10 WWE Superstars John Cena Only Wrestled Once
3. Finlay
Speaking of grizzled veterans, John Cena only came up against the most grizzled of veterans from Belfast on the one occasion. It was a festive episode of WWE SmackDown in December of 2006, the show emanating from Cena's hometown of Boston, and of course the leader of the Cenation was going to open the show. He didn't get too far with the mic in his hand however, interrupted by King Booker and Finlay. Long story short, Teddy Long defied the odds and made John Cena vs. Finlay as opposed to the match staring him in the face, Cena & Batista vs. Booker & Finlay.
Hilariously, Michael Cole opens the match by stating that Cena and Finlay wrestle similar styles, a sentence that would make sense if you were lacking any and all sanity. The match is actually mostly notable for seeing the beginning of JBL's issues with Hornswoggle (or Little B*stard as he was then called). Finlay tries to use 'Swoggle as a battering ram, but a short game of pass the parcel sees the little guy end up on JBL's lap, the former Acolyte subsequently trying to swat him away with his hat.
That is generally as exciting as the match itself gets, Finlay controlling the majority of it before Cena makes the comeback and picks up the victory. It was a singles bout we'd never see again.