John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar: Ranking every match in their epic rivalry before WWE Wrestlepalooza

The rivalry’s concluding chapter sees Cena, a luminary of the industry, nearing his official retirement from professional wrestling later this year, with only a limited number of scheduled appearances remaining. Lesnar currently holds a 4-2 lead in their head-to-head singles record. While a victory for Cena at Wrestlepalooza would not reverse the overall series deficit, a win in their final confrontation would undeniably represent a significant moral victory, underscoring his enduring resilience. Ahead of this momentous occasion, a comprehensive retrospective examination of their previous six singles matches provides essential context for what promises to be a brutal and emotionally charged contest.

6. SmackDown (September 19, 2002)

The genesis of the Cena-Lesnar rivalry unfolded on the September 19, 2002, episode of SmackDown. At this juncture, both competitors were nascent talents on the main roster, a stark contrast to their status as seasoned veterans entering Wrestlepalooza. Lesnar, identified early by WWE management as "The Next Big Thing," had already experienced a meteoric ascent, having won the King of the Ring tournament and subsequently captured the Undisputed WWE Championship just months into his main roster tenure. Cena, by contrast, was still finding his footing, months away from adopting the "Doctor of Thuganomics" persona that would propel him to superstardom.

The two had trained together in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), WWE’s developmental territory, as part of a legendary class that also included future multi-time world champions Randy Orton and Batista. Despite their shared developmental history, they had never wrestled each other professionally until this SmackDown encounter. The match itself reflected the considerable disparity in their main roster trajectories at the time. It was predominantly a squash match, with Lesnar demonstrating his superior power and technique, dominating Cena for the majority of the contest before securing the pinfall victory with his signature F5 maneuver. This initial meeting, devoid of significant build-up or competitive balance, served primarily to reinforce Lesnar’s burgeoning dominance rather than establish a nascent rivalry.

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5. Backlash (2003)

Seven months following their initial SmackDown encounter, John Cena underwent a significant character transformation that dramatically altered his career trajectory. Abandoning his initial generic persona, Cena embraced the "Doctor of Thuganomics" gimmick, characterized by his rapping promos, chain-wearing, and jean shorts. This reinvention, reportedly championed by then-SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon after discussions about Cena’s potential release, proved to be a pivotal moment. By April 2003, Cena’s newfound popularity had propelled him rapidly up the card, culminating in a challenge for the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar in the main event of Backlash.

Despite the compelling narrative of Cena’s rapid ascent, the championship match itself is often cited by wrestling historians as one of the less memorable encounters in their series. The contest extended for a considerable duration, a runtime that exposed Cena’s still-developing in-ring skills, which had not yet fully caught up to his burgeoning popularity and charismatic persona. The match remained largely one-sided, with Lesnar, in his capacity as the dominant WWE Champion, controlling the pace and dictating the action. The bout concluded with another F5 from Lesnar, securing his second victory over Cena and retaining his championship, yet the execution and length of the match did not translate into a captivating main event.

4. SmackDown (February 13, 2003)

Nestled chronologically between their initial squash match and the prolonged Backlash encounter, Cena and Lesnar’s second singles match on the February 13, 2003, episode of SmackDown stands out as their most proficient outing of the early 2000s. This match benefited from increased momentum, with Lesnar temporarily diverting from his acclaimed rivalry with Kurt Angle, and Cena riding a wave of newfound popularity generated by his "Doctor of Thuganomics" character.

This encounter effectively laid a foundational blueprint for the dynamic that would characterize their subsequent rivalry. Lesnar, employing his formidable amateur wrestling background and raw physicality, meticulously grounded Cena, showcasing his superior technical prowess and power. Cena, in turn, demonstrated the nascent signs of the unwavering heart and resilience that would become hallmarks of his "Super Cena" persona. He mounted compelling comebacks against the seemingly indestructible "Beast Incarnate," notably nearly securing a victory after striking Lesnar with his signature chain. However, Lesnar ultimately shrugged off the attack, countering with an F5 to secure yet another pinfall. The match’s comparatively shorter runtime, when contrasted with their later Backlash encounter, allowed both competitors to deliver a more focused and enjoyable contest, highlighting their evolving chemistry without overstretching their in-ring capabilities at that stage of their careers.

3. Night of Champions (2014)

A significant hiatus separated their early 2000s encounters from their 2010s resurgence. A notable trend in the Cena-Lesnar saga is the marked improvement in their match quality in their later career phases, largely attributable to both men having matured significantly as performers. Focusing on their 2014 series, the match at Night of Champions, their third singles encounter of that year, represented the least compelling of the trio. It followed their impactful SummerSlam clash and the memorable Extreme Rules bout, struggling to distinguish itself with comparable novelty or narrative depth.

At Night of Champions, Cena was seeking immediate redemption, exercising his rematch clause after Lesnar had decisively defeated him at SummerSlam to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Cena came agonizingly close to regaining the title, locking Lesnar in his STF submission hold, a moment that generated significant crowd anticipation. However, the match concluded inconclusively when Seth Rollins, then holding the Money in the Bank briefcase, intervened by attacking Cena, drawing a disqualification. While Cena was awarded the victory by DQ, championship titles cannot change hands via disqualification or count-out. This textbook booking decision, which protected both Lesnar’s championship reign and Cena’s credibility, ultimately resulted in a finish that, while strategically sound, lacked the definitive resolution and impact of their other modern encounters, placing it a step below its contemporaries.

2. SummerSlam (2014)

The 2014 SummerSlam encounter between John Cena and Brock Lesnar is widely regarded as a watershed moment in WWE history, not only for the rivalry itself but also for establishing Lesnar’s modern, dominant in-ring persona. This match served as the genesis of the now-iconic "Suplex City" mantra, coined by Paul Heyman in subsequent promos to encapsulate Lesnar’s brutal style. Lesnar, fresh off his monumental achievement of ending The Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania Streak, delivered an unprecedentedly one-sided demolition of Cena, who was, at the time, still positioned as the undisputed "Face That Runs the Place" within WWE.

The match was a systematic dismantling, with Lesnar relentlessly assaulting Cena, executing over sixteen German suplexes and two F5s. Cena’s typically resilient comebacks were effortlessly stifled, presenting a shocking visual of the company’s top star being rag-dolled with unparalleled ease. The dominant nature of Lesnar’s victory, securing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. While Lesnar’s "limited formula" of suplexes and F5s has occasionally drawn criticism in later years, its initial deployment against Cena at SummerSlam was a groundbreaking novelty, redefining expectations for main event matches and firmly cementing Lesnar as an unstoppable, legitimate "Beast." The match was less a competitive contest and more a visceral statement of Lesnar’s unparalleled destructive capability.

1. Extreme Rules (2012)

John Cena and Brock Lesnar’s first encounter in nearly a decade, contested at Extreme Rules in 2012, is broadly considered the pinnacle of their rivalry. This match benefited immensely from a confluence of unique circumstances and a decade of heightened star power for both men. Lesnar’s shocking return to WWE following an eight-year hiatus, during which he achieved considerable success as a UFC Heavyweight Champion, generated immense anticipation. Cena, meanwhile, was coming off a blockbuster main event at WrestleMania 28 against The Rock, solidifying his status as the company’s undisputed top draw. The rare, box office atmosphere surrounding Lesnar’s comeback match against Cena, a genuine dream match, was palpable.

The Extreme Rules stipulation allowed for a level of physicality and intensity that was a departure for WWE in its PG era. Lesnar, embodying his "Beast" persona, brutalized Cena for the majority of the contest, laying the groundwork for the dominant booking he would receive throughout his second WWE tenure. The match featured moments of blood and visceral violence, which, while contained within WWE’s modern parameters, underscored the brutality. Cena, in a quintessential display of his "Super Cena" character, absorbed an extraordinary amount of punishment, overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds and Lesnar’s relentless assault. The dramatic conclusion saw Cena deliver a decisive Attitude Adjustment onto the exposed steel steps, securing a hard-fought victory. This match perfectly fused compelling storytelling, intense in-ring action, and a monumental atmosphere, solidifying its place as the definitive encounter in the epic rivalry between John Cena and Brock Lesnar, a full ten years after their initial, unheralded meeting.