If you’ve followed WWE at all for the past 15-16 years, there’s one name that you’d recognize almost immediately: John Cena. While Cena has cemented himself as one of WWE’s most iconic superstars, you might not remember that he originally started as a rebel with a “degree in Thuganomics,” and thought a bicycle chain with a Master lock was an acceptable fashion statement.Since this year marks the 15th anniversary of Cena’s WWE debut, we’ve chronicled nine milestones from his storied career.
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Courtesy WWE.com
– Ohio Valley Wrestling
Cena first made a name for himself as a top prospect from Ohio Valley Wrestling, one of WWE’s primary developmental leagues prior to NXT. OVW produced a number of other famous alumni, including Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar.
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Courtesy WWE
– Cena’s WWE Debut
Cena made his first official WWE appearance going face-to-face against legendary superstar Kurt Angle. Cena and Angle would continue to have feuds over the years, and the superstars have a mutual respect for each other which culminated in Cena presenting Angle with his Hall of Fame trophy this year.
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John Huet
– First WWE Championship and ‘M&F’ Cover
At WrestleMania XX, Cena triumphed over the monstrous Big Show to get his first belt, the WWE Championship title. This year also marked his first Muscle & Fitness cover, where we called him “WWE’s Rappin’ Reppin’ Bad Boy.” What can we say? It was a different time.
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Courtesy WWE.com
– World Heavyweight Champion
At Survivor Series in 2008, Cena defeated Chris Jericho to finally win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. In his career, Cena has won a whopping 25 championships, a feat tied only with superstar Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
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Courtesy WWE.com
-11 – Cena Vs. The Nexus
Cena’s WWE career reached a turning point in 2010, when he went head-first into a feud with the villainous Nexus. At one point, Cena was even forced to join the Nexus himself, and lost his WWE contract when his teammate Wade Barrett was defeated by Randy Orton at Survivor Series. Of course, Cena came back stronger than ever and eventually emerged victorious.
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Courtesy WWE.com
– Rock vs. Cena
When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned to WWE in 2011, it was only a matter of time before he would butt heads with Cena. This led to a clash of titans at WrestleMania XXVIII, with “The Rock” ultimately being the victor. Cena had been critical of Johnson taking a break from the WWE in favor of acting in the past, but has since apologized.
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Courtesy WWE.com
– Nose Injury
Cena is famous for his “Never Give Up” mentality, and this was never more apparent than when he suffered a gruesome nose injury on Raw while fighting Seth Rollins. Despite this setback, Cena still completed his match against Rollins. We’d say that’s a pretty good example of being dedicated.
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Courtesy WWE.com
– 500th Make a Wish
While Cena made his mark on pop culture as a WWE superstar, he has plenty of accomplishments outside of the ring as well. In 2015, Cena became the only celebrity to fulfill 500 wishes for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to give severely ill children an opportunity to live out their dreams. And what kid wouldn’t want to spend a day hanging out with Cena?
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Per Bernal
– Engagement to Nikki Bella and Hiatus
Cena spent the beginning of this year in a feud with The Miz and his wife, Maryse, leading to a match at WrestleMania that culminated in a proposal to his longtime girlfriend Nikki Bella. Cena has since been on hiatus from the WWE to film Season 2 of American Grit. He makes his grand return to Smackdown Live! on July 4.
If you’ve followed WWE at all for the past 15-16 years, there’s one name that you’d recognize almost immediately: John Cena. While Cena has cemented himself as one of WWE’s most iconic superstars, you might not remember that he originally started as a rebel with a “degree in Thuganomics,” and thought a bicycle chain with a Master lock was an acceptable fashion statement.
Since this year marks the 15th anniversary of Cena’s WWE debut, we’ve chronicled nine milestones from his storied career.
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
Cena first made a name for himself as a top prospect from Ohio Valley Wrestling, one of WWE’s primary developmental leagues prior to NXT. OVW produced a number of other famous alumni, including Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar.
- Cena's WWE Debut
Cena made his first official WWE appearance going face-to-face against legendary superstar Kurt Angle. Cena and Angle would continue to have feuds over the years, and the superstars have a mutual respect for each other which culminated in Cena presenting Angle with his Hall of Fame trophy this year.
- First WWE Championship and 'M&F' Cover
At WrestleMania XX, Cena triumphed over the monstrous Big Show to get his first belt, the WWE Championship title. This year also marked his first Muscle & Fitness cover, where we called him “WWE’s Rappin’ Reppin’ Bad Boy.” What can we say? It was a different time.
- World Heavyweight Champion
At Survivor Series in 2008, Cena defeated Chris Jericho to finally win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. In his career, Cena has won a whopping 25 championships, a feat tied only with superstar Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
-11 - Cena Vs. The Nexus
Cena’s WWE career reached a turning point in 2010, when he went head-first into a feud with the villainous Nexus. At one point, Cena was even forced to join the Nexus himself, and lost his WWE contract when his teammate Wade Barrett was defeated by Randy Orton at Survivor Series. Of course, Cena came back stronger than ever and eventually emerged victorious.
- Rock vs. Cena
When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned to WWE in 2011, it was only a matter of time before he would butt heads with Cena. This led to a clash of titans at WrestleMania XXVIII, with “The Rock” ultimately being the victor. Cena had been critical of Johnson taking a break from the WWE in favor of acting in the past, but has since apologized.
- Nose Injury
Cena is famous for his “Never Give Up” mentality, and this was never more apparent than when he suffered a gruesome nose injury on Raw while fighting Seth Rollins. Despite this setback, Cena still completed his match against Rollins. We’d say that’s a pretty good example of being dedicated.
- 500th Make a Wish
While Cena made his mark on pop culture as a WWE superstar, he has plenty of accomplishments outside of the ring as well. In 2015, Cena became the only celebrity to fulfill 500 wishes for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to give severely ill children an opportunity to live out their dreams. And what kid wouldn’t want to spend a day hanging out with Cena?
- Engagement to Nikki Bella and Hiatus
Cena spent the beginning of this year in a feud with The Miz and his wife, Maryse, leading to a match at WrestleMania that culminated in a proposal to his longtime girlfriend Nikki Bella. Cena has since been on hiatus from the WWE to film Season 2 of American Grit. He makes his grand return to Smackdown Live! on July 4.
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