WWE: Ranking John Cena's 14 World Title Reigns - From Worst To Best

4. WWE Championship (2nd WWE, 2nd Overall) January 29, 2006 - June 11, 2006

John Cena started his second championship reign three weeks to the day after his first ended, avenging a loss to The Ultimate Opportunist Edge, who had cashed in his Money In The Bank Contract on a weakened Cena who had just defended the title in an Elimination Chamber Match at New Year's Revolution. Cena would have several memorable matches during this span, including a defense against Triple H at WrestleMania 22, and again against Triple H and Edge in a Triple Threat Match at Backlash. It was during this reign, specifically a very hostile crowd at WrestleMania 22 in Chicago suburb, Rosemont, Illinois, that WWE fans began to turn on and lash out against Cena openly booing him and starting chants of "Cena sucks" to counteract the "let's go, Cena!" chants that had echoed throughout arenas undaunted since his rise to the spotlight in 2003 and 2004. The aforementioned Chicago crowd was clownshoes compared to the crowd that welcomed Cena to New York City and his defense against Rob Van Dam at One Night Stand. Van Dam, who announced in advance his intentions to take the champion on at the ECW pay-per-view had the crowd on his side entering the match, fans promising to riot if Cena had won. This was the first time the fans had started to turn on Cena, and his ability to stay the course and not let it faze him was first showcased here. Something that Cena would become accustomed to. It was here that he began to handle it and at times use it against the fans.