamrolled, as if the universe itself is reminding him that even legends can be out of their depth.

2019

WWE Universal Title No. 1 Contendership Fatal Four Way: Finn Bálor def. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre & John Cena — RAW #1338 (Memphis, TN) + WrestleMania 35 appearance (Doctor of Thuganomics returns)

2019 is the year Cena fully transitions into his legacy era — no longer the weekly workhorse, but the veteran whose presence alone shifts the atmosphere of a show.

On RAW in Memphis, Cena steps into a high-stakes Fatal Four Way for a Universal Title opportunity. He doesn’t win — in fact, the finish speaks volumes about his evolving role. Bálor pinning Cena clean on live television marks a quiet but meaningful passing of momentum to the next generation. Cena doesn’t lose anything by taking the fall; instead, he gives credibility to a rising star in a way only a performer of his stature can.

Then, months later, at WrestleMania 35, Cena delivers the surprise that defines his entire year. Dressed once again as the Doctor of Thuganomics, he interrupts Elias with a barrage of nostalgia, self-parody and attitude-era swagger. It’s playful, self-aware and disarmingly charming — the kind of moment only a performer completely comfortable with his legacy can pull off.

Together, these moments paint a clear picture: 2019 is the year John Cena stops simply being the franchise and starts celebrating it. He steps back gracefully, lifts others when he appears, and takes a victory lap in the character that first made him unforgettable.

2020

vs. Bray Wyatt — Firefly Funhouse Match (WrestleMania 36)

A match unlike anything else in WWE history. Cena steps into a psychological labyrinth where he confronts every version of himself — the rookie, the golden boy, the failed heel, the polarizing champion. Wyatt forces Cena to examine his insecurities and contradictions. It’s not a fight; it’s a reckoning. A bold, brilliant reinvention of wrestling storytelling.

The Firefly Funhouse leans all the way into the oddities: hand puppets, time jumps, alternate realities, NWO fantasy, fourth-wall breaks. It’s bizarre, hilarious, and unsettling all at once. More importantly, it offers the first true glimpse of what a darker, fully heel John Cena could look like — a vision WWE wouldn’t fully commit to until his final, complex run in 2025. Looking back, this match doesn’t just deconstruct his legacy; it foreshadows where he’s ultimately headed.

2021

vs. Roman Reigns — SummerSlam 2021

Cena returns as the old ace testing the dominance of the new tribal chief. Reigns is the face of the modern era; Cena is the icon of the previous one. Their match becomes a symbolic passing of the torch. Cena doesn’t need to win — the mere act of standing across from Reigns elevates the entire moment.

In front of a massive crowd, he leans into the story that he might “steal” the Universal Championship and walk out the back door — but in the end, his role is to push Reigns’ legend higher. It’s the classic aging ace vs. reigning king dynamic, and Cena plays his part flawlessly.

2022

Cena & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline — SmackDown (Dec. 30, 2022)

Cena’s only match of the year keeps his historic streak alive. It’s lighthearted but star-powered, reminding fans that even one Cena appearance can reshape a night. This is Cena in cameo mode — beloved, celebrated, and always impactful.

In another year with limited in-ring action, he picks his spot, teams with Owens, and adds just enough Cena magic to make a television main event feel like a miniature pay-per-view.

2023

vs. Austin Theory — WrestleMania 39

Here, Cena’s role is mentor and gatekeeper. By putting over Austin Theory clean, Cena acknowledges the future while honoring his own. His presence gives Theory legitimacy, and his loss gives Theory momentum. It’s a simple match with enormous symbolic weight.

This is the man who once dethroned established champions now choosing to be the final exam for up-and-coming names. And outside the bright lights of WrestleMania, he would also pop up later in the year in a surprise six-man tag team appearance on RAW, reminding everyone that even as his schedule shrank, any night he showed up instantly felt bigger.

2024

Awesome Truth (R-Truth & The Miz) & John Cena defeat The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio, Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh) (12:03) — WWE Monday Night RAW #1611, Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

In a year where he’s almost entirely absent between the ropes, this six-man tag is pure comfort food. Teaming with The Miz and R-Truth as Awesome Truth reform, Cena slots in as the megastar third man — smiling, throwing punches, playing the hits and soaking in a Philadelphia crowd that knows how rare these appearances have become.

It’s the kind of match that doesn’t need a title or stipulation to matter. The significance is that it exists at all: late-stage Cena, enjoying the ride, sharing the ring with old friends and new enemies one more time.

2025

vs. Cody Rhodes — SummerSlam 2025

The perfect ending. Cena faces Cody Rhodes — the face of WWE’s modern renaissance — in a respectful, emotional final battle. Cody wins clean, completing Cena’s career-long pattern of elevating the future on his way out. Cena’s final bow feels earned, honest and poetic. The story ends exactly the way it should: Cena gives the next generation the spotlight he once fought to claim.

By 2025, after years of teasing darker edges and even stepping into a rare full heel run that felt like the living embodiment of everything the Firefly Funhouse hinted at, Cena arrives at SummerSlam carrying the weight of two decades. Cody, the standard-bearer of WWE’s new era, meets him in the middle in what many will forever argue is one of the two quintessential John Cena matches, right alongside Money in the Bank 2011.

The bell rings, the torch passes, and as Cena walks away — not as the conquering hero, but as the man who chose to finish the story by putting someone else over — his career comes full circle. The kid who once demanded “Ruthless Aggression” from himself leaves having given nothing less.