John Cena United States Championship Open Challenge

By | Bullscore 20 Mar, 2023

John Cena is set to face Austin Theory (current WWE United States Champion) at the Grandest Stage of Them All ‘WrestleMania 39’. But in 2015, John Cena made his US Championship an opportunity to promote new and underdog talent in WWE. John Cena started an open challenge for WWE main locker room and the NXT locker room for US Title Championship Match. Dean Ambrose became the first challenger who face Cena for the US Title. Cena loses it to Kevin Owens in a Champion v/s Champion match which he retained at Money in The Banks 2015 but then The Authority forced Cena to fight Seth Rollins (WWE Champion) in Winner Takes All Match for the Unification of the WWE Championship and US Titles.

It was the time when WWE’s next-gen superstars or underdog superstars like Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Dolph Ziggler gets an opportunity to rise and shine in front of the WWE Universe.

5 Best Challengers of John Cena’s US Title Open Challenge

John Cena’s WWE United States Championship reign was for 147 days before he lost it to Seth Rollins at Summerslam 2015 which Cena retained later at Night of Champions and created a record of becoming a 5-time WWE US Champion. John Cena lost it to Alberto Del Rio in an Open Challenge at Hell in A Cell the same year (in 2015).

Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose answered Cena’s US Open Challenge on Monday Night Raw (March 30, 2015). Cena defeated Ambrose and retained his championship title.

Seth Rollins

On Raw (July 27, 2015), The Authority forced Cena to defend the title against Rollins, which he did successfully. Cena then faced Rollins in a “Winner Takes All” match at SummerSlam 2015 for both the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and the United States Championship, which Cena lost after guest host Jon Stewart attacked him with a steel chair.

Kevin Owens

On Raw (May 18, 2015) NXT Champion Kevin Owens attacked Cena which led to a build-up of their match at Elimination Chamber, 2015 which owens won but then Cena retained his title in a rematch at Money in The Banks, 2015.

Cesaro

Cesaro answered John Cena’s US Title Open Challenge on Monday Night Raw (June 29, 2015). Cena defeated Cesaro and retained his championship.

Rusev

From winning the WWE US Title from Rusev at WrestleMania 31 to fighting in an ‘I Quit Match’ at Payback 2015. Rusev faced his first loss in the main roaster at the hands of Cena at WM 31 which led their rivalry to continue and it ended on Payback when Rusev quits and Cena was declared the winner of the match.