Once in a Lifetime: The Feud between John Cena and The Rock

John Cena and The Rock's feud was pretty enjoyable. I was entertained and sure some of Cena's statements were a bit repetitive, but the promos in themselves were just good. I really loved their WrestleMania 28 main event. In my eyes, The Rock and John Cena delivered a classic that would've been so memorable had they never had the sequel. In this video, I cover the heated Once in a Lifetime feud between John Cena and The Great One, The Rock. If you enjoyed this video then make sure you like, share and subscribe!
Topics included in this video
The Rock finally makes his return in 2011
John Cena responds to the Great One's statements
The top guys of their generations make the match official for WrestleMania 28
John Cena and The Rock team up at Survivor Series
Cena delivers verbal jabs to the Great One
Both men confront one another
The Rock and John Cena finally face off at WrestleMania 28
My Twitter: / wreslingpremier
Link: www.wrestling101.com/101/newsi...

[@wrestlingspremier]

Enjoyable feud. Looking back, they shouldn't have done the sequel. The buildup and the match were just awesome only for them to ruin it with the sequel. I mean it's obvious why they did the 2nd one but still. What did you think of this feud?

[@BigRion16]

i liked it

[@babarazamsucks]

WrestlingsPremier 🤓🤓🤓Yeah I agree with you that they shouldn’t have done the sequel. Whenever people talk about these two guys wrestle at or watch them wrestle at WrestleMania, it’s always the first match. Even the casual fans unlike the hardcore fans like me.😎😎😎

[@devincavanaugh4413]

The main evint of wm 29 should had cm punk vs the rock vs john cena

[@stxppa7481]

Bro finally I've been requesting this for the longest

[@playboicarti1736]

The one and only wrestling premier is here baby

[@socialistbatman1211]

The difference between Cena becoming a part-timer and The Rock is that Cena was pushing 40 and didn’t leave for years in his prime. He gave pretty much the entirety of his adult life to the business

[@jaimonjohn2516]

Or is it cause the Marine & 12 rounds flopped

[@x-man9473]

No. The Rock was actually a big star and had more money in Hollywood. Why would he be full time with WWE while he's making all of that money in a different brand. No one would give that up.

[@darkprince6543]

Bruh cena is trying to copy the rock lol . I think he's jealous

[@jcplays3842]

@@darkprince6543 Why would he be jealous? What Cena is doing the most logical step in his life. With the skills a pro-wrestlers have acting in shows and movies is the closest thing to that while not have to be as physically demanding. I’m surprised we don’t see more wrestlers become actors.

[@mrpassley2307]

@@jaimonjohn2516 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@marnelo6501]

About John Cena being a part timer: He left to Hollywood past his prime and carried the company through a tough time, from beggining to end of the PG era. Worked night in and night out for almost 15 years. The Rock left as soon as he became famous...

[@thestickiestman]

The Rock left for Hollywood in 2004 which was way past his Attitude Era Prime.

[@FurdgeBJJ]

@@thestickiestman the rock only spent 7 years in the wwe

[@JokersVsZombies]

And?

[@zk3212]

@@thestickiestman Cena is what carried wwe INTO the tough time.

[@lightskinnedlarry728]

@@zk3212 Chris Benoit did that

[@JMArt909]

WWE: this is a once in a life time Also WWE: There is another

[@shingetsuernestakujo6343]

Stone cold: and another what another what another what another what another what another what another what another what another what another what another what another what another what another

[@jte1407]

That WrestleMania 28 match really did feel special. I’ve got nothing but fond memories of that build and match. But then the stuff at 29 happened and it just tarnished the ‘Once in a Lifetime’ thing bigtime.

[@dubbyu4286]

I felt like Cena should've won the first match looking back. The rock didn't need the win anyways.

[@JMArt909]

The match at WM 29 was more memorable than the once in a lifetime match at WM 28

[@machiavelli8379]

Should’ve been Punk vs Cena or Punk vs the Rock

[@jte1407]

@@machiavelli8379 I 1000% agree. I would've had Punk vs Taker built much better and have those 2 main event. Unless you'd want to do the Punk vs Cena vs Rock 3 way, or Punk vs Cena.

[@georgey5027]

@KayfabeCandyass fam he went on to be full time for atleast next 4 years, he did need to win that lmao

[@bealgates8594]

I just noticed Cena went to a black shirt after the fruity pebbles comment lol 😂

[@obiedashinobi1322]

Same

[@opinionatedWrestling]

If that was a deliberate part of the story, that is genius

[@cjvaye99]

Worst thing he could of done. I'm glad he eventually embraced it and actually went on to be on the cover of fruity pebbles.

[@bealgates8594]

@@cjvaye99 it worked tho

[@_nrahman]

Nah he went to red, then black

[@VERDICTInsanity]

This was the perfect time for Cena to turn heel, The Rock did it for Hogan and I think Cena should have played the heel for this feud

[@djtrankilo231]

The Rock didn't turn heel till after his first bout with Hogan

[@brucemcelroye5054]

John Cena was making too much money on merchandise to be turned heel

[@Johnny1672._]

@@brucemcelroye5054 I bet the rock was making alot of money on merchandise but he still turned heel It would've been a lot better if john cena would've turned heel

[@The-Endo-SymArmor]

@@Johnny1672._ John Cena was the Heel in that feud lol

[@Johnny1672._]

@@The-Endo-SymArmor but he was still face after the fued It would've been better if he was a heel after the fued He should've attack the rock after the match

[@tayshunsmith2020]

Remember the rock vs John cena at wrestlemania 28 in Miami

[@Kiernanglynn20]

Tayshun Smith yes

[@rajbhargaw6]

Thanks for the reminder...i thought the video is about the same topic you mentioned but thnks

[@DevinOneBeing]

No I'll look it up

[@michaelparksjr.2124]

This was and still is the biggest match in history. The build was amazing and the match at 28 was awesome and had us on the edge of our seats.

[@fuckthepolice.9410]

Really Rock vs Hogan was pretty big, the crowd was nuts and I think it was just a little bit bigger as far as hype and historic value. They really worked the crowd in that one...

[@keymuandreabdallah7131]

How about HBK vs undertaking WM 25 AND 26 WAS GREAT

[@rox297]

@@fuckthepolice.9410 Bruh it was very big and had Big historic Value, but if we compare it to rock vs cena(I) , They were close, but rock vs cena was bigger and about being The Biggest match Ever In history, those 2 are not close

[@rox297]

not even close, there are Way better matches

[@rox297]

@@keymuandreabdallah7131 Ye it was

[@orlandoperez1616]

This was probably the last box office feud WWE ever had.

[@Adamame93]

Funny looking back at this feud and watching John in Hollywood. He even admitted in recent interviews about how he’s more understanding about the Rock’s schedule.

[@kameronjackson9626]

Ut is a difference tho

[@DJBlack909]

The match was Once In A Lifetime. And it should have stayed that way. The sequel tarnished the prestige of the match that is supposed to be “Once In A Lifetime”

[@harrydukes9667]

I loved this feud, and it was a personal dream feud of mine. The Rock is my #1 favorite of all time, and I grew up in the Ruthless Aggression era as a huge Cena fan. Couldn't really ask for more at the time.

[@jonathankperalta]

7:58 don’t you mean the corporate elbow

[@OhSoNasty]

Can you do the first vs second half of the ruthless aggression era and what is better

[@jonahdelin2370]

Late reply, but the first half is leagues ahead of the second half right? Could be wrong tho

[@ratedrpsychopath3402]

This was a great rivalry, Two Mega stars from the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression fighting. This was a dream match

[@rae6338]

As a kid I didn't care that "once in life" became "twice in a life" I was just happy Cena got his win back 😂😂😂. But now that I look back at it I still don't care 😂😂 Cena got his win back

[@tommycravens3273]

I remember my senior year in high school. This feud was all my friends wanted to talk about. Half of us were team cena. Half were team rock. I really enjoyed this feud great times

[@savagebeast4063]

The rock always has the biggest matches of all time because first it was the rock vs austin wm 17 then rock vs hogan wm 18 and then rock vs john cena wm 28 and all of them were highly anticipated and delivered

[@Annoitedpastorlewiswalkin]

my fued right here remember watching this whe i was 5 my hero john cena vs my one of my big brother favourite wrestlers the rock

[@Ahmad-fh8vb]

Same this had a huge big fight feel I mean the papers were every where

[@walterdbrown]

Of course Cena's your hero if you were 5 back then lol.

[@who7950]

Waltdood that was back then though, people change throughout and have new favorites

[@uainjansun]

@Roku Go Stupid when I was 3-5 edge was my hero as well even as a heel

[@mico5536]

@@walterdbrown problem?

[@guess6635]

From someone who saw this whole build up from February of 2011 and was attending WM 28, just want to say that the moment the bell rung got one of the biggest pops of the night since it was completely official by that point with one having to be the winner. One of the best nights of my life and just a great feud with Two Larger than life Characters..... something we really haven't gotten since.

[@patrickbateman8117]

I’ve got a idea about a video how about “a million dollar move: the Prime Time Players. Nobody has done this video and the Prime time Players are barely noticed by fans now

[@liamversionone6491]

Great idea mate.

[@JMArt909]

Idk why but the prime time players just reminds me of cryme tyme ngl

[@UncleYakuza]

Queso_jesus kinda, Chryme time was more thug

[@zwebackshyper9307]

i was 12 when this whole feud took place and i was always team cena and i always will be i know people love to hate on him because he's successful but hes always worked harder than anyone else and was there every night he deserves all the success he's gotten

[@Jags4Life]

Must be nice to get everything handed to you unlike Jeff who actually outsold John who just got to popular to contain

[@Markus-tt1px]

@@Jags4Life well jeff couldn't stay off the drugs

[@noahp1124]

Never forget they marketed it once in a lifetime knowing damn well there would be a rematch AND teased a third one on raw and never delivered on it

[@MikeJr9284]

Once in a Lifetime? More like Twice in a Lifetime.

[@georgey5027]

You know whats more annoying, the amount of time people write this same shit in every comment section

[@M1CHA3L22]

Cena54Chaingang you know what’s more annoying, when someone talks about their opinion but we didn’t ask

[@georgey5027]

@@M1CHA3L22 whos we?

[@mattmk476]

@@georgey5027 me & Cyan crewmate

[@bijanarmstrong318]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE FEUDS IN THE WWE, I LOVE BOTH MATCHES AND THE SEGMENTS LEADING UP TO THEM 🔥

[@stillwaiting6037]

The first one was good and had a great build up but second one was terrible from the match to the building

[@abrahamarias4069]

To be fair John cena comes back way more than the rock does

[@rajbhargaw6]

The Rock is still a better entertainer thn cena

[@killinghawkz]

Do you know how many times the rock returned? Stupidity

[@mico5536]

@@rajbhargaw6 nope

[@djtrankilo231]

I don't think Cena's movie schedule has reached The Rock's yet when it comes to roles.

[@djtrankilo231]

Plus, The Rock has other projects besides movies.

[@billa107]

Once in a Lifetime felt so damn personal and it felt HUGE. But sometimes it felt like Rock was holding back or letting Cena win in promos. And he never made the one point that there wouldn’t have been a John Cena if The Rock had never left to Hollywood.

[@FurdgeBJJ]

Mad facts He should have dropped that line

[@darkprince6543]

I mean it's true lol

[@horoom1930]

He couldnt use the language he once used in the attitude era so he had to hold back and he isn’t used to that

[@sidaliallouche7037]

Well Brock Lesnar made that point in his promo segment with Cena for that extreme rules match in 2012 (the best match of their rivalry in my opinion)

[@oogabooga9985]

I felt like since cena was so desperate to win at WrestleMania 28 he could’ve done something detestable marking the start of a heel cena

[@rymeergocrazy5312]

I love this channel and content worth my subscribe 😂 but good grind

[@valerievaladez8222]

When this fued happened I was 5 so I didn't realize how important these two facing off was. But now I realize how important it was to WWE fans

[@shreyanshsharma8909]

After rewatching both matches, I think that both of the matches were great. If someone watches the WM 29 match first, it will hit so different. Performance-wise, WM 29 was better, storytelling-wise, WM 28 was better.

[@mattholt2451]

Nah WM match was better

[@stxppa7481]

Bro finally I've been requesting this for the longest

[@dariandavid9437]

Would've expected the sequel in the same video but nevertheless thank you for covering the once in a lifetime match up. I was 12 and it's nostalgia for me to have seen those icons go head to head. As my dad was a Rock fan, I was a Cena fan and that match was the only one we ever sat and watched together. Thanks again for the memories.

[@georgey5027]

And he wasn't gone in 2016, he was gone in 2018.

[@UFAPAN199X]

Why don’t you do the full Rock vs Austin rivalry. A lot of people only care for their 3 WM matches but those guys had a lot of classic encounters

[@DreDreXXIV]

Let me find out they snitching for violating wellness policy...my god that’s sad

[@roccosantiago8238]

Wrestlemania 29 should’ve been Cena Rock and Punk or just Cena and Punk 1v1

[@HeadShotBoy_123]

Agreed

[@Xehanort10]

In this feud Cena came off as a whiny heel begging the crowds to like and cheer him. "I'm at every show so I care therefore you should cheer me" was his logic. They'd repeat the same storyline in the Reigns vs Lesnar and Rollins vs Lesnar feuds with Reigns and Rollins in Cena's place.

[@robotmafia000]

Cena was legendary on the mic. A lot of wrestlers nowadays pale in comparison to his promo skills

[@FurdgeBJJ]

Facts it’s the reason why I’m fine with the rematch because I loved the promo for their second match

[@hurricaneparro2464]

The Rock ending Wrestlemania 27 by standing tall was a burial of The Miz tbh

[@terrancegallemore6864]

It was a great feud and you can they even in some of there promos they went off script and got personal when they both was taken shots at each other made the feud some more personal

[@georgey5027]

Bruh I LOVE your content bro im about to enjoy this

[@sibusharma9779]

i know lot of people disagree but imo cena should've won that match.he was seriously more dedicated to wwe then rock. rock was full timer for what 5 or 6 years but cena was full timer for 14 years.

[@westbronco9066]

Exactly and if Cena won the 1st match there would be no need for the 2nd match. Which means we could’ve gotten Punk vs Cena at WM 29 instead

[@soyjeffe__]

Cena was 100% right though, he said what you all complain about most today. “This isn’t just something you should come back to when there isn’t anything else going on in your life”

[@extremeking425]

Wait Evan Bourne snitched on Truth? That’s funny because the same thing happened to him in Japan 5 years later 😂

[@p1erkhes411]

Karma

[@SunshineStateCoasters]

I think next video should be for you to finish The Legacy trilogy!! Loved those videos!

[@fizzyfuzz5878]

You can’t hold it too much against The Rock being part time. You’d do the same thing if you got the Hollywood opportunities. He put in his time. Vince is the one that let his contract expire at the end of 2004

[@jordanhutton5787]

Vince was betting on him failing in Hollywood

[@nicholassiple7838]

Great feud and I was glad to see the Rock go over in the match while returning the favor in their rematch.

[@divendughati6114]

@WrestlingsPremier what about the next video on "The rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin" or "Vengeance 2003".

[@Xehanort10]

5:49 Looking back this is hypocritical because now Cena's an actor. But at least he finally understands that people don't have to be wrestlers until they retire or die and it doesn't mean they've "betrayed and abandoned" wrestling if they do. That's just a weird cult like mindset WWE's brainwashed some people with.

[@eddierobinson1167]

man this was when I was so invested like I think I was like 10 or 9 or sum but the build for this match was so hype for this match and at the time I wasn’t so familiar with the rock but that didn’t matter to me I was just so hyped for this match and wrestlemania as a whole

[@shyrickman3289]

You never miss with these videos man 💯

[@seleakhigbe4773]

This was literally greatness!

[@tayshunsmith2020]

Once in a lifetime fun we are young

[@kingnick2651]

Plz do one of the year they both had following this and their build up to the rematch etc 🤙🏻💪🏼

[@Slice2099]

It’s so weird now how John Cena is becoming a big actor in Hollywood he’s a part timer and he was talking about the rock 10 years ago

[@KailumAsylum]

WrestlingsPremier is here!

[@Neg44]

Can’t believe you said it didn’t have a good build up it was perfect to me especially being a kid at the time

[@pravy555]

Fruity Pebbles vs Tooth Fairy 😭

[@Texan45]

The promo bit where Rock said "rip your throat out", the story I heard is Rock was legit pissed and forgot his lines, so he made most of it up. The problem is, his made-up promo was so bad that the entire next segment from John was unplanned. John apparently made the whole next promo part up because Rock's promo was so sloppy he lost the crowd.

[@CARL_093]

the very momorable moment is the survivor series awesome truth vs the rock and john cena

[@BigRion16]

you should review the whole show of wrestlemania 28

[@josiahday9740]

Another banger video

[@playboicarti1736]

The one the only wrestling premier is here baby

[@Ykwhat75]

Plz for your next video do the 2002 year of wwf/e I love your videos bro

[@aakarshdhurve785]

17:02 U missed something When rock said u strip away catchphrases, cena interrupted with “ if u strip away then what ya got “

[@seandaniels7938]

You should do the throwback episode of raw that happened around this time I just remember it well cuz George Steele was there before he passed and he was actually my mom's high school gym teacher in Detroit

[@projectivy1497]

Not gonna lie he is probably the best wrestling channel. Like his thumbnails are the best on KZbin

[@oogabooga9985]

He should’ve turned heel after losing like how he said 2012 was his worst year he could’ve been driven crazy by the loss and have been the top heel on raw and face brock like he did

[@klyodog9980]

Can you do Finn Balor’s main roster run

[@aakash950]

He never had a run end of Finn balor on main roaster

[@evangoh4893]

wrestling premire could you do a video about what you think about daniel bryans face and heel and which one do you think daniel bryan is good at

[@Tbmlarry39]

Yo the commentary on this one 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Mr-mu8gc]

This is also my Top 10 favorite Main Events also

[@Ecool27]

do a teddy long comp of him telling ppl he is going to face DA UNDATAKA or do History of Shawn Michaels Special Guest Referee

[@davidaames1624]

That rise above hate t-shirt was awesome. Hate him or love him everything about John cena was inspiring...even when he lost he somehow won.

[@Makoto03]

I loved this fued. The year long build and promos between the two were epic. I was firmly on Team Cena though. lol

[@jordandennis6794]

This was the last mega feud

[@thetrollingcenter4608]

Still can’t figure why WWE never made Hulk Hogan vs John Cena Dream Match

[@conor-_C]

cause he was too old when cena was top

[@BlaxkSun]

Really think, they really wanted John Cena to stand there and get verbally abused by the Rock and not say nothing.

[@Xehanort10]

Yeah the original plan was to have Cena do his self righteous "rise above hate" shit and not respond to Rock. Even though Cena ignoring people and acting like he's better than them isn't rising above hate. It's being passive aggressive.

[@calum2324]

You should do more WCW stuff like the LWO

[@vjwebb6182]

Can you do a video on survivor series 2011 please ?

[@chefboydeaner]

bro our peaks of watching wrestling run concurrent. i was watching in the late 2000s and early 2010s and took a break in the fall of 2011. i feel like we’re in a simulation or something🤣🤣🤣

[@clairvoyant19]

I wished The Rock continued his Hollywood gimmick on this feud. It would be interesting and funny!

[@MungasaurusBravo69420]

The rematch should have been a triple threat with rock, cena and cm punk, with cena pinning the rock after hitting punk with a chair and AA to rock, it would have worked for everyone, the rock gets his last match and movie promotion, cena gets his win over the rock and cm punk gets his long awaited wrestlemania main event, plus the finish sort of turns cena heel for the upcoming feud with cm punk Cm Punk the next year could of still faced the undertaker and possibly beat the streak if anyone was gonna do it, but all those ideas i mentioned make too much sense so wwe would have ignored them

[@davidaames1624]

He told Bryan Danielson that he looked like what would happen if a homeless lumberjack and umpa lumpa had sex...I remember being on floor laughing. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lm_ls4590]

their match at wrestlemania 28 was amazing, top 10 best mainevent match in wrestlemania history

[@brycegadson3370]

I'm not going to lie but Cena was the heel of the fued. But as much it would have been interesting. But to me it's hard to see him as heel because he has been a face far so long.

[@markmagician2471]

I already knew Rock would win because Cena was always banged up espically before the big 4 PPVs.

[@PhilMiCoochie]

I don't think you made any of those videos you said you were going to make for June

[@rileycrowder2881]

Can you do the story of Evolution

[@kevenpineda8888]

I would like a wrestlemania 25 video

[@georgey5027]

Nice shots at cena ''burying'' people by the way

[@JohnCena2011]

2nd one didn't need to happen at all. they could have just given cena the win during the 1st one and been done with it

[@keoncarr129]

2012 was the worst year of John Cena's career after he lost to the rock but 2013 john cena had a chance to bounce back by winning the 2013 Royal Rumble and getting redemption at WrestleMania 29 against The Rock only this time for the WWE Championship and won

[@jrod132]

I think Cena's worst year was 2008 he lost most of the PPVs well except Royal Rumble and Survivor Series

[@imanassholedealwithit.4924]

Lmao at mgk getting boo'd

[@KailumAsylum]

You should cover Mick Foley and his match with the Undertaker at King of the Ring if you haven’t already

[@atomicjaguar445]

This Fued was memorable. But the wrestlemaina 29 was just a finsher unlitemed match

[@The-Endo-SymArmor]

I love unlimited finishers

[@JokersVsZombies]

There's so much irony in the feud in hindsight.

[@tayshunsmith2020]

I was 12 years old

[@vladdascalescu]

We went from this to nowadays WWE and AEW crap they are feeding the people, in the space of like, what, a decade? Yes, it wasn't the most technical gifted match, in history, not even close, but it told a story and had 2 great larger than life characters, love them or not. Some people would call them sellouts, Hollywood wannabies, Chinese sellouts etc. but those guys were great ambassadors for WWE and the wrestling industry, in general.