John Cena’s in-ring career is coming to an end. Although “The Greatest of All Time” had announced his retirement plans way in advance, his swan song will be difficult for the Cenation to digest. Fortunately, WWE fans can find solace in the countless memories Cena has created over the years.
Over 23 years, Cena has been involved in some of the most important and memorable matches in WWE history. It would be impossible to list all of them, but here we narrow down 5 essential encounters every fan needs to watch.
#5. JBL (c) vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21
From an in-ring perspective, JBL vs. John Cena was never going to top Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle. However, it was the more important match as it set the stage for the main event scene of the next decade in WWE.
There was nothing special about the in-ring action, and the crowd felt tired. Nonetheless, this was still Cena’s biggest match until that point. JBL had been a dominant WWE Champion, and Cena had been quietly rising through the ranks of the pecking order. JBL was the ideal villain for the Superman gimmick Cena had been assigned.
The FU Cena delivered to JBL to win his first World Championship was a clear statement: Super Cena had arrived, and was here to say. Until WrestleMania 21, we had seen glimpses of The Champ as a major star. The win over JBL solidified Cena’s position atop the food chain.
