Accomplishments Since 2000: WWE champion (14), world heavyweight champion (3), United States champion (5), WWE tag team champion (2), world tag team champion (2), Money in the Bank (2012), Royal Rumble winner (2 – 2008, 2013)

The moment John Cena walked through the curtain on the June 27, 2002, episode of SmackDown and confronted Kurt Angle, he changed WWE forever.

It was not easy. Cena was nearly a roster cut casualty until he showcased his rap skills during an overseas trip, developed the Doctor of Thuganomics persona, and was catapulted into the stratosphere amid growing popularity.

When he got to the top of the card, he faced backlash from fans who thought he was pushed too hard and had gone from underground hero to the machine’s chosen one.

To his credit, though, Cena never discussed the backlash, instead staying the course, putting the work in, and proving himself as a main eventer in WWE.

He seized opportunities to learn from the likes of Angle, Guerrero, Edge, Triple H, Michaels, and anyone else he worked with. He proved himself against Umaga and John Bradshaw Layfield, engaging in bloody battles that injected the toughness he needed.

Most importantly, he never lashed out at the crowds that booed him out of buildings. He stayed true to himself and the character he wanted to be. For those who loved him, great. For those who did not, he saw an opportunity to work hard and win them over.

For two decades, he has preached hustle, loyalty, and respect, inspiring a generation of young fans and earning the respect of his biggest detractors through a continuing desire to be the best he can be.

Cena evolved his style to mesh with the independent-minded stars who arrived in the 2010s, including Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.

Then Hollywood came calling and Cena answered, breaking down another door for others to walk through if and when the time calls for it.

While his retirement tour in 2025 has been inconsistent, the love fans have shown him across the globe is reflective of their appreciation for all he has done in the ring, outside of it, and a career as great as any other WWE Superstar’s.

He has never taken it for granted, gave the audience everything he has, never rested on his laurels, and when he takes his final bow this December, he will have earned every bit of attention that will be paid to him.

The standard-bearer in WWE for most of this quarter-century, Cena is the No. 1 Superstar of the last 25 years, and it’s not particularly close.