As WrestleMania 30 approaches, John Cena has been defeated on three straight Pay-Per-View (PPV) events. Supporters of Bray Wyatt are hopeful that the top star in the business will do the right thing and put their man over at WrestleMania 30. But has John Cena ever been defeated in 4 straight PPV matches?
Here is a full breakdown of Cena's career losing streaks on PPV, in chronological order. This does not include UK-only PPV events such as Rebellion 2002.
My definition of a "Losing Streak" is that it must contain at least two consecutive defeats on PPV matches, and it cannot contain any wins or draws.
Losing Streak #1 - Two Losses
- Royal Rumble (January 2003): Cena was eliminated by the Undertaker during the Royal Rumble match.
- Backlash (April 2003) - Brock Lesnar pinned John Cena to retain his WWE Chamionship.
Losing Streak #2 - Two Losses
- Vengeance (July 2003): The Undertaker pinned John Cena in a singles match.
- No Mercy (October 2003): Kurt Angle defeated Cena by submission.
Losing Streak #3 - Two Losses
- Royal Rumble (January 2004): Cena was eliminated by Big Show during the Royal Rumble match.
- No Way Out (February 2004): Cena tapped out to Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat match that also included Big Show.
Losing Streak #4 - Two Losses
- WrestleMania 24 (March 2008): Cena fought in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship against Orton and Triple H. Cena was pinned by The Viper after receiving a pedigree from Triple H.
- Backlash (April 2008): Cena competed in a Fatal 4-Way Elimination match for the WWE Championship against JBL, Triple H, and Orton. Cena was pinned by Orton after being clobbered by the punt.
Losing Streak #5 - Three Losses
- Night Of Champions (June 2008): Triple H pinned John Cena in a successful WWE Championship defense.
- Great American Bash (July 2008): JBL defeated Cena in a New York City Parking Lot Brawl.
- SummerSlam (August 2008): Batista defeated Cena in a singles match.
Losing Streak #6 - Two Losses
- Night Of Champions (July 2009): Cena challenged for the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat match against Triple H, and Orton. Cena was pinned after interference from Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. that led to an RKO.
- SummerSlam (August 2009): Orton pinned Cena in a WWE Championship match after multiple match restarts and interference from Brett DiBiase.
Losing Streak #7 - Two Losses
- TLC (December 2009): Sheamus defeated Cena for the WWE Championship in a Tables match after Cena fell through a table.
- Royal Rumble (January 2010): Cena was eliminated by Edge in the Royal Rumble match.
Losing Streak #8 - Two Losses
- Fatal 4-Way (June 2010): Cena lost the WWE Championship to Sheamus in a Fatal 4-Way match that also included Edge and Orton. Sheamus pinned Cena after the Nexus attacked him.
- Money In The Bank (July 2010): Sheamus successfully defended the WWE Championship against Cena in a Steel Cage match. Sheamus escaped the cage after the Nexus prevented Cena from escaping the cage.
Losing Streak #9 - Two Losses
- Night Of Champions (September 2010): Cena fought in a Six Pack Challenge Elimination match for the WWE Championship against Sheamus, Orton, Barrett, Edge, and Jericho. Cena was pinned when he fought off a Nexus attack and then fell victim to Barrett's Wasteland.
- Hell In A Cell (October 2010): Cena was defeated by Wade Barrett after interference from Michael McGillicutty and Husky Harris.
Losing Streak #10 - Two Losses
- Money In The Bank (July 2011): Cena lost the WWE Championship to CM Punk. Cena left the ring to stop John Laurinaitis from prematurely ending the match in Cena's favor. Punk hit Cena with the GTS right after Cena reentered the ring.
- SummerSlam (August 2011): Cena was pinned by CM Punk in a WWE Championship match when the special referee, Triple H, did not see Cena's foot on the ropes.
Losing Streak #11 - Two Losses
- Hell In A Cell (October 2011): Cena lost the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Hell In A Cell match after Alberto Del Rio pinned CM Punk.
- Vengeance (October 2011): Alberto Del Rio successfully defended the WWE Championship in a Last Man Standing match against Cena after interference from Awesome Truth.
Losing Streak #12 - Two Losses
- Survivor Series (November 2012): Cena was pinned by CM Punk in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Chamionship that also included Ryback. This match ended with the debut of The Shield, whose interference aided Punk in his victory.
- TLC (December 2012): Cena lost a Ladder match to Dolph Ziggler after AJ Lee turned on Cena.
Losing Streak #13 - Three Losses (currently)
- TLC (December 2013): Cena lost a title unification TLC match to Randy Orton after Orton handcuffed Cena to the ropes.
- Royal Rumble (2014): Orton defeated Cena in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match after interference from the Wyatt Family.
- Elimination Chamber (2014): Cena challenged for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship inside an Elimination Chamber against Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, Christian, Sheamus, and Cesaro. Cena was pinned by Orton after interference from the Wyatt Family.
That is the complete list of Cena's career PPV losing streaks. John Cena has been a competitor in 121 different PPV matches, yet he has never lost 4 of those matches in a row. In fact Cena has only been defeated in 3 consecutive PPV matches on just two separate occasions, including his current losing streak. The odds certainly don't seem to favor a Bray Wyatt victory at WrestleMania 30, as Cena has never been booked to lose 4 straight PPV matches.
But there are some kernels of hope for Bray Wyatt fans. Despite the evidence that I just listed, there actually has been one streak of 4 consecutive PPV matches where Cena did not claim a victory. This streak overlaps with "Losing Streak #12" from the above list. Here are the four consecutive matches:
- SummerSlam (August 2012): Cena lost a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship after CM Punk pinned Big Show.
- Night Of Champions (September 2012): CM Punk and John Cena wrestled to a draw in a WWE Championship match.
- Survivor Series (November 2012): Cena was pinned by CM Punk in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship that also included Ryback.
- TLC (December 2012): Cena lost a Ladder match to Dolph Ziggler after AJ Lee turned on Cena.
These are the only 4 consecutive PPV matches in Cena's career where he failed to gain at least one victory. This did not qualify for the Losing Streak list because the Night of Champions result was technically not a loss.
Here is another piece of data that Bray Wyatt fans can focus on. The list below includes John Cena's career record on PPV (72-46-3), sorted by year:
- 2002: 1-0
- 2003: 2-4
- 2004: 7-2
- 2005: 7-2
- 2006: 8-4
- 2007:10-1
- 2008: 6-5
- 2009: 8-6
- 2010: 7-6
- 2011: 6-6
- 2012: 4-5-2
- 2013: 6-3-1
- 2014: 0-2
As far as PPV is concerned, the years that are best described by "CenaWinsLOL" are 2004 through 2007, as Cena achieved an absurd won/loss record of 32-9 in that time. However since the start of 2010, Cena's PPV record is a pedestrian 23-22-3. Granted, even in these recent years Cena still rarely ever loses to a heel without some kind of nefarious shenanigans. But Cena's mediocre record on PPV in recent years could suggest that a dirty victory is very possible for Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 30.
So there you have it, Cagesiders. What piece of data carries more weight with you? Does Cena's longtime status as the top guy in the industry mean that he is simply immune to losing 4 straight PPV matches? Or does Cena's mediocre PPV record since the start of 2010 suggest that a victory for Bray Wyatt is well within reach?