John Cena’s 10 Greatest Rivals?

[Jonathan Michaels]

Two very notable names missing from the list, one of which should be near the top.

(Hint, it’s the only two guys who won Wrestlemania title matches against him)

This is what happens when Adam isn’t making the list, I guess.

[Deleted]

1. Edge
2. Orton
3. Punk


Everyone else is sort of interchangeable.

[Mid-Carder]

I think they're in the wrong order but otherwise I would agree with that top 10.

I enjoyed all the Cena/Orton matches but I know I'm in the minority there.

[thehottag]

Edge, Punk, Styles. Never gave Orton a second thought, tbh.

[Instant Classic]

Orton
Edge
Punk

In that order for me

The Rock
JBL
Big Show
AJ Styles
Kurt Angle
Triple H
Brock Lesnar

the rest in no order really.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Oct 4, 2022 16:26:56 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

Orton
Edge
Punk

In that order for me

The Rock
JBL
Big Show
AJ Styles
Kurt Angle
Triple H
Brock Lesnar

the rest in no order really.

How could The Big Show be there? We don't even know if John Cena can lift him!

[GodzillaIsMyMonster]

Edge is number one. Like... these two never had a bad match, and Edge got fans to cheer Cena when a lot of the crowd was being rebellious.

Orton is number 2. The heir apparent vs the man who surpassed him. The had great chemistry (maybe even better as partners)

[Cvslfc123]

The Orton feud felt a bit forced in my opinion, it felt like it only happened because they both came up from OVW around the same time. That moment in the 2011 Royal Rumble where they had a stare down to crickets was hilarious.

His feud with Edge was a lot more iconic to me.

[Jindrak Mark]

I'm glad to see Edge as number one. That 2006 feud is one of my all-time favorites. So much crazy shit happened. It's like if HHH/Orton also had good matches on top of the great non-match stuff they had (Evolution kicking out Orton, Orton punting Vince and kissing Stephanie, HHH breaking into Orton's home).

You had the first ever MITB cash-in. Live sex celebration. Edge breaking into Cena's house and slapping his dad. Cena attacking Edge in his hotel room. Cena throwing Edge into the Long Island Sound. Edge showing up at ECW to screw Cena out of the title. Edge beat Cena in Cena's hometown. Cena beat Edge in Edge's hometown. That TLC match was amazing.

Their 2009 feud was pretty good too. The "I hate you" promo. Cena lifting both Edge and Big Show up for the AA. The last man standing at Backlash. So basically in the end Edge won their rivalry, right? They had a few random TV matches in 2010 but I would consider that Backlash match as the true ending.

[GodzillaIsMyMonster]

Oct 4, 2022 16:34:32 GMT -5 Jindrak Mark said:

I'm glad to see Edge as number one. That 2006 feud is one of my all-time favorites. So much crazy shit happened. It's like if HHH/Orton also had good matches on top of the great non-match stuff they had (Evolution kicking out Orton, Orton punting Vince and kissing Stephanie, HHH breaking into Orton's home).

You had the first ever MITB cash-in. Live sex celebration. Edge breaking into Cena's house and slapping his dad. Cena attacking Edge in his hotel room. Cena throwing Edge into the Long Island Sound. Edge showing up at ECW to screw Cena out of the title. Edge beat Cena in Cena's hometown. Cena beat Edge in Edge's hometown. That TLC match was amazing.

Their 2009 feud was pretty good too. The "I hate you" promo. Cena lifting both Edge and Big Show up for the AA. The last man standing at Backlash. So basically in the end Edge won their rivalry, right? They had a few random TV matches in 2010 but I would consider that Backlash match as the true ending.

I really want one more. Just one more big epic match.

[Nosnorb]

Edge. It has to be Edge. The two dudes had incredible chemistry and their 2006 feud is one of the greatest of all time. Edge vs Cena should have headlined Wrestlemania 2006.

[DrBackflipsHoffman]

Edge, Punk, Taiwan

[GodzillaIsMyMonster]

Oct 4, 2022 16:48:39 GMT -5 Nosnorb said:

Edge. It has to be Edge. The two dudes had incredible chemistry and their 2006 feud is one of the greatest of all time. Edge vs Cena should have headlined Wrestlemania 2006.

Yea. The HHH match is good. But he & Edge deserved that main event.

[Jindrak Mark]

Oct 4, 2022 17:54:35 GMT -5 GodzillaIsMyMonster said:

Oct 4, 2022 16:48:39 GMT -5 Nosnorb said:

Edge. It has to be Edge. The two dudes had incredible chemistry and their 2006 feud is one of the greatest of all time. Edge vs Cena should have headlined Wrestlemania 2006.

Yea. The HHH match is good. But he & Edge deserved that main event.

It only lasted a month but they had a great 3 way feud that culminated at Backlash 2006. The promos they all cut on each other were good and I always loved that triple threat match.

I loved that period of Raw in general. Cena was the top face. Edge the top heel. HHH was basically a tweener teasing re-forming DX with Michaels. Trish v Mickie was great. RVD was rising up to the main event as the ECW revival approached. A solid midcard with the likes of Carlito, Benjamin and Masters. The beginning of Umaga's push. Then a few months later you got Jeff Hardy returning, Trish v Lita for the final time. DX finally getting back together and feuding with Rated RKO. I definitely think 2006 is my favorite post-attitude year for Raw and Edge v Cena was definitely a key reason.

[Deleted]

Didn't watch but my Top 10 are...

1. Edge
2. Punk
3. Orton
4. JBL
5. Umaga
6. Big Show
7. Carlito
8. Styles
9. HHH
10. Owens

I wouldn't put Rock, Bryan, HBK, Roman, Batista etc in there. Although I did like a few of their matches.

[GodzillaIsMyMonster]

Oct 4, 2022 18:08:59 GMT -5 Jindrak Mark said:

Oct 4, 2022 17:54:35 GMT -5 GodzillaIsMyMonster said:

Yea. The HHH match is good. But he & Edge deserved that main event.

It only lasted a month but they had a great 3 way feud that culminated at Backlash 2006. The promos they all cut on each other were good and I always loved that triple threat match.

I loved that period of Raw in general. Cena was the top face. Edge the top heel. HHH was basically a tweener teasing re-forming DX with Michaels. Trish v Mickie was great. RVD was rising up to the main event as the ECW revival approached. A solid midcard with the likes of Carlito, Benjamin and Masters. The beginning of Umaga's push. Then a few months later you got Jeff Hardy returning, Trish v Lita for the final time. DX finally getting back together and feuding with Rated RKO. I definitely think 2006 is my favorite post-attitude year for Raw and Edge v Cena was definitely a key reason.

I was actually there live at Backlash 06. Cena was over. Like... I'm from Lexington, Ky. I've been in Rupp Arena at UK basketball games. That crowd was LOUD!

[Super Duper Dragunov]

Oct 4, 2022 15:18:40 GMT -5 @hedm2005 said:

1. Edge
2. Orton
3. Punk


Everyone else is sort of interchangeable.

Yeah my first reaction was "there's TEN?!"

[Jonathan Michaels]

I don’t get how Miz isn’t there, that feuds been off and on for a decade at least

[DMO-]

I feel like kross and cena would have most definitely feuded if they were able to match timelines.

[Instant Classic]

I have no doubt if given the chance Ambrose would be up there with Punk, Edge, and Orton.