John Cena, widely regarded as one of WWE‘s most iconic performers, is known for his passion and dedication inside the ring. However, his career has also been marked by several disappointing matches that exposed his limitations and inconsistencies as a wrestler. This article examines the worst John Cena matches that frustrated fans and highlighted flaws in his performances and WWE storylines over the years.
Disappointing Encounter Between John Cena and R-Truth on Saturday Night’s Main Event 2025
Early in 2025, fans anticipated a thrilling showdown between John Cena and R-Truth at Saturday Night’s Main Event, hoping to relive the excitement from their renowned 2012 rivalry. Instead, the match proved to be a letdown, lacking the creativity and intensity expected from two seasoned WWE superstars.
R-Truth’s attempts to rekindle Cena’s former persona, including an imitation of his classic entrance, fell flat. The bout became more about Cena’s wrestling character struggling with a heel persona than delivering substantial in-ring action. Cena’s eventual assault with a low blow and belt after the match underscored a heel turn that overshadowed any technical wrestling display.
Randy Orton vs. John Cena: The 2007 Unforgiven Clash Marked by Personal Feud
At Unforgiven 2007, John Cena defended the WWE Championship against Randy Orton amid a heated storyline involving Orton’s attack on Cena’s father. This personal vendetta added emotional intensity to the match but resulted in a disappointing finish.
Driven by fury, Cena repeatedly attacked Orton, eventually disqualifying himself and losing the title. Though the rivalry succeeded in advancing the story, the match itself suffered from a lack of compelling in-ring pacing and failed to showcase Cena’s technical ability effectively.
John Cena vs. Michael Cole: A Match More About Humiliation than Wrestling (Monday Night Raw, 2012)
The June 4, 2012 episode of Monday Night Raw featured John Cena facing commentator Michael Cole in a bout that quickly devolved into a humiliating spectacle rather than a wrestling contest. Cena dominated the inexperienced Cole, who was forced to apologize publicly and endure ridicule by having barbecue sauce poured over him.
This match is often recalled as an embarrassment, lacking competitive spirit and serving more as a comedic skit that did little to enhance Cena’s legacy or entertain the WWE fanbase meaningfully.
Royal Rumble 2009: Cena vs. JBL Marked by Tedious Storyline and Boring Action
At the 2009 Royal Rumble, John Cena defended the World Heavyweight Title against JBL, backed by Shawn Michaels, who served as an enforcer after his fictional financial troubles. Despite the intriguing setup, the match dragged on with slow pacing and uninspired exchanges.
Shawn Michaels ultimately turned on JBL, reinforcing his babyface character and undermining the tension of the match. WWE’s decision to prioritize Michaels’ storyline over the Cena-JBL feud sacrificed potential excitement, leaving fans disappointed by the uninspired contest.
‘I Quit’ Match at Over the Limit 2011: Cena vs. The Miz Lacked Authenticity and Became Tiresome
The ‘I Quit’ match between John Cena and The Miz at Over the Limit 2011 was intended to showcase Cena’s resilience and superhuman endurance. During the bout, Cena withstood relentless attacks from both The Miz and Alex Riley. However, much of the match relied on theatrical gimmicks rather than authentic wrestling.
The bout climaxed with a salvo of cheap tactics, including a recorded voice falsely signaling “I quit,” which caused confusion and necessitated a restart. Though Cena ultimately won via his STF submission hold, the prolonged and repetitive attempts to force a submission made the match monotonous and exhausting for viewers.
Judgement Day 2007: Cena vs. The Great Khali Showed Poor Technical Execution
At Judgement Day 2007, John Cena squared off against the colossal Great Khali in a match widely criticized for its lack of technical skill and originality. Khali’s predictable offense failed to generate momentum, while Cena’s counters appeared unconvincing and unimpressive.
The match’s most infamous moment came when Cena made Khali submit to the STF hold despite Khali’s leg being near the ropes, which should have forced a break. This illogical finish further weakened the encounter’s credibility and frustrated wrestling purists.
John Cena vs. John Laurinaitis at Over the Limit 2012: A Main Event Disaster
The 2012 Over the Limit pay-per-view featured perhaps the worst main event of John Cena’s career against John Laurinaitis, an authority figure with little recent wrestling experience. This mismatch lacked any sense of genuine competition or excitement and was heavily criticized by fans and experts alike.
Throughout the bout, Cena seemed to toy with Laurinaitis, turning the match into a drawn-out comedy routine filled with mockery and antics such as spraying water bottles. The slow pacing and repetitive blocking drained the match of energy, causing viewers to disengage rapidly.
Worse still, Cena lost the match due to external interference, a result that failed to build any significant storyline momentum. Rather than elevating either competitor, the match damaged Cena’s momentum after his WrestleMania 28 defeat to The Rock and highlighted the flaws in WWE’s reliance on authority figure storylines.
These Matches Reflect on John Cena’s Career Challenges and WWE Creative Shortcomings
While John Cena’s legacy as a 17-time World Champion remains undeniable, these seven matches illustrate the limitations he faced as a performer. Many of these bouts suffered from weak storytelling, poor opponent selection, and repetitive booking that diluted Cena’s in-ring prowess.
As Cena progresses through his retirement phase, reflecting on these encounters provides insight into the challenges he faced and the growing frustrations among fans over the quality of his matches. These instances also reveal how even the biggest stars are not immune to creative missteps and uninspired matchups within WWE.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is John Cena diagnosed with?
A. Wrestling star John Cena has been diagnosed with skin cancer. Doctors discovered melanoma on his chest and back, about a year apart. Cena mentioned to USA Today that this news has altered how he views life. He encourages men to pay closer attention to skin health.
Q. What is John Cena’s rare disease?
A. John Cena recently talked about why he chose to undergo hair transplant surgery to address his bald spot. The WWE star did not hesitate to express his thoughts in a recent interview, criticizing wrestling critics for “bullying” him into making the decision.
