John Cena has been paying tribute to some of the most memorable opponents from his distinguished WWE career by using their finishing moves in recent bouts, as his Farewell Tour nears its end. The 17-time world champion incorporated signature maneuvers from stars such as Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, and CM Punk, most recently performing their moves during his final SmackDown appearance on September 5th, highlighting the significance of his storied rivalries in shaping his legacy.
Edge Reflects on Their Legendary WWE Feud
During Cena’s match against Sami Zayn for the United States Championship, held in September, Cena nearly captured the title before Brock Lesnar’s interference disrupted the contest. Throughout the match, Cena continued his homage to past adversaries by executing Kurt Angle’s Angle Lock and delivering a Spear, a move famously used by WWE Hall of Famer Edge, now competing as Adam Copeland in AEW. Their rivalry dates back to the early stages of their careers and played a major role in establishing their runs as main-event stars.
Adam Copeland shared his thoughts on seeing Cena perform the Spear while discussing their on-screen history in an interview with theScore:
I saw a clip where he did the whole set-up and everything. It’s super fun. For John and I, we’re two guys that met each other at the right time. He needed a bad guy. I needed a good guy. It just clicked. You never know when something is going to click, — With John and I, from day one, it just clicked.
Their intense rivalry ignited in 2005 when Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to win the WWE Championship from Cena, sparking a fierce and prolonged competition. Among numerous encounters, their classic Tables, Ladders & Chairs match and their “Greatest of All-Time” bout at Unforgiven 2006 in Edge’s hometown of Toronto stand out as pivotal moments in wrestling history.
Copeland reflected on what made their feud so critical to both their careers:
Our characters were polar opposites. I knew what the assignment was, and so did he. You had two guys who were very willing to do what we had to do to get us both over. John was very well on his way, but I feel like our angle is what really put the stamp on him being the top guy, and it put the stamp on me being the main event guy. I’ll always look back on that fondly and what we were able to do and the fun we had.
Although Cena’s Farewell Tour will not include another clash with Copeland, who is now focused on wrestling for AEW, their final in-ring meeting took place at Backlash 2009, where Edge triumphed in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
WWE Recognizes Edge as John Cena’s Second-Biggest Rival
John Cena is set to face one of his most formidable opponents this Saturday, September 20, as he takes on Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza. Their past battles, including a brutal 2012 Extreme Rules match noted for hard-hitting exchanges and intense physicality, have established Lesnar as one of Cena’s toughest challengers.
Throughout Cena’s expansive career, debates continue over who stands as his most significant rival. WWE formally ranked Lesnar as his third-greatest adversary and placed Edge second, underscoring the enduring impact of their feud on wrestling fans and the industry alike.
WWE.com elaborated on Edge’s profound influence on Cena’s career:
No WWE superstar has pushed John Cena to the edge (pun intended) quite like The Rated-R Superstar.
The website detailed their rivalry’s dramatic beginnings and lasting intensity:
“Cena and Edge’s rivalry began in historic fashion when The Ultimate Opportunist cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at New Year’s Revolution 2006, capturing his first World Title at the expense of the Cenation leader and kicking off a legendary rivalry. Their ensuing battles pushed the boundaries of civility, as demonstrated by their brawl that left Edge swimming in the Long Island Sound alongside Cena’s spinner WWE Championship.”
Adding to the gravity of their encounters, it was noted:
Not to mention the night The Rated-R Superstar entered Cena’s childhood home and slapped his father flush across the face. Explosive encounters like that not only elevated both Superstars, but also temporarily transported the WWE Universe back to The Attitude Era.
Despite Edge’s prominent status among Cena’s rivals, WWE ranks Randy Orton as Cena’s ultimate adversary, citing their 26 pay-per-view meetings—including a recent bout at Backlash earlier this year. Orton’s elevation to the top spot is also attributed to Edge’s forced retirement in 2011 due to a severe neck injury, which removed him from WWE programming for nearly a decade.
