In June 2005, John Cena appeared on Raw for the very first time. More than 20 years later, on Nov. 17, Cena will make his final appearance on WWE’s flagship show as an active superstar.
Cena has made great accomplishments in 2025: He put on excellent matches, scored championship gold, delivered several fine speeches, and captivated audiences with one of the most shocking heel turns in WWE history. With his illustrious résumé and one-of-a-kind legacy, how will Cena conclude his storied career?
We’re about to find out: He’s only got three WWE appearances remaining, and the first of the last is the upcoming episode of Raw, streaming live on Netflix on Nov. 17 from Madison Square Garden in New York City. But before we get to Cena’s final Raw, let’s take a look back at some of his most memorable moments on WWE’s cornerstone program. From iconic promos to five-star matches, you can read about some of John Cena’s most unforgettable WWE Raw moments here on Tudum, and stream them all WWE Raw Classics and WWE Raw.
Scroll down to take a trip down memory lane with the greatest of all time.
After being the number one pick in WWE’s 2005 Draft, Cena was moved from SmackDown to Raw, where he first appeared as a guest on Chris Jericho’s highlight reel, entering to an electric ovation from a raucous St. Louis crowd. At the time, Cena was in his first reign as WWE Champion, which is something to wrap your head around when you realize he won his 17th world championship earlier this year at WrestleMania 41.
Watch John Cena’s 2005 Raw debut here.
In what’s considered one of the greatest matches in the history of Raw, Cena went head-to-head with WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels in a rematch of their WrestleMania 23 clash a few weeks before. What transpired was more than 50 minutes of high-level professional wrestling that will forever be considered a classic.
Watch John Cena’s match against Shawn Michaels here.
In a daunting battle of endurance, a 2009 episode of Raw featured Cena in a gauntlet match against three all-time greats: Chris Jericho, The Big Show, and Randy Orton. The brawl concluded unexpectedly, 20 feet above the ground atop a steel cell.
Watch John Cena face multiple opponents in one match here.
One of Cena’s greatest rivals, The Rock, served as host of WrestleMania 27. At the grand event, Cena faced The Miz in the main event, losing as a result of outside interference from The Rock. The following night on Raw, Cena called out The Rock, and the two trash talked each other face-to-face, agreeing to a match at WrestleMania 28. But a surprise attack from outsiders suddenly forced Cena and The Rock to work together as a team.
Watch John Cena’s classic encounter with The Rock here.
On the road to WrestleMania in 2013, more than 17,000 fans at the American Airlines Center in Dallas were treated to a collision between two of the greats, Cena vs. Punk, in a match that had high stakes — the winner would solidify their place in a main-event match against The Rock at WrestleMania 29.
Watch John Cena scrap with CM Punk here.
Proud to defend the US Championship, Cena regularly welcomed challengers. On this particular night a decade ago, Cesaro answered the call, giving Cena all he could handle. It became an instant classic.
Watch John Cena’s US Championship defense here.
After shocking the world with a jaw-dropping heel turn at Elimination Chamber, Cena appeared in front of a vocal and divided crowd in Brussels. He absorbed passionate boos and chants before insulting the live audience and trashing his long-standing fans, even singling out a kid in the crowd.
Watch John Cena’s encounter with a hostile Brussels audience here.
Despite being a 17-time World Champion and having one of the most decorated careers in wrestling history, Cena had somehow never won the Intercontinental Championship. On Cena’s last Raw in Boston, IC Champion “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio defended the gold against the GOAT in a match that resulted in yet another crowning achievement for Cena, cementing an already legendary legacy.
Watch John Cena become a Grand Slam Champion here.
Tune in to Cena’s final Raw, streaming live on Netflix Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, to see what iconic moments he creates for the last time.
