A truly polarizing figure, fans of the WWE either love or hate John Cena, and it seems as though the man himself wouldn’t have it any other way. Personally, though he’s never been a favorite of mine, his work ethic is admirable. No matter what you think of him, there’s no denying that Cena is one of the most physically gifted, and charismatic wrestlers of all time. For many years, Cena has dominated the best and brightest talents the WWE has had to offer; this is a man that that seems to thrive on overcoming potential adversity. John Cena’s Greatest Rivalries, as the title suggests, takes a look at some of Cena’s most popular opponents and the many tough battles that have helped make him a star, and future member of the WWE Hall of Fame.
While this set doesn’t offer a full career retrospective, it does a good job of tracing Cena’s career, and his rise through the ranks. We get a look at some of his early backstage and in-ring interactions with the likes of Eddie Guerrero, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock. In brief interview segments, Cena shares how several well-known wrestlers helped his career not just in the ring, but outside of it, providing an example of how to carry himself in a professional manner. In the end, it’s clear that the WWE is a serious business, and it’s most successful stars approach it that way in every aspect of their professional lives.
Moving away from their usual presentation style, the program isn’t presented chronologically, but by rival. Further, each new feud is presented that throws back to Cena’s vintage video game era; there’s a WrestleFest-style. It just adds a different, and interesting touch to the usually extremely polished WWE productions. While the set offers no real revelations, John Cena fans should be very pleased to have several of his greatest matches available in one collection.
The following matches comprise John Cena’s Greatest Rivalries:
Disc One:
- Number One Contender’s Match for WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Eddie Guerrero. SmackDown — April 3, 2003.
- Parking Lot Brawl: John Cena vs. Eddie Guerrero. SmackDown — September 11, 2003.
- OVW Championship Match: Prototype vs. Leviathan. Ohio Valley Wrestling — February 23, 2002.
- Last Man Standing Championship Match: John Cena vs. Batista. Extreme Rules — April 25, 2010.
- Career Match: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels. RAW — April 23, 2007.
- Career Match: John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels. RAW — March 10, 2008.
- WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Randy Orton. SummerSlam — August 26, 2007.
- Career Match: John Cena vs. Randy Orton. RAW — February 10, 2014.
- WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. JBL. WrestleMania 21 — April 3, 2005.
- Career Match: John Cena vs. JBL. RAW — June 9, 2008.
- You’re Fired WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Chris Jericho. RAW — August 22, 2005.
- World Heavyweight Championship Match: John Cena vs. Chris Jericho. Survivor Series — November 23, 2008.
Disc Two:
- WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Edge. RAW — October 2, 2006.
- Last Man Standing World Heavyweight Championship Match: John Cena vs. Edge. Backlash — April 26, 2009.
- WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. Triple H. WrestleMania 22 — April 2, 2006.
- Career Match: John Cena vs. Triple H. RAW — October 19, 2009.
- Career Moment: John Cena & The Rock Q&A. RAW — March 25, 2013.
- WWE Championship Match: John Cena vs. The Rock. WreslteMania 29 — April 7, 2013.
WWE’s 1080i’s transfer is a mix of various sources, both old, and new, and framed at 1.78:1. Given all of that, the image is quite sharp, and reveals an impressive level of clarity. Close-ups are strong, showing the sweat on the wrestlers. Cena’s colorful apparel is bright and vibrant. Older matches are presented in a 4×3 ratio that preserves the original broadcast appearance. Details and colors vary, with some shots lacking definition. Considering the material, this transfer is fine.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is fairly standard stuff. Interview clips are presented with accuracy, and sonics are solid. Ringside commentary and in-ring dialogue sounds natural, while the older material lacks a bit of clarity. Overall, this track is more than adequate, and on par with what we’ve come to expect from WWE productions.
John Cena’s Greatest Rivalries contains extras on both included Blu-ray discs.
Disc One:
- Behind the Scenes of WWE 2K15 (HD, 2:08) Cena briefly briefly discusses the latest installment of the popular franchise.
Disc Two (labeled as “Blu-ray Exclusives”)
- Underlying Passion: Cena discusses his relationship and rivalry with CM Punk’s pride in wrestling, along with their rivalry.
- Career Match: John Cena vs. CM Punk. RAW — November 23, 2009.
- Trying To Do My Job: Cena further discusses his rivalry with CM Punk.
- Number One Contender’s Match for WWE Championship: John Cena vs. CM Punk. RAW — February 25, 2013.