John Cena, a titan in the world of professional wrestling, has been a dominant force for over two decades. Cena's career is a captivating saga of championship reigns, unforgettable rivalries, and an unwavering dedication to his legions of fans – the Cenation.
Born on April 23, 1997, John Cena had worked as a limousine driver prior to working in WWE. He made his WWE debut in 2002 against Kurt Angle, and there has been no looking back ever since. The Leader of Cenation became a global sensation after he defeated The Big Show at WrestleMania XX, and thus Mania holds a huge amount of weight in The Champ’s career.
WrestleMania, the annual spectacle that transcends wrestling, is a pop-culture phenomenon. The greatest of the greats punch their victories at The Immortal of Showcase. But even for John Cena, with his long list of WrestleMania victories, there have been setbacks.
Wrestlers Who Have Defeated John Cena at WrestleMania
John Cena has competed in a total of 16 matches at WrestleMania, where he has won 10 and lost 6. All these six defeats came at the hands of six different wrestlers.
Austin Theory - WrestleMania 39
The latest entry in the exclusive club of Cena Slayers is none other than Austin Theory. At WrestleMania 39, in a match some speculated might be Cena's last, Theory defied the odds. The young champion used a moment of confusion with the referee down to steal a victory.
While Cena seemingly had Theory tapped in his signature STF submission move, a low blow and a quick A-Town Down secured Theory's win and cemented his status as a rising star.
The Fiend - WrestleMania 36
In 2020, WrestleMania took a unique turn with the unforgettable Firefly Fun House Match between John Cena and "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt. This wasn't a typical ring brawl. It was a journey through Wyatt's twisted psyche, the Firefly Fun House. Here, Cena confronted not just Wyatt, but his own past, failures, and even a nightmarish version of himself.
The match itself defied the traditional wrestling format. It blurred the lines between reality and Wyatt's warped imagination. Despite Cena's signature fighting spirit, The Fiend emerged victorious. This was a rematch of Cena and Wyatt after the Champ had defeated Wyatt at WrestleMania XXX.
The Undertaker - WrestleMania 34
In 2018, WrestleMania 34 witnessed a clash of titans many fans had yearned for – John Cena versus The Undertaker. The Deadman finally faced Cena on the Grandest Stage.
However, the match took an unexpected turn. Instead of the lengthy, epic battle some anticipated, The Undertaker dominated the contest in a shockingly short time. Fans were quite surprised and disappointed with Cena being defeated in less than three minutes.
The Rock - WrestleMania XXVIII
The feud between John Cena and The Rock began in 2011 when The Great One cost Cena his match against The Miz. A year-long buildup then culminated in a “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Match at WrestleMania XXVIII.
The electricity in the stadium crackled as these two titans collided. The match itself was a hard-fought spectacle, with both men showcasing their signature moves. However, in the end, it was The Rock who emerged victorious with a decisive Rock Bottom.
The Miz - WrestleMania XXVII
Perhaps John Cena’s most shocking defeat came against The Miz at WrestleMania XXVII. In the closing moments, with Cena seemingly on the verge of victory, The Rock delivered a Rock Bottom to Cena, creating an opening for The Miz to roll him up and secure the pin.
The Miz went on to hold the title for not so long, but this victory is one of the most impressive feats the A-Lister has accomplished in his career. This was also the first of the two times Cena was defeated in the main event of WrestleMania.
Randy Orton - WrestleMania XXIV
John Cena’s triumphant return to WWE at Royal Rumble 2008 is considered to be the greatest return, by many. He was poised for great success at WrestleMania, but destiny had other plans.
At WrestleMania XXIV, Cena’s archnemesis Randy Orton defended his WWE Heavyweight Title against Cena and Triple H in a triple threat match. The match was filled with pure enmity from all three sides with brutal attacks being thrown with no intervals. In the end, The Game gave a pedigree to Cena but was punted by The Viper, who pinned Cena to retain the gold.
This was the first time John Cena had been defeated at WrestleMania. Many had believed Cena to build his own WrestleMania streak but this defeat ended any hopes whatsoever.
FAQ's On John Cena at WrestleMania
A. John Cena has lost at WrestleMania in six matches.
A. At WrestleMania, John Cena has lost to Randy Orton (2008), The Miz (2011), The Rock (2012), The Undertaker (2018), The Fiend (2020), and Austin Theory (2023).
A. John Cena and The Undertaker faced at WrestleMania in 2018 where The Phenom won within three minutes.
A. Randy Orton and John Cena faced each other at WrestleMania XXIV in a triple threat match involving Triple H. The two never faced each other in a singles match.
A. While John Cena has won a tag team match against Roman Reigns, he has never beaten The Tribal Chief in a singles match.
