John Cena is one of the most iconic and successful professional wrestlers of all time. With his incredible charisma, unwavering dedication, and undeniable talent, John Cena has carved out a legendary career in the WWE.
Cena began his wrestling career with Ultimate Pro Wrestling, an independent wrestling promotion in California. Cena’s first gimmick was The Prototype. He was billed as being “half-man, half-machine, a hundred percent mayhem.” He won the UPW heavyweight title in April of 2000, holding it for about a month.
Cena signed with WWE in 2001 and was assigned to its developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). After winning the OVW Heavyweight Championship and OVW Southern Tag Team Championship. Cena was called up to the WWE main roster in 2002. Cena made his main roster debut on an episode of “SmackDown” when he answered Kurt Angle’s open challenge.
Cena quickly gained fame and success on SmackDown, where he adopted the “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona, which showcased his skills as a rapper and a brash, trash-talking character. He won his first WWE Championship in 2005 when he defeated John “Bradshaw” Layfield (JBL) for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21.
In 2006, Cena transitioned into a clean-cut, hero character and became the face of WWE for the next decade. John Cena’s mantra of “Never Give Up” became his calling card. He connected with fans with his “You Can’t See Me” hand gesture and “Hustle, Loyalty, Respect” catchphrase. During this time, Cena won multiple titles, including the WWE Championships, World Heavyweight Championship, United States Championship, and the WWE Tag Team Championship.
John Cena’s 16 world championships place him in a tie with Ric Flair for the most in WWE history. These championships stand as a testament to his remarkable talent and unwavering work ethic, solidifying his status as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the history of the sport.
Here is a list of all the championships/accomplishment that John Cena has won during his professional wrestling career:
WWE Championship (13 times)
World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
WWE United States Championship (5 times)
Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with the Miz, Shawn Michaels, Batista and David Otunga
Royal Rumble (2008, 2013)
Money in the Bank (2021)
UPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time)
Slammy Awards (10 times)