Where John Cena ranks among top 10 greatest WWE legends of all time

The last time is now. John Cena is retiring from professional wrestling.

“Retirement” means something different in wrestling than it does in most careers. Wrestlers have always left the industry with low fanfare, only to return years later when the Siren’s call to the circle (or the paycheck that comes with it) lures them back. Ric Flair wants people to know he still has fighting spirit, even though he nearly died during his recent retirement match. Terry Funk transitioned from “active wrestler” to “retired guy” like he was manipulating the lights at a ’90s carnival.

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But Cena was convinced that this was it. At 48, the former Division III All-American offensive lineman, amateur bodybuilder and 17-time WWE Champion is hanging up his shorts and saying goodbye to wrestling. His final match will take place on Saturday, December 13, on the Saturday Night Main Event, where he will face the powerful Gunther. The Austrian fairy tale monster may dye Cena’s chest a healthy maroon with the seal before the storybook ending behind the Peacock streaming paywall.

This gives us time to reflect. Cena has been with WWE for nearly 23 years and has been the face of the organization for about two decades. He’s received both praise and criticism, in part because no one hates pro wrestling as much as pro wrestling fans. So where does he rank on the list of company all-time greats?

The list relies heavily on the contributions and achievements of WWE (or WWF as it was called at the time). But because pro wrestling doesn’t happen in a vacuum, competition spurs innovation, and company lines can easily blur, some on this list have raised their profiles outside of the organization, creating a wave of promotion for the sport. This all means there’s going to be a lot to argue about in this ranking.

Honorable Mention: Roman Reigns, Bret Hart, Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, Randy Savage

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Reigns is becoming an icon, but he has to overcome years of being forced to go against the wishes of fans watching at home, unlike Cena. Savage was often the bridesmaid to Hulk Hogan’s bride – and the Hot Dog Skin star would make sure the two stayed that way until the end of WCW. Lesnar was initially placed on the roster and then replaced by amateur wrestler turned talent Kurt Angle. Lesnar was often the star that WWE shrugged off and put on the belt in a pinch, while Angle was a true square-circle maniac who got the nod.

Both Hart and Michaels were work rate kings in the ring. They all leave with a better business than when they arrived. But Hart jumped to WCW after the Montreal Screwjob (of course), having his WWE career cut short in his prime (and then wasted by a rival company). Michaels missed much of his prime due to injuries and attitude issues. Both would be hard-pressed to crack the top ten.

10. Bob Backlund

When the Rock and Roll Wrestling Era broke out, Backlund’s white-meat babyface simply couldn’t dominate. But he held the then-WWF title for over 2,100 days on multiple sell-outs at Madison Square Garden. When Hogan left after Vince McMahon’s steroid experiments, he returned in solid form in his 40s.

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His crazy role model transformation adds depth to a one-dimensional character. While the company failed to realize its potential, it proved that the pale, simple retro style could be adapted to the needs of a growing company.

9. Triple H

H is a great performer and tenacious wrestler, and his current role at the top of the WWE pyramid has put his career in a more positive light (but lately, his career has taken a more negative light). But there’s a reason his old “I win” approach in the post-WCW format is considered a “reign of terror.” The less said about his late, too-long WrestleMania match, the better.

8. Kurt Angle

Angle is a perfect fit for professional wrestling – he’s an athletic marvel with true combat sports bona fide (he won an Olympic gold medal by neck-breaking!). He grasps the nuances of in-ring storytelling with exceptional physical charisma and has proven he has no hesitation in playing dumb when the need arises.

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The former Clarion University star sacrificed his health to become the best wrestler he can be. In the process, he established himself as one of the most talented entertainers in the history of the business.

7. The Undertaker

The Undertaker was one of the company’s biggest stars, but rarely needed a championship to do so, allowing him to fade into the background for a while before resurrecting with a slightly tweaked gimmick. Taker has many variations to choose from, from goofy to serious to riffy. He was at his best under the management of Paul Bearer, combining an over-the-top mouthpiece with over-the-top gimmicks to create a character that stuck in the ring for over three decades.

6. Ric Flair

Flair’s overall resume and pop culture staying power in a pre-internet world may put him ahead of Cena. But Cena has spent almost his entire career in WWE. Flair was a mainstay in the NWA, WCW and WCW before finally making the jump to WWE – first in the early 1990s and then throughout the 2000s.

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Even though his second run in WWE came after his 50th birthday, he was still a true mainstay. His combination of on-field savvy and off-field showmanship may make him a tough guy to deal with, but it also makes him an undeniable legend.

5. Rock

Another wrestler-turned-Hollywood star, The Rock went from being an obnoxious, bland babyface to an arrogant heel who ultimately won over the crowd with his over-the-top performance. He remains an S-level attraction and since he became a world celebrity, he has always been more than ready to return to the ring, even if the results were unpopular. He never slipped back into part-time work as easily as Cena or The Undertaker, but there’s no denying his resume — or his willingness to make others look better in his nascent stages of becoming an icon.

4. Bruno Sammartino

Sammartino was the ultimate king of the WWWF at the time, holding the gold belt for more than 4,000 days in just two reigns (1963-1971, 1973-1977). He was an icon of professional wrestling in America’s biggest city and a mainstay at Madison Square Garden, even though everyone already knew what the outcome of his matches would be. Sammartino was a gutsy man who brought legitimate toughness and working-class appeal to help grow the sport while staying true to its old-school roots.

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3. John Cena

Cena went from plucky underdog to rap antihero to true Superman. He stayed at the top long enough to cause fan backlash and give birth to “LOL Cena Wins” online. His persistence and dedication ultimately won him over fans – and it turns out it’s hard to hate a man who has done more celebrity work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation than anyone in history.

His shift to part-time work helped alleviate the fatigue of his cheerleading and “great speech” reactions. Cena’s commitment to changing up his moves at a time when he could perform hits and get paid a (huge) salary reinforced his dedication to his art.

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2. Stone Cold Steve Austin

As WCW threatened to become the biggest wrestling company in the world, Austin rose from mid-card to the biggest star the industry had ever seen. If that sounds exaggerated, you weren’t there when “Austin 3:16” shirts ruled the world (yes, even more so than nWo gear). His anti-hero captured the hearts of wrestling fans when WCW fell into stale storylines and ultimately fell into disarray. While his path to the top was cut short by injury and fatigue, he remains one of the most recognizable professional wrestlers in American history despite having minimal contributions as an actor or athlete.

1. Hulk Hogan

Did Hogan call himself a racist off the field? Yes. Did he use his power and popularity to silence other wrestlers and help thwart the union attempts of a generation of wrestlers who were dying young at an alarming rate? Uh-huh. Did he get limited in the ring (by choice, look at his work in Japan) and define a slowly evolving WWF style that would take the professional wrestling world by storm in the early 1990s? Yes.

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Hogan was a disaster in many ways, but his physique and charisma made him an icon and star. Without him, WWE might not exist. Hell, without The Hulkster bringing the public into the fold, modern pro wrestling might have been nothing more than a collection of niche regional companies.

This article originally appeared in For the Victory: John Cena ranks among the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time