Top 5 matches of John Cena's career

John Cena has provided over 22 years of hustle, loyalty and respect to the WWE. And while recently he may have shown more ruthless aggression in his character, he is still one of the all-time greats.

If the last time is truly now, I feel it is appropriate to present the 5 best matches of John Cena’s WWE career.

5. John Cena Vs Randy Orton, I Quit Match, Breaking Point 2009

It’s only appropriate that the first match on this list features Cena's greatest rival of all time. Orton and Cena both debuted in the WWE in 2002, but both wrestlers wouldn’t cross paths until 2007

That year, Orton would look to take Cena’s WWE Championship. Orton would go so far as to punt kick Cena’s father during that stretch. This rivalry became vicious, with Cena getting disqualified in a match against the Viper for not yielding after striking Orton in the corner.

Moving forward to 2009, Cena and Orton would once again find themselves in a vicious feud. At Breaking Point, the objective of the match would be simple, to make the opponent verbally say that they quit.

Both men doled out huge amounts of punishment to the other. Orton hand-cuffed Cena to the ring post during the match, beating him with a kendo stick violently. But Cena managed to free himself. And when he did, he used the cuffs to choke out Orton with the STF.

Orton and Cena would have many more battles over the course of their career. None however, finer than this one.

4. John Cena Vs Daniel Bryan, WWE Championship Match, SummerSlam 2013

Daniel Bryan had caught fire in 2013. Almost every WWE fan was eager to see him rise to the top. Bryan would finally see himself gain the opportunity against the champ at the 2013 edition of SummerSlam.

This match was back and forth, Cena battling through an elbow injury was stellar. Bryan himself was excellent, as he always was.

Both men would have incredibly high sequences, with Cena flying off the top for a crossbody. And Bryan landed his signature flying headbutt.

But the pièce de résistance would be the finish. Bryan would connect on his flying knee pinning Cena and achieving his dream. All for it to be ripped away minutes later by Randy Orton and Triple H.

In defeat, Cena still provided one of the best matches of his career with a vintage showing against Bryan.

3. John Cena Vs Shawn Michaels, Monday Night Raw UK Main Event

When WWE tours Europe, one of the highlights of the trip is the Monday Night Raw episode hosted in the United Kingdom.

Typically on live television shows, the main event is not the highest caliber of fight.

However, UK fans were treated with this matchup between “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels and Cena.

Cena was the WWE champion in this match, however, this bout was not for the title. Rather, each man wanted to prove they were better than the other.

These two battled for almost 40 minutes, going back-and-forth keeping the crowd on edge with every move landed.

The finish to the match was an instant classic, with Cena attempting an Attitude Adjustment but Michaels landing on his feet to deliver a Sweet Chin Music to win this match.

These two wrestling greats put on a clinic in front of a raucous UK crowd to find themselves in third place on my list.

2. John Cena Vs AJ Styles, WWE Championship Match, Royal Rumble 2017

Cena and Styles had arguably been the face of their respective wrestling companies for the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. So when Styles signed with WWE, the two would be set to face off shortly after.

Styles would defeat Cena at SummerSlam and Money in the Bank 2016. But Cena would come back in January of 2017 and earn a title shot with Styles. Cena was in search of his record-tying 16th world championship.

Cena pulled out all the stops in this match. Using a Sunset-Flip-Powerbomb and Avalanche Attitude Adjustment to try and best Styles.

Styles and Cena would put on a wrestling clinic, with each man bouncing off the other and their strengths in the ring. Both men would use their signature submissions, but neither would be able to submit the other.

Cena would kick out of the Styles Clash. Before hitting an Attitude Adjustment and rolling through to deliver another and secure his record tying championship.

But this phenomenal showing is only number two, so what match takes the number one spot?

1. John Cena Vs CM Punk, Money in the Bank 2011, WWE Championship Match

CM Punk’s WWE contract was coming to an end. And the entire wrestling world knew about it. Yet he would have the chance to win the WWE title at Money in the Bank 2011, against the company man John Cena.

Punk had gone on verbal tirade in the weeks and months prior to this match. Punk would go viral for his pipe bomb promo, in which he seemingly went unscripted and criticized the WWE and its leadership.

WWE owner Vince McMahon would make his presence known during this match, attempting to assist Cena in the win. Fearing that Punk would take the title and leave the company with the belt in hand.

This match was excellent technically, but where it shone was the story that this match portrayed. Punk was wrestling in his hometown of Chicago Illinois, which made it an incredibly hostile environment for Cena.

Cena would be conflicted, not wanting to use the interference from McMahon as a means of victory. Ironically this would be the reason Punk would earn the victory.

Punk would land his GTS, pinning Cena and stunning the entire wrestling world. The scene of him leaving the arena and blowing McMahon a kiss is one of the most iconic wrestling images of all-time.

In victory and defeat John Cena has proven to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. So while his career may come to an end later this year, his matches and promos will live forever in the minds of wrestling fans.

Luke Stefanisko is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ljs6415@psu.edu.