WWE Superstars Roman Reigns and John Cena have carried the company on their backs in different eras. The transition where The OTC took the reins from Cena also saw the two men colliding with each other. Surprisingly, their head-to-head record makes the record-setting 17-time WWE world champion look bad.
Cena and Reigns have faced each other 11 times, and The Tribal Chief has secured victory in all of his encounters. It should, however, be noted that this was The Franchise Player’s time to pass on the torch to the next face of the company.
JOHN CENA IS 0-11 AGAINST ROMAN REIGNS😲😲#ROMANREIGNS #JOHNCENA pic.twitter.com/SjY5ZZv6mw
— WrestleBrock (@WrestleBrock) May 14, 2025
That was the time when The Face That Runs The Place helped Vince McMahon build The Guy. Although fans didn’t like the initial babyface run of Reigns after The Shield was done for, working with Cena helped the 40-year-old star become The Head of the Table he is today.
The promo where John Cena destroyed Roman Reigns
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Credits: WWE/YouTube
Credits: WWE/YouTube
Roman Reigns was struggling to impress the fans during his Big Dog era. While he had the physique, athleticism, and appeal, he still needed a lot of work in his promos and ability to sell. Because of this, his spot at the top felt unearned to the fans.
Vince McMahon decided to give Reigns bigger wins to make the WWE Universe see him as a legitimate top star. However, each big win made fans hate him even more, especially after he defeated The Undertaker in a WrestleMania match in 2017.
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Mr. McMahon then set up a fight between John Cena and Roman Reigns at the 2017 No Mercy to get things in order. Fans still remember the promo both wrestlers did with each other at the contract signing for the match.
The Big Dog was getting booed by the crowd, and he choked and forgot his lines while speaking. Cena took the chance to say that he is waiting, landing a jab and buying his opponent some time simultaneously. However, that was where The Franchise Player’s benevolence ended.
“It’s called a promo kid, if you wanna be the big dog you’re gonna have to learn how to do it”
8 years ago today, John Cena and Roman Reigns faced off in one of the most intense promos of all time.
(2017)
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) August 28, 2025
He buried Roman Reigns for saying the same things his rivals have been throwing at him for the past ten years. Instead, he turned everything around and told Reigns that he was still around in WWE because The Guy couldn’t do his job properly.
The day John Cena verbally destroyed Roman Reigns. pic.twitter.com/luHCYnDm45
— Mogumogu (@mogutweet) August 28, 2025
Thus, while The Tribal Chief has a better record in the ring, John Cena is the clear winner on the mic. The two men met again for the 2021 SummerSlam. This time, however, Reigns also landed several verbal punches at The Leader of Cenation, which showed how far he had come.
What Is WWE’s Future After the Exit of John Cena?
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Credits: WWE/YouTube
Credits: WWE/YouTube
Credits: WWE/YouTube
WWE will soon enter a crisis once 2025 comes to an end. John Cena will hang up his boots, and his successor, Roman Reigns, has already become a part-timer. Owing to this, the Stamford-based promotion doesn’t have a clear leader for the company.
Things are stable on SmackDown with Cody Rhodes leading the charge. However, the Undisputed Champion has also stepped into Hollywood. Monday Night RAW, on the other hand, has a bigger problem, since Seth Rollins is now out with an injury and will stay away for a long time.
This show is so lifeless!!!! No Seth, Roman, Punk, CENA! No stars to carry the show… #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/yAPGUruMUv
— Bobby Monsoon (@bobbymonsoon215) October 21, 2025
Thus, Triple H needs to quickly find a top guy to fill The Visionary’s shoes. He does have some promising talent who can do the job quite well, like Gunther, LA Knight, and Bron Breakker. CM Punk can hold the ship for some time and make these guys into the stars of tomorrow.
Fortunately for The Game, the women’s division doesn’t have this problem on either of the brands. The reigning champions, Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton, are hot with the crowd and have more than ten years left in their prime. They also have several wrestlers like Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Jade Cargill, and more to replace them.
Who do you think will be the next top star of WWE RAW? Will Triple H be able to raise a great wrestler to hold the lead? Let your thoughts flow in the comments.
