John Cena's All WWE World Championship Victories, List of Superstars the Champ Defeated

John Cena is one of the most loved and cherished champions in WWE history, capturing an incredible 16 world titles throughout his legendary career. From his first WWE Championship win in 2005 to his record-tying 16th in 2017, Cena cemented himself as the face of the company and a true icon of the industry. His championship reigns weren’t just about the numbers, each victory came with intense rivalries, unforgettable matches, and legendary opponents.
Across his numerous reigns, Cena battled and defeated some of WWE’s biggest names, including JBL, Edge, Triple H, Randy Orton, Batista, The Rock, AJ Styles, and many more. Whether it was inside a TLC match, an Elimination Chamber, or a 60-minute Iron Man match, Cena proved time and again why he was "The Champ."
Here is a complete breakdown of all of John Cena’s WWE World Championship victories, detailing the moments he won, the superstars he defeated, and the rivalries that shaped his historic career.

Cena’s first world title win came at WrestleMania 21, where he defeated JBL to capture the WWE Championship. It was the start of a legendary career, with the Hollywood stage providing the perfect setting for his rise to superstardom.

After holding the title for 280 days, Cena lost to Edge, who cashed in Money in the Bank. But he didn’t stay down for long; just three weeks later, at the Royal Rumble, he beat Edge to become a two-time champion and later defended it against Triple H at WrestleMania 22.


Cena lost the title to Rob Van Dam at One Night Stand thanks to Edge’s interference. Edge later won the belt himself but didn’t hold it for long, Cena took it back in a brutal TLC match in Edge’s hometown of Toronto, bringing back his iconic spinner belt.

Returning from injury, Cena stepped straight into the main event and defeated Chris Jericho to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. This reign lasted 84 days, but it kicked off what would become the longest world title reign of his career.


Cena defeated Edge and Big Show in a Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 25, lifting the title once again. He even delivered an incredible double Attitude Adjustment! But his reign was short-lived; Edge won it back at Backlash just three weeks later.

Cena and Randy Orton’s intense rivalry led to a brutal "I Quit" match at Breaking Point. After months of controversial losses, Cena finally made Orton quit to win back the WWE Championship. His time at the top was short, though, as Orton reclaimed the title just three weeks later at Hell in a Cell.


Cena and Orton’s feud reached its climax in a 60-minute Iron Man match, where Cena won 6-5 in an all-out war. This was his fifth WWE title reign, and during it, he even defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a triple-threat match.


Cena won the WWE title in a grueling Elimination Chamber match by last eliminating Triple H. But his celebration didn’t last, Vince McMahon immediately forced him to defend against Batista, who beat him in under three minutes, marking Cena’s shortest reign.


After being unfairly stripped of his previous title, Cena got his revenge by defeating Batista at WrestleMania 26. He went on to beat him in Last Man Standing and "I Quit" matches, solidifying his dominance. This reign lasted 84 days, his longest in two years.

After a rocky run with The Nexus and a loss to The Miz at WrestleMania, Cena bounced back at Extreme Rules. He defeated Miz and John Morrison in a Steel Cage match to win the WWE title again, just before CM Punk’s infamous "Summer of Punk" era began.


Cena lost the title to CM Punk at Money in the Bank, but with Punk leaving WWE, a tournament was held to crown a new champion. Rey Mysterio won, but later that night, Cena defeated him to reclaim the belt, only for Punk to return and set up a unification match.

Cena defeated Alberto Del Rio at Night of Champions to win his 10th WWE Championship, but his reign lasted just two weeks before Del Rio took it back at Hell in a Cell.

After losing to The Rock at WrestleMania 28, Cena rebounded by winning the 2013 Royal Rumble. This led to a high-stakes rematch at WrestleMania 29, where Cena avenged his loss and won his 13th world title.


Returning from a triceps injury earlier than expected, Cena challenged Alberto Del Rio at Hell in a Cell and won the World Heavyweight Championship. This was his last reign with this belt before it was merged with the WWE title.

Cena won his 15th WWE title in a ladder match after Daniel Bryan was forced to vacate it. However, his reign ended in devastating fashion when Brock Lesnar squashed him at SummerSlam.


After three years without a world title, Cena finally reclaimed it by defeating AJ Styles in a classic at the 2017 Royal Rumble. This victory tied him with Ric Flair’s record of 16 world championships, marking a historic moment in WWE history.

Cena's quest for a historic 17th world title is still underway, with speculation surrounding potential opportunities at major events like Elimination Chamber or WrestleMania. Some even speculate that he could claim his record-breaking championship in TNA, given WWE's ongoing partnership with the promotion.
Now on the road to his 17th World Title, Cena's farewell tour has the WWE Universe eagerly anticipating the historic moment when he sets the record for the most World Championship reigns.
Also Read: John Cena and Shay Shariatzadeh Age Difference: How the 17 time WWE World Champion Deals with the Societal Pressure