10 Wresting Title Reigns That Were Ruined By Injury
8. John Cena (WWE Championship)
John Cena’s WWE Title reigns have often been met with scorn, particularly throughout his later years. Critics call him a limited wrestler whose act grew stale years ago, and whose existence serves only to prevent others from reaching the top spot.
There’s a shred of truth to these arguments, but Cena remains WWE’s most marketable star. He’s evolved into an outstanding in-ring performer, and while he’s always been over-pushed, that’s hardly his fault. Cena has been at the heart of some of WWE’s biggest moments since his debut, and when his career eventually comes to an end, history will be kind to him.
One of Cena’s greatest title reigns came after defeating Edge in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at Unforgiven ‘06. Cena would maintain a stranglehold on the belt for over a year, but after successful defences against Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, and wrestling legend Kevin Federline (ahem…), Cena fell to injury.
Whilst wrestling Mr. Kennedy on an episode of Raw, Cena suffered a torn pectoral muscle, and the title was awarded to Randy Orton the following week. Cena made a borderline miraculous recovery to appear as the 2008 Royal Rumble’s final participant, however, forever cementing his status as a Lazarus-like figure in the pro-wrestling industry.