John Cena’s Greatest Royal Rumble Moments

One of WWE’s most iconic superstars for the last two and a half years has been John Cena, and in these many years, as well as being at the zenith of his form in the very first Royal Rumble, many consider him great. Now is a great moment to give as wide an outlook on every big moment when he’s competing in their annual January Spectacular: the match for 2025.

Royal Rumble Match Wins

2008: Back with a Shock

Perhaps the most memorable of Cena’s Royal Rumble moments came in 2008 when he made a surprise return from injury that night as the 30th entrant. Cena had torn his pectoral muscle just months prior and was not expected back for as long as up to a year. When his music hit at Madison Square Garden, the arena erupted in shock.

Even Triple H, who was in the ring, looked dumbfounded with the sudden emergence of Cena.

Although in the match for less than 10 minutes, Cena cleaned house and eventually tossed Triple H over the ropes to win the Royal Rumble and his WrestleMania title shot.

2013: Second Time’s the Charm

Cena won his second Royal Rumble in 2013, entering at #19 and lasting 26 minutes before outlasting Ryback to win. Not quite the shock of his 2008 win, but a win cementing Cena as one of the most successful Rumble match participants ever, as he became one of an elite few who were multiple-time winners and punched his ticket to the WrestleMania 29 main event against The Rock.

Greatest Royal Rumble Match Moments

2005: The Controversial Finish

Probably one of the most remembered Royal Rumble match incidents is in the year 2005, involving Cena and Batista. Both men fell over the top rope and crashed onto the floor at the same time, making them both potentially successful in their pursuit. The rightful winner had become pretty confusing. Moments later, the scene turned utterly chaotic as Vince McMahon suddenly stormed into the ring to declare the start of a fresh fight because of what was seen on TV screens, infamously tearing both his quadriceps in the process. Batista, however, got the victory via this restart, yet this very second made Cena already a part of Royal Rumble lore.

2010: The Final Two Showdown

In 2010, Cena entered the Royal Rumble at number #19 and was great, surviving for nearly a full 3 minutes 15. He could make it through to the final pair, facing up against a returning Edge in an electrifying confrontation, though it showed Edge emerging the winner. Cena’s running in this matchup, which also featured several other magical moments such as Shawn Michaels’ preoccupation with victories and promos by CM Punk, was the epitome of his rumble career till then.

2011: Super Cena vs. Nexus

At the 2011 Royal Rumble, Cena entered at #22 and came out in complete “Super Cena” mode. Immediately, he put a stop to the dominance of The New Nexus as, amongst others, he was able to toss out their leader, CM Punk. Following Cena’s exceptional performance, it took him 34 minutes to eliminate numerous wrestlers and stay within the ring before being finally thrown out by WWE Champion The Miz, a setup for their WrestleMania 27 match.

Royal Rumble Championship Matches

2006: Edge was dethroned

Not a Royal Rumble match performance, but one of the greatest Rumble moments of Cena’s was his WWE Championship win over Edge at the 2006 event. This was part of the really heated Cena-Edge rivalry that dominated most of 2006. There was lots of chaos with Lita causing distractions at ringside, but Cena and Edge had an amazing match, showing just how well they meshed in the ring. Cena would ultimately win by submission to capture one of his 16 world championships at the Royal Rumble event.

2017: Dream Match with AJ Styles

The 2017 Royal Rumble for many showcased what was his best moment and one of the best matches ever in WWE of Cena: him versus AJ Styles for the WWE Championship. For a match billed as “unthinkable, unfathomable, and impossible to imagine, dream,” it came well and truly delivered. Cena and Styles put on a display; they were each willing to trade in big strikes and nearfalls, never setting the crowd off an edge outside or in during these contests. It garnered him not just the WWE championship but also sent him onto linking with Ric Flair at 16 world title reigns—this made the wrestle indeed the historical moment.

2014: Yet Another Classic, with Randy Orton

By 2014, Cena and Randy Orton had fought each other so many times, but their WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at that year’s Royal Rumble was still able to deliver5. Playing off the long history, the match featured several clever reversals and callbacks to earlier matches. It didn’t quite live up to the match with Styles, but it’s a great example of Cena elevating big matches on the Rumble card outside of the titular battle royal.

Other Memorable Rumble Moments

2007: Last Man Standing against Umaga

At the 2007 Royal Rumble, Cena defended his WWE Championship against the monstrous Umaga in a brutal Last Man Standing match. This nearly 30-minute war saw both men use everything at their disposal in an attempt to keep the other down for a 10-count. Cena’s victory showcased his toughness and cemented Umaga as a credible main event threat. This match is often cited as the highlight of their feud and one of Cena’s best Rumble performances outside of the actual Rumble match.

2015: Triple Threat Thriller

Not a singles match or a Rumble appearance, but Cena’s involvement in the 2015 WWE World Heavyweight Championship triple threat match against Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins has to be included in his top Rumble moments. This was a chaotic match where all three men gave it their all; Rollins’ quickness played nicely with the power-based styles of Cena and Lesnar. The match featured a number of memorable spots, including Lesnar being put through both the barricade and announce table. While Lesnar retained, Cena’s performance in this thrilling contest added another highlight to his Rumble resume.

2018: One Last Run

Coming into this writing, the last Royal Rumble match appearance for Cena was in 2018, where he came in at #205. While not the winner, Cena had put in a respectable showing, lasting approximately 30 minutes and mixing it with both veterans and a lot of youthful star power inside the ring. As such, that was able to create some crowd-pleasing moments wedged amidst an otherwise slow build-up that highlighted just how much remaining star power is rested with Cena when he shares the ring alongside names such as Shinsuke Nakamura or Rey Mysterio.

The Legacy of Big Match John

Consistency and big-match performances are just about the size of John Cena’s Royal Rumble legacy. Whether it was winning the Rumble itself, competing for championships, or just being a featured player in the 30-man spectacular, Cena always found a way to make an impact at WWE’s January classic.

His two Rumble wins, in 2008 and 2013, put him in some rarefied air, with only a few other names considered multi-time winners: Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, and Hulk Hogan, among them. Cena’s overall Rumble statistics are incredible, with an average finish of 3.63 and five top-four finishes in his eight appearances.

Beyond the numbers, Cena’s Rumble moments are etched into the memory of the WWE audience. His 2008 return, in particular, became one of the most surprising and electric moments in event history, period. Championship bouts against the likes of Edge, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton often stole the show outside of the Rumble match itself.

That the 2025 Royal Rumble will be one with special meaning, likely his last grand moment in perhaps the most integral event in setting up the core framework of his venerated career, couldn’t be hotter. Be it by creating shockwaves once more with another win or merely reaffirming just why he goes under the “Big Match John” nickname, there is little, if any, doubt about just how deeply Cena will once more leave his stamp on the Royal Rumble in a performance that is hopefully everlastingly entertaining.

The legacy that John Cena has at Royal Rumble is, quite frankly, just a testament to the enduring popularity he enjoys, along with in-ring skill and the capacity for creating WWE magic on the grand stages. His resume at Royal Rumble includes the most surprise returns and wins of championships, among other laurels in a litany, while the event was in its storied history. With him now getting ready to write the final chapter of his Royal Rumble story, the fans can reflect on two decades of thrilling performances that helped define both Cena’s career and the Rumble in itself.