Here is a ranking of John Cena’s best contests at the WWE’s biggest show of the summer.
Having appeared at 14 consecutive SummerSlams from 2004 to 2017, John Cena’s progression as a wrestler and character can be pinpointed in his bouts at the biggest show of the summer. Whether he was playing the role of a rising star or helping establish a rising star, the 16-time World Champion was part of some of the most memorable matches in the show’s history. Cena is arguably Mr. SummerSlam, and these are his 10 best matches at the summer showcase:
10. vs. Edge (2006)
This SummerSlam marked the first time at the event that the crowd was no longer on John Cena’s side. Hardcore fans felt slighted by management’s decision to strip Cena of what garnered him their adoration. Their frustrations were voiced in “Cena sucks” chants directed at the once universally-beloved Doctor of Thuganomics. Facing off with a remnant of the Attitude Era, Edge, these chants were not surprising.
Lillian Garcia gave it her all for the audience in Boston’s TD Garden reminding them that he was “Massachusetts’ own, John Cena!” Cena performed well amid the noise, as he did and had to for most of his career.
A testament to Cena’s talents is his ability to get a crowd of detractors fully invested in the action and outcome of his matches. Fans were borderline-apoplectic when Cena hit his “Five Moves of Doom” and in awe when he lifted both Edge and Lita for the FU, it is hard not to be impressed by his cartoonish strength.
Lita snuck Edge a pair of brass knuckles while the referee was distracted, he then used them to whack Cena in the back of the head for the win in a clever and eventful match.
9. vs. Batista (2008)
Two pillars of the Ruthless Aggression era on similar paths to superstardom met in what felt like the WWE’s equivalent to a kaiju battle. The match leaves a bit to be desired but the two would meet again in a series of impressive main event matches in 2010, their SummerSlam encounter was a taste of what John Cena and Batista could achieve together. Perhaps the babyface vs. babyface dynamic is what hampers this match, but they deliver moments worth revisiting.
The strength and explosiveness of the two heavyweights carry the match through its 14-minute runtime. The freakishly strong Cena reverses a running Powerslam attempt from Batista into an FU, but timing and agility helped create the most memorable scene.
Batista catches Cena coming down from a top-rope leg drop and delivers an emphatic Batista Bomb, to which Cena kicks out of and sends the Indianapolis crowd into a frenzy. This spot is pointed to as the moment Cena sustained an injury that led to a herniated disc in his neck requiring surgery, it would keep him out of action until November’s Survivor Series. Batista wins soon after by delivering another Bomb, sealing his victory in this clash of the titans.
8. vs. Randy Orton (2009)
The two offer fast-paced sequences only guys with their chemistry could pull off. Cena attempts landing one of his trademark shoulder tackles but Orton ducks, his speed and momentum sending him crashing to the outside of the ring.
Some of the best work Cena does as a wrestler is creating fan engagement, and one of his tricks to maintain it is playing to the crowd during a rest hold. Orton traps Cena in a headlock while the crowd battles in a “Let’s go Cena!” “Cena sucks!” chant-off and Cena reacts by powering up during the former chant, but appearing weakened by the latter.
Orton shows hilarious cowardice by shoving the referee and getting himself disqualified, the first in a chain of shenanigans that lead to an all but decisive finish. After two more restarts caused by Orton getting himself counted out and cheating, an unknown man, later revealed to be Ted DiBiase Jr.’s brother, intervenes in the match just when Cena was close to victory and attacks the referee. Orton takes advantage of the chaos and bests Cena after delivering an RKO. Their work was overshadowed by how overbooked the match was, but it remains worthwhile despite its silliness.
7. vs. Randy Orton (2007)
Their first encounter at SummerSlam is the more entertaining of the two. Though their rivalry has been criticized for the WWE’s overreliance on it, this was their first one-on-one match on Pay Per View, and the two demonstrated what has made this a reliable main event program for the seven years they have faced each other since SummerSlam 2007. Cena and Orton were made to wrestle one another.
Cena sells Orton’s methodical offense in a way that makes him look so menacing, and although these are the match’s lowest points for excitement, Cena’s comebacks after selling for so long get the crowd on its feet. Every time Cena appeared to be back in the match, Orton quickly shut him down with an athletic counter.
Orton loses but is protected in the process, not being able to cover Cena for a pin after the RKO because of damage done to his left knee by Cena’s STF submission hold only seconds before. Orton looked to capitalize on Cena’s exhaustion by trying another RKO, but Cena stuns him with an FU for the win. This was a fun Cena victory with exciting moments if you have the patience to see them through.
6. vs. CM Punk vs. Big Show (2012)
This match was a convergence of things that just work in wrestling: Big Show in a multi-man match, Punk was fresh off the start of a heel turn, and John Cena lifting the Big Show. Show spent most of the match bullying his opponents, which could be boring under one-on-one circumstances, but it worked here because while Punk was down and out, in came Cena for his turn to take the giant down, and so forth.
Show was the most valuable participant of the match, and it became most interesting when Cena and Punk finally got him to the ground. Cena and Punk locked a grounded Show in their own respective submissions, simultaneously getting him to tap.
Both men celebrated their preconceived wins despite there being no clear winner, therefore, the match was restarted.
Cena delivered an Attitude Adjustment (formerly the FU) to Show, which will never not be his coolest show of strength, but was immediately thrown outside the ring before covering him for a pin him by Punk, who then pinned Show for the win. The struggle to bring Big Show down and all the offense dished out before getting to that point made this an awesome watch.
5. vs. CM Punk (2011)
Cena’s evolution as a wrestler coincides with an influx of talent from the independent wrestling scene. It started with CM Punk. His match with Punk in July of 2011 is regarded by fans as a unanimous classic, so there was pressure on both men to deliver.
Cena was met with chants of “you can’t wrestle!” that in, and beyond, 2011 felt impulsive. In response, Cena and Punk engaged in a chain wrestling sequence. Cena’s transitions from one hold to another were remarkably smooth when considering his size.
The technical brilliance continued when Punk put him in a Koji Clutch that Cena turned into his STF, but Punk maneuvered out of it and into an Anaconda Vice before Cena escaped into a Crossface. Try saying all of that without getting winded.
Triple H remains impartial as the guest referee, which is a role designed to make you believe someone will be cheated. No one is deliberately screwed, but H did not catch Cena placing his foot on the rope, costing Cena a chance to win the match. This sequel falls short of the standard they set the month prior, but they have a technically great back-and-forth match worthy of praise.
4. vs. Brock Lesnar (2014)
If the matches in this list were ranked by what I felt the first time I watched them, this one would undoubtedly be #1. There was a collective perplexity among fans watching Brock Lesnar launch John Cena 16 times across the ring for 16 minutes.
Rightfully so, no one could have predicted this. There was no way the WWE would sacrifice their biggest star of the last decade, not like this, at least. Cena tried taking the fight to Lesnar early on but was almost immediately shut down with an F5, “That was your chance, John… I’m GOING TO KILL YOU” Lesnar shouted at his opponent, and so he did.
Lesnar’s offensive onslaught dominated a significantly large portion of the match even if Cena conjured up some sporadic hope.
There was a palpable sense coming from the crowd each time Cena showed any sign of a comeback, and all Brock could do was laugh, brushing him off every time. Cena taking the beating he did here was straight out of a fever dream, and that same feeling has rarely been replicated in the matches Lesnar has had since. The match is a spectacle, credit to Cena’s selling, and Brock’s presence.
3. vs. Seth Rollins (2015)
This match served as a Seth Rollins showcase, and when his abilities are on display the way they were here, you cannot help but look in amazement. Rollins was out to prove he had what it took to perform against Cena; while Cena was out to prove he could still hang with the uber-athletic types like Rollins.
Both collided on a special night in Brooklyn, NY. When Cena began working with ex-indie stars in major programs, he developed a keenness for the popular independent wrestling style of executing and taking big moves and high spots at an unrelenting pace. There was plenty of that here.
Despite Cena’s efforts to match his opponent’s athleticism, he is undeniably stiff. You almost have to respect his incredibly awkward Springboard Stunner that the crowd audibly loathes. But Rollins and his athleticism shine versus Cena.
From a Meteora to a running Shooting Star Press, a Phoenix Splash to a Falcon Arrow, not to mention a soaring Frog Splash, Rollins unloaded his entire arsenal. The match peaked when Rollins recreates Cena’s signature rollover AA spot, an unreal moment. It took everything Rollins had, and a silly Jon Stewart interference, to beat Cena in this captivating matchup.
2. vs. Daniel Bryan (2013)
With Triple H as the special guest referee, once again, Cena lost this match as clean as anyone possibly could. Cena does some excellent work seeming a bit unsure about the state of his recently operated elbow and appearing frustrated by Bryan’s audacity. This match was physical and worked at a frenetic pace. Bryan excelled at being an aggressive underdog who charged at Cena like a pitbull no matter how many times he was denied.
This big title fight featured awesome moments like a slap fight — wherein Bryan got the better of Cena — and a perfectly put-together finishing stretch. Bryan attempts a top-rope Crossbody but Cena catches and wills him onto his shoulders for an AA, but Bryan counters with a rollup pin attempt that Cena kicked out of.
Before Cena could even stand, Bryan kicked him in the head and retreated to a corner of the ring. He realized the gravity of the situation as Cena laid on the mat, unconscious. Glory was within reach, and Bryan charged up a devastating running knee that knocked Cena out and secured the pinfall victory. These two all-time greats created an enthralling classic match fueled by an underdog theme and spectacular action.
1. vs. AJ Styles (2016)
Cena’s greatest showing at SummerSlam does not happen without the amazing performance from AJ Styles. Styles had finally arrived in WWE and took the promotion by storm, which meant a program with Cena was in order. This dream match manifested at one of Cena’s last SummerSlam appearances before deciding to spend more time in Hollywood. As is the tradition in pro wrestling, Cena did his best to make Styles as he neared the end of his full-time career as a wrestler. Styles did more than his fair share, bumping for Cena like he was on a mission to destroy his body.
Cena learned that AJ Styles was unlike anyone he had ever shared the ring with. He hit Styles with everything, and yet, he survived. Cena unleashed a Code Red (that he does bizarrely well) and a Spinning DDT on Styles, but kicking out of an Avalanche AA sent him spiraling. His bewildered scowl was an omen for the apparent, that this would not be Cena’s night. As a last-ditch effort, Cena loads Styles onto his shoulders for another AA but ends up taking the Styles Clash. Styles crawls to the ring apron to seal Cena’s fate. Phenomenal Forearm, 1-2-3.