As John Cena embarks on the final phase of his retirement tour, he faces the opportunity to capture a title that has eluded him throughout his two-decade-long wrestling career. Despite his numerous accolades, Cena has never secured the Intercontinental Championship, a key component needed to achieve the coveted John Cena Grand Slam Title.
The Grand Slam Championship in <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE requires a wrestler to hold at least four specific titles over their career, including the Intercontinental Championship. Cena’s absence from this list makes him one of the few long-standing WWE superstars yet to complete this prestigious achievement, even after recently winning his record 17th Championship at WrestleMania 41 earlier this year.
What Titles Define the Modern WWE Grand Slam Champion?
To be recognized as a Grand Slam Champion under the current standards, a WWE wrestler must have claimed these championships during their career: either the WWE Championship or Universal Championship, one of the World or WWE Tag Team Championships, the Intercontinental Championship, and the United States Championship.
Though Cena has held almost every major title except the Intercontinental Championship, he has never competed for this particular championship on live television. Fans are increasingly hopeful that his farewell tour will provide the perfect stage for him to complete his title collection.
The Challenge of Winning the Intercontinental Championship
Among Cena’s recent developments, Bron Breakker, a former Intercontinental Champion, issued an open challenge daring Cena to compete for the title. Breakker stated,
“Grow some balls and come take the championship from me. Let’s go. Let’s do it.”
—Bron Breakker
However, Breakker lost the title to Dominik Mysterio, who Cena praised wholeheartedly after his WrestleMania 41 victory. Speaking with Pat McAfee, Cena remarked,
“Dom Mysterio is born for this. Period.”
—John Cena
He continued,
“Dom just makes everything effortless. He doesn’t crack under pressure. Any pool we’ve dropped him in, he has not only treaded water, but he’s swimming laps around everyone else. Dom Mysterio, we aren’t even close to what that kid is capable of. He’s incredible, and he’s going to be incredible for the next 20 years or as long as he wants to be in this business.”
—John Cena
A potential Cena versus Mysterio matchup would excite fans, although Cena recently lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam. This loss fuels anticipation for WWE to arrange a path for Cena to secure the Grand Slam title before his departure.
Notable Grand Slam Champions and Those Who Missed Out
The criteria for the Grand Slam Championship have evolved over time, recognizing different wrestlers across eras. Shawn Michaels was the first to earn the Grand Slam honor. The list includes legends like Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Jeff Hardy, John Bradshaw Layfield, Christian, and Big Show. Kurt Angle was the first to achieve the Grand Slam under modern rules, while The Miz distinguished himself by holding the title multiple times.
On the women’s side, Bayley, Asuka, Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, and IYO SKY have been recognized as Grand Slam champions. Despite their fame, notable stars like Bret Hart, Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, and The Undertaker have yet to claim this distinction.
The Importance of Cena’s Final Opportunity
John Cena’s bid to complete the Grand Slam title during his farewell tour carries deep significance for both fans and the WWE organization. Given his monumental contributions and near-unparalleled track record, capturing the missing Intercontinental Championship would solidify his legacy as one of the greatest to ever compete.
As Cena approaches retirement, the wrestling world watches anxiously, hoping to witness this final triumph that would cap off his legendary career while demonstrating the full extent of his championship prowess.
