John Cena’s Biggest WWE WrestleMania Moments Before WrestleMania 41

John Cena is one of the biggest WWE superstars of all time. But before he won 16 World Championships, headlined multiple WrestleManias, and became a Hollywood star, he almost got fired. Early in his WWE career, he was a typical "babyface", and Cena struggled to connect with fans. WWE saw no future for him, and he was close to being released.
That all changed when WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon noticed his rap skills, leading to the birth of his famous "Doctor of Thuganomics" character. This attitude shift made him one of the most popular stars in the company. Over the years, Cena had defining WrestleMania moments, both wins and losses, that shaped his career. Now, heading into WrestleMania 41, Cena has shocked the world by turning heel for the first time in years. But before we look at what’s next, let’s take a trip down memory lane.

John Cena’s first big WrestleMania moment happened at WrestleMania 21, when he defeated JBL to win his first WWE Championship. This was the moment Cena officially became "The Guy" in WWE, marking the beginning of a new era.

At WrestleMania 22, Cena faced Triple H in a high-pressure main event. The crowd booed him loudly, showing that not all fans wanted him as WWE’s top babyface. Still, Cena made Triple H give up, proving that he was here to stay.

One year later, at WrestleMania 23, Cena took on Shawn Michaels in a match that tested his skills. Many believed he wouldn’t be able to keep up with HBK, but by the end, Cena once again won by submission, proving he belonged in the main event scene.


Cena was not always on the winning side. At WrestleMania 28, he faced The Rock in a huge match called "Once in a Lifetime." Cena got too sure of himself and tried to copy The Rock's move, but The Rock turned it around and beat him. This loss made Cena realize he did not belong in the unbeatable category. It also started his comeback story, which ended with him winning against The Rock at WrestleMania 29.

At WrestleMania 30, Cena won against Bray Wyatt, but looking back, this may have been a mistake. Many fans think that Cena’s win hurt Wyatt’s career, preventing him from becoming a real top star. Cena later talked about this in their Firefly Funhouse Match at WrestleMania 36, where the story showed Cena’s past failures, chances he did not take, and criticism from fans.

After WrestleMania 36, Cena became a part-time star, only appearing occasionally. At WrestleMania 39, he lost to Austin Theory, which seemed like him passing the torch to the younger generation. He also had a moment with The Bloodline and later teamed with LA Knight at Fastlane 2023, hinting at a new chapter in WWE.
However, the biggest twist came before WrestleMania 41, now that Cena has turned heel. Now, Cena has promised to win the WWE Championship and retire with it. He has also taunted the fans by bringing up his old spinner belt, reminding them that he knows how to prove himself.
His upcoming WrestleMania 41 match against Cody Rhodes has now become one of the most high-stakes battles in WWE history. If Cena wins, WWE could change forever.

From almost being fired to becoming the biggest babyface in WWE, from suffering devastating losses to redefining himself, John Cena’s WrestleMania journey has been legendary. Now, as he steps into WrestleMania 41 as a heel, the question still remains, is this the final chapter of Cena’s WWE career, or is there still one last twist in the story?
Also Read: "Really Great”: The Great Khali lauds John Cena for his heel turn in WWE