Ever since WWE became a global phenomenon in the world of professional wrestling, not many rivalries can claim to have drawn worldwide fan recognition like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and John Cena. Through their charisma, in-ring ability, and stardom, they left their generation-defining marks on WWE.
The Rock appeared at a transitioning time during WWE’s Attitude Era of the late 1990s to establish himself as an unmatched performer in sports entertainment history. On the other hand, after his debut in WWE in 2002, Cena carried the company for over a decade.
These superstars met later in one of the most anticipated battles in WWE history that went beyond the boundaries of TV programming. Today, both have used their performing skills to expand into Hollywood and make a great fortune. Let’s explore and compare different metrics of both WWE superstars.
John Cena vs. The Rock: Height and weight
The official website of WWE reveals that Dwyane ‘The Rock’ Johnson reaches 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) in height, whereas John Cena stands at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters), which gives The Great One an additional stature.
However, the total weight difference remains insignificant. The Rock stands at 260 pounds and carries 9 pounds more weight than Cena, who is at 251 pounds. Although 9 pounds between them might be small, it becomes crucial during power moves in professional wrestling since every physical advantage counts.
These physical differences aside, the two wrestlers maintain remarkable physical strength as well as muscular build. Cena has easily lifted every giant during his time in WWE, while The Rock impressed everyone with his presence and explosive moves.
John Cena vs. The Rock: WWE achievements
The WWE achievements of these two superstars make them absolute legends throughout history. So far, John Cena has earned 16 world championship titles (13 WWE and 3 World Heavyweight), which matches the legendary record of Ric Flair. Cena is also a 5-time United States champion and 4-time Tag Team champion.
Through his WWE and WCW/World careers, respectively, The Rock has secured 10 different world title wins (8 WWE and 2 WCW/World titles). Besides being a 2-time Intercontinental champion, he holds 5 Tag Team Championship titles.
Cena has won the Royal Rumble twice, once in 2008 and once in 2013, whereas The Rock won it once in 2000. Both WWE superstars have headlined many PLEs throughout their careers. However, Cena has headlined WrestleMania five times, whereas The Rock has headlined it six times.
Cena achieved the longest championship reign of the 2000s by carrying the WWE Championship for 380 days from 2006 through 2007. He has also fulfilled more than 650 wishes from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which makes him stand out as the most charitable WWE superstar.
On the other hand, The Rock established himself as WWE’s first third-generation superstar, following his grandfather Peter Maivia, and father Rocky Johnson. WWE recently acknowledged his contribution by inducting his name into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024.
The Rock vs. John Cena: Head-to-head comparison
In 2008, Cena ignited their rivalry through comments criticizing The Rock for leaving WWE to start an acting career, stating the former champion never actually loved professional wrestling. After a 7-year absence, The Rock made his surprise Raw comeback in February 2011, starting a heated exchange that culminated in their historic match.
The Rock interfered with Cena’s title defense against The Miz at WrestleMania 27, which made him lose. The match between The Rock and John Cena took place officially as the main event at WrestleMania 28 on April 1, 2012. Although most believed Cena would win as he was an active performer then, The Rock won after a lengthy 30-minute match that broke all PPV records. Their rematch happened at WrestleMania 29, and Cena defeated The Rock to capture the championship title.
Their last collision happened at WrestleMania 40 when Cena came to protect Cody Rhodes from The Bloodline, and The Rock surprised him with a Rock Bottom. However, their current dynamics have changed after the heel turn of Cena, as both have seemingly teamed up against Rhodes.
Top 10 Moments From John Cena and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Legendary Rivalry From WrestleMania 28
Neither performer can declare superiority in head-to-head stats against each other due to their equal record of one win each.
Dwayne Johnson vs. John Cena’s filmography
Dwayne Johnson launched his acting career when he played the Scorpion King role in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, before getting his own sequel film. Now, he stands as a leading actor in Hollywood who has led big-budget productions and franchises like Fast & Furious, Jumanji, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, San Andreas, Red One, and so on. Johnson’s acting career has flourished between his action films and his comedies, like Central Intelligence.
After starring in The Marine in 2006, John Cena entered mainstream Hollywood acceptance through his performance in Trainwreck in 2015. He has developed an impressive filmography with films like Bumblebee, Blockers, Ferdinand, and the Daddy’s Home series. The entertainment industry continues to choose him more often because of his abilities in both comedy and action films.
The two superstars have also shared franchises and cinematic universes. The Rock made his Fast & Furious debut in Fast Five where he played Luke Hobbs, before gaining such acclaim that he created his own Hobbs & Shaw spin-off. After his departure from the franchise, Cena made his entry in F9 as Jakob Toretto.
In the world of DC superheroes, The Rock took on the role of Black Adam in the DCEU, but his future plans were scrapped after the DCU reboot. On the other hand, Cena acted as a Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad, which led to his HBO Max series’ success, and he still continues to be a part of the new DCU.
The Rock leads in Hollywood success due to his longer career in the industry and more high-grossing films. However, he has often been criticized for playing similar stoic, big-guy kinds of characters in most of his films. However, Cena has shown a bit more of his dramatic ability in his limited appearances.
The Rock vs. John Cena: Net worth
Among WWE personalities, The Rock stands second only to Vince McMahon, with a net worth of $800 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He reportedly earned $5.5 million for The Scorpion King and $23.5 million each for Jumanji: The Next Level and Red Notice (via Forbes). As per Puck News, he has gotten $50 million for Red One, which is his highest salary for any role to date.
The Rock boosted his financial resources by creating Seven Bucks Productions along with Teremana Tequila as well as business developments. He officially became a member of TKO Group Holdings’ board in January 2024 following the UFC and WWE merger, where he obtained $30 million worth of TKO stock and recovered the rights of his “The Rock” name.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, John Cena has a net worth of approximately $80 million. He reportedly earns around $8.5 million from WWE annually and is still one of the highest merchandise sellers in the company. He reportedly made around $280,000 for his role in The Marine and earned around $500,000 to $1 million per episode in The Peacemaker.
Cena has diversified his money-making opportunities through publishing book series, including the New York Times bestselling Elbow Grease collection for children, and also inspirational works like Be a Work in Progress.
However, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson holds 10 times more net worth than John Cena, despite Cena being considered one of pro wrestling’s wealthiest performers.
The John Cena vs. The Rock comparison shows the comparison between two of the most celebrated stars in pro wrestling. While The Rock boasts advantages in height, financial success, and Hollywood blockbusters, Cena holds more achievements in WWE and has shown unparalleled commitment to WWE’s fanbase through his charity work.
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