{"id":148168,"date":"2025-12-09T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T15:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=148168"},"modified":"2025-12-09T07:11:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T12:11:29","slug":"is-john-cena-worthy-of-wwes-mount-rushmore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/12\/09\/is-john-cena-worthy-of-wwes-mount-rushmore\/","title":{"rendered":"Is John Cena Worthy Of WWE’s Mount Rushmore?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The professional wrestling career of John Cena is only a few days away from concluding. For two decades, the face of World Wrestling Entertainment has been synonymous with wrestling. We have been lucky enough to enjoy his career, a career filled with every major accolade that a wrestler could hope for. One who solidifies himself as one of the best to step foot into the squared circle.<\/p>\n

A big question that will follow Cena once his time is done is where he sits in WWE history. His career has been iconic, but will it warrant his inclusion on the Mount Rushmore of WWE wrestlers? There are a handful of men who could stake their claim to that title, but only four can make it. Has Cena done enough to surpass WWE greats? Let\u2019s look at the candidates and compare their careers to that of John Cena.<\/p>\n

*The wrestlers mentioned have been pulled from various sources, but are the usual suspects when it comes to WWE\u2019s most mentioned Mount Rushmore candidates.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ric Flair<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We can start with the man that John Cena has been chasing over the past few years. Ric Flair’s 16 World Championships were a record that many thought would never be broken. Those championships spanned an incredibly lengthy wrestling career that saw Ric Flair accomplish just about everything there is to do in the wrestling business.<\/p>\n

So, does John Cena rank ahead of Ric Flair? In terms of WWE, the answer is a resounding yes. Flair\u2019s career was impressive, but most of his championships took place outside of WWE. Various promotions housed Ric Flair\u2019s talent, while John Cena was solely within WWE.<\/p>\n

Everything Cena did was to the benefit of World Wrestling Entertainment, holding most of their records. Ric Flair might be the biggest cross-promotional star, but John Cena was a WWE guy through and through.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Rock <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Another man who could adorn many a Mount Rushmore conversation is one who was a cornerstone of the Attitude Era. The Rock was a leading force behind WWE\u2019s rise in popularity during the late 1990s. His babyface aura was incredible, and he was great as a heel. On the microphone, he had no equal and amassed an impressive 10 World Championships.<\/p>\n

As great as The Rock was, he is another WWE great who would get ousted from Mount Rushmore by John Cena. The impact both men had on their rivals was undeniable, but it was John Cena\u2019s longevity that set him apart.<\/p>\n

Cena was around, in WWE, for much longer than The Rock, thus allowing him to put together a more impressive resume. The Rock has the movie world at his fingertips, but in WWE, it\u2019s John Cena who reigns supreme.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Stone Cold Steve Austin <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Steve Austin was the Attitude Era. His rise to the top coincided with WWE\u2019s renewed success and wrestling in general. Liking wrestling became cool again, and WWE achieved unprecedented success, drawing larger crowds than they had in years.<\/p>\n

Winning 6 World Championships, three Royal Rumbles, and a King of the Ring, Steve Austin was the man and continues to get massive pops years after he retired from full-time action.<\/p>\n

John Cena can unseat many great wrestlers from WWE\u2019s Mount Rushmore, but Steve Austin isn\u2019t one of them. Cena\u2019s career parallels Austin in many ways, with Cena even gaining the advantage in championships, but Stone Cold\u2019s impact cannot be understated.<\/p>\n

\"A
Photo Credit: By Randall Chancellor<\/a> – https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jrandallc\/3421111179\/in\/set-72157616475097040, CC BY-SA 2.0,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Steve Austin brought a company back from the brink and sparked a revolution in wrestling. His impact on WWE overall is comparable to that of no one.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bret Hart <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bret \u201cThe Hitman\u201d Hart is perhaps the greatest wrestler to come from the great country of Canada. During an era of ridiculousness, he brought a sense of realism to a product that sorely needed it.<\/p>\n

His style of wrestling contained a mastery of the technical side that none could match. He is responsible for some of the greatest matches in WWE history and has amassed an impressive championship resume for the era he wrestled.<\/p>\n

As great as Bret Hart was, he would get bumped from Mount Rushmore by John Cena. A man who has doubled Bret Hart\u2019s championship output and has had a larger impact on the wrestling business as a whole.<\/p>\n

John Cena drove more merch, drew more fans, and became a larger figurehead for WWE than Bret Hart. This can be due to the time that Hart wrestled and his shorter career, but the fact remains that John Cena trumps Bret Hart.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hulk Hogan <\/strong><\/h2>\n

World Wrestling Entertainment would not be where it is today without Hulk Hogan. He took a regional promotion and introduced professional wrestling to the world. For the first time in history, wrestling was part of the mainstream.<\/p>\n

A-listers, fans, and sports stars alike flocked to the product while the business saw unprecedented growth. WWE became a global juggernaut because of Hulk Hogan’s meteoric rise. It was also during his time with WWE that Hulk Hogan put together the most impressive streak of WWE Championships. One that was only surpassed recently.<\/p>\n

John Cena has done a lot for WWE, but there isn\u2019t a chance that he would unseat Hulk Hogan from the mountain. He has been amazing during his time, winning championships and making a positive impact on the product. However, he, like most other wrestlers, is standing on the shoulders of Hulk Hogan. If Hogan weren\u2019t doing his thing, we may have never gotten a John Cena. Hulk Hogan is safe.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Undertaker <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Big Evil has put together an incredible career. His championships never came with the frequency of others on this list. It\u2019s his longevity and influence that make him one of WWE\u2019s greats. His dedication to his character and the evolution of that character rivalled no one.<\/p>\n

He embodied The Undertaker in and out of the ring, creating an aura rarely seen in professional wrestling. For over 30 years, he was the leader in front of and behind the camera.<\/p>\n

This is a tough one to compare with John Cena. John Cena has a more impressive in-ring career, being a main event talent for a longer time than The Deadman. However, the influence and impact that The Undertaker has had put him slightly ahead of the leader of Cenation. It\u2019s hard to put anyone ahead of John Cena, but The Undertaker must have the edge.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Andre The Giant <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Before the wrestling world was chalk-filled with larger-than-life athletes, there was only the 8th<\/sup> Wonder of the World. Andre the Giant was the biggest attraction in wrestling for decades. He defined what it was to be a superstar. The world turned out in droves to see Andre wrestle, as we saw him sell out every arena he stepped into.<\/p>\n

There were not many championships that made it around the ample waist of the Giant, but he didn\u2019t need them. Andre the Giant was a man who transcended championships.<\/p>\n

This may be a controversial take, but as great as he was, Andre the Giant takes a back seat to the man who will face Gunther on Saturday. John Cena was a more well-rounded wrestler than Andre. He had the it factor that made him a huge attraction, a championship resume greater than any, and the microphone skills that would make Andre the Giant seem small. It may not be popular, but John Cena takes the spot over Andre the Giant.<\/p>\n

Closing Thoughts<\/h2>\n

Yes, other wrestlers could be considered for WWE\u2019s Mount Rushmore, but the seven men discussed above represent the bulk of wrestlers talked about.<\/p>\n

There is only room for four men atop Mount Rushmore, and when we\u2019ve looked at the cases for the men mentioned above, it’s safe to see John Cena as earning his place on that mountain.<\/p>\n

No wrestler has hit every level of greatness that John Cena has. His greatness doesn\u2019t involve just one quality, but every quality that makes a wrestler great. There have been only a few that have surpassed him in one or two of those categories, but none that equal his success across the board.<\/p>\n

It may not sit well with some, but there can be no denying the impact and success that John Cena has had in World Wrestling Entertainment. He has earned his rightful place atop WWE\u2019s Mount Rushmore.<\/p>\n

More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

Header photo \u2013 WikiMedia Creative Commons<\/a> \u2013 Stay tuned to the <\/i><\/em>Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a> for more on the John Cena and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Netflix<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Raw),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>USA Network<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>The CW<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(NXT),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Tubi<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>A&E<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Peacock<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>YouTube<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>, and catch fast-paced action on X (<\/i><\/em>WWE Speed<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>).<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The professional wrestling career of John Cena is only a few days away from concluding. For two decades, the face of World Wrestling Entertainment has been synonymous with wrestling. We have been lucky enough to enjoy his career, a career filled with every major accolade that a wrestler could hope for. One who solidifies himself […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4518,"featured_media":146457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7205,4,3],"tags":[165],"class_list":["post-148168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-john-cena"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4518"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148168"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148175,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148168\/revisions\/148175"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=148168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=148168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}