A DVD/Blu Ray release came out recently featuring John Cena’s greatest rivalries. You look at the names that are on the list of his greatest rivals. I just thought who is truly his greatest rival. I mean John Cena has faced everyone really there is out there to face who has been active since he debuted. I mean a lot of the top superstars today including Randy Orton hasn’t been in the ring with The Rock, Brock Lesnar, and many hasn’t even faced the likes of HBK, HHH, or the Undertaker. That is why Cena is there and everyone is down there. Well some of the reason any way. I wanted to make a ranking…..I’m pretty sure everyone has an idea on who they think Cena’s greatest rival is. I’m basically sticking with the DVD ranking them as I see them while providing the reason they are ranked where they are. John Cena’s greatest rival is…..?
10.Randy Orton-The amount of times they have faced is so annoying that even talent are speaking about it in interviews as are wrestling fans. Great rivalries are contests between two great talents and every time they face you want more. Each time they face you want to see that match. Look at the royal rumble earlier this year crapping all over their match. The matches between the two usually end in DQ more so than not. This year Cena/Orton have competed in 5 of the same ppv matches. WWE is wondering why fans don’t want to purchase the WWE network?
9.Chris Jericho-A bit surprised this made the list as I can’t remember Jericho ever winning a match vs John Cena. Other than the rivalry they had in 05, never really had much of 1. Yea, they competed on ppvs over the championship, but had no build other than Cena returning to his home Boston that year at Survivor Series and yes winning the rematch. I was actually there for the battle of the bands however Fozzy didn’t compete on that episode of Raw. The rivalry with Cena not being what Bischoff wanted him to be which meant Jericho was going to be the champion he’d be proud of. They both have some good matches though when they battle.
8.Batista-Superstars who were both made on the same night. Til this day, JBL still believes that Cena should have been holding the WWE title high with confetti falling….not Batista at WM21. Connection will always be there because of that. That is why you couldn’t wait to see these two go at it in the middle of the ring. First time happened at Summerslam, to the disappointment of Batista. First match didn’t main event, but Batista won to my surprise and injured Cena. Thought we would be seeing a rematch at Survivor Series that year for the belt, but didn’t happen. Another reason why that ppv is a joke now. Promo work was good as he took some nice shots at Cena. However, I hated it when he came out at the Chamber and won the WWE title only to lose it back.
7.Eddie Guerrero-Latino Heat Parking lot brawl is very memorable in the eyes of wrestling fans when you think of this rivalry. John Cena is no longer a body builder smiling wearing the colors of the city that WWE comes to. Eddie and John put on a match that Cena hadn’t done up to that time. Eddie brought the best out of his competitors when he competed. John Cena was no different. At that point, Cena proved he was more than just a pretty face.
6.HBK-Everyone loves HBK because he is so unique. He is such a outstanding performer, loved by everyone because of it. In yet, a guy you can’t trust. Constant tease of turning on his friends. Main event of WM23 didn’t disappoint and that rematch in London is still talked about today. Some believe is still John Cena’s greatest match he ever had. These two were former tag team champs. HBK cost them those belts the night after WM23. Not enough story, 2 good guys vs each other.
5.HHH-The ultimate bad guy, new young champ vs the guy everyone hates. Problem was, they finally meet at WM22 and there in Chicago. Chicago cheered for the King of the Kings, amazing atmosphere to end a great WM. Cena made him tap out. HHH did end up getting his win back at Night of Champions 08, but they were scheduled to have that rematch at WM23 if not for the injury at New Years Revolution. Things happen for a reason, but I believe it ended better that way. Had some great promos leading up to that Mania and must see matches.
4.JBL-1 could argue it should be in the top 3. I certainly thought about putting it at #3. Would have no problem with someone calling it the best rival Cena had. JBL was 1 of the best heels of his time. He refused to sell merchandise, bragged about all the money he had, and cheated to win every single WWE title match. Cena, the new young gun, everyone wanted to see win the strap for the first time from the evil JBL. Wrestlemania match felt like they didn’t have enough time. The “I Quit” match was the match that was my favorite of them all. Won’t be seeing that kind of bloodshed these days. Complete opposites tango for the top prize in the main event. The match they had at the Great American Bash parking lot brawl was great as well. Look back at the promos that were great as was the matches I mentioned.
3.The Rock-I’m going to get crapped on and I don’t care. This rivalry was years in the making. I’m not just talking 2011-2013. I’m talking Rock inducting his father and grandfather in the hall of fame. There was some tension there. Cena being outspoken against the Rock for several years. Of course Rock took it personally and came back to have a match with the top guy in WWE. Billed once in a lifetime. Their rivalry and promos overshadowed WM27 which wasn’t a very remembered as a good Mania by wrestling fans. That rivalry overshadowing hurt the show. Had to wait a year to see it making the match after Mania 27. Rock wins round 1, but there is a rematch for the biggest prize in WWE as Cena wins round 2 at Mania 29. Matches really weren’t that great, but the promo work and real life tension along with being two of the biggest stars of all-time like them or not……made the rivalry a top 1 in Cena’s career.
2.Edge-Part of the reason I made this was to tell people Edge vs Cena isn’t the top 1. At least in my eyes. However, 2nd best isn’t that bad. Ultimate opportunist cashes in on John Cena to win his first WWE championship after Cena went thru hell in the elimination chamber. Has a live sex celebration afterwards. Steals the show at WM, wins the WWE title back in opportunist fashion. These two would go on to have several main events on Raw, ppv, and Saturday Nights main event. The TLC match will always stand out as it was in Edge’s hometown. The emotion was there, atmosphere, two men giving there all in a great match to end the show. My favorite match during the rivalry. Just so many twists and turns…at the end of the day, Edge vs John Cena was 1 of the best rivalries. I didn’t enjoy the involvement of Big Show in 09, but their match at Backlash was very good.
1.CM Punk-Why is he #1 on the list? Every single time it is Cena vs Punk. It is a must see match. It is going to be a great match! The memorable moments and the matches the rivalry has had on some of the biggest events. The pipebomb, Raw 1000 Cena cashes in and the first to lose, MITB 2011 Punk wins the title and blows a kiss goodbye, title for title Summerslam 2011, Punk wearing pinstripes in Boston 2012, and how can you forget the classic they had to face The Rock in the main event of WM29! That my friends in a shorter summary as to why CM Punk vs John Cena rivalry is the best of this era. What rivalry tops it in the past 5 years? This generations Piper/Hogan. Shame neither rivalry had a 1 on 1 match at WM.
Is CM Punk his greatest rival? Who do you think is John Cena’s greatest rival? What did you think of my list? Leave that and more in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!
Response to Booking Challenge: Survivor Series 2014-The problem with some of the cards that accepted the challenge is that some of them had Brock Lesnar competing at the ppv when it was very clear and still is the WWE title will not be defended on the ppv. Though you do have the keys to the car as I say, you have the same keys WWE has. Example, you can’t have guys compete that can’t at the moment. Kurt Angle vs Rusev looks nice to you on your fantasy card, but he isn’t signed with WWE. Just use the same tools WWE has. Brock is part time and not competing as I said in the post. Just use the roster page as I do when I make my card for this challenge. You can always upgrade later if somehow Angle would show up on WWE TV.
