5 times John Cena lost when it mattered the most
John Cena was the Franchise Player of WWE's PG-Era. Regarded as one of the company's biggest stars, Cena has left an indelible footprint in pro wrestling. 2025 will be a tough year for the Cenation as their hero hangs up his boots.
The Champ is one of the most revered and beloved figures today. Every time Cena shows up on WWE television, he is showered with immense love and admiration. However, he had a polarizing reputation, especially during the height of "Super Cena."
Super Cena received a mixed response from the vocal WWE fanbase. As a natural, heroic babyface, Cena overcame the odds against a tyrannical villain frequently to the point that fans believed he was holding deserving stars back.
Nevertheless, pro wrestling fans now accept that Cena put over talent when necessary, especially towards the end of his illustrious career. The 16-time World Champion, even during "The Super Cena Era," lost crucial matches that he needed to win.
#5. Brock Lesnar obliterated John Cena in the main event of SummerSlam 2014
SummerSlam 2014 is remembered for its shocking main event. In a 16-minute squash match, Brock Lesnar decimated then-WWE Champion, John Cena, in an unprecedented display of dominance. It is popularly remembered as the end of Super Cena.
In many ways, the build-up was typical of a Herculean John Cena comeback and subsequent victory. Before the bout, Lesnar had been on a tear, having ended The Undertaker's undefeated WrestleMania streak in April 2014. The Beast Incarnate had also disrespected a group of legends a few days before the show.
It was time for the resident superhero to take care of the dominant villain. Lesnar was coming for Cena, but The Champ had defeated The Conqueror at Extreme Rules 2012. Therefore, it wouldn't be an easy task for "The One in 21-1."
Yet, the wrestling world was appalled by the ease with which Lesnar destroyed the 16-time World Champion. John Cena was on the receiving end of more than a dozen German Suplexes, got virtually no offense in, and was no match for The Beast that night.
#4. The Champ's 17th World Title win could have come at SummerSlam 2021
Fresh off the COVID-19 pandemic era, John Cena returned to WWE in July 2021 for a massive feud with Roman Reigns, who was still in the early part of his record-breaking World Title run. The Champ's narrative was simple: win his 17th World Championship.
Cena even demonstrated that he didn't need a clean or definitive victory, as he could have simply rolled up The Tribal Chief to win. However, Reigns was confident he could beat The Champ, announcing that he would leave WWE if he lost.
This was a win-lose situation, with the Universal Champion losing everything. Cena had everything to gain: not only could he become a 17-time World Champion, but also rid WWE of Roman Reigns.
Unfortunately, Reigns was operating on another level at the time, and consequently, defeated Cena without any shenanigans to continue his reign. In contrast, The Champ was one of the biggest losers of the night.
#3. Solo Sikoa demolished John Cena at Crown Jewel 2023
In the fall of 2023, The Peacemaker returned full-time, with his run lasting from September to November. It revolved around a feud with The Bloodline, which ended in an embarrassing loss to Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel 2023.
WWE wanted to elevate Sikoa and enhance his credibility. Countless Samoan Spikes and a clean pinfall win in Saudi Arabia over Cena was a convenient way of accomplishing the task. However, the former NXT North American Champion couldn't build on the momentum as he embarked on a losing streak.
In hindsight, Cena could have benefited more from the win, at least in the short term. The Champ had publicly acknowledged his losing streak, stating that he hadn't won a singles match since April 2018. He had also buried Sikoa on the mic.
The pressure was on Cena to deliver and give the Saudi fans a memory. Unfortunately, The Champ lost. Now that he has announced his retirement plans, only time will tell if the 16-time World Champion will compete in Saudi Arabia again.
#2. CM Punk defeated The Face of WWE at Money in the Bank 2011
"The Summer of Punk" initially revolved around three central figures: CM Punk, John Cena, and Vince McMahon. The Voice of the Voiceless went on a tirade now known as "The Pipebomb," which publicly desecrated McMahon and was antithetical to Cena's morally upright stance.
McMahon was banking on Cena to win and retain the WWE Championship. Punk's contract was expiring at Money in the Bank in 2011, and he had a decent chance of leaving the company with the top prize. Unfortunately, true to his flawless persona, The Champ wanted to do things clean.
The Chairman wanted to execute another screwjob, but John Cena stopped him mid-way. Eventually, it was this righteousness that allowed Punk to capitalize and pin The Franchise Player, sending McMahon into panic mode.
As a reliable employee and the top star, it was Cena's responsibility to keep the championship in the company and preserve its legacy. However, Super Cena wasn't up to the task in Chicago.
#1. John Cena lost to The Rock at WrestleMania 28
The main event of WrestleMania 28 was a historic occasion. Announced a year in advance, WWE had struck gold by booking John Cena versus The Rock in Miami. The hype was unprecedented, owing to their real-life beef and Rocky's comeback from Hollywood.
Considering that it was billed as "Once in a Lifetime," it was almost a given that Cena would win and The Great One would pass the torch to the Cenation Leader. The Champ had taken some questionable verbal shots against The Rock, and it was time to back his claims in the ring.
However, Cena was overconfident at Mania. He wanted to embarrass The Brahma Bull by mocking and beating him with The People's Elbow, but Rocky took advantage and Rock-Bottomed his way to a sensational win.
A rematch the next year remedied much of the damage, but the fact remains that Cena lost to The Rock the first time they faced each other in the ring.