Ranking all 16 of John Cena's WWE World Championship wins

#8 John Cena def. The Rock (WWE WrestleMania 29)

In a historic encounter, @TheRock defended the #WWEChampionship against @JohnCena at #WrestleMania 29.#SummerofCenaFULL MATCH: https://t.co/VeSdfCorGtCourtesy of @peacockTV & @WWENetwork. pic.twitter.com/sDcHLCLK73

— WWE (@WWE) August 16, 2021

WWE hoped to produce an epic sequel to the "Once in a Lifetime" encounter between John Cena and The Rock, one year after it had happened. While the WrestleMania 28 match felt special, that was not the case the following year. The addition of the WWE Championship did not help much, either.

The result seemed obvious - Cena getting his win back. The Rock's injury hampered the match, but it did not go off the rails. The two megastars ended it with a finisher-fest, followed by a "passing of the torch" moment. It felt pretty big, as a victory over The Brahma Bull would feel, but Cena has had several better WWE Title wins.

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#7 John Cena def. The Miz vs. John Morrison (WWE Extreme Rules 2011)

“I walk out here every night with hustle, loyalty & respect on my sleeve. That is a credo I’ve adopted from the men & women who defend the freedom of this country.” John Cena announcing that the the US had killed Bin Laden at the end of Extreme Rules 2011. pic.twitter.com/GbPzgJQDKM

— big dog. (@griffpr) May 1, 2021

Extreme Rules 2011 presented John Cena and The Miz with the opportunity to redeem themselves following a disappointing WrestleMania main event. They did just that, while the addition of John Morrison only enhanced their Steel Cage Match.

While this match is usually remembered by Cena's post-victory announcement, the drama and intrigue were top-notch. Morrison was particularly impressive. The Cenation Leader eventually pinned The Miz after a super Attitude Adjustment to win his 10th world title.

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#6 John Cena def. Randy Orton (WWE Breaking Point 2009)

10 years ago today, September 13, 2009 was the one-night only WWE PPV Breaking Point. @JohnCena won the WWE Title for the 6th time defeating @RandyOrton in an I Quit match. Orton’s reign lasted 90 days, which was the longest WWE Title of 2009 pic.twitter.com/bKbnJnXShf

— William Wesley Elm (@Mr_WWE_2021) September 14, 2019

There were quite a few issues with this move, but John Cena's victory over Randy Orton at Breaking Point 2009 was pretty incredible. He endured hell before finally making The Viper say "I Quit" and win the match. It may have been a predictable outcome, but Cena produced a heroic performance to offset that.

The finish was incredibly inventive, as he wrapped Orton's own arm around his neck using handcuffs, for a modified and brutal-looking STF. Cena won the WWE Championship here, but this rivalry was far from over.