John Cena's top 10 best promos in WWE history

John Cena has one of the best WWE careers of all-time

When it comes to commanding the microphone, few in the history of pro wrestling have ever matched John Cena’s presence, timing, or raw verbal precision.

Whether he’s dismantling an opponent’s credibility, blurring the lines between kayfabe and reality, or firing up a crowd of thousands, Cena’s promos are often unforgettable.

For over two decades, the 17-time world champion has used his gift of gab not only to sell matches, but to define rivalries, elevate talent, and captivate audiences in ways that echo long after the lights go down.

While John Cena’s wrestling accolades speak for themselves, multiple world championships, headlining WrestleManias, and breaking merchandise records, his mic work has been just as crucial to his legacy.

He’s the rare superstar who can drop a ruthless line that becomes a meme, cut a passionate babyface promo that pulls at your heart, or shift his character tone entirely in one chilling monologue.

Let’s take a look at the top ten WWE promos from John Cena that ran the place, each one a masterclass in wrestling psychology, charisma, and storytelling.

10. John Cena crashes Ziggler’s toast with AJ Lee (2012)

On the New Year’s Eve edition of Raw, John Cena interrupted Dolph Ziggler, Big E, and AJ Lee, delivering a roast that was pure gold. Ziggler had just retained his Money in the Bank briefcase at TLC, but Cena stole the spotlight with a promo that mocked Ziggler’s gimmick changes over the years.

“First you were a caddy, then a cheerleader, blonde hair, brown hair, big girlfriend, small girlfriend, now a big man…”

What followed was one of WWE’s weirdest, but most memorable, segments involving a disgusting “poo” prank. The promo, however, proved Cena could still roast with the best of them.

9. Verbal beatdown of AJ Styles (2017)

Ahead of Royal Rumble 2017, Cena squared off on the mic with AJ Styles, and the promo war was as intense as their eventual matches. Cena was full of fire, dismissing Styles’ claim to the throne.

“You’ve been hot for six months. I held this place down for a decade.”

This was classic Cena, blunt, fiery, and confident. It set the tone for one of WWE’s most memorable trilogies.

8. Destroying The Miz (2017)

During the build to WrestleMania 33, Cena and Nikki Bella feuded with The Miz and Maryse. On SmackDown Live, Cena verbally dismantled Miz with surgical precision, calling out his derivative character.

“You stole Jericho’s personality, Flair’s move set, Bryan’s personality… you bootlegged The Rock.”

It wasn’t just a roast, it was a teardown of Miz’s entire WWE persona.

7. Championship Ascension Ceremony w/ Randy Orton (2013)

In the buildup to their title unification match at TLC 2013, Cena used the platform to defend Daniel Bryan and undermine Orton’s legacy.

“You want these championships because you’re selfish… so you can finally say ‘Hey guys, look! I’m finally what I was supposed to be ten years ago.’”

It was powerful, passionate, and highlighted Cena’s ability to weave fan sentiment into his promos.

6. Explaining his heel turn (2025)

Cena’s shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025 was instantly iconic. But it was his promo days later in Brussels that truly cemented it. For the first time, Cena turned the tables and blamed the fans for turning him into a monster.

“You’ve made me the butt of a stupid invisible joke for 15 years and you still think it’s funny. It’s not funny.”

It was chilling, brilliant, and showed just how dangerous Cena can be when he’s not pandering to the crowd.

5. Calling out Brock Lesnar (2014)

Before SummerSlam 2014, Cena tried to psych out The Beast. While Lesnar ended up squashing him in under 20 minutes, Cena’s promo before the match was as intense as any.

“This Sunday, I conquer the conqueror. This Sunday, I am the one who beats the one.”

Even in defeat, Cena made fans believe he had a chance and that’s the art of the promo.

4. Verbally annihilating Austin Theory (2023)

On the road to WrestleMania 39, Cena took Theory to promo school. In one of the most brutally honest segments of the modern era, Cena ripped into Theory’s lack of connection with fans.

“They don’t believe in you because you don’t believe in yourself.”

It was a rare moment where Cena didn’t just bury someone, he dissected Theory.

3. The “Wrist Notes” Promo on The Rock (2012)

During the heated feud ahead of WrestleMania 28, Cena humiliated The Rock for relying on wrist notes during a promo.

“I don’t need my notes for my promo on my wrist.”

It was a small detail, but one that shook the feud and gave Cena the psychological edge heading into the match.

2. John Cena viscerating Roman Reigns (2017)

In their famous Raw faceoff before No Mercy 2017, Cena exposed Roman Reigns’ mic weaknesses in front of a live audience.

“It’s called a promo, kid. If you wanna be the big dog, you’re gonna have to learn how to do it.”

This wasn’t just Cena doing Cena, it was Cena giving Roman a crash course in WWE main-eventing.

1. John Cena recreating The Pipebomb to CM Punk (2025)

In June 2025 on SmackDown, Cena flipped the script on CM Punk’s legendary pipebomb. After laying Punk out with an Attitude Adjustment through a table, Cena mocked Punk’s rebel persona, sarcastically naming Punk’s old allies like Claudio Castagnoli and Matt Cardona.

“You’re not TKO, you’re Mr. TKO.”

It was raw, real, and powerful, the kind of promo that reignites a rivalry and defines a storyline for years.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.