John Cena is one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time. Cena announced at Money in the Bank 2024 that he’d be retiring from professional wrestling in 2025. Cena’s farewell tour has taken fans on an emotional rollercoaster with Cena doing the unthinkable by turning heel for the first time in 22 years.
However, he had a few things left to do, most notably winning a record 17th WWE world championship. Cena finally achieved that goal at WrestleMania 41, and Cena requested to be announced as the “Never Seen 17.”
Cena’s haul of world championship reigns is nothing short of extraordinary. The GOAT is a record-breaking 14-time WWE Champion and a three-time World Heavyweight Champion. While Cena’s most recent record-breaking world championship reign is fresh in fans’ memories, Cena has been synonymous with a world championship.
Unsurprisingly, not all of Cena’s world championship reigns have been long or good. However, a chunk of his world championship reigns have been successful, and it’s a big deal whenever someone has managed to dethrone Cena for a world title.
17. 6th WWE Championship Reign (2/21/10 – 2/21/10)
John Cena captured his sixth WWE Championship when he lastly outlasted Triple H inside a grueling Elimination Chamber match in 2010. However, Cena’s joy was short-lived as Mr. McMahon’s “No Chance in Hell” theme song blared through the speakers. Immediately, the chairman of the board announced that Cena would defend his newly won crown against Batista.
Cena, struggling to get to his feet, was weakened, and a fresh Batista took advantage of an opportunity presented. The Animal was unleashed, executing the Batista Bomb, becoming a six-time WWE world champion. This WWE Championship reign was Cena’s shortest world title reign to date, holding the title for just three minutes and 34 seconds.
