Myself, Drake Riggs, Kel Dansby and Robert Jackman have been previewing every major wrestling event and story since Uncrowned’s inception. There was no way we were missing Cena’s farewell. Here’s where we think Big Match John lands on a proverbial Mount Rushmore:
Riggs: Mount Rushmore debates are always insanely difficult, but particularly so for pro-wrestling. In my eyes, I feel like it should focus more on the most influential figures rather than just the top four all-time greats — because that’s more realistic than the actual Mount Rushmore.
So in that sense, Cena feels like he probably has to be on there for a wild number of reasons.
Is he a top-four in-ring wrestler of all time? How about overall, including mic work? No.
That’s not to say he isn’t top 15 at the absolute worst, but I never think of him in those conversations.
But in terms of overall influence, longevity and the like, it’s hard to deny the dude. He’s one of the few truly generational figures in wrestling’s history.
Jackman: I agree with Drake that Mount Rushmore debates are sometimes more trouble than they’re worth. If you really want to understand what makes John Cena so important, I’d recommend using the “Family Feud” test instead: If you asked 1,000 randos to name five pro wrestlers, what are the chances John Cena would end up on the top-10 list alongside cultural icons like Hulk Hogan and The Rock?
Pretty damn high, I’d say.
For me, that neatly encapsulates Cena’s success. It isn’t just that he’s become Hollywood-famous, but that he’s done so while still being much more of an active wrestler than, say, The Rock or Dave Bautista. This isn’t another grumble about Dwayne’s absence after Elimination Chamber — it stretches back way longer than that. The fact that John Cena has had a WWE match every year for the past 23 years, while making dozens of movies and becoming a genuine A-lister, is pretty remarkable.
Sulla-Heffinger: This is a VERY hard question.
You could poll 100 different people and get 100 different answers here, depending on the era they grew up in, what promotion they preferred, etc.
In my opinion, when looking at his longevity, connection to fans and ability as an entertainer, Cena belongs on the Mount Rushmore of pro-wrestling. Strictly looking at impact on the business/industry, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin are the other three faces that join him. Cena wasn’t just the top guy for 20 years, he was the top guy as WWE transitioned from a professional wrestling company to a global entertainment juggernaut. It was a massive weight on his shoulders that he never crumbled under.
Dansby: Cena dominated an entire era, carried WWE through years of transition, and remains one of the most influential figures the company has ever produced. But my Mount Rushmore leans heavily on in-ring work as well as cultural impact. For that reason, he doesn’t quite crack my top four.
Over the past decade, Bryan Danielson has built a stronger case. He performed at a world-class level in every major company he touched — WWE, AEW, ROH, NJPW — while never losing a step. Danielson’s ability to elevate any opponent and craft technical masterpieces puts him right on the edge of my all-time list more than Cena, whose legacy leans more on star power than wrestling excellence.
That said, Cena comfortably sits in the next tier as one of the top faces of WWE’s history alongside Hogan, Austin, Rock, and Roman Reigns.
