5 of John Cena's Toughest WWE Opponents

#4. WWE’s twice in a lifetime matchups with The Rock

In 2011, the WWE set up a match between two icons: John Cena and the Rock. Following a WrestleMania loss to the Miz in which the Rock screwed Cena, the two agreed to have a match one year later, at the next WrestleMania. For a year, the two would exchange barbs and even tag team together briefly in anticipation of the mega-match.

At WrestleMania 28, in the Rock’s hometown of Miami, the two finally went at it in the main event. The match, like the pre-match exchanges, lived up to the hype. In the end, Rock was able to defeat Cena in what many thought would be the last battle between the two WWE Superstars.

When the Rock returned the following year to defeat CM Punk for the WWE Title, a rematch seemed inevitable. Cena would win the Royal Rumble and the rematch, this time for the WWE Championship, would headline WrestleMania for the second straight year.

In front of a packed house at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the two went toe-to-toe in another classic back-and-forth match. The match featured multiple near falls before Cena was finally able to gain his revenge and get his payback, defeating the Rock for the WWE Title. Rock would raise Cena’s hand in admiration after the bout.

Cena and the Rock were the perfect pairing at the right time. Two WWE icons, one a movie star and one about to be a movie star. Each a face of the WWE during their prime. The two would be featured in three straight WrestleManias before the feud came to a close.

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#3. WWE’s pipe bomb feud with CM Punk

CM Punk vs. John Cena was a near perfect meshing of contrasting styles. Punk was the indie darling beloved by hardcore fans. Cena was the supposed creation of the WWE machine, marketed and polished. Punk was an old school performer with tons of talent. Cena was a beefy bruiser that showcased his power. The two couldn’t have been more different and yet, more perfect for each other.

The two had three epic matches pitting their contrasting styles and defining WWE from 2011-2013. It started with Punk complaining that he was not the chosen one like Cena and ended with WWE fans clamoring for more bouts between the two as the two put on a three-match clinic.

Punk lived up to his reputation as a great worker in each encounter, winning the WWE Title from Cena at Money in the Bank in his hometown of Chicago in match one. Cena would defy his critics by putting on an outstanding performance in that match and again in their follow-up confrontation at SummerSlam. Punk would win again but the match was a five star classic.

The two met one final time, this time on an episode of RAW before Cena’s second WrestleMania match with the Rock. It was a 30 minute classic in which, this time, Cena pulled out the victory. CM Punk brought out the best in John Cena and John Cena helped Punk become the star he deserved to be.