John Cena's All-Time Best Pro Wrestling Matches

#1 CM Punk vs. John Cena

City/Arena: Chicago, Illinois — Allstate Arena
Date: July 17, 2011

WON: ★★★★★ • Cagematch: 9.64

An all-time classic fueled by molten crowd energy, sharp storytelling, and era-defining stakes.

#2 CM Punk vs. John Cena

City/Arena: Dallas, Texas — American Airlines Center
Date: February 25, 2013

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 9.36

A TV epic blending counters, late-match drama, and two masters working at peak form.

#3 Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena

City/Arena: Los Angeles, California — Staples Center
Date: August 18, 2013

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 9.30

Bryan’s technical excellence meets Cena’s big-fight poise in a landmark main event.

#4 Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins

City/Arena: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Wells Fargo Center
Date: January 25, 2015

WON: ★★★★¾ • Cagematch: 9.28

A dynamic triple threat where chaos, creativity, and power spots sing in harmony.

#5 AJ Styles vs. John Cena

City/Arena: San Antonio, Texas — Alamodome
Date: January 29, 2017

WON: ★★★★¾ • Cagematch: 9.20

Elite pacing, seamless counters, and signature moments from two generational aces.

#6 John Bradshaw Layfield vs. John Cena (I Quit)

City/Arena: Minneapolis, Minnesota — Target Center
Date: May 22, 2005

WON: ★★★★¼ • Cagematch: 9.09

A brutal, bloody war cementing Cena’s willpower against JBL’s merciless nastiness.

#7 John Cena vs. Umaga (Last Man Standing)

City/Arena: San Antonio, Texas — AT&T Center
Date: January 28, 2007

WON: ★★★★ • Cagematch: 9.05

An unexpectedly vicious classic—Cena’s resilience meets Umaga’s unstoppable ferocity.

#8 Cesaro vs. John Cena (U.S. Open Challenge)

City/Arena: Chicago, Illinois — Allstate Arena
Date: July 6, 2015

WON: ★★★★¼ • Cagematch: 9.01

TV magic: Cesaro showcases elite strength and technique against Cena’s never-quit engine.

#9 John Cena vs. Kevin Owens

City/Arena: Columbus, Ohio — Nationwide Arena
Date: June 14, 2015

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 9.01

Owens’ arrival statement—smart counters, fresh spots, and a star-making performance.

#10 AJ Styles vs. John Cena

City/Arena: Perth, Australia — RAC Arena
Date: October 11, 2025

WON: ★★★★¾ • Cagematch: 8.97

A late-career chapter with crisp execution, big counters, and polished main-event drama.

#11 John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels

City/Arena: London, England — The O2 Arena
Date: April 23, 2007

WON: ★★★★¼ • Cagematch: 8.97

A famed marathon TV bout—methodical pacing crescendos into gripping closing drama.

#12 AJ Styles vs. John Cena

City/Arena: Brooklyn, New York — Barclays Center
Date: August 21, 2016

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 8.95

A crisp, definitive win for Styles, amplified by an invested big-show crowd.

#13 Edge vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels

City/Arena: Atlanta, Georgia — Phillips Arena
Date: April 29, 2007

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 8.90

Four top stars craft layered chaos with clever saves and crowd-popping sequences.

#14 Edge vs. John Cena (Tables, Ladders & Chairs)

City/Arena: Toronto, Ontario — Air Canada Centre
Date: September 17, 2006

WON: ★★★★¼ • Cagematch: 8.89

A heated hometown TLC with risky set pieces and a dramatic, decisive finish.

#15 CM Punk vs. John Cena

City/Arena: Boston, Massachusetts — TD Garden
Date: September 16, 2012

WON: ★★★★¼ • Cagematch: 8.82

Another sharp chapter in their rivalry—clean counters and a clever, talk-provoking finish.

#16 John Cena vs. Kevin Owens

City/Arena: Elmont, New York — Nassau Coliseum
Date: May 31, 2015

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 8.77

Owens shocks the world—heavy counters and decisive moments define a star-making debut.

#17 Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (Extreme Rules)

City/Arena: Rosemont, Illinois — Allstate Arena
Date: April 29, 2012

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 8.77

A shockingly physical return match—Lesnar’s realism crashes into Cena’s grit.

#18 Team Cena vs. Team Authority (Survivor Series Elimination)

City/Arena: St. Louis, Missouri — Scottrade Center
Date: November 23, 2014

WON: ★★★★½ • Cagematch: 8.68

A rousing, dramatic elimination match anchored by Ziggler’s iconic closing run.

#19 John Cena vs. The Fiend (Firefly Fun House)

City/Arena: Orlando, Florida — WWE Performance Center
Date: March 26, 2020

WON: N/A • Cagematch: 8.64

A surreal, meta deconstruction of Cena’s career—bold, polarizing, and unforgettable.

#20 Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena (Street Fight)

City/Arena: Los Angeles, California — Crypto.com Arena
Date: August 3, 2025

WON: ★★★★★ • Cagematch: 8.63

A violent, dramatic big-fight brawl where grit, creativity, and heart carry the night.