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Next on my list of greatest wrestlers of all time is none other than John Cena. Many may not agree with his place on this list, but his resume is not a short one and cannot be overlooked.
Humble beginnings
Aside from a short stint with Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW), John Cena has exclusively fought with the WWE. John Cena was signed to WWE (then WWF’s) developmental program, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). From 2000 to 2002, he received 4 tryouts for the main roster, usually in dark matches. In 2002 Vince McMahon challenged the entire locker room to show him who possessed ruthless aggression and to stand out. A few days later, Cena answered that call. Cena would lose in an open challenge set by Kurt Angle, but he would quickly go on to feud with Chris Jericho and gained significant popularity. Later, Cena would portray a rapper and dub himself the “Doctor of Thuganomics”, all while in a quest for the WWE Championship.
Face-ups and Championships
Cena has faced nearly every person you could think about in professional wrestling. From Edge to JBL, Mark Henry and the Rock, Daniel Bryan and The Miz, Triple H and most recently The Undertaker. His signature “Attitude Adjustment (AA)” finisher is one of the least likely to be kicked-out of and his championships have been numerous. He has been WWE Champion 16 times, one shy of being tied for the record (held by Ric Flair). He could be considered the greatest United States Champion of all time. And his open challenges for that title are something mimicked by superstars with any belt. John Cena is an amazing champion and has faced anybody who is anybody in the world of wrestling, but what else is there?
Outreach and Mainstream Popularity
Outside of the wrestling world, there are not many people who would know Ric Flair or Chris Jericho. And if I say the name Sting, most people would think I’m talking about the lead singer of The Police. But John Cena is a household name. Today, he not only continues to wrestle, though in a limited capacity. He also acts, hosts, has a music record that went platinum in the US (selling 1,000,000 copies!), and he grants wishes. John Cena has granted over 500 wishes through the Make A Wish Foundation, more than any other person in their history.
At 41 years old, John Cena is far from being done with his wrestling career. With as much as he has done so far John Cena will always be a fan favorite. Always able to bring us to our feet to chant out, “John Cena sucks!,” as soon as we hear those horns!
