John Cena and Brock Lesnar will battle for the final time at WWE Wrestlepalooza this weekend. Their feud has a brief however wealthy historical past, spanning from prospects to world champions to future Corridor of Famers via three a long time. 

Cena and Lesnar, regardless of being two of the most important success tales of the Ruthless Aggression period, solely share six singles matches. Lesnar leads their sequence 4-2. Cena cannot bridge the hole on Saturday, however an ethical victory of their remaining assembly is price combating for. Lesnar has wiped the ground with Cena within the lead-up to Wrestlepalooza, laying him out at SummerSlam and SmackDown in non-match segments. Cena’s again is in opposition to the wall on Saturday, however it’s the place he wrestles most comfortably.

Earlier than the final encounter between Cena and Lesnar, proceed under as we revisit, rank, and watch key matches of their anthology.

6. SmackDown (Sept. 19, 2002)

At Wrestlepalooza, Cena and Lesnar are seasoned veterans. The identical cannot be stated for his or her first match. Saturday’s headliners have been months into their major roster runs in 2002. Cena and Lesnar skilled collectively within the developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, as a part of a legendary class with Randy Orton and Batista, however they by no means wrestled one another. Lesnar was additional up the meals chain, already the undisputed WWE champion, whereas Cena struggled to face out. Their first match befell six weeks earlier than Cena debuted the “Physician of Thuganomics” gimmick that might lead him to stardom. Cena and Lesnar had little chemistry, and this was nothing greater than a squash match. Lesnar whooped on his OVW classmate for essentially the most half earlier than delivering a swift F5.

5. Backlash (2003)

Cena fully reinvented himself within the seven months after their first singles encounter. Cena, now rapping and rocking jean shorts, had rocketed up the cardboard. Backlash was a testomony to Cena’s change in fortune. WWE had thought of releasing Cena earlier than Stephanie McMahon gave him a hip-hop makeover. Lower than a 12 months later, Cena was difficult for the corporate’s high prize in a pay-per-view major occasion. Sadly, Cena’s “Rocky” story didn’t translate to a memorable match. This WWE championship match ran too lengthy, and Cena’s in-ring abilities hadn’t but caught as much as his new reputation. The end result was a largely one-sided affair that overstayed its welcome. Lesnar closed the present with an F5 and took one other win of their sequence.

4. SmackDown (Feb. 13, 2003)

Cena and Lesnar’s greatest match of the 2000s was wedged between the earlier two entries. Lesnar took a detour from his widespread feud with Kurt Angle. Cena was driving excessive off newfound reputation. Their second encounter already had far more steam than their first match. The match laid a blueprint for a way their feud would carry over within the coming a long time. Lesnar grounded his foe with superior method and physicality. Cena confirmed coronary heart in recouping and rallying again in opposition to the seemingly indestructible monster. Cena almost had the match gained after clocking Lesnar along with his signature chain, however Lesnar shook it off and scored the pinfall with an F5. Their Backlash match demanded greater than they might provide. This shorter runtime let Cena and Lesnar ship one thing extra fulfilling than what got here instantly after.

3. Evening of Champions (2014)

You may discover a pattern: Cena and Lesnar’s later matches trump their early efforts. There are a number of causes for that. Each males have been very younger of their careers. Although Lesnar was instantly positioned on the high of the cardboard, it took Cena two years to seek out his footing. Narrowing our lens onto Evening of Champions, their most up-to-date singles encounter was their least compelling of the three. SummerSlam benefitted from refreshing reserving. Excessive Guidelines had novelty and a well-utilized stipulation. Evening of Champions was stable, however acquainted. Cena almost redeemed a latest loss to Lesnar by locking in an STF. Nevertheless, Seth Rollins drew a disqualification by attacking Cena with the Cash within the Financial institution briefcase. Cena was awarded the win, however titles can not change possession by DQ or count-out. Textbook reserving and an inconclusive end put this match a step under what got here earlier than it within the 2010s.

2. SummerSlam (2014)

This match is the genesis and, maybe, top-of-the-line examples of Lesnar’s trendy fashion. Lesnar trashed Cena your entire time, touchdown greater than a dozen suplexes and two F5s to say the WWE championship. Paul Heyman coined the phrase “suplex metropolis” in response to this match. Cena’s momentary comebacks have been simply snuffed out as Lesnar ragdolled him. It was stunning to see Cena, on the peak of his powers, so simply dismantled. Lesnar’s restricted method is a blended bag at this time. Again then, it was a stunning novelty.

1. Excessive Guidelines (2012)

Cena and Lesnar’s first encounter in 9 years is broadly thought of their greatest. Their cache allowed them to emphasise the Excessive Guidelines stipulation in a time when WWE shied from blood and violence. Lesnar brutalized Cena for many of the match, laying the groundwork for a way dominantly he’d be booked transferring ahead. Cena embodied his “Tremendous Cena” persona, overcoming the whole lot Lesnar threw at him, sealing the victory with an Angle Adjustment onto metal steps. Their match benefited from its uncommon, field workplace ambiance. It was Lesnar’s first match since leaving WWE in 2004 following his stunning return after WrestleMania 28. Lesnar was now a former UFC heavyweight champion, and Cena was coming off a blockbuster match with The Rock. The celebrities aligned completely, from storytelling to in-ring motion, to provide their greatest match 10 years after their first.