25 Best John Cena Matches
22. Vs. The Rock - WrestleMania XXVIII
In 2007, John Cena publicly questioned The Rock's commitment to wrestling and its fans, reportedly sparking some bad blood between the two men. When The Rock returned to WWE in 2011, this acrimony became the basis of a Cena-Rock feud. The Rock cost Cena a chance to win the WWE Title at WrestleMania XXVII, and the following night on Raw, a match between the two was signed for the following year's show of shows.
Heading into the contest, both men made it clear that they absolutely had to win to protect their legacies. When the bell rang in Miami, they held nothing back, battling around the ringside area in a match that impressed many - after all, it was The Rock's first singles bout in nearly a decade. The intensity rose, but neither man was willing to lose - The Rock kicked out of two Attitude Adjustments, while Cena kicked out of a Rock Bottom and a People's Elbow. In the end, though, Cena got cocky - he mockingly attempted a People's Elbow of his own on The Rock, but when he came off the ropes, the Hollywood star leapt to his feet, caught Cena with a Rock Bottom, and pinned him.
It was a fantastic match with a legendary feel, but it ended in a crushing defeat for Cena.