10 Wrestlers That John Cena Could Never Defeat
John Cena
10. David Flair
Despite John Cena’s long list of legendary victories, one name he never defeated is David Flair. The son of Ric Flair faced Cena three times in Ohio Valley Wrestling in early 2002, and each encounter ended the same way—with Cena coming up short. Two of the matches were singles bouts, while the third saw Prototype team with Sean O’Haire against Ric and David Flair. Experience and ring savvy clearly favored the Flairs, leaving the young Cena without a single win in their encounters.
9. Evan Bourne
John Cena and Evan Bourne only met once in the ring, and that solitary encounter ended in a loss for Cena. Their clash took place on the October 4, 2010 episode of Monday Night RAW (Episode 906). In the match, Bourne teamed with Mark Henry to defeat Cena and Nexus member Michael Tarver in a fast-paced bout lasting just under nine minutes. With no singles rematch ever booked, Evan Bourne remains undefeated against John Cena.
8. Jerry “The King” Lawler
Jerry Lawler holds a unique distinction in John Cena’s career—he never lost to him. Their rivalry began in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2002, where Lawler, teaming with Nova, defeated Cena and Sean O’Haire on two separate occasions. Years later, the two crossed paths again during a RAW Royal Rumble-style match for a WWE Championship opportunity. Lawler outlasted Cena, along with John Morrison, Sheamus, CM Punk, R-Truth, and Randy Orton, securing another victory and cementing his unbeaten record against Cena.
7. Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of John Cena’s losses, but the record tells a clear story—Cena never defeated her. Across seven encounters, Wilson remained unbeaten. Six of her victories came alongside Billy Kidman in tag team encounters, while the seventh saw her team with Tajiri. In every match, Cena and Dawn Marie fell short, leaving Wilson with the unique distinction of being undefeated against the 17-time world champion.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura
While their encounters are often recalled for a dangerous in-ring moment, the outcomes are equally striking—John Cena never defeated Shinsuke Nakamura. Their first singles match took place in August 2017 on SmackDown Episode 937, with Nakamura earning a WWE Championship opportunity at SummerSlam by defeating Cena. The two met again at the 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble, where Nakamura eliminated Cena en route to victory, leaving the 17-time champion winless against the charismatic Japanese star.
5. Scott Steiner
John Cena’s sole encounter with Scott Steiner occurred on December 14, 2002, at a SmackDown house show in Jacksonville, Florida. That night, “Big Poppa Pump” claimed victory. With Steiner already established as a seasoned main-event star and Cena still in the early stages of his WWE career, the result was hardly surprising in hindsight.
4. Chavo Guerrero Sr.
Experience proved decisive when Chavo Guerrero Sr. faced John Cena. On the 245th episode of SmackDown, Guerrero Sr. teamed with Chavo Guerrero Jr. in a two-on-one handicap match against Cena. The bout lasted just over five and a half minutes, ending with Cena on the losing side. Guerrero Sr.’s decades of in-ring experience and championship pedigree were more than enough to secure the victory.
3. Lance Storm
During their 2002 run on SmackDown, John Cena and Lance Storm faced off multiple times, with Storm emerging victorious in each encounter. Renowned for his technical precision and disciplined style, Storm consistently outwrestled the younger Cena. While Cena came up short in these matches, the experience proved invaluable, shaping his development and helping him grow into the superstar he would become.
2. Nova (Simon Dean)
Few wrestlers ever dominated John Cena like Nova, later known in WWE as Simon Dean. Across nine matches—three singles and six tag team bouts—Cena never managed a victory. Their first clash occurred on May 15, 2002, when Nova defeated Prototype to capture the OVW Heavyweight Championship. Nearly a year later, Nova teamed with Rey Mysterio to defeat Cena and Redd Dogg at a SmackDown house show, extending his unbeaten streak against the future 17-time world champion.
1. Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon completes the list of competitors John Cena never defeated. While their encounters were in tag-team settings, the outcomes remain notable. On March 20, 2006 (RAW Episode 669), Shane teamed with Triple H to defeat Cena and Shawn Michaels. Over a year later, on May 28, 2007 (RAW Episode 731), Shane joined The Great Khali and Umaga to overcome Cena and Bobby Lashley, preserving his undefeated record against the future 17-time world champion.
