At Survivor Series, John Cena traded blows with several members of Judgment Day. While John Cena was successful in AAing Finn Balor and JD McDonagh, The Never Seen 17 fell victim to Raquel Rodriguez’s Tejana Bomb and Roxanne Perez’s Pop Rocks. However, the most crushing Judgment Day blow to John Cena was Liv Morgan’s return, which prompted her to recreate John Cena’s heel turn by kicking the former IC Champion low and costing him the belt to Dominik Mysterio. That said, John Cena’s Championship runs deep with the brotherhood. Let’s take a look at the strange John Cena-Judgement Day link holding them together.
John Cena-Judgement Day Title Changes
2025 was an up-and-down year for John Cena. On paper, he had a stellar retirement run. John Cena became the first-ever 17-time World Champion, turned heel after decades of being a white meat babyface, and then won the Intercontinental Title for the first time to become a Grand Slam Champion.
As John Cena’s career comes to an end on December 13th, he suffered a crushing loss to Dominik Mysterio. This was the last in what was a long line of John Cena Title losses to Judgment Day members. Let’s take a closer look at the John Cena-Judgment Day connection.
Lost 1st Title Ever to Carlito
John Cena’s first-ever WWE Championship was the United States Title. Just like he was known to do throughout his career, John Cena had an open challenge for his Title.
Newcomer Carlito Caribbean Cool answered the Dr. of Thuganomics’ call. On his first night in WWE, Carlito would defeat John Cena for the US Title. Carlito’s debut victory was John Cena’s first official Title loss in WWE.
Almost 15 years later, Carlito would rejoin WWE and become a member of The Judgment Day. Unfortunately, Carlito’s contract wasn’t renewed earlier this year. The Judgment Day would pay tribute to Carlito for weeks following his departure. They got the last laugh when Dominik Mysterio beat John Cena for the IC Title!
Judgment Day Founder Edge Beat John Cena for the WWE Title
The Judgment Day wouldn’t exist today without Edge. In fact, John Cena probably wouldn’t exist today without Edge, either. That’s why WWE teased Edge so heavily as a mystery contestant in the Last Time Is Now Tournament. However, the speculation over Edge helped make surprise returns like Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler possible.
That said, Edge has made The Judgment Day possible. The Rated R Superstar started the group with Damien Priest and Rhea Ripley in early 2022. However, he was replaced months later by Finn Balor, one of the primary members of the stable today.
Prior to Edge founding The Judgment Day, he was also the first-ever Money in the Bank winner. The Rated R Superstar would become the Ultimate Opportunist at New Year’s Revolution 2026.
Edge would cash in his Money in the Bank contract immediately following John Cena retaining the Title against Carlito and five others in a bloody Elimination Chamber Match. This was not only Edge’s first WWE Title win, but John Cena’s first WWE Title loss.
Loses IC Title to Dirty Dom
The final nail in the John Cena-Judgment Day trifecta happened at this year’s Survivor Series. The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio beat John Cena to win the IC Title.
Like with the US Title and WWE Title, this was John Cena’s first IC Championship loss. So, The Judgment Day has ended the first reign of three different John Cena Championship reigns!