WWE Crowns John Cena’s Heel Turn as Top Moment of 2025

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WWE has officially released their Top 25 Moments of 2025, with John Cena’s shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber earning the #1 spot.

The list, posted to WWE’s YouTube channel on December 21, highlights the biggest storylines and surprises that defined an unforgettable year for WWE.

Here’s the complete countdown:

1. John Cena Turns Heel – Cena’s February turn at Elimination Chamber in Toronto saw him align with The Rock and brutally attack Cody Rhodes after winning the chamber match. The attack included a groin kick and Cena using Rhodes’ Rolex watch as brass knuckles, leaving the champion bloodied. Cena later admitted the turn was done purely for “shock value” with no long-term plan.
2. Seth Rollins Cashes in MITB – Rollins won the Money in the Bank briefcase on June 7 and successfully cashed in to dethrone CM Punk as World Heavyweight Champion, solidifying “The Vision” faction alongside Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker.
3. John Cena Wins 17th Championship – At WrestleMania 41, Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to capture his record-tying 17th world title, matching Ric Flair’s legendary mark.
4. Jey Uso Defeats GUNTHER – In an emotional WrestleMania 41 moment on April 19, Jey Uso won his first world title by making GUNTHER tap out to a sleeper hold. Twin brother Jimmy presented him the belt following the victory.
5. AJ Lee Returns – After a decade away from WWE, AJ Lee returned on SmackDown September 5. She competed at Wrestlepalooza alongside husband CM Punk and in WarGames at Survivor Series, working a limited part-time schedule.
6. Seth Rollins Aligns with Paul Heyman – At WrestleMania 41, Paul Heyman shocked the world by betraying both CM Punk and Roman Reigns, helping Rollins win a triple threat match and forming “The Vision” stable.
7. Rhea Ripley Reclaims Women’s Championship – On RAW’s historic Netflix debut in January, Ripley recaptured the Women’s World Championship in one of several major moments from the streaming premiere.
8. John Cena’s Farewell – On December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington D.C., Cena’s in-ring career ended with a submission loss to GUNTHER via sleeper hold.
9. Damian Priest Launches Finn Bálor Through Table – A brutal moment in the ongoing Judgment Day storyline that saw Priest send his former ally through the furniture.
10. The Rock and Roman Reigns on RAW Netflix Debut – A star-studded segment featuring two of WWE’s biggest names highlighted the first RAW on Netflix.
11. Liv Morgan Returns at Survivor Series – The former champion made her comeback at the November premium live event.
12. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber – A brutal non-sanctioned match that nearly closed the show before Cena’s heel turn, featuring Randy Orton’s return to attack Owens.
13. Naomi Cashes in MITB – After winning the briefcase on June 7, Naomi cashed in at Evolution on July 14, defeating IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat for her first singles title since 2017.
14. Bron Breakker Pins CM Punk in WarGames – A significant victory for the rising star in the chaotic cage match.
15. Tiffany Stratton Cashes in MITB – On January 3 during the first three-hour SmackDown, Stratton shocked the world by turning on Nia Jax and cashing in her briefcase, ending a nearly seven-year drought of SmackDown cash-ins.
16. The Vision Turns on Seth Rollins – A betrayal within Rollins’ own faction added another twist to the storyline.
17. Brock Lesnar Returns – The Beast returned at SummerSlam in a controversial moment, interrupting John Cena’s farewell speech following his loss to Cody Rhodes.
18. Maxxine Dupri Defeats Becky Lynch for IC Championship – Dupri captured the Intercontinental Championship in an upset victory.
19. IYO SKY Dives Off WarGames Cage – A death-defying leap with a trash can over her head at Survivor Series created one of the year’s most spectacular visual moments.
20. Bron Breakker Spears iShowSpeed – At Royal Rumble on February 1, Breakker’s devastating spear on the popular streamer generated over 300 million social media views and 49.6 million views in just 12 hours, becoming the most-watched Royal Rumble clip ever.
21. The Hardy Boyz Win NXT Tag Championship – The legendary team added another chapter to their storied careers with an NXT title victory.
22. Becky Lynch Returns – The Man made her return to WWE programming in 2025.
23. GUNTHER Retires Goldberg – On July 12 at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta, GUNTHER defeated Goldberg in the WWE Hall of Famer’s official retirement match, earning the “Legend Killer” nickname.
24. Jacob Fatu Dives Off the Cage – The Samoan powerhouse showcased his athleticism with a high-risk dive from the cage structure.
25. Omos Manhandles Microman – A David vs. Goliath moment featuring the towering Omos and the diminutive Microman.

The comprehensive list showcases a year defined by shocking heel turns, historic championship reigns, major returns, and WWE’s successful transition to Netflix. John Cena appeared in three of the top eight moments, cementing his retirement tour as a focal point of 2025 despite its controversial execution.