# Who is John Cena's greatest rival?

> Some of these feuds ran for years and traded titles at WrestleMania; others lasted one unforgettable summer.

*By YPB Team · Published November 4, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-john-cenas-greatest-rival*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Randy Orton** — score 1000/1000
   Cena and Orton traded the WWE Championship through 2009, including an "I Quit" match at Breaking Point and an Iron Man match at Bragging Rights.
2. **Daniel Bryan** — score 926/1000
   Bryan beat Cena cleanly for the WWE Championship in the main event of SummerSlam 2013.
3. **Seth Rollins** — score 706/1000
   Rollins beat Cena at SummerSlam 2015 in a title-for-title match, holding both the WWE World Heavyweight and United States Championships.
4. **Triple H** — score 680/1000
   Cena made Triple H submit to retain the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 22 in 2006.
5. **Brock Lesnar** — score 611/1000
   Lesnar beat Cena decisively for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 2014 and defeated him again at Wrestlepalooza in 2025.
6. **Rusev** — score 610/1000
   Cena ended Rusev's unbeaten run to win the United States Championship at WrestleMania 31 and beat him in an "I Quit" match at Payback 2015.
7. **Edge** — score 529/1000
   Edge cashed in the first-ever Money in the Bank contract on Cena at New Year's Revolution in January 2006 to win the WWE Championship.
8. **CM Punk** — score 529/1000
   Punk won the WWE Championship from Cena at Money in the Bank 2011 in Chicago, and Cena beat him at Night of Champions in 2025.
9. **AJ Styles** — score 529/1000
   Cena beat Styles at the 2017 Royal Rumble for his 16th world title, then beat him again at Crown Jewel in 2025 during his farewell tour.
10. **Batista** — score 529/1000
   Batista lost the WWE Championship to Cena at WrestleMania XXVI and fell to him again in Last Man Standing and "I Quit" matches in 2010.
11. **Shawn Michaels** — score 529/1000
   Michaels faced Cena in the WrestleMania 23 main event and beat him in an hour-long match on Raw in London in April 2007.
12. **Umaga** — score 433/1000
   Umaga challenged Cena for the WWE Championship in early 2007, including a Last Man Standing match at the Royal Rumble that Cena won.
13. **JBL** — score 433/1000
   Cena took the WWE Championship from JBL at WrestleMania 21 and beat him in an "I Quit" match at Judgment Day 2005.
14. **The Miz** — score 433/1000
   The Miz retained the WWE Championship against Cena in the WrestleMania XXVII main event, and they met again in a mixed tag match at WrestleMania 33.
15. **Bray Wyatt** — score 317/1000
   Cena beat Wyatt at WrestleMania XXX, and Wyatt got his revenge in the Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania 36.
16. **Chris Jericho** — score 317/1000
   Cena returned from a neck injury to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Jericho at Survivor Series 2008.
17. **Kevin Owens** — score 317/1000
   Owens pinned Cena in his first main-roster match at Elimination Chamber in May 2015, starting a three-match feud over the United States Championship.
18. **Roman Reigns** — score 317/1000
   Reigns beat Cena at No Mercy 2017 and again in a Universal Championship match at SummerSlam 2021.
19. **Kurt Angle** — score 0/1000
   Angle was Cena's opponent in his WWE debut on SmackDown in June 2002, and they met again over the WWE Championship in 2005.
20. **The Rock** — score 0/1000
   The Rock beat Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII in 2012, and Cena won the WWE Championship from him in their rematch at WrestleMania 29.
21. **Cody Rhodes** — score 0/1000
   Cena beat Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 for a record 17th world title, and Rhodes won the Undisputed WWE Championship back at SummerSlam 2025.

Tags: wrestling, wwe, john cena, rivalries