John Cena’s legacy as the GOAT ofWWEis largely conceived from hisWrestleManiaperformances. Professional wrestling is littered with iconic characters and performers deserving of a placement in the medium’s Mount Rushmore. In John Cena’s case, his “Big Match John” moniker was birthed largely due to his consistentWrestleManiaappearances.

The Leader of the CENAtion was always consistent throughout his career, but withWrestleManiabeing the Showcase of the Immortals, his star status in the mainstream spotlight was immortalized through hisManiaoutings. Whether he’s main eventing high-stakes title matches, orrapping at cardboard cut-outs of celebrities, Cena always gave his arena crowds something to talk about. However, not all the talk was flattering, as Cena has had just as manyManialows as he’s had highs, all of which are worth ranking from bottom to top.

16John Cena and Nikki Bella vs. The Miz and Maryse

WWE WrestleMania 33

It’s rare that John Cena can be accused of phoning in a performance, as he’s notorious for overachieving and exceeding expectations in his career. However, for his mixed tag team match alongside his then-romantic partner, Nikki Bella,Cena feels like he’s on autopilotfor much of the match. It makes the match feel like an afterthought, and maybe it was considering it largely serves as a gateway for Cena to propose to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, knowing that the couple break up before walking down the aisle makes the match feel all the more pointless on replay value.

15John Cena vs. Austin Theory for the WWE United States Championship

WWE WrestleMania 39

In perhaps one of hismost heel moments as a babyface, John Cena would “bury” Austin Theory in a promo essentially calling him, his title reign, and overall push a bust. What made this promo sting so badly is thatTheory failed to prove critics wrongon the night it mattered most. Despite adding a win over John Cena to his resume, Theory failed to deliver a match worth remembering. The bout underwhelms with a by-the-numbers, arguably safe bookng. Theory has yet to recover or return to main event-level relevance, and it leaves a blemish on Cena’s Mania performances.

14John Cena vs. The Rock II for the WWE Championship

WWE WrestleMania 29

For “Twice in a Lifetime,” this sequel already had enough working against it despite the WWE Championship adding new stakes this time around. Most of the match reads like a less-sharp retread of the original match, but in their defense,The Rock suffered some serious injuriesduring this match, including tearing two tendons off his pelvis. An injury like that alone is painful to endure, and Johnson pushed forward for much of the match with it. Had he not been injured, perhaps the sequel would have been received just as savory, if not better, than the first go-round.

13John Cena vs. JBL for the WWE Championship

WWE WrestleMania 21

It’s a shame to think that John Cena’s breakout into the main event picture and mainstream eye wasn’t a memorable match. Everyone remembersJohn Cena' first WWE Title win, but his actual match with JBL is usually a blur for a lot of fans who remember it. Neither Bradshaw nor the Doctor of Thuganomics do anything wrong, necessarily. The match’s cardinal sin issimply being boring. Thankfully, they’d make up for it mere months later with one ofWWE’s most extreme matches, an unforgettable I Quit match.

12John Cena vs. Batista for the WWE Championship

WWE WrestleMania XXVI

There was a time when John Cena and Batista were both considered the face of the WWE simultaneously. For that reason, this match was considered a dream match, but the dream was spoiled two years earlier at SummerSlam 2008, where both men - still in their prime - had an admittedly great match. Perhaps the allure of the dream match was spoiled because it already happened, or perhaps their chemistry just wasn’t as sharp, but their Mania bout isdisappointingly forgettable by comparison.

11John Cena vs. Rusev for the WWE United States Championship

WWE WrestleMania 31

Cena’s match with Rusev is another case of two performers who performed well, but simply don’t leave an impression becausethe match itself is forgettable. The match is entirely booked on the back of the classic USA vs. Russia story. Some will say that it’s a played-out story that felt dated even by 2015 standards. However, the crowd was hot for it, giving Cena some of the biggest cheers of the night and Rusev some of the night’s loudest boos. That has to count for something and redeem the match on some level.

10John Cena vs. The Miz for the WWE Championship

WWE WrestleMania XXVII

In 2011, The Miz had become one of the company’s hottest heels as WWE Champion, arguably the most hated going intoWrestleMania. Meanwhile, John Cena at his most beloved and popular in the middle of WWE’s PG Era. Pitting the WWE’s biggest good guy against the biggest bad guy should’ve produced ample results, but there was oneshadow overcasting the main event: The Rock. The returning Great One’s ensuing feud with John Cena managed to overshadow both the match and the actual WWE Championship feud.

As a result, thematch itself felt like an afterthoughtwhen the ending was a forgone conclusion. Most audience members expected theWrestleMania 27host to eventually cost Cena the match, making an unenthusiastic crowd wait on hands and knees for 15 minutes until it happened. It put a damper on the match, and a damper on what could’ve been a shining moment for Miz.

9John Cena vs. Edge vs. The Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship

WWE WrestleMania 25

This match had the tough task of happening immediately after The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, a match that not only stands out as one ofTaker’s best Streak matches, but also one ofthe few perfectWrestleManiamatchesin the event’s history. That’s a tall order to ask of any performer, even three Hall of Fame-caliber stars. Even worse, John Cena confirmed in aTikTokvideo commentary that because The Deadman and The Heartbreak Kid went as long as they did for their match, ittook time away from the triple threat.

Losing minutes from their match unexpectedly likelyhurt the match in the long runand threw the performers off as far as everything they had already planned. Still, though, at 15 minutes, the match still managed to produce a fun spectacle with the time they were given. The bout is best remembered for Cena lifting Edge and Big Show on his shoulders.

8John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

WWE WrestleMania XXX

The benefit ofJohn Cena’s 2025 heel turnis that it puts his past matches and feuds into a new retrospect, particularly his 2014 storyline with Bray Wyatt. The Eater of Worlds was hellbent on not only exposing who he believed John Cena was, but was intent on getting him toembrace the hatethat supposedly flowed through him. This storyline would weave its way into the match, as Wyatt’s character seemed more interested in getting John Cena to give in to his darkest desires rather than win the match.

This story of John Cena defending his legacy against a nefarious, fiendish villain is compelling enough to make up for the match not being as spectacular on a technical, in-ring perspective. The story endures more than anything. Best of all, even when it ends with Cena once again overcoming the odds, Cena’s actual heel turnrecontextualizes this match’s story.

7John Cena vs. The Big Show for the WWE United States Championship

WWE WrestleMania XX

While John Cena’s rookie year was soured by failing to have a match atWrestleMania XIX, he’d have redemption the following year in a breakout moment. He defeated aWrestleManiamain eventer in The Big Show for the WWE United States Championship in a match that, in retrospect, wouldcome to define John Cena’s future. John Cena, as a character, walked into this match outmatched in size and experience by a giant who dwarfed over him. Keep in mind, John Cena was never small man, but he was the David to Big Show’s Goliath on this night.

John Cena appeared at WrestleMania XIX, but not on the main card. He was on the Sunday Night Heat pre-show, and it wasn’t even in a wrestling match. He performed in a battle rap segment directed at cardboard cut-outs of Jay-Z and Fabolous, both of whom were scheduled to appear at the show, but neglected to appear for differing reasons.

John Cena played the underdog role, which would come to be familiar territory in later years under his “Never Give Up” persona. This match set the stage for John Cena’s career not only by setting the stage for his success, but setting him up for him to become the ultimate underdog babyface hero that WWE wanted him to be.