Edge and John Cena had arguably the greatest rivalry in the Ruthless Aggression Era. Both men took each other to newer heights with their legendary battles over the WWE and World Heavyweight Championship.
Cena is one of the most polarizing figures in WWE history whose ascension was complete at WrestleMania 21 when he defeated John Bradshaw Layfield for his first WWE Title. That same night, the Rated-R Superstar won the Money in the Bank Ladder match which guaranteed him a future World Championship opportunity.
Moreover, Cena and Edge's rivalry has the traditional babyface and heel dynamics with both getting the upper hand on the other. This rivalry shaped both men's careers in one of the most exciting feuds in WWE history.
12 New Year's Revolution 2006
A bloody and battered John Cena outlasted five superstars inside the Elimination Chamber at New Year's Revolution 2006 to retain the WWE Championship. However, Cena's night was far from over. WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon stood on top of the ramp and instructed for the Chamber to be raised and told no one to leave their seats.
McMahon announced that Edge would be cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. The Rated-R Superstar shocked the world by taking advantage of a less than 100% functioning Cena to becoming WWE Champion for the first time in his career with a devastating Spear.
11 Live Sex Celebration
The following night on Monday Night Raw taking place on January 9, 2006, saw the new WWE Champion Edge delighted with his accomplishment. The Rated-R Superstar took his nickname literally by having a live sex celebration with Lita.
Lita revealed that she did not want to do the raunchy segment, but she felt that she would have been fired if she refused. Nevertheless, Ric Flair interfered and Edge, who was partially clothed, got up and assaulted Flair with a devastating con-chair-to on the announce table. Ultimately, Cena arrived and chased Edge who ran up the aisle, leaving Lita on the own in the bed with Cena delivering a patented Attitude Adjustment on her.
10 Royal Rumble 2006
Finally, Edge and Cena had their high-profile meeting at the 2006 Royal Rumble with the Ultimate Opportunist desperate not to be a transitional champion. His WWE Championship was on the line with Cena hellbent on regaining the title.
This match is often overlooked in their feud as they went on to have better matches, but it was still a solid match that had a great story behind it. Lita tried to interfere on Edge's behalf, but it was to no avail with Cena planting Edge with his patented Attitude Adjustment and forced Edge to submit to the STF with Cena once again the WWE Champion.
9 Backlash 2006
At WrestleMania 22, both Cena and Edge prevailed in their respective bouts. Edge defeated Mick Foley in a violent Hardcore match, and Big Match John retained the WWE Title against Triple H in his first WrestleMania main event.
Backlash 2006 saw Cena defend the WWE Championship in a competitive triple threat match against Edge and Triple H. However, Edge was unable to wrestle the WWE Championship away from Cena with Cena retaining, but The Game got the laugh last by laying out both men with his trademark sledgehammer.
8 ECW One Night Stand 2006
Cena was involved in the second-ever Money in the Bank cash-in at ECW One Night Stand 2006 when Rob Van Dam announced that he would cash-in against Cena at his old stomping ground. The Hammerstein Ballroom gave Cena a hostile reception with Big Match John throwing his top into the crowd, which got dashed straight back to him.
This was arguably the highlight in RVD's WWE career which should have happened years earlier. A disguised figure later to be revealed as Edge speared Cena through the table. Fans chanted "Thank You Edge!" with RVD seizing the opportunity by landing a jaw-dropping Five-Star Splash on a prone Cena for his first WWE Championship.
7 RAW (July 3, 2006)
WWE's Wellness Policy was in full swing in the summer of 2006 and Rob Van Dam was one of the first high-profile casualties to serve a 30-day suspension. Alas, RVD defended the WWE Championship against Edge and Cena in a triple threat encounter on the July 3, 2006 edition of Raw.
This is one of the most underrated triple threat WWE Title matches which is often forgotten since it took place on Raw. Nonetheless, Cena came close to regaining the WWE Title after planting RVD with his AA but Edge intercepted by nailing Cena flush in the face with the WWE Championship. In turn, Edge pinned Cena for his second WWE Championship reign.
6 Hotel Room Assault/Edge Slaps Cena's Dad
Edge celebrated his second WWE Championship reign in style on the July 10, 2006, edition of Raw by spending it with Lita in a hotel room. However, Edge had an uninvited guest when Cena knocked on the door, and viciously beat up Edge by shoving food into his face and hit him in the head with the WWE Title.
On the Raw before SummerSlam 2006, Edge and Lita paid a visit to John Cena's father's house and they had a mini-tour around the house. Ultimately, this skit ended with Edge slapping Cena's dad in the face. Hellbent on revenge, the Cenation leader interfered in Edge's match with Carlito with Edge hightailing it through the crowd.
5 Saturday Night's Main Event 2006
The 33rd edition of Saturday Night's Main Event saw Edge defending the WWE Title against Cena on the road to SummerSlam 2006. Cena dominated large portions of this match and he was poised to win back the WWE Championship.
However, Lita made herself useful at ringside as she sensed that her man's WWE Championship reign was under huge jeopardy. Nevertheless, Cena was victorious by DQ with Lita slapping the referee. Big Match John had the final say as he put Edge through the announce table with a devastating Attitude Adjustment.
4 SummerSlam 2006
There was an added caveat in Edge's latest WWE Championship clash with Cena at SummerSlam 2006. The Rated-R Superstar's shenanigans finally caught up with him as he would lose the WWE Title if he got himself intentionally disqualified.
This match captivated the fans as it was held in Cena's hometown of Boston. Both men delivered a high-level match which ebbed and flowed. Consequently, Edge pleaded with Lita to not get him disqualified but she proved to be resourceful as she handed Edge a pair of brass knuckles which he clocked Cena in the back of the head with to retain the WWE Championship.
3 Unforgiven 2006
An emotional Edge received a hero's welcome in Toronto at Unforgiven 2006 when his WWE Championship was hanging in the balance in his specialty a TLC match against John Cena. Cena was used to hostile crowds as he was booed by fans in the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Cena and Edge put on an outstanding TLC match with both men taking a huge number of bumps. Ultimately, Big Match John prevailed by sending Edge crashing through the tables with an Attitude Adjustment, and thus his longest WWE Championship reign at 380 days began.
2 WrestleMania XXV
At No Way Out 2009, Edge captured the World Heavyweight Championship under dubious circumstances after dropping the WWE Title in the first Elimination Chamber match. Surprisingly, Edge and Cena never had a one-on-one outing on the Grandest Stage of Them All but they had a triple threat match also involving Big Show at WrestleMania XXV.
This match did not click, and they were unfortunate to be positioned straight after the five-star epic between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. Nevertheless, Cena showed his strength by putting both Edge and Big Show on his shoulders with Cena regaining the World Heavyweight Championship.
1 Backlash 2009
The score was finally settled at Backlash 2009 with Edge and John Cena's best match together happened in a Last Man Standing match for Cena's World Heavyweight Championship. This match encapsulates how great both men are as storytellers.
Cena and Edge utilized their surroundings brilliantly with Big Match John throwing Edge into the crowd with an Attitude Adjustment. Ultimately, the two brawled at the top of the stage with Big Show interfering in proceedings. Big Show Chokeslammed Cena into a spotlight with the Rated-R Superstar capturing his ninth World Heavyweight Title at Cena's expense that signaled the end of an excellent feud explosively.