John Cena and Brock Lesnar will battle for the final time at WWE Wrestlepalooza this weekend. Their feud has a brief however wealthy historical past, spanning from prospects to world champions to future Corridor of Famers by means of three many years.
Cena and Lesnar, regardless of being two of the most important success tales of the Ruthless Aggression period, solely share six singles matches. Lesnar leads their sequence 4-2. Cena cannot bridge the hole on Saturday, however an ethical victory of their ultimate assembly is price combating for. Lesnar has wiped the ground with Cena within the lead-up to Wrestlepalooza, laying him out at SummerSlam and SmackDown in non-match segments. Cena’s again is in opposition to the wall on Saturday, however it’s the place he wrestles most comfortably.
Earlier than the final encounter between Cena and Lesnar, proceed beneath as we revisit, rank, and watch key matches of their anthology.
6. SmackDown (Sept. 19, 2002)
At Wrestlepalooza, Cena and Lesnar are seasoned veterans. The identical cannot be mentioned for his or her first match. Saturday’s headliners have been months into their foremost roster runs in 2002. Cena and Lesnar educated collectively within the developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, as a part of a legendary class with Randy Orton and Batista, however they by no means wrestled one another. Lesnar was additional up the meals chain, already the undisputed WWE champion, whereas Cena struggled to face out. Their first match befell six weeks earlier than Cena debuted the “Physician of Thuganomics” gimmick that might lead him to stardom. Cena and Lesnar had little chemistry, and this was nothing greater than a squash match. Lesnar whooped on his OVW classmate for probably the most half earlier than delivering a swift F5.
5. Backlash (2003)
Cena utterly reinvented himself within the seven months after their first singles encounter. Cena, now rapping and rocking jean shorts, had rocketed up the cardboard. Backlash was a testomony to Cena’s change in fortune. WWE had thought-about releasing Cena earlier than Stephanie McMahon gave him a hip-hop makeover. Lower than a yr later, Cena was difficult for the corporate’s high prize in a pay-per-view foremost occasion. Sadly, Cena’s “Rocky” story didn’t translate to a memorable match. This WWE championship match ran too lengthy, and Cena’s in-ring expertise hadn’t but caught as much as his new reputation. The consequence was a largely one-sided affair that overstayed its welcome. Lesnar closed the present with an F5 and took one other win of their sequence.
4. SmackDown (Feb. 13, 2003)
Cena and Lesnar’s greatest match of the 2000s was wedged between the earlier two entries. Lesnar took a detour from his standard feud with Kurt Angle. Cena was using excessive off newfound reputation. Their second encounter already had far more steam than their first match. The match laid a blueprint for the way their feud would carry over within the coming many years. Lesnar grounded his foe with superior method and physicality. Cena confirmed coronary heart in recouping and rallying again in opposition to the seemingly indestructible monster. Cena almost had the match gained after clocking Lesnar together with his signature chain, however Lesnar shook it off and scored the pinfall with an F5. Their Backlash match demanded greater than they may provide. This shorter runtime let Cena and Lesnar ship one thing extra pleasing than what got here instantly after.
3. Night time of Champions (2014)
You may discover a pattern: Cena and Lesnar’s later matches trump their early efforts. There are just a few causes for that. Each males have been very younger of their careers. Although Lesnar was instantly positioned on the high of the cardboard, it took Cena two years to search out his footing. Narrowing our lens onto Night time of Champions, their most up-to-date singles encounter was their least compelling of the three. SummerSlam benefitted from refreshing reserving. Excessive Guidelines had novelty and a well-utilized stipulation. Night time of Champions was strong, however acquainted. Cena almost redeemed a latest loss to Lesnar by locking in an STF. Nonetheless, Seth Rollins drew a disqualification by attacking Cena with the Cash within the Financial institution briefcase. Cena was awarded the win, however titles can not change possession by DQ or count-out. Textbook reserving and an inconclusive end put this match a step beneath what got here earlier than it within the 2010s.
2. SummerSlam (2014)
This match is the genesis and, maybe, top-of-the-line examples of Lesnar’s fashionable model. Lesnar trashed Cena the whole time, touchdown greater than a dozen suplexes and two F5s to assert the WWE championship. Paul Heyman coined the phrase “suplex metropolis” in response to this match. Cena’s momentary comebacks have been simply snuffed out as Lesnar ragdolled him. It was stunning to see Cena, on the top of his powers, so simply dismantled. Lesnar’s restricted components is a combined bag at present. Again then, it was a stunning novelty.
1. Excessive Guidelines (2012)
Cena and Lesnar’s first encounter in 9 years is extensively thought-about their greatest. Their cache allowed them to emphasise the Excessive Guidelines stipulation in a time when WWE shied from blood and violence. Lesnar brutalized Cena for a lot of the match, laying the groundwork for the way dominantly he’d be booked transferring ahead. Cena embodied his “Tremendous Cena” persona, overcoming every thing Lesnar threw at him, sealing the victory with an Perspective Adjustment onto metal steps. Their match benefited from its uncommon, field workplace ambiance. It was Lesnar’s first match since leaving WWE in 2004 following his stunning return after WrestleMania 28. Lesnar was now a former UFC heavyweight champion, and Cena was coming off a blockbuster match with The Rock. The celebrities aligned completely, from storytelling to in-ring motion, to supply their greatest match 10 years after their first.