When Did John Cena Win His Last WWE PPV Match?
In 2023, John Cena’s year began with a loss to Austin Theory at Wrestlemania 39. However, he quickly made a comeback on July 1st at WWE Money in the Bank in London, England. During this event, the 16-time world champion hinted at the possibility of a WrestleMania taking place in England, which excited fans.
As the crowd cheered for this idea, Grayson Waller interrupted Cena, but he received an AA from Cena in response. On August 18th, Cena appeared on SmackDown to congratulate Edge on his 25th anniversary with WWE. It was confirmed that Cena would make his next appearance on the September 1st episode of SmackDown and also participate in the Superstar Spectacle event in India on September 8th. Cena mentioned that this would be his first time wrestling in India, and indeed, it was.
Following the Superstar Spectacle, Cena was scheduled for seven more episodes of SmackDown and was chosen as the host for the Payback pay-per-view on September 2nd. He also served as the special guest referee in the LA Knight vs. The Miz match at Payback, which Knight won, and Cena showed respect for him.
At the Superstar Spectacle event, Cena teamed up with Seth “Freakin” Rollins to defeat Imperium (Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser).
During his appearance at Money in the Bank in London, Cena initially showed respect for the former face of WWE but later mocked him for his recent losses. This prompted the Aussie Sensation to recall Cena’s one-sided loss to The Fiend in 2020.
It’s worth reflecting on Cena’s singles victories. Aside from his feud with Austin Theory leading to WrestleMania, Cena teamed up with Kevin Owens in December 2022 to defeat Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn on an episode of WWE SmackDown. However, when it came to one-on-one matches, Cena had not won on television since 2018 when he defeated Triple H at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
Cena’s last pay-per-view victory was on October 6, 2018, at WWE Super Showdown in Melbourne, Australia, when he teamed up with Bobby Lashley to defeat Elias and Kevin Owens.
If we look at non-premium live event matches, Cena’s last one-on-one victory was against Kane in a No DQ match on Monday Night RAW in March 2018. It’s surprising that Cena, one of WWE’s most dominant Superstars, had not won a singles bout in over five years.
Despite his recent losses, defeating John Cena is still a significant achievement for any wrestler, especially someone like Grayson Waller, who is on the rise.
Regarding Cena’s last championship loss, he has won a total of 25 championships during his WWE career. Although many may think his United States Championship reign marked his last title victory, Cena’s 16th WWE Championship win occurred at the 2017 Royal Rumble. Cena had an epic series of matches with AJ Styles leading up to this win. After that, Bray Wyatt defeated Cena in a triple threat match to become WWE Champion, marking Cena’s last championship loss.
As Cena’s full-time career wound down, he made sure to give the next generation of WWE Superstars their moments in the spotlight.
Indeed, these are the notable milestones in John Cena’s recent WWE career when it comes to victories, and they offer some interesting insights into his journey within the wrestling world.
1. PPV Victories: Cena’s last PPV victory occurred at WWE Super Showdown in October 2018, where he teamed up with Bobby Lashley to defeat Elias & Kevin Owens & The Singles Victory came in the same year when he defeated Triple H at the Greatest Royal Rumble. PPV wins are always significant, and this one showcased Cena’s ability to still perform at the highest level.
2. Non-PPV Singles Victories: It’s striking that Cena’s last one-on-one televised victory dates back to March 2018 when he defeated Kane in a No DQ match on Monday Night RAW. This lengthy gap between singles victories underscores the evolving landscape of WWE, with newer talents taking the spotlight.
3. Championship Victories: Cena’s championship history is impressive, with 25 total championships to his name. His last championship win was his 16th WWE Championship, which he secured at the 2017 Royal Rumble by defeating AJ Styles. The fact that this was his last title win shows his dedication to elevating other talents by putting them over in championship matches, a commendable aspect of his legacy.
John Cena’s career has seen him transition from being the face of WWE to a part-time performer, but his contributions to the industry are undeniable. While his victories may have become less frequent in recent years, he continues to be a prominent figure and a valuable asset to WWE, both in and out of the ring. His willingness to pass the torch to the next generation speaks to his commitment to the future of professional wrestling.
So, these are the details of John Cena’s last PPV, non-PPV, singles, Tag Team and championship victories. Share your thoughts in the comments below.