John Cena says Roman Reigns is his Greatest of All Time in WWE, and not long-time rival Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
Cena and Rock duelled over the course of two major WrestleMania events a decade ago, with Cena since following in his former foe’s footsteps in swapping the wrestling ring for Hollywood.
The multi-time former world champion has confirmed he’ll retire from wrestling in 2025 with one final run in WWE, with fans and stars clamouring to fantasy book the mega matches that will make up his farewell stretch.
He’s also used the time sine making the major announcement at Money in the Bank earlier this summer to speak openly about not only his career, but the business in general.
Speaking on Club Shay Shay, the leader of the Cenation was put on the spot to name his WWE GOAT, with one reasonable assumption being he might plump for The Rock, given how the latter years of their careers have intertwined and even mirrored.
Instead, it’s Rock’s cousin, Roman Reigns, who tops the list for Cena, who sang the praises of the Tribal Chief for his work during his incredible near four-year run as WWE Undisputed Universal Champion.
That reign was ended by Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania – as part of a storyline that incidentally heavily featured The Rock – as WWE has soared on a tremendous run of sellouts, record gates and a new television deal with Netflix.
Cena insists Reigns can take a sizable share of the credit for that, explaining: “I don’t think there is a better breathing example of the best the business has ever been than Roman Reigns.
“It’s amazing that I’m saying a still-active talent, with years in front of him, is the greatest of all time. He’s been in it since 2012.
“I had to work my way up. I started on the bench and then got on to the Saturday programme, lost every match.
“ He came in with The Shield and a really high-level spot, and never wavered. Even when fans didn’t like him, he was still in a main event spot. He’s been in a main event lens for over a decade.
“In 2012, the stock was trading at $11. WWE/TKO stock is now at $117. That’s on his shoulders.
£There isn’t a better indication, and I know it’s a team effort, and nobody does it alone, but that, to me, is some serious s***.
“I have to give respect where it’s due. [He] is smart, passionate about the business, multi-generational athlete. Has respect for his family, the locker room, the business.
“He’s a very smart performer and someone I respect. He’d be my Greatest of All Time.”
Cena was among the victims in Reigns tremendous tenure as the top male champion in WWE – the two battled at SummerSlam in 2021 with Reigns a decisive winner.
Three years later at this year’s instalment of the summer epic, Reigns sealed his return by confronting Solo Sikoa to begin the next chapter in the lengthy Bloodline saga.
Rock is almost certain to have a role to play again in the not too distant future and, while Cena had Reigns slated above the megastar in his own WWE ranking, he admitted The Smashing Machine star came a close second.
He added of Rock: “He did the same thing in the 90s. This is the one time I can say this because Rock’s numbers are always number one, Roman’s numbers have been better than Dwayne’s.”
Back at WrestleMania in April, Rock and Cena enjoyed an in-ring stare-down filled with nostalgia as part of the epic main event.