10 Most Anticipated Wrestling Matches Of All-Time (That Actually Happened)

5. The Rock vs. John Cena

"Once in a lifetime" was the tagline, and while it may not have actually been "once in a lifetime", it was certainly highly anticipated. The Rock was absent from the WWE completely from 2004 to 2011, after his movie career reached unfathomable heights. Despite his seven year break from the company, The Rock couldn't escape his WWE past, as he was badgered with inquiries about a possible return to the ring. In the vacancy the Rock left behind, John Cena emerged. A classic white-meat babyface, John Cena took the WWE flag and torch and carried it through a dark period for the promotion-- one that saw a major transition from it's edgy, envelope-pushing content to kid-friendly, sponsor-friendly PG rated shows. While The Rock was off becoming a Hollywood megastar, the almost unanimously positive John Cena would take the occasional shot at the Rock in interviews, something that kick started a war of words between the two in the media. Cena noted that he thought The Rock giving back to the business that gave him was the right thing to do. In 2011, Cena would get his wish. The Rock reappeared in the WWE, showing up to host WrestleMania 27. During the evening's main event, the Rock would end up costing Cena the WWE title to reality star The Miz, setting the stage for their feud. The next night John Cena challenged the Rock to a match, one year ahead at WrestleMania 28-- something in which had never happened before. While the Rock's busy schedule limited his involvement in the feud, he did return and tag alongside Cena at the 2011 Survivor Series, his first match in over four years. Just a few months later, the two would square off in the main event of WrestleMania 28, just the fourth non-title match to ever have that distinction. To the surprise of many, The Rock would emerge victorious, and set the stage for a re-match the following year.