10 WWE Moments You Won't Believe Are 10 Years Old
7. John Cena Becomes The Franchise
The value of a performer is on display when he or she is asked to work with someone less talented than them and still deliver a match befitting a major championship pay-per-view bout. John Cena had been the face of WWE for nearly two years before he arrived at the 2007 Royal Rumble for a Last Man Standing match against Umaga.
The Samoan Bulldozer had torn through the entire WWE roster en route to the match but had never competed in such a high-profile gimmick outing. It was up to Cena to work with the veteran of tag team wrestling and deliver a match not only deserving of the top prize in wrestling but, more importantly, one of the most prestigious shows of the year.
He did not disappoint.
Despite having served as the face of WWE for as long as he had, Cena became the undisputed franchise of Vince McMahon's promotion. For years, fans had defended their dislike for Cena, arguing that legends like Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Triple H and Edge had carried him to his best matches.
Yet here he was, delivering a classic against a guy primarily known for his work as a tag team wrestler in an incredibly important match at one of WWE's signature events. He worked his a** off to put Umaga over as a threat, bumping all around the ring and bleeding buckets. He then exploded back into the match and won via submission, choking his opponent out with a ring rope-assisted STF.
In one night, Cena went from the industry's top star to WWE's franchise - the most important star on its roster. He solidified his status as the most indispensable star in the company and kicked off his best year to date with a Match of the Year candidate.
Today, a decade later, it remains one of the essential Rumble pay-per-view matches.