Original subtitles

Hustle, loyalty and respect.

John Cena.

Some call him a doctor.

A Doctor of Thuganomics.

Others call him the champ.

The champ is here.

But one thing is for certain.

Everyone calls him the GOAT.

John Cena is a 17 time world champion.

And today we celebrate the legendary career

of a true icon.

I did not quit.

The time is now.

WWE's Greatest Moments.

You want some?

Come get some.

Acknowledge me.

My God.

Stone Cold with a beer bath.

This is surreal.

Look at this.

He slammed him.

Welcome, everyone, to WWE's Greatest Moments.

I'm Michael Cole, and today we can see the greatest moments

from a superstar who is truly generational-

The one and only John Cena.

It was June 2002, and the Olympic gold medalist,

Kurt Angle, stood inside the squared circle on SmackDown,

issuing an open challenge to anyone in the back

who thought they could take him down.

Come on, guys, there's got to be somebody back there that

wants to seize the moment.

There are a lot of young guys back there,

future superstars that want to climb

that ladder to success.

Well, now is your chance.

Who's this?

Someone's coming out.

Who in the hell are you?

I'm John Cena.

What is the one quality that you possess that makes

you think that you can walk out here and come into the ring

and face the very best in the business?

Someone had to wrestle Kurt Angle, and they had nobody else.

Ruthless aggression.

Oh.

Oh, man.

This Cena kid taking Angle down.

Listen, just give me a chance and I won't let you down.

Angle Slam.

Look at this.

Went for the Angle Slam

Cena countered.

Kick to the midsection.

Planting Kurt Angle.

I knew right away that John's going

to be something special.

Mr. McMahon told these young superstars

to seize the opportunity.

And this is what Cena is trying to do tonight against Angle.

It was high action.

It was nonstop and John rose to the occasion.

Double chicken wing- look at this, Kurt flipped him over.

Shoulders are pinned and Kurt Angle has pinned John Cena.

If you can hang with Kurt, pretty much hang with anybody.

He was new to the business.

What's your name, kid?

John Cena.

But, you show the man the respect that he has earned.

Nice job.

While John Cena proved he was no slouch in the ring,

he struggled to find that one extra element

to connect him with the fans.

That is, until SmackDown held a Halloween costume party

and a new side of John Cena was born.

Welcome to the SmackDown Halloween party.

I wasn't stressed to be like, got to be perfect.

I was more stressed in the fact that I didn't know who I was.

John had a hard time finding himself.

He was boring.

He was bland.

He was vanilla.

He needed something else to take him to the next step.

Fast.

I got to go.

It's been a blast.

Came out the locker room, stole Rey Mysterio mask.

Tried to get taker's cast, but it was plastered on too tight.

Peace.

I got to go.

About to hotwire his bike.

Now, when you see this white guy out here dressed up like

Vanilla Ice.

"Oh, okay."

But he actually starts rhyming and going on, like, for real.

It really turned heads.

The old man's got a plan, and he's chilling in the building.

Did I tell you I'm like light beer?

I taste great, and I'm less filling.

And I went all in on that one second.

I went all in.

That, in my opinion, is what jumpstarted John Cena's career

in many, many ways.

I'm gonna make my impression.

Show Vinnie Mac that I got ruthless aggression.

You know, as a fan, like, remember, I'm watching at home,

that's where the first time I looked at it and

went, "Ooh, this guy.

This guy has something."

This is more than a match.

It's a total obsession.

I'll be watching everything you do 24/7.

He had never tried to hide the fact

that he was a fan of hip hop.

And so just incorporating this aspect of his personality into

his persona, people didn't want to stop talking about it.

John Cena.

The Doctor of Thuganomics.

The John Cena Doctor of Thuganomics persona

gave me the ability to be myself.

The brash new attitude of Cena was something we had never seen

before, and sitting ringside for all of this,

you never knew what you'd get from the chain

gang soldier on a weekly basis.

All your parents hate me cause I got a dirty mouth.

But we're still kicking ass up in the dirty South.

As John Cena climbed the ranks in WWE, SmackDown was ruled over

by the WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield.

The cocky Texan was on an impressive nine month reign that

seemingly had no end in sight.

But when John Cena became the number one contender,

things looked to be in serious jeopardy.

Lights, camera, action.

Wrestlemania goes Hollywood.

Is the time now for John Cena?

Or will JBL's historic reign continue?

In Staples Center and to be in a championship match

at WrestleMania

It's grandiose.

JBL versus John Cena, WWE Championship on the line.

I'm wrestling Bradshaw, and Bradshaw has a great way of

getting his point across.

Oh, what a clothesline by "The Brawler" JBL.

I think he was the perfect foil at the time for JBL.

John Cena can make anything work.

He's one of the most talented and possibly the smartest guy

that I've ever been in the ring with.

Here he comes, he's got him.

No way.

He got him.

F-U

The cover.

Hook of the leg.

John Cen is the champion.

Here is your winner and the new

WWE champion John Cena.

Wrestlemania 21.

I had a blast.

It was awesome.

Jumping in the crowd was really cool.

And now he's gonna celebrate.

We got a new WWE champion.

Wrestlemania 21,

I just thought John was going to be the guy,

the flag bearer for WWE for a long time,

and I don't think there was any doubt about it at that point.

The time is indeed now for the new WWE Champion, John Cena.

There was no stopping the momentum of John Cena

after he became the WWE champion.

John Cena saying, you can't see me, you know what's next?

Five knuckle shuffle, Tazz.

Cena five knuckle shuffle his way

to the top of Sports Entertainment.

Now that he held the richest prize in the game.

Cena put his own spin on the title design.

John Cena is on top of the world.

He's the WWE champion with a presentation on SmackDown.

The champ is here.

Take a look at the new WWE Championship daddy.

Oh, it's a spinner deal.

That's when everyone had spinners on their cars.

Everyone was rocking the spinner chain.

That was a status symbol to show that you had made it.

The most outstanding looking WWE Championship I've ever seen.

I liked it.

I thought that it was iconic and synonymous with what was

going on in pop culture.

The champ is here.

So much of being a good personality is taking risks and

doing something other people aren't doing.

Having something other people don't have.

Nobody else had a spinning belt.

Our time is now.

There's no question that John Cena is one of the greatest to

ever do it, both in the ring and on the microphone.

You know me and I know you.

And you know I got zero F's to give.

And in the summer of 2017, the big dog Roman Reigns

saw that firsthand.

This is the reason

I came to Monday Night Raw to be in this ring,

face to face with a man who says he-

he runs the yard.

WWE is looking for the next John Cena.

Let's go.

I'm the fastest, strongest and hungriest

that I have ever been in my entire life.

Roman wasn't on the caliber of Cena on the mic.

First of all, you suck.

And second of all.

Go ahead, find it.

Go ahead.

I kind of cringed in that moment because Cena is a sniper,

and when he saw the opening, he took it.

It's called a promo.

Shut your mouth, John.

You want to be the big dog,

you're going to have to learn how to do it.

So go ahead.

I think it was a combination of not being prepared

all the way,

and then, I'm not John Cena.

That's just not my ingredients.

When they look at you, they see what I see.

A cheap ass, corporately created John Cena bootleg.

Cena is a god on the mic.

He doesn't pull punches.

He doesn't take it easy on him.

This chump right here.

He ain't the guy.

Dude, you're just a guy.

Roman took his licks.

I did not do him any favors.

I'm still here because you can't do your job.

I remember everybody in the back was like,

"Oh no, he didn't go there."

And Roman had to sit there and eat it.

You should be ashamed I'm a part timer.

Because I can do this part time better than you could ever

do it full time.

When we look back at the great rivals of John Cena over the

years, it's a who's who of Sports Entertainment.

But perhaps his greatest rival is the Rated-R Superstar Edge.

Oh, no.

God.

The arrogant WWE champion and his girlfriend Lita introduced

their own Rated-R version of the championship title.

Needless to say, John Cena about to reclaim the gold.

Time to swim kid.

The challenger is set for a dangerous tables,

ladders and chairs match at the aptly named PLE Unforgiven.

I felt so good.

Come out your hometown main event.

You're the WWE champion.

John Cena coming into as hostile an environment

as I can ever recall.

Man, they hated me.

It was great.

Cena has never been in a TLC match.

It just showed a different layer of John.

We know you're good, but now you can get down

and dirty and gritty.

That's Edge's specialty.

Oh, God.

Oh

Cena.

Oh, man.

Oh.

God.

Good grief.

Only one way to win.

Climb the ladder.

Retrieve the title belt.

John Cena behind the scenes is afraid of heights,

but John Cena inside the ring is afraid of nothing.

These guys are about to go toe to toe at the top

of this ladder.

My philosophy was,

I'm gonna ave to do something crazy to stop this guy.

Oh my God, John, don't do this.

God almighty.

Edge was just sent through not one, but two tables.

John Cena earned the championship here tonight.

WWE has been home to several iconic fantasy matches over the

years, playing out right in front of their eyes.

One of the biggest moments of all time was about to come true.

Two of the greatest superstars ever were on a collision course

to the grandest stage of them all-

Wrestlemania 28.

It was to be a once in a lifetime matchup between the

incomparable John Cena and the biggest blockbuster star on the

planet, the People's Champion, The Rock.

You run around here looking like a big,

fat bowl of Fruity Pebbles.

For weeks leading up to WrestleMania,

these two megastars traded insults back and forth

in a verbal game of "Can you top this?"

You ain't gonna whip my candy ass, dude.

I'll make sure you kiss it.

And on one particular night, these two combustible elements

were about to explode.

What's the most innovative thing

that you've done all year, John?

Oh, I tell you what you did.

You changed your jean shorts to camouflage shorts.

That camouflage is working, Jack.

We can't find your balls whatsoever.

90 seconds-

Before my music hit, someone said.

"Yo, do you see that?"

I think Rock has something written on his wrist.

And everyone was like, "Yo."

And you got to be courageous enough and brave enough

to drop that in.

Now, I'll tell you something, Jack.

I don't need words like respect and loyalty to trend worldwide.

Just like I don't need my notes for my promo on my wrist.

It takes some real cojones to call out The Rock about having

crib notes on his arm.

It was, I'm coming to knock this dude out.

Because you're going to be looking

at a dude who may not have balls,

but a dude who is going to beat the hell out of you.

at WrestleMania Jack.

The better part of the early 2000 have been dominated by

"The Cerebral Assassin" Triple H.

They all bow down to the King.

Triple H had been at the top of this industry for years,

but one superstar who wasn't impressed with the accolades

that the King of Kings was, of course, John Cena.

There's one thing that I got that you don't.

I got this.

Cena had reached an elite level heading into the Showcase

of the Immortals, facing opponent unlike any other.

I don't think John Cena can outwrestle

Triple H here tonight.

Up until this point, Triple H was like one of those people

that when you think of WWE, you think of Triple H.

And then in comes this new talent and John Cena

being the forefront of that.

It was the beginning of the divide.

Triple H is a cool wrestler.

They don't root against him.

Every single one of these fans are into this match,

whether they're into The Game or whether they're into John Cena.

So now the line is drawn.

This is an amazing atmosphere.

Though he had been the champion already,

this was the first time that

the company had said,

"You're our guy."

God these two men are tough.

I don't believe it.

Cena made The Game submit.

I don't think anybody in that building thought

I would tap out.

And that's what this business is about.

I remember being there, listening to the buzz

in the crowd and being able to actually feel the atmosphere.

You saw the passing of the torch in a way to John Cena to lead

this new charge heading into the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, we'll never forget this night.

Here comes John Cena.

At Elimination Chamber 2025, John Cena had overcome five

other superstars to punch his

ticket to the main event of WrestleMania.

John Cena's going to WrestleMania.

Against Cody Rhodes.

Undisputed Universal Champion.

Now the most beloved superstar of the past 20 years, was set to

go head to head with the most popular superstar of today.

But before we get there, fans were not expecting

what would come next.

There is your main event for WrestleMania.

John Cena is shaking Cody Rhodes' hand.

"Hey man, like it's going to be me and you

at WrestleMania can't wait for it."

Goes in for the hug and then we see it.

John Cena's face goes from a smile to loses all emotion.

And then he kicks Cody Rhodes and everybody's just like-

What?

What the?

I think I left the ground and I left and said, "What?"

Truly one of the most shocking moments

of my whole time here in WWE.

Oh my God, John, what the hell are you doing?

I think this is the best thing that's happened to wrestling in

a long time, because nobody expected John Cena to go against

everything that's good in pro wrestling.

This is one of the most disgusting displays,

that I've ever witnessed.

That's the real interesting thing.

You know, he's the he's the heel,

and I'm sure he'll do that well.

Why does he need to sell out?

I think this is the number one heel turn of all time.

I don't think another heel turn is ever going to match this one.

You got to be kidding me.

This is absolutely ridiculous.

It is now time for our number one moment.

The unthinkable actions of John Cena selling his soul to

The Rock and turning his back on the C-Nation gave him momentum

heading into the main event of WrestleMania 41

against the undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

At WrestleMania, I make history

by winning a 17th championship.

It is a massive main event.

Will Cena set the record?

Will Cody keep the title?

It happens right now.

It's kind of like the face of the new generation, Cody Rhodes,

versus the face of the company for the last 20 or so years,

John Cena.

Cody Cutter from up top.

John kicks out again.

John Cena he's here to prove he is still the very best.

Cena with an AA.

Kick out by Cody.

John Cena is an incredibly special talent

because he did all the work.

Cena with Cody up again looking for another AA.

And referee Chad Patton taken out.

Cena said to Cody Rhodes,

"At some point you're gonna have to make a choice.

Be a good guy or be a bad guy."

Oh come on.

John Cena has set the record.

I can only imagine how emotional John Cena was

behind the scenes, because this is big.

There is no longer a debate.

With a 17th world title,

John Cena is the greatest of all time.

There will never be another John Cena.

The hustle, loyalty and respect shown by the franchise over two

decades cannot be denied, and it is my honor and privilege to

have a ringside seat to his final year

as an in-ring competitor.

To the GOAT, I simply say thank you.

That'll do it for this edition of WWE's Greatest Moments.

I hope you've enjoyed this

look back at the greatest moments

of the one and only John Cena.