John Cena has had many high moments in his WWE career but he is human and has suffered some bitter defeats. Cena has a reputation from fans for hogging the spotlight with his record-equalling 16 World title reigns, and countless big wins. However, Big Match John has been a very good ambassador for the company and has put over many talents.
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To Cena's credit, he did not have to lie down and take some of those defeats but he is a team player. Many fans rejoice in Cena's losses but he time and time again, he has bounced back from the adversity he has faced.
10 John Cena Vs King Booker Vs Big Show (Cyber Sunday 2006)
At Cyber Sunday 2006, Smackdown's King Booker was voted to defend his World Heavyweight Championship. He defended the championship against Raw's WWE Champion John Cena and ECW Champion Big Show in a triple threat match. The three champions were fighting for the right to be named the champion of champions.
This match is very underrated with all three champions working well together. Cena was tantalizingly close to holding both the WWE and World Heavyweight Titles with Booker locked in the STF. However, Cena's nemesis Kevin Federline nailed him with the World title, which allowed Booker to retain the gold.
9 John Cena Vs The Miz (WrestleMania XXVII)
Big Match John main evented WrestleMania for the third time in six years, as he challenged The Miz for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXVII. The Awesome One had been WWE Champion for a little over five months, and many expected Miz to lose the title to Cena.
The Rock was the host of WrestleMania that year and made his presence felt in the main event. He stunned Cena by giving him a Rock Bottom, as Cena gave him an Attitude Adjustment on the Raw before WrestleMania. Miz retained the title, and it was the Cenation leader's first one-on-one defeat at WrestleMania.
8 John Cena Vs Shawn Michaels (Raw, 2007)
2007 was arguably Cena's best year in the WWE, as he was in the midst of a year-long reign as WWE Champion. The former Doctor of Thuganomics defeated Shawn Michaels in the main event of WrestleMania 23, which was one of Cena's best matches at Mania.
Once again, the former World Tag Team Champions locked horns in the main event of Raw in April 2007. The two legends went close to an hour, which was one of the best matches in not just Raw but WWE history. Michaels gained his revenge in the non-title match but that night, Cena certainly won a lot of fans over.
7 John Cena Vs Triple H (Night Of Champions 2008)
Before Triple H moved over to Smackdown in the 2008 draft, The Game defended the WWE Championship against John Cena. It was the pair's first one-on-one encounter on pay-per-view since Cena forced Triple H to tap out at WrestleMania 22. This time both men were faces in this clash at Night of Champions.
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Just like their match two years prior, the pair went back and forth, putting on a clinic for the fans. It was hard to tell who was going to win but Triple H gained his revenge, delivering a Pedigree to Cena. Undoubtedly, it was one of Cena's biggest losses in his career to date.
6 John Cena Vs Batista (SummerSlam 2008)
The two biggest rising stars of 2005, John Cena and Batista finally clashed on the big stage of SummerSlam in 2008. Both superstars' careers are parallel as they won their first World titles at WrestleMania 21. They also both dropped their titles in January 2006 but in different circumstances.
However, in 2008, Cena and Batista were on Raw, and it was an opportunity which the WWE simply could not pass by. Fans were split as both men were faces. Nevertheless, it was The Animal came out victorious. It was a valiant effort from Big Match John, who suffered an injury in this encounter.
5 John Cena Vs Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2014)
Cena walked into SummerSlam 2014 as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. However, he had his work cut out for him as he defended the title against the red-hot Brock Lesnar. Lesnar was riding a wave of momentum as he upset Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX, ending The Phenom's unbeaten 21-0 unbeaten streak.
Nevertheless, Cena's performance at SummerSlam was the prime example of his selflessness. The Cenation leader barely had any offense and took 16 German Suplexes from Lesnar. The Beast Incarnate put Cena out of his misery becoming the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, winning his first World title in a decade.
4 John Cena Vs Edge (Backlash 2009)
One of the greatest rivalries in WWE history was coming to an end at Backlash 2009. John Cena and Edge closed the book on their storied rivalry for Cena's World Heavyweight Championship in a Last Man Standing match. Despite being a heel, Edge has some considerate success over his rival, which is a testament to the Rated-R Superstar rising to the occasion.
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Cena and Edge fought all over the arena with both men stealing the show in the main event. Cena was closing in on a victory but Big Show interfered and chokeslammed him through a spotlight. The Cenation leader was covered in glass and was unable to answer the count of 10, with Edge clinching his ninth World Championship.
3 John Cena Vs CM Punk (SummerSlam 2011)
The summer of 2011 was spearheaded by John Cena and CM Punk on Monday Night Raw. Their counterparts, Randy Orton and Christian, tore the house down on Smackdown for the World Heavyweight Championship at the same time. At Money in the Bank, Punk defeated Big Match John to clinch his first WWE Championship.
Cena had to face a partisan crowd that night in Chicago but he regained the WWE Championship from Rey Mysterio. Punk's contract had "expired" with both men recognized as WWE Champion. At SummerSlam, the two had another classic with Punk becoming the Undisputed WWE Champion. Undoubtedly, it was with a slice of luck as special referee Triple H failed to see that Cena's foot was clearly on the rope.
2 John Cena Vs The Rock (WrestleMania XXVIII)
The Once in a Lifetime clash between two of the biggest superstars of their respective eras, John Cena and The Rock took place at WrestleMania XXVIII. In fact, the match had a year's worth of build-up as it was announced on the Raw after WrestleMania XXVII, which was unprecedented.
Cena and Rock had a personal dislike for each other but had mutual respect. The former World Champions tore the house down with the majority of the crowd backing The People's Champion in his hometown of Miami. Again it was too close to call but Rock defeated Cena with Big Match John, evidently crestfallen at the loss.
1 John Cena Vs Randy Orton (TLC 2013)
History was once again there to be made for both John Cena and Randy Orton in the main event of TLC in 2013. Cena was the reigning World Heavyweight Champion and The Viper held the WWE Championship. The winner of this TLC match would be crowned as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Fans had grown sick and tired of the rivalry between the two future sure-fire Hall of Famers but they had good in-ring chemistry together. Both men suffered a torrent of abuse in this encounter with Cena putting Orton through the table with an Attitude Adjustment. However, Orton had the last laugh as he handcuffed Cena and pulled the bottom rope, forcing him to crash through the tables. Thus, Orton retrieved the titles becoming the first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion in history.
NEXT: 5 Reasons Why Randy Orton Is Better As A Face (& 5 Why He's Better As A Heel)
