Seven things that made John Cena face of WWE & cemented his status as GOAT of pro wrestling

(Courtesy : WWE)
John Cena earned the right to earn the status of being the GOAT of WWE
John Cena is one of the most influential and remarkable names in professional wrestling. A young kid from West Newbury, Massachusetts, captivated millions of fans for more than two decades as a WWE star and etched his status as one of the all-time greats.
From championship wins to iconic matches, here are seven things that cement John Cena as ‘The Greatest of All Time.’
7. Tenured WWE career

Among the select few names, John Cena has had a long and tenured career in WWE. The Face that Runs the Place debuted in 2002 and will end his illustrious career as an in-ring performer in 2025.
Although his run from 2016 was more of a part-time attraction, Cena can easily be credited as a cornerstone of the company for years.
6. Doctor of Thuganomics gimmick
John Cena began his ascension as a top rising star with his popular ‘Doctor of Thuganomics’ gimmick. His freestyle rapping skills and promos were a top fixture to witness on SmackDown in the early 2000s. Moreover, Cena brought back the gimmick on numerous occasions, which became a huge part of his career.
5. Iconic matches
Over the span of 23 years in WWE, John Cena battled some of the biggest names in the company. This included delivering iconic matches with stars like The Rock, Roman Reigns, Undertaker, Edge, Randy Orton, and CM Punk, to name a few, and etching remarkable bouts to his long career.
4. Record-setting US Champion
A rare accolade that is held by John Cena is holding the most WWE United States titles. Cena tied the record with 5 in 2015 and also made the title prestigious with his memorable ‘US title Open Challenge’ that is still prevalent in the current landscape.
3. WrestleMania main events
John Cena has squared off against the biggest names in wrestling on the Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania. In doing so, he main-evented The Show of Shows a total of six times, behind front-runners like Hulk Hogan and Roman Reigns.
2. Grand Slam Champion
In his last days as an in-ring competitor in WWE, John Cena claimed the status of Grand Slam Champion. He defeated Dominik Mysterio to win his first-ever Intercontinental Championship, and that elevated his legacy even more in the company.
1. 17-time WWE Champion
John Cena truly earned the moniker and status of ‘The Greatest of All Time’ at WrestleMania 41. With the use of some underhanded tactics, he defeated Cody Rhodes and won his record-breaking 17th World title, officially being called the GOAT of the global juggernaut.
When and where will the November 17, 2025, episode of Raw take place?
The November 17 episode of WWE Raw is set to air live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
Will John Cena wrestle in his final Raw appearance?
Yes, Netflix has officially confirmed that John Cena will wrestle in his final appearance, and Cena himself has tweeted hyping up the match, calling it one of his favorite matches in his career.
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