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Top 50 John Cena Matches

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WWE.com posted what they believe to be the Top 50 matches of John's career.

I'm a big Cena fan, and think he's Ric Flair-esq in his ability to get a great match out of almost anyone. That said, their list is a bitch skewed. vs Triple H in the Top 10? No sir. vs JBL at Judgment Day at 20? That one is easily Top 3. The Unforgiven bout is decent, but it's ****1/2 at best. This list doesn't even have John's match against Jericho at Survivor Series, it's fantastic. I also think the bout against Lesnar at Extreme Rules is very over-rated. Plus, I don't even know what the Bragging Rights match with Orton is. I'll assume it's their Iron Man. Other than those gripes, the Top 10 does have some excellent choices.

Props to whom ever wrote out the matches, because WWE.com has it listed 1 by 1. I got this in an email, so. If anyone knows the original source, feel free to hollar. Unless it's cracked. Then I did it.

50. John Cena vs. JBL: WrestleMania 21
49. John Cena, Hulk Hogan & Shawn Michaels vs. Christian, Tomko & Chris Jericho: Raw (June 27, 2005)
48. John Cena vs. The Great Khali: Judgment Day 2007
47. John Cena vs. Booker T: SummerSlam 2004
46. John Cena & The Rock vs. The Miz & R-Truth: Survivor Series 2011
45. John Cena vs. Kurt Angle: No Mercy 2003
44. WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match: Elimination Chamber 2011
43. John Cena vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison: Extreme Rules 2011
42. John Cena vs. Kane: Elimination Chamber 2012
41. Team WWE vs. The Nexus: Summerslam 2010
40. John Cena vs Triple H vs. Edge: Backlash 2006
39. John Cena vs. Randy Orton: Summerslam 2007
38. John Cena vs. Chris Jericho: Raw (Aug. 22, 2005)
37. John Cena, The Undertaker & DX vs. CM Punk & Legacy: Smackdown (Oct. 2, 2009)
36. John Cena vs. Wade Barrett WWE TLC 2010
35. John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar: Backlash 2003
34. John Cena vs. The Undertaker: Vengeance 2003
33. John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Edge: Raw (July 3, 2006)
32. WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match: New Year's Revolution 2006
31. John Cena vs. Edge vs. Big Show: The 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania
30. John Cena vs. Triple H: Raw (Oct. 19, 2009)
29. John Cena vs. Eddie Guerrero SmackDown (Sept. 11, 2003)
28. John Cena & The Undertaker vs. DX vs. Jeri-Show: Raw (Nov. 16, 2009)
27. John Cena vs Batista: Extreme Rules 2010
26. John Cena vs. Sabu: WWE vs. ECW Head to Head (June 7, 2006)
25. John Cena vs. Edge: Backlash 2009
24. John Cena vs. Randy Orton Breaking Point 2009
23. John Cena vs. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson: WrestleMania 28
22. John Cena vs. Triple H: Night of Champions 2008
21. John Cena vs. Kurt Angle: No Way Out 2005
20. John Cena vs. JBL: Judgment Day 2005
19. 2008 Royal Rumble Match
18. John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels: Survivor Series 2009
17. John Cena vs. The Undertaker: Smackdown (June 24, 2004)
16. John Cena vs. Big Show: WrestleMania XX
15. John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam: ECW One Night Stand 2006
14. John Cena vs. Chris Jericho: SummerSlam 2005
13. John Cena vs. Booker T: No Mercy 2004
12. John Cena vs. Rey Mysterio: RAW (July 25, 2011)
11. WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match: Elimination Chamber 2010
10. John Cena vs. Kurt Angle: SmackDown (June 27, 2002)
9. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels: WrestleMania 23
8. John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar Extreme Rules 2012
7. John Cena vs. Batista: Wrestlemania XXVI
6. John Cena vs. Umaga: Royal Rumble 2007
5. John Cena vs. CM Punk: Money in the Bank 2011
4. John Cena vs. Triple H: WrestleMania 22
3. John Cena vs. Randy Orton: Bragging Rights 2009
2. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels: RAW (April 23, 2007)
1. John Cena vs. Edge: Unforgiven 2006

Comments

  1. pbreathingJune 30, 2012 at 6:34 AM

    I may be in the minority thinking his match with Punk at Summerslam was better than MITB, but to not have it in the top 50 is ridiculous.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Caliber Winfield's Biggest FanJune 30, 2012 at 6:42 AM

     I'm with you. Their match at MITB was just too long, and I found a bit too boring in the beginning. But SummerSlam was fantastic, loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ziggaman730June 30, 2012 at 6:57 AM

    sescoops top ten list is waaayyy better and on point than this list... mitb #5??? maybe its there for the irony that is was a 5 * classic

    ReplyDelete
  4. ziggaman730June 30, 2012 at 6:59 AM

    i think del rio cashing in killed any mojo that match had imho... lets hope that they do square off at this summerslam again. speaking of which i really hope brock legit stiff shots the fuck outta hhh for 20 minutes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The FujJune 30, 2012 at 7:14 AM

    would it be weird to say that hopin brock shoots on hhh makes my boy parts stiff?

    ReplyDelete
  6. The FujJune 30, 2012 at 7:18 AM

    outside of the orton match at 3, its not a bad list once u get to ten.

    like a lot... and the fuj means ALOT of these matches are forgettable.

    i find that they put the rock match very low. id figure vince would want to put over current matches at the top.

    the hour match with hbk is there, mitb with punk as well.

    its a sound list.

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  7. bignasty96June 30, 2012 at 7:44 AM

    It's pretty absured that Rock/Cena is below that throwaway Big Show/Cena match from WM 20 which was like a nothing match, just memorable because of how over Cena was w/ the NYC crowd.

    ReplyDelete
  8. CulturebUllyJune 30, 2012 at 7:57 AM

    Not as predictable as I'd thought... I was certain they'd put Rock/Cena at number one. Go Joey Styles.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sebastian HowardJune 30, 2012 at 8:09 AM

    John Cena's best match is the one no one wanted him to win. 

    ReplyDelete
  10. ziggaman730June 30, 2012 at 8:28 AM

    yea since i was lapsed from 05 - '10 i had to youtube the michaels cena raw match, good stuff.

    cena's ring work is very underrated imho.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ziggaman730June 30, 2012 at 8:33 AM

    http://www.sescoops.com/cenas-top-10-moments-the-champ-is-still-here-10-years-later/


    this is a very good list with good commentary, check it out if you havent yet.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 8:59 AM

    Gotta agree with Caliber that Cena/JBL at "Judgment Day, 2005" was a fantastic match. Also gotta agree with others that Cena/Orton at "Bragging Rights, 2009" is rated FAR too high on the list.

    Switch those two around, though, and the list is pretty spot-on.

    Also, like Caliber, I'm a big Cena fan, and think the guy doesn't get NEARLY enough credit for online fans - yes, his gimmick has been stale for five years and his promos are generally laughably hokey, but the whole "You Can't Wrestle" thing? Not even close, he's pretty damned good in the ring.

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  13. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 9:06 AM

    Cena/Show ("WM20") certainly wasn't a great match in a traditional sense, but I've always liked it a lot - as you said, the crowd was hot as hell, and seeing Cena hit the FU/AA on Show was a complete surprise and total mark-out moment. I mean, Cena's obviously always been a big strong guy, but his strength was never really part of his gimmick the same way it was/is for guys like Ahmed Johnson or Mason Ryan; nobody was expecting it, and I think it blew a lot of people away.

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  14. Night81June 30, 2012 at 9:08 AM

    I think Bryan Alvarez came up with the best word to describe Cena in the ring:

    Clunky.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 9:09 AM

    It does seem odd that Cena/Rock is so low on the list, if only for political reasons.

    That said, I do agree with the rating - I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I really didn't like the match much, I found it very slow and plodding, and Rock was obviously not in his prime anymore (not that I blame him, but it is what it is). I'd give it 3*, tops.

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  16. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    That's pretty much the only interest I have in the match.

    Although, it's not even that I'm hoping Brock shoots on Trips, I'm actually hoping that Trips shoots on Brock - not that I'm a "HHHater" or anything, and I think Trips is too much of a professional (and too high on the corporate food-chain) to do such a thing, but you just KNOW that there's a part of Trips that wants to get one or two good shots in as a way of paying Brock back for "disrespecting this business".

    At which point Brock will grab Trips and slam him down on his head, Holly-style.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Night81June 30, 2012 at 9:32 AM

    He's definitely undeserving of that chant as he's not freakin' Khali...but I can see why he gets it in places like Chicago and Philly, which have pretty rich wrestling histories and intelligent fans who don't like his cartoony offense and lack of selling.

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  18. jobber123June 30, 2012 at 9:43 AM

    I like john cenas ring work a lot. I hate the way he's booked to cut dipshit promos but the guy has had great ppv matches for years.

    Having said that his match vs kane at the elimination chamber sucked and no way it's his 42nd best match. Also where the fuck is the cm punk summerslam match?

    ReplyDelete
  19. jobber123June 30, 2012 at 9:44 AM

    Nope your 100% right

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jabber2June 30, 2012 at 9:56 AM

    I know it's stupid to get worked up over a WWE.com list, but this one looks pretty dumb. Just skimming through it there's a few matches in here I distinctly remember not being very good. And off the top of my head there's 2 pretty egregious oversights, vs Punk at SSlam and the triple threat with Angle and HBK at Taboo Tuesday (or was it Cyber Sunday?) 2005.

    #1 should be the guy's signature match, and I'm actually okay with the Unforgiven one being tops. Well it's not *technically* the best match he had, it's with (arguably) his greatest rival, *is* a great match, blew off their (first and longest) feud, and kicked off Cena's epic year long title reign.

    You can't pick MitB cause that's Punk's moment, ditto ONS/RVD. I would've probably gone with the HBK Raw match. Even though Cena lost I thought that match was the point pretty much everyone came off the "Cena can't wrestle" train. Honorable mention to the Umaga LMS match for the same reason.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 10:14 AM

    I mean, I can understand the idea that he's not Bret Hart or whatever, but he's certainly had a lot of good-to-great matches for somebody that "can't wrestle".

    To me, saying that Cena can't wrestle is akin to saying that Mick Foley couldn't wrestle - sure, their styles are unorthodox, but their matches still end-up being good.

    ReplyDelete
  22. spicollidriverJune 30, 2012 at 10:21 AM

    who cares? you could easily say the same for a guy like Rick Rude.

    ReplyDelete
  23. robinwarderJune 30, 2012 at 10:25 AM

    I was live in attendance for the Unforgiven 2006 match and am very pleased to see it at #1. Technically, it may not be the best Cena match of all time, but the heat and drama for it were incredible and this is when the concept of Cena overcoming the odds wasn't stale yet, so it was booked perfectly. This is the very definition of a blow-off match as it capped off a terrific feud and launched Cena's one-year title reign, and sadly, the company doesn't deliver too many of these logically booked feuds any more.

    I don't believe Scott has ever reviewed that match. I think a rant for it is long overdue.

    ReplyDelete
  24. jobber123June 30, 2012 at 10:26 AM

    Yup that match was amazing. I dont agree with it at #1 but its in his top five or six. Great match and that was a great feud.

    ReplyDelete
  25. jobber123June 30, 2012 at 10:29 AM

    Its weird seeing his match with sabu at 26. Joey stylez must have made this list

    ReplyDelete
  26. kylelitkeJune 30, 2012 at 10:30 AM

    Oof, I think Cena is a very good wrestler (my main problem with him is his character and the fact that he completely no sells the entire match at the end everytime making his opponent look like a joke, the match content is usually very good to excellent), but Flair?!? No way. He gets some good matches out of guys you wouldn't expect like Khali, but let's not go crazy here.

    I actually don't think I've seen the Edge match, it was when I wasn't watching. Has it been on a DVD or Blu Ray? I might have seen it on that.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Caliber Winfield's Biggest FanJune 30, 2012 at 10:42 AM

     I know for sure it's on the original ladder match DVD, and it's also on John Cena: My Life. It's a great match, with fantastic heat. A top 10 for sure, just not number one.

    I don't know. No one else really got any great matches out of Lashley, he did. Same with Khali, and Umaga. I know Umaga had some decent matches as time went on, but he wasn't doing much when Cena brought on 2007's MOTY. Not to mention he got what I believe to be a ***** match with JBL. Not even Shawn Michaels could get a decent match out of him. Batista wasn't rocking the casba with anyone other than Undertaker, and Cena always had awesome matches with him.

    Then when he's with people who are great, like Shawn, Hunter, Jericho, Angle, and Punk, he's not only able to hang, but he produces classics.

    Hell, he's probably got the best debut match in WWE history.

    ReplyDelete
  28. JohnPetukaJune 30, 2012 at 11:01 AM

    Once again, I'm agreeing with everything Caliber is saying here.  Cena's workrate and ability to pull off good matches with so many people should be commended. He hasn't worked with many high flyers recently, but he has perfected the David-Goliath match and going one-on-one, tit for tat with ring technicians. No matter what you think about his character, once he's in a match, he draws you in.  And I'm also seconding the motions on Judgement Day 2005 and last year's Summerslam match.

    And to top it off, Caliber is having some fun with the Cracked thing.  It's very refreshing to see a writer take a step back and just have some lighthearted fun.  I'm definitely respecting Caliber's work as of late.  Keep it up.

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  29. theberserker1June 30, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    He's a good wrestler, is good on the mic when he wants to be or is given the chance, and should be respected for all the work he does and time he puts in. The only thing bad is just how he's pushed. You can't push someone as the next Hulk Hogan, it always fails. You can tell kids what they should like and why, but beyond age 12 that shit just doesn't fly. They don't even need to make him heel, just have him get over on his own merits in his own way (like Rock did, ironically enough). I love pizza like anyone else, but not when it's shoved down my throat by a smiling lunatic shouting about Twitter.

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  30. DanJune 30, 2012 at 11:31 AM

    ...would you shoot on Mike Tyson?

    HHH may be many things, but I don't think he's stupid enough to throw a real punch at Brock. 

    Unless he hits him in the face. Brock traditionally doesn't do well with getting punched in the face.

    ReplyDelete
  31. The FujJune 30, 2012 at 11:34 AM

    I wouldnt shoot on Mike Tyson, but Im not in THE BUSINESS!!! either.

    I could see HHH trying to get fly on ppv with Brock and Brock just goes ape shit on him

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  32. The FujJune 30, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    It was the crowd to me, that made the match enjoyable plus the bar i was in.

    All i saw was Rock gettin blown up and Cena doing all the lifting in the match then jobbing. Bar was about 70/30 Rock and I of course was in the Cena camp.

    ReplyDelete
  33. The FujJune 30, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    Standout matches from that timeframe with Cena is both HBKs, WM is ok but the RAW is better.
    Basically you cant go wrong with these numbers

    38
    32
    33
    28
    20
    18
    15
    6
    4
    2
    1

    ReplyDelete
  34. The FujJune 30, 2012 at 11:45 AM

    Glaring omission is Backlash 07

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  35. YJ2310June 30, 2012 at 11:50 AM

     Just imagine HHH shooting on Brock, getting his ass kicked, then rolling out of the ring and grabbing his sledgehammer to slam Brock for real and its the rubber one. Now this would be funny.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Mar SoloJune 30, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    Well, he actually had already done the FU/AA to the Big Show at that point multiple times. Once during Survivor Series in 2003.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Mar SoloJune 30, 2012 at 12:17 PM

    That Triple H match at Wrestlemania was the definition of mediocre. If it wasn't for the crowd that match would get no mention at all.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Jake ZieglerJune 30, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    How would that be ironic?

    ReplyDelete
  39. ChinJune 30, 2012 at 2:24 PM

     Yes. Yes it would.

    ReplyDelete
  40. SHough610June 30, 2012 at 2:45 PM

    Triple H is arrogant, not stupidly suicidal. I can see him working stiff but in a legit fight Lesnar ca-rushes him. It's like batman vs the mutant leader 1 in the dark knight returns.

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  41. SHough610June 30, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    Well, Foley sold for people. I like Cena, but he's hurt by a formulaic match style now. He can crush it with guys like Punk and Brock, but he's not the champion and shouldn't be the main event month after month.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Robert Bradley CurranJune 30, 2012 at 3:47 PM

    I think it helped that Cena lost to Edge the previous month when the deck was stacked against Edge. He was a little more vulnerable then, although a lot of that has to do with the fact that his winning every feud hadn't become inevitable yet, you're right.

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  43. Robert Bradley CurranJune 30, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    "Also gotta agree with others that Cena/Orton at "Bragging Rights, 2009" is rated FAR too high on the list."

    Ironman matches tend to be overrated, in the sense that just being in one is considered a bigger deal than how good the match really is. I remember Bret vs. Shawn getting similar treatment for a while.

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  44. Jonbear1June 30, 2012 at 4:01 PM

    Man, I liked Summerslam, but if you thought that beginning was slow at MITB, I don't know how people enjoyed Summerslam better. It felt like the beginning was slow and dragged on for an extra 10 minutes.

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  45. AmericanWolves02June 30, 2012 at 5:47 PM

    I am shocked as hell that Rock vs. Cena at WM wasn't number 1. Not that it really should be, but considering the hype that match recieved, and the fact that it is a WWE list, would lead one to believe that match would be #1. 

    I'd put Shawn vs. Cena on Raw at #1, Cena-Punk MITB at #2, I'd put his match with Punk at Summerslam near the top 10, I'd put his I Quit matches with Orton and JBL a little higher. Also, and this is just me, but I'm a sucker for Orton vs. Cena at SummerSlam 2007. I'd only rate it at **** but something about that match always makes it one of my favorites. 

    I like the Triple H match at WrestleMania, but I think it'd sit somewhere outside the top 10. 

    Shawn Michaels vs. Cena on Raw is one of my favorite matche ever, not only because it's a great match, but because it came completely out of nowhere. I turned on Raw that night and wasn't expecting a near hour long epic. Every time I start to get tired of Cena(now's one of those times) I put on that match and it makes me realize what he can do.

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  46. Ryan MurphyJune 30, 2012 at 8:42 PM

     I think Umaga had had some good matches with Hardy before the Cena match, and a few sharp looking squashes on Raw & the like. He was an underrated worker. Cena knew the way to go with him was the Hogan vs. Monster formula, but I don't think it's fair to use Umaga as an example of how Cena can make lemonade with a shitty opponent, because I think Umaga held up his end. Plus we don't know the degree to which Umaga had input in the match, or the agents for that matter. Umaga would have been the more experienced worker at that point.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 10:51 PM

    His match against Rey last Summer was great, and really should have been the "Summerslam" main-event - it was their first meeting, one of the last "Dream Match"-esque pairings left, and would have segued perfectly into Cena winning the title and then having Punk show up a minute later to argue Cena's status as champion.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 10:58 PM

    Again, definitely agree on all you said - he's gotten decent matches out of absolute stiffs like Khali and Lashley.

    On a similar note, not only has he had good matches with a lot of wrestlers, but a lot of different styles; from Rey to Khali, he meshes with pretty much everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 11:03 PM

    Oh, I definitely agree that there's something to be said for even being able to produce a half-way decent Ironman match - Cena/Orton sounded like an AWFUL idea, but I thought they did a reasonably good job. I wouldn't want to watch it again, but I did enjoy myself during the initial airing.

    As for Bret/Shawn, it bored me (and the friends I was watching with) to tears as a kid, and I've never had the desire to go back and watch it again. It could be fantastic, but I really don't feel like finding out.

    ReplyDelete
  50. AmericanWolves02June 30, 2012 at 11:08 PM

    I love that Cena/JBL I quit match, but I absolutely despise the finish. On a somewhat related note, at that same event(Judgment Day 2005) it has one of my least favorite angles of all time, ironically enough featuring two talented workers. The whole Booker T/Kurt Angle sex freak thing was SO stupid on so many levels. They could have just let those two guys go out there and wrestle, instead they make it so Kurt Angle wants to rape Sharmell. It was so awful. 

    ReplyDelete
  51. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 11:08 PM

    Oh, absolutely - I'm a big Cena fan, but even I've grown weary of him. Seeing him main-event for seven straight years is akin to trying to eat my favorite food every day for seven straight years; eventually, I'm going to get sick of it.

    Give him six months or a year in the mid-card, or at least make him less of a focal-point for the show; give the program he's working ONE segment per week, not three, and certainly not the closing. Let Punk, Bryan, and Sheamus carry the load for a bit, if for no other reason than to see how they do; if it doesn't go well, then Cena can swoop back up the card, but they'll never know if they don't try. Treating the champions like mid-carders doesn't help anyone.

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  52. AmericanWolves02June 30, 2012 at 11:09 PM

    What about Triple H vs. The Rock? I think that's one Iron Man that doesn't get enough due. Amazing match, and exciting too. I'd give that ***** and I think it's far and away the best Iron Man Match.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 11:11 PM

    It's odd, but I hadn't even remembered seeing it at "Survivor Series, 2003", and I watched it live. It wasn't until I went back and re-watched it (after "WM20") that I acknowledged it.

    I wouldn't be surprised if most of the audience at "WM20" hadn't seen/remembered it, either, whether due to not having seen "SS" or not really remembering it due to the company not promoting it more.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Stuart_ChartockJune 30, 2012 at 11:12 PM

    It's like ten thousand spoons?

    ReplyDelete
  55. JohnPetukaJuly 1, 2012 at 12:11 AM

    Yeah, I think it made all the sense in the world to build to a Cena-Mysterio PPV match-up at Summerslam.  Their match on Raw was damn near a classic.  But instead, they fast-forwarded through everything and made every little wrinkle in the Punk angle less satisfying.  It WOULD be nice to Cena take on smaller opponents. 

    ReplyDelete
  56. rvd356July 1, 2012 at 12:37 AM

    1) MITB vs Punk- blah blah it wasn't his moment whatever it was his best match. Perfect from the entrances to Punk celebrating in the crowd.

    2) WM23 vs HBK- this match was epic. Raw was fun and great(top 10) but this match was sick. The whole reversal deal leading to the STFU was great. Two Legends and the biggest Wrestlemania ever.

    3) Ex. Rules vs Brock- fuckin badass fight. Match of the year fuck all that other daniel bryan wristlock stuff.

    To be fair I haven't seen most of those matches(including the Orton ones or #1 with Edge) but the Angle No Mercy match kicked ass. After that I knew Cena was gonna be a star. Vince get your head out your ass and re-sign Angle while he still can go!! He's wasted 6 damn years in TNA. That's 6 Mania classics we missed.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Stuart_ChartockJuly 1, 2012 at 7:53 AM

    That Booker/Angle angle was awful, but the matches were fantastic - I've never been a Booker fan, but they had great chemistry and Booker looked more motivated than he had in years.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Stuart_ChartockJuly 1, 2012 at 7:56 AM

    Trips/Rock is definitely 5*, and a match that I've re-watched several times.

    Trips/Benoit was fantastic, too, but I've only watched it once - I remember feeling like it was a 5* match as it was airing, I should really go back and re-watch it.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Stuart_ChartockJuly 1, 2012 at 8:04 AM

    Cena also does really well against guys that are lower down the card; for all the times that he completely no-sells beatings from main-eventers, he sells a lot for mid-carders.

    Cena had a really good match against Justin Gabriel about two years ago, a great match against Jack Swagger one of the three-hour "Raw" specials (I don't remember which), and had some really good matches on "Raw" against Miz.

    THAT'S the Cena I want to see more of: the multi-time champ and gigantic star that can still be caught off-guard by guys that "aren't on his level".

    ReplyDelete
  60. JohnPetukaJuly 1, 2012 at 9:03 AM

    I don't think I saw the Gabriel match, so I'll have to check that out on youtube.  But I definitely remember the Swagger match you're referring to.  Cena is definitely underutilized in this capacity because he could put on more entertaining matches and give some guys The Rub.   

    Don't have much more to add.  Just letting you know I agree with more of your points.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Caliber Winfield's Biggest FanJuly 1, 2012 at 12:11 PM

    Tell you what, buy my book, and all is forgiven. 

    ReplyDelete
  62. Andrew BarbarashJuly 1, 2012 at 4:40 PM

    I maybe in the minority but I actually thought HHH/Cena at WM22 was a fantastic match that told a really good story... and was the definition of what a 'passing the torch' match should be. This was an occasion where Cena 'overcame' the odds worked magnificently. 

    ReplyDelete
  63. Stuart_ChartockJuly 1, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    Gabriel also fought Orton a few weeks afterwards, and turned in another really good performance.

    Why the company hasn't done more with him, I have no idea; he's a very talented wrestler, seems to be a good guy and hard worker, and even has the "heart throb" look that could sell a ton of posters.

    Actually, what I'd REALLY like to see is for him and Kofi to team up; a kind of "Air Boom, V2", if you will. Give them ten/fifteen minutes per week to have good matches, and it could easily help to rekindle the tag-team division.

    ReplyDelete

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