10 Best Major John Cena Feuds

4. Vs. Shawn Michaels

John Cena Shawn Michaels wrestlemania
WWE.com

A classic wrestling rivalry should mean something, should demonstrate something, should position at least one of the players as having learned something. In the case of John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels, their 2007 feud did much - onscreen and off - to develop Cena as an in-ring performer.

Michaels was purportedly incensed after their WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 23. Michaels was red hot at Cena for inconsistently selling the leg he'd worked over during the opening act. Cena even looked p*ssed off at himself. He didn't celebrate in the aftermath; he silently remonstrated with himself as his music piped up. Michaels even brushed off the scripted post-match handshake, ending the show on a curious shoot footnote. The match - unless you're Michaels - delivered as a flawed but otherwise worthy 'Mania headliner, disjointed though it was. In their far superior sequel - one of the all-time great John Cena matches, the 55 minute epic on the April 23, 2007 RAW - Cena stepped up. Where the 'Mania match was sloppy, this was a hermetic masterclass of pacing, storytelling and psychology, with Cena teasing the application of the STF throughout with the psychological prowess of his opponent.

For the fans, it was an hour of awesome drama. For Cena, it was an hour of atonement.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!