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Post by GodzillaIsMyMonster on Jul 11, 2022 23:48:32 GMT -5
He's arguably the GOAT & undeniably the face of WWE for close to 20 years.
He's faced a wide variety of opponents at the Biggest ppv in the industry.
But what's his best match??
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Jul 11, 2022 23:50:10 GMT -5
He's weird in that so many of his best moments were at Summerslam, rather than 'Mania, but yeah, obviously he's had some classics.
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Chiral
Salacious Crumb
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Post by Chiral on Jul 11, 2022 23:52:23 GMT -5
HBK at WM23 is probably the best technically but it's not a match I really enjoy, I think my favorite is the Batista match for its bombast and also that absolutely sick DDT. Oh and I really liked WM24 that was a fun match.
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Post by Instant Classic on Jul 11, 2022 23:55:40 GMT -5
To me it’s between Shawn Michaels and The Rock at 28.
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tirtefaa
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Post by tirtefaa on Jul 11, 2022 23:59:46 GMT -5
20, 21 and 22 were there to establish him without really needing a good story. 22 sort of had a story, but it was more or less to tell us that Cena was now 'the guy'
23 was sort of the same as 22, but I don't think it was that good, especially the no-selling of the injured leg. I did not buy for one second that Shawn was going to win.
24...weird match, where he technically 'beat' Triple H for Orton. It was also shocking due to him coming back and winning the Rumble, but then cashing in early hurt this match.
25....just filler for a cool 2 person lift spot. Just a bad time for all parties involved.
26 was really good. Had it not been for the career vs. streak stipulation for Taker and Shawn, then I would have made this match the main event. Told a great story along the way and the match was pretty good too.
27 was absolutely dreadful in every way.
28 was shocking due to who won, but given they were setting up a rematch, then it isn't surprising.
29, see 28.
30 and 31 both fit the same mold, but neither guy felt on Cena's level at the time and knew both would lose to him.
33 filler
34...we wait years for a one on one match and it's a squash?
36....I know it has it's fans, but I don't like it.
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Post by GodzillaIsMyMonster on Jul 12, 2022 0:25:31 GMT -5
I love 22. And 23 is ok, but I thought the HBK refusing to shake his hand was a dick move.
20 & 21 were fun matches, but nothing exciting.
24 was just ok, 25 was better, and 26 is amazing. Even with the retirement stipulation of HBK/Undertaker, I'd have made this the main event. It ticked all the boxes, big time feel, great build, two of the biggest stars in the industry, great match.
27 isn't as bad as people remember it as. 28 and 29 both have that epic feel. They feel like main events. I just wish Cena had won them both. Honestly, the story would have been better. Cena beats Rock. Rock wants a rematch, but Cena is like "naw". Rock gets his title shot, Cena wins the Rumble. And Rock begs Cena to fight him. Oops, fantasy booked lol.
The rest... eh.
30 & 31 follow the Hogan formula. They're fun.
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repomark
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Post by repomark on Jul 12, 2022 6:59:18 GMT -5
It’s WM28 for me. Whilst it might not have been as technically refined as others on the list, it was the very definition of “main event” and felt like such a big deal at the time.
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Post by BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps on Jul 12, 2022 8:32:18 GMT -5
My personal favorite is vs. Batista at 26,, but I always felt the triple threat at 25 is better than many people recall. Cena/HHH/Orton was also entertaining.
Cena/Wyatt at 30 isn’t blowaway great but it’s cheesy and fun. The Fiend rematch has good visuals but I liked the Saturday Morning cartoon vibe they had in New Orleans more.
Cena/Michaels at 23 is a classic, but their rematch in England arguably surpassed it and the first match isn’t talked about as much I feel. Same with the JBL match and then their Judgement Day classic, though that was just too short the first time.
The Rock matches are solid, 28 I actually go back to quite a bit. Cena/Rusev was good too, either guy could have won that but I don’t think Rusev/Miro came out looking awful, just the standard Hulkamania type bad guy who was eventually vanquished.
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Post by "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik on Jul 12, 2022 8:41:40 GMT -5
His match with HBK and it's not that close to me.
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Post by polarbearpete on Jul 12, 2022 9:15:46 GMT -5
According to Meltzer, it’s the match with Shawn at 4 stars, followed closely by both the match against Triple H and the first against Rock at 3.75 stars.
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Post by GodzillaIsMyMonster on Jul 12, 2022 10:52:33 GMT -5
According to Meltzer, it’s the match with Shawn at 4 stars, followed closely by both the match against Triple H and the first against Rock at 3.75 stars. Meltzer has a clear bias against WWE. The first Rock match is easily 5 stars based on crowd reactions alone. |
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The Ichi
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Post by The Ichi on Jul 12, 2022 11:04:32 GMT -5
23 easily.
I liked the rematch with Rock more. That end sequence was really well done.
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4real
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Post by 4real on Jul 12, 2022 11:08:36 GMT -5
Have to go with the HBK match also. It’s not as good as the match they had in London soon after but it’s still a very enjoyable match.
I think if Cena had had a match with Taker at Mania at the right time then it could have been his best Mania match.
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Post by Jonathan Coachman on Jul 12, 2022 11:12:20 GMT -5
Rock vs Cena W28, the atmosphere and the hype was just beautiful it’s not a clinic but it doesn’t have it’s one those match’s you should watch with the volume on. Another one which is kinda underrated is his match against rusev WM31 I really enjoyed the match to.
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Post by Jindrak Mark on Jul 12, 2022 11:44:16 GMT -5
The first Rock match. The build and the atmosphere made it seem gigantic. I'm not sure if we'll ever see a bigger match in any of our lifetimes. It broke the wrestling PPV record, sold out a massive stadium and was getting mainstream publicity. WWE will probably push Rock-Reigns as bigger if it happens but I don't think it will be. As for the match itself, I think it's very underrated. It's basically the modern version of Hogan/Warrior. Just two big guys and mega faces trading blows in front of a great crowd and people forget but during the build and then watching it live people were 50/50 on who would win, maybe leaning towards Cena. It was pretty unpredictable. A rematch wasn't known to be a guarantee at the time so were they going to have Rock lose in his hometown or have their top guy lose to a part-timer? There was a crazy nearfall when Rock goes for a crossbody off the top, Cena rolls through, deadlifts him up and hits the AA. You can tell by the reaction a lot of people thought that was going to be the finish but in the end they have the hometown hero go over. It's actually one of the matches I would recommend if a non-fan asked for suggestions. It's not too complicated to get into it. A basic story of current top guy v former top guy. The crowd is huge and super hot so it immediately seems like a big deal. And it's two guys recognizable to you even if you've never watched wrestling. 23 easily. I liked the rematch with Rock more. That end sequence was really well done. I prefer the original for reasons I listed above but the part in the rematch when Cena sets up for the People's Elbow and looks like he's about to make the same mistake as the previous year is great, then it ends up being a fake-out and he stops himself at the ropes, does the you can't see me and goes for the AA. I think that should have been the finish but they had Rock reverse it and continued on for another couple of minutes. |
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Post by BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps on Jul 12, 2022 12:14:33 GMT -5
According to Meltzer, it’s the match with Shawn at 4 stars, followed closely by both the match against Triple H and the first against Rock at 3.75 stars. Meltzer has a clear bias against WWE. The first Rock match is easily 5 stars based on crowd reactions alone. I coincidentally like some of the same stuff Meltzer does but here’s where I don’t always agree. If I regularly used a star system then Cena’d have more than one ***** match (The Styles series and I’d argue Cena/Cesaro cracks it). I’d go ****1/2 minimum on the first Cena/Shawn fight and give the full five to them in Earls Court. And as much as I adore 1990s Misawa, I don’t feel all of everything he touched was ***** like Dave did. |
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Post by GodzillaIsMyMonster on Jul 12, 2022 12:17:13 GMT -5
Meltzer has a clear bias against WWE. The first Rock match is easily 5 stars based on crowd reactions alone. I coincidentally like some of the same stuff Meltzer does but here’s where I don’t always agree. If I regularly used a star system then Cena’d have more than one ***** match (The Styles series and I’d argue Cena/Cesaro cracks it). I’d go ****1/2 minimum on the first Cena/Shawn fight and give the full five to them in Earls Court. And as much as I adore 1990s Misawa, I don’t feel all of everything he touched was ***** like Dave did. Yeah, Kobashi was better anyways. |
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Fade
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Post by Fade on Jul 12, 2022 12:30:44 GMT -5
To me it’s between Shawn Michaels and The Rock at 28. Yeah. Match-match wise, yea it’s the one with HBK. But for all intents and purposes, it’s probably Vs Rock at 28. |
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Jul 12, 2022 13:15:07 GMT -5
To be honest for such a talented guy, they mostly aren't very good matches
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Post by Gerard Gerard on Jul 12, 2022 13:46:13 GMT -5
Surprised the HBK one is winning considering half of is HBK working the leg only for Cena to shrug it off and win anyways. Likewise, I felt there's been more conversation about the hour-long RAW rematch from a weeks later in the time since.
Rock/Cena I was every bit as brilliant as Rock/Cena II was disappointing.
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