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

9. WWE Championship (8th WWE, 10th Overall) May 1, 2011 - July 17, 2011

After several failed attempts to take the WWE title away from The Miz, including an effort that was thwarted by The Rock at WrestleMania 27, Cena was finally able to claim the championship at Extreme Rules defeating the defending champion and John Morrison in a Triple Threat Match held inside a Steel Cage. The match brought an end to a 10-month drought without a championship for Cena and a rivalry with The Miz that had taken up the first portion of 2011. Cena would successfully defend the championship at Over The Limit against Miz and R-Truth at Capitol Punishment. This period with the championship was the impetus of Cena's differences with CM Punk. While the two had locked horns before, this was the first time there was some animosity behind it and brought on what some will say was the best work either had been part of while in WWE.