I Watched The Match John Cena Once Called His Favorite Of All Time, And I Totally Understand His Reason Why

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Professional wrestling, like any other form of entertainment, is a matter of personal opinion. What one person considers a fantastic match, another might dislike, and that’s perfectly normal. Most wrestling fans have a few favorite matches they always stand by, and it seems John Cena, who is nearing retirement, is no different.

I was recently listening to an old interview with the 17-time world champion on the After the Bell podcast from 2020, and he shared his all-time favorite match: The Rock versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18. After hearing his reasoning, it completely makes sense why he loves that exciting WrestleMania match. Here’s why…

In Terms Of Spectacle, Rock Vs. Hogan At WrestleMania 18 Is In A League Of Its Own

Wrestling truly shines when it’s a grand event, and the match between The Rock and Hulk Hogan was exactly that. After spending years wrestling for a different company, WCW, this was Hogan’s return to the ring, and it was billed as a huge showdown. Millions of fans worldwide, including the 68,000 people in attendance at the Toronto SkyDome, were incredibly excited to see it. The energetic crowd remained on their feet throughout the entire 16-minute match, making the atmosphere even more thrilling.

In a 2020 podcast interview, John Cena talked about that match, saying the incredible energy from the crowd made it special for everyone – both the wrestlers and the fans watching. He’s right to say that; there are several moments during the match where you can see The Rock and Hulk Hogan looking genuinely surprised by the amazing reaction from the audience.

It’s Not The Best Wrestling Match Of All Time, But It’s So Electric

The match between The Rock and Hulk Hogan isn’t considered a wrestling masterpiece, and there were certainly more technically skilled matches on that same night in March 2002. However, it was incredibly exciting and, thanks to the enthusiastic crowd, delivered a truly unforgettable and entertaining experience.

Everything aligned perfectly for an unforgettable event. With Hogan’s comeback, The Rock at the height of his fame, and a huge crowd, the atmosphere was electric. From Hogan’s entrance music – a throwback to his time in WCW – to the intense face-off and even the post-match hug, the whole thing felt truly magical. Just thinking about it gets me pumped!

Honestly, This Is The Match I Show People When Getting Them Into WWE

When introducing someone to professional wrestling, I don’t start with my personal favorites like intense Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa matches or the PWG Steen Wolf DVD. Instead, I always go with The Rock versus Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18. It’s not necessarily my favorite match, but it’s perfect for newcomers. It features two incredibly famous WWE champions, has exciting wrestling action, tells a compelling story, and is just a really impressive event to watch.

I’ve used this explanation many times – when I was advocating for wrestling as a teen, with skeptical friends in college, when I first met my wife, and more recently trying to get my kids interested. It’s a fantastic way to introduce people to the sport and can open the door to a whole world of wrestling content.

Also, That Double-Turn On The Fly Is One Of The Greatest Wrestling Moments Of All Time

Before their match, Hollywood Hogan was arguably the most hated villain in professional wrestling, constantly trading places with Vince McMahon as the bad guy. Meanwhile, The Rock was a hugely popular hero. Even though The Rock was starting to spend more time pursuing his acting career, he remained one of the company’s biggest stars. It seemed obvious to put Hogan as the villain and The Rock as the hero… but things weren’t quite that simple.

The crowd immediately began cheering for Hogan and jeering Rock, creating one of the most memorable role reversals in WrestleMania history – though the match between “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Bret Hart remains legendary. Sensing the crowd’s reaction, Rock unexpectedly began playing the villain, while Hogan embraced the role of the beloved hero as if it were 1985. Even now, almost 25 years later, it’s incredibly exciting to watch them switch characters like that.

How To Watch Rock Vs. Hogan To See What Cena (And I) Mean

After John Cena discussed Rock versus Hogan, and following my thoughts on it being a fantastic WrestleMania moment, you might want to see it for yourself. Luckily, it’s now very easy to do so.

You can watch the full WrestleMania 18 event on Peacock with a subscription to get a feel for what WWE was like back then—and maybe even get frustrated it wasn’t the main event! If you’re only interested in seeing the match itself and what happened right after, you can find it on the WWE’s YouTube channel.

Stream The Rock. vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 18 on YouTube.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you absolutely need to watch The Rock and Hollywood Hulk Hogan’s iconic match. And even if you have seen it many times before, it’s still worth another viewing!

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2025-11-03 02:11