John Cena As A 17-time WWE Champion Or Grand Slam Winner? What Would You Choose?

John Cena is back in WWE, and he’ll be staying there for a solid two months. This is because of the strike happening in Hollywood, which has John Cena with us in WWE for this extended period.

However, given John Cena’s Hollywood commitments and his advancing age, it’s uncertain how many more times he will return to WWE. But he usually makes a comeback at least once or twice every year.

This marks his second appearance in 2023, following his loss to Austin Theory at WrestleMania 39 in a match for the United States Championship.

In his previous WWE runs, Cena often wrestled in dark matches rather than on TV, saving his appearances for televised events like PPVs. This will likely be the case again as he’s been scheduled for eight consecutive weeks of SmackDown for two months.

The only thing John Cena hasn’t achieved yet is becoming a Grand Slam Champion and holding the most number of world championships. He currently shares the record with Ric Flair, both having won 16 World titles in their professional wrestling careers. If Cena wins the world championship one more time, he’ll become the 17-time World champion, surpassing all others in WWE history.

While John Cena may deserve to be a 17-time WWE World Champion, it’s evident that he’s no longer in his prime as a WWE Superstar. However, he could use his 17th world title win as an opportunity to mentor and symbolically pass the torch to a new generation of Superstars.

Fans might overlook the significance of Cena’s U.S. Title Open Challenges in 2015 and his transitional WWE Championship reign, but in the long run, these moments paved the way for emerging stars.

Recently, John Cena shared his thoughts on the possibility of becoming the first-ever WWE Superstar to achieve 17 world championship wins. Speaking at Wales Comic Con, he said, “I know I’m not finished in the ring, but I’m realistic about where I am in my life. I’m 45, and I can tell you that being a 16-time champion is very challenging. The top of that mountain is for young men. So, I’m not done in the ring, but I’m not sure if that’s in the cards. We’ll see.”

Cena’s last world title victory took place at the 2017 Royal Rumble, where he defeated AJ Styles for the WWE Championship in a memorable match.

Another goal that John Cena hasn’t achieved is becoming a Grand Slam Champion in WWE. To attain this status, a male wrestler needs to win the WWE or Universal Championship, the United States and Intercontinental Championships, and at least one of the tag team championships.

Despite Cena’s numerous title reigns, he still lacks the Intercontinental Championship to complete this prestigious accomplishment.

Fortunately, it appears that the current Intercontinental Champion, Gunther, is willing to accept the challenge. A fan page posted an edited image of John Cena as the Intercontinental Champion, and Gunther reposted it with the caption “Ready,” indicating his openness to facing Cena.

A match between Gunther and John Cena makes perfect sense for WWE. Gunther has held the Intercontinental Championship since June 10, 2022, making him the longest-reigning IC champion in the modern era. Cena’s history of overcoming odds adds excitement to the match. WWE should capitalize on Cena’s return and build anticipation for this match, as defeating Gunther for the title would require a strong buildup. Who better to end Gunther’s historic reign than the legendary John Cena?

The Intercontinental Championship is the only major title that Cena has never won in his career, and it would be a fitting achievement for his character. Cena’s history of overcoming seemingly unbeatable opponents, like Umaga, Rusev, Bray Wyatt, and others, adds an element of unpredictability and suspense to the match, making it even more exciting.

WWE currently doesn’t have many exciting matchups available because they lack superstar wrestlers with huge names. So, it makes sense to use John Cena in a role that can create these big and exciting matches. Whether it’s on SmackDown, Raw, or upcoming events like Fastlane or Survivor Series, this particular match should happen. It would be a major mistake for WWE to choose a different path.

John Cena is just one championship away from becoming a Grand Slam Champion. His next target should be Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship.

What do you think? Will John Cena achieve a 17th World Championship or complete the Grand Slam? Share your thoughts in the comments below.