2. 1st WWE Championship Reign (4/3/05 – 1/8/06)
Finally, John Cena ended JBL’s long 280-day WWE Championship reign at WrestleMania 21, embarking on a 280-day WWE Title reign of his own. During this reign, Cena introduced the Spinner Belt version of the WWE Championship, and he was drafted from SmackDown to Raw in the 2005 draft lottery.
Cena improved drastically during his maiden WWE Championship reign. He retained the gold against the likes of Christian, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, and Shawn Michaels. Ultimately, Cena fell victim to the first Money in the Bank cash-in. Edge dethroned a battered Cena at New Year’s Revolution 2006.
