20 Incredible John Cena Matches To Binge-Watch Before He Retires
4. John Cena vs Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels - Backlash 2007
Having burned through amazing feuds and matches with each of his opponents in this match, John Cena's WWE Championship defence in this fatal four-way at Backlash 2007 could earn its spot on this list based on star power alone. That this match somehow exceeded its lofty expectations is mindblowing.
This 19-minute encounter has all the pace of a runaway train, rattling along at breakneck speed with no time for fans or performers to catch their breath. An unrelenting barrage of action, it felt like a concerted effort to make this a non-stop adrenaline rush, capitalizing on Cena and Michaels' recent classics at WrestleMania 23 and its superior follow-up in London on Raw.
A cavalcade of near falls and submissions, intense weapon spots, and Jim Ross' masterful job of selling every second on the call, the ending is a masterpiece. In an explosive few seconds, Randy Orton walks into a spear from Edge, who then takes an AA, before Michaels plants Cena with a lightning-fast Sweet Chin Music. Before HBK could capitalize, though, Cena fell onto a helpless Randy Orton to score a pinfall victory he knew nothing about in a breathless, timeless finish.