With one of the most illustrious careers in WWE history, John Cena is arguably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, if not the greatest. Regarded as one of the biggest names in all of WWE, Cena’s legacy is unparalleled, having matched Ric Flair’s record with 16 World Championship victories.
From defeating JBL for his first ever WWE Championship back at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, to facing off against The Rock at WrestleMania, his career is adorned with iconic moments and matches that cement his status as a future Hall of Famer. With that said, he has committed quite a few botches in his long and illustrious career as well.
John Cena Has Made Quite A Few Botches In His Career
Few wrestling stars in the history of the sport command the spotlight quite like John Cena, who epitomized WWE for an extensive period. He orchestrated numerous headline-worthy storylines, going head-to-head with icons such as The Rock, Randy Orton, The Undertaker, and Triple H.
Cena demonstrates prowess in the ring, though he may not be hailed as the most technically proficient. Nonetheless, his matches consistently deliver enjoyment to viewers. Despite Cena’s vast experience, he has encountered his fair share of missteps over the years, a reminder that even the elite must continually refine their craft. We will list five such botches he has made in his career.
1) Badly Selling The Undertaker’s Big Boot
The highly anticipated match between The Undertaker and John Cena at WrestleMania 34 generated immense excitement among fans. However, the outcome turned out to be a routine squash match designed to reinforce The Deadman’s dominance. The encounter lacked depth, with The Undertaker executing his trademark moves, including his iconic big boot.
Among these moves was the big boot, a standard maneuver typically executed smoothly. However, in this particular match, things didn’t go as planned. When The Undertaker attempted to deliver the boot, Cena took the bump prematurely, resulting in an awkward fall to the mat far from his intended target.
2) Dropping Daniel Bryan
The SummerSlam showdown between John Cena and Daniel Bryan showcased a brilliant display of their talents, delivering an enthralling encounter that highlighted their skills to the fullest. However, amidst the excitement, there was one mishap that raised concerns, particularly given Bryan’s past neck issues.
In a scary moment, Cena countered a hurricanrana attempt from the top turnbuckle, bringing Bryan crashing down to the canvas before applying the STF submission hold. Unfortunately, during the execution, Cena’s movement inadvertently resulted in Bryan’s head making rough contact with the mat, creating a visibly jarring moment that even drew reactions from the live audience.
3) A Major Face Drop
In the 2010 Royal Rumble, the inherent risks of multi-wrestler spots were evident during a sequence involving Cena, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels. Cena executed a move where he hoisted Triple H and spun him around to connect with a kick aimed at Michaels, sending HBK crashing to the mat upon impact.
Cena attempted to perform a routine back bump on Triple H. However, in a moment of oversight, he failed to ensure the area was clear, inadvertently dropping Triple H onto Michaels’ face instead, which could have turned nasty.
4) Calling Out Spots During The 2018 Royal Rumble
During John Cena’s time at the forefront of WWE, it’s not uncommon to catch him audibly calling spots while in the ring. Cena’s tendency to call out moves loud enough for the TV audience to hear has become a recurring topic of jest and criticism over the years.
During the 2018 men’s Royal Rumble Match, many observers noted that John Cena appeared to be “quarterbacking,” taking charge by calling spots and timing for the other WWE Superstars involved in the match.
In a notable moment featuring the final four competitors, John Cena and Roman Reigns engaged in a standoff. Cena was heard yelling loudly, “NOW NOW SHINSUKE NOW! SHINSUKE NOW! SHINSUKE NOW!!” This served as a signal for Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor to charge forward and attack Cena and Reigns.
5) The 2005 Royal Rumble
One of the most notable botches involving John Cena took place during the finish of the 2005 Royal Rumble match. The Royal Rumble match is one of the biggest events of the year, and the finish, where a winner is determined, is typically carefully planned to avoid mishaps.
In 2005, however, John Cena and Batista botched the finish of the match. Both men went over the top rope at the same time, landing simultaneously, in what was an incredibly precise botch that could never have been replicated intentionally. This led to Vince McMahon entering the ring and tearing both his quadriceps in the ensuing chaos, adding to the madness of the moment.
