John Cena’s Top 10 Greatest Rivals of All Time

John Cena

10- Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle holds a historic place on this list as the opponent for John Cena's impromptu WWE debut in 2002, where the young Cena uttered the iconic "Ruthless Aggression" phrase. Angle served as a pivotal measuring stick for the "Doctor of Thuganomics" persona throughout the early 2000s, pushing Cena with his world-class technical skill and intense demeanor. Their feud helped transition Cena from a rookie curiosity into a legitimate main event threat, particularly when they clashed over the WWE Championship in 2005. Angle’s willingness to push Cena to his limits was crucial in establishing the future face of the company.

9- Batista

The rivalry between Batista and John Cena was rooted in their shared origin and simultaneous rise to stardom, both winning their respective World Championships at WrestleMania 21. While they had been partners, a bitter feud erupted in 2010 when Batista returned to challenge Cena for the WWE Championship, famously winning the title at Elimination Chamber. This conflict represented a clash of the two muscle-bound cornerstones of the mid-2000s, who were perpetually compared to each other. Their intense matches, culminating in an I Quit match at Over the Limit, were a brutal reminder of their parallel careers and marked a major turning point in Cena’s championship reign.

8- The Rock

The two-year-long "Once in a Lifetime" rivalry between John Cena and The Rock transcended wrestling, becoming a global spectacle and one of the highest-grossing feuds in history. The rivalry was intensely personal, with Cena criticizing The Rock’s departure for Hollywood, and The Rock mocking Cena’s in-ring sincerity. It culminated in two consecutive WrestleMania main events: a stunning victory for The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII, followed by Cena evening the score for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29. This clash of generations and contrasting philosophies produced a main event star power unmatched in WWE history, passing the torch between era-defining legends.

7- Shawn Michaels

The rivalry between Shawn Michaels and John Cena in 2007 was a classic master vs. student clash, proving Cena could hang with the all-time greats. Despite briefly holding the World Tag Team Championships together, their inevitable split led to the WrestleMania 23 main event, where Cena narrowly retained the WWE Championship. However, the defining moment was their non-title rematch on the April 23rd Raw in London, a 55-minute masterpiece that saw Michaels decisively defeat Cena. This grueling, iconic battle is consistently ranked among the greatest TV matches ever, solidifying Michaels as one of Cena’s fiercest and most respected in-ring rivals, enhancing Cena's reputation through competition.

6- Brock Lesnar

The rivalry with Brock Lesnar focused on pure, brutal athleticism versus the embodiment of WWE’s "Hustle, Loyalty, Respect" ethos. It reignited with Lesnar's return in 2012, leading to a savage, blood-soaked encounter at Extreme Rules. However, the most pivotal match was at SummerSlam 2014, where Lesnar delivered 16 German Suplexes and systematically decimated Cena to win the WWE Championship, effectively ending the "Super Cena" era. This defining loss was arguably the most significant defeat of Cena’s career, as it was a one-sided massacre that established Lesnar's dominance as "The Beast Incarnate" and added a layer of vulnerability to Cena’s character.

5- Triple H

The rivalry between Triple H and John Cena was a generational power struggle between the established main event star and the new face of the franchise. It came to a head at WrestleMania 22, where the polarizing Cena defeated "The Game" to successfully retain the WWE Championship, securing his position at the top despite a hostile crowd reception. Their feud was defined by high stakes and the theme of Triple H trying to prove Cena was not ready to carry the company. Though less frequent than other rivalries, their championship clashes were always significant, often serving as critical tests for Cena’s long-term main event credibility during the mid-to-late 2000s.

4- AJ Styles

The feud with AJ Styles in 2016 provided John Cena with a necessary career renaissance, forcing him to elevate his in-ring performance to match the "Phenomenal One." Starting with Styles’s impactful debut, their rivalry was an immediate dream match for the fanbase. It was characterized by incredible match quality, especially their classics at Money in the Bank 2016, SummerSlam 2016, and the all-time great Royal Rumble 2017 contest, where Cena won his record-tying 16th World Championship. The narrative focused on who was truly the face of the company, resulting in a trilogy of critically acclaimed matches that challenged Cena’s typical formula and secured Styles' legacy. Moreover, their final clash in 2025 at Crown Jewel in an all-timer clash was a perfect closure to their iconic rivalry.

3- Randy Orton

The rivalry between John Cena and Randy Orton is arguably the most enduring and defining of the Ruthless Aggression Era, permanently linking their careers. Emerging from the OVW Class of 2002, they represented the two faces of WWE’s new generation: the steadfast superhero against the despicable Viper. Their feud spanned over a decade, resulting in countless title matches, including iconic battles in an Iron Man match, Hell in a Cell, and an I Quit match. While their overuse sometimes drew criticism, the intensity of their clashes for the WWE Championship solidified both men as all-time greats and the most frequent main event pairing in WWE history.

2- CM Punk

The rivalry with CM Punk represented a battle of ideologies, pitting the corporate-backed poster boy against the anti-establishment voice of the voiceless. Their feud reached its fever pitch with Punk’s infamous "Pipe Bomb" promo in 2011, blurring the lines between fiction and reality and captivating the entire wrestling world. Their match at Money in the Bank 2011 in Punk’s hometown of Chicago is widely regarded as one of the greatest of the modern era. The personal nature of their conflict—over who truly deserved to lead WWE—yielded unparalleled mic work and technical wrestling quality, forever changing the perception of Cena's ability and character.

1- Edge

Edge was the perfect main-event villain for John Cena throughout 2006 and beyond, creating a program defined by opportunism and escalating violence. The "Rated-R Superstar" infamously kicked off the feud by cashing in the first-ever Money in the Bank contract on Cena, setting the tone for their series of chaotic title trades. Their rivalry utilized innovative stipulations, including a memorable TLC match in Toronto, a spectacular Last Man Standing match, and a chaotic TLC match in Canada. Edge's slimy, relentless attempts to dethrone the champion provided Cena with his most consistently excellent narrative adversary during his rise to the top.