Why John Cena's US Open Challenge Run Was Truly EPIC

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Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the world of WWE, this video is packed with insights and highlights demonstrating why John Cena's US Open Challenge was one of his best runs and a defining moment in Cena's illustrious career. From surprise opponents and thrilling matches to revitalizing the US Championship, Cena's open challenge brought a new level of prestige to the title.
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[@MikeJr9284]

Cena absolutely carried the US title in 2015. He made a midcard title no one cared about feel like a World title.

[@djdarq6311]

Sure bud

[@djdarq6311]

You got the no one cared part right

[@nalday2534]

How about you leave ​@@djdarq6311

[@edouardbeauregard7090]

It was a shame by the manner they made him lose the title. But he made the US title valuable, it was similiar to Gunther with Intercontinental title

[@MisterPeckingOrder]

@@djdarq6311Everyone still remembered this though, and probably will for a while. Looks like only one does not bother to care.

[@mysteryman0216]

One of the reasons this worked for him as well is he treated the title like it was the biggest title of the industry. Lots of big stars that go down to a mid card title see it as a demotion, but he saw it as a way to introduce new stars

[@thenightmaricsenpai524]

"YOU took the US Title as a demotion!" - John Cena to Roman Reigns

[@MoneyGangSHAQ]

I swear I just thought this😂​@@thenightmaricsenpai524

[@marovahauhulh7054]

"DEMOTION!!!!" - some fan ​@@thenightmaricsenpai524

[@ayushkkharwar3213]

😂yeah​@@thenightmaricsenpai524

[@lordasian8476]

A DEMOTION 🗣️🗣️​@@thenightmaricsenpai524

[@maximuskeene8572]

one underrated fact about cena's us title run was that despite being 13 years into his career at the time and being infamous for having a limited moveset, cena added more moves: hurricanrana, sunset flip powerbomb, springboard stunner, etc. to show his versatility and wrestling prowess. after a decade plus, wrestlers usually stick to what they know and do best. it truly felt like a new superstar

[@balamohammed5947]

most of the class of OVW 2002. we're well trained before the call up. Not to mention that some, such as Brock and Sheldon, were highly skilled amateur wrestlers. So it's not that he couldn't do alot of move set, but he was limited because of his size and wrestling persona.

[@iyoushhh]

Cena's this particular reign was highly under-appreciated during it's time. His feuds with KO & Rusev were top-tier. People who appreciate Gunther for elevating the IC title often forget Cena who gave the U.S. title its lost prestige. He deserves his flowers for making that title look important & making him loose it to Alberto was not a right move IMO.

[@colindsouza8110]

Match with Cesaro?

[@iyoushhh]

@@colindsouza8110 yeah, his match with Zayn was also good but I mentioned feuds where wrestlers have multiple matches against each other in a kayfabe rivalry

[@edouardbeauregard7090]

​@@iyoushhhdone forget matches with Seth too. They were amazing too!

[@MisterPeckingOrder]

And let’s mention he did this twice. Cena’s first run with the US title back when he was still a rapping heel established that belt in the WWE, and for a while he really was the only guy to actually do anything with the belt. That’s the run that got Cena over too so he really made that belt look nice and special too.

[@iyoushhh]

@@edouardbeauregard7090 dang i forgot that those matches were also a part of his U.S. title reign! Their feud also had pretty cool matches & storyline except for that Jon Stewart cameo 😅

[@donzellmccalipp8510]

This run by Cena was excellent,a top star making the mid card title feel important but also bringing the best out of those he worked with

[@JakeTheMan784]

Completely agree

[@Devondavis-fm2dz]

John us open challenge was truly special back in 2015 you never knew who was going to step up and challenge him for the title at the time

[@BennyLindo]

This is why Cena is the best. He gave back to the company that made him and reinvented a mid card title into a top tier one. Showcasing his dedication and commitment to the craft that built up the next generation of the company, and changed the hearts and minds of some of his biggest detractors. Hats off to the GOAT.

[@joshuaagora2909]

Another reason why his US title run was so cool was how Cena also had this American patriot character while holding the title

[@sandiletwala3001]

He made the US champ more prestigious and made it the biggest price to get besides the world championship. His open challenges were bangers and he made the champion bigger than everything and everybody

[@kaeso101]

John Cena in 2015 was him giving back to the business...he gave the US title legit hype...had a good run with it...helped other stars into the limelight and gave us the fans moves we thought he could never do.

[@RomaroBrandon]

This is arguable the best version of John Cena since Dr. of Thuganomics, and inarguable his best US Championship run.

[@tylerhartley5031]

Eh.

[@JakeTheMan784]

You know for a fact that Cena is a top tier wrestler if he can defeat a midcard opponent in a US title match and yet it still feels like he put them over 😅

[@JohnSmith-wh2ob]

Alberto Del Rio ending it was ridiculous but everything up to that point was fantastic

[@RTG625]

That's why his the goat the goat 🙏 I missed him so much 😢

[@djdarq6311]

🤡

[@dylanbryant3547]

John cena needs to win the ic title before he retires

[@davidharrison469]

IC Title vacated and cena vs sheamus at wrestlemania

[@PhenomenalOne1000]

I dont get why they just didnt let cena go after the intercontinental title in 2015 getting and ic title open challenge would be just as good

[@wvang0013]

Yep. He deserves the Grand Slam before he retires.

[@potas8]

no need for that

[@potas8]

grandslam nowadays is a joke and meaningless, cena from 2003-2006 television work is literally is bigger than this stupid achievement

[@jayrathod2995]

I think US championship should be defended in open challenges more, would give it a new identity, one which Cena aimed it to be

[@aslitayeb4490]

I still remember in 2015 i was 13 y.o watching cena us open challenge. Lifting up new talents. Cena title reign was amazing.

[@chancehoffman3588]

One of the best memories of 2015

[@kthuncho]

This run was epic I appreciated John for making that title so important back then it was badly needed I rewatch those open challenge matches often

[@dylanbryant3547]

2015 cena was a beast

[@InkedupT-raw]

Man this run I believe made alot of the haters start to cheer Cena it was gold & it WORKED!!! 💯💯💯👆

[@olgringold5142]

Kurt Angle's open challenge run may not have been for the title, but it was incredible.

[@TheGreatestOfAllTime7228]

This is legit his best run. Like the amount of prestige John Cena gave to the US title was unmatchable... this very run was a win win for everyone. Just beautiful

[@satriahadi1893]

That cuna run was just amazing and cannot be coppied by anyone but the MAN himself

[@theunforgiven2885]

Cena is a legend he has earned his respect.The gimmick they gave him in the beginning is why so many people were turned off but he has come so far and he's one hell of a wrestler...period

[@PrayasRahangdale]

I still hate Alberto del rio till this day for beating John Cena and ending his great reign. That 10 yr old me was mad at del rio and it continues till this day. 🇺🇲

[@JakeLlavore]

*14:21* I would *NEVER FORGET* the *Host of WWE SUMMERSLAM 2015* and *former host of The Daily Show,* *Jon Stewart* attacks *John Cena* with a *Steel Chair,* leaving *Seth Rollins defeating John Cena* & winning *BOTH* the *WWE World Heavyweight & United States Championships* in a *Title For Title Match, Winner Take All, For Both The United States & WWE World Heavyweight Championships.*

[@Pierrepaule]

You know what I would love to have ? Is when LA Knight beats Logan Paul and take the United Sates Championship at SummerSlam I want LA Knight to bring back the US Open Challenge. To bring back the prestige of the United States Championship.

[@djdarq6311]

What prestige? It has no real lineage

[@neoterumi4772]

Maybe not prestige but instead make the title seem like a title instead of how it’s treated rn

[@poseidonmedia]

@@djdarq6311 You don’t need a lineage to have prestige. You can still make a title feel important like they did in this run with Cena.

[@n00bc0de7]

​@djdarq6311 What do you mean it has no lineage? It has John Cena, Seth Rollins, Rey Mysterio, Roman Reigns, etc.

[@BUSHIDO117]

Second reply iv seen you in you annoying ass hater ​@@djdarq6311

[@noahjones3769]

I loved John Cena's US title run more than his WWE title runs. Plus, this was around the time John had rivalries with Seth and KO which was the start of John incorporating new moves in his arsenal like the Sunset Flip Powerbomb and the Spring board stunner. Cena was easily the greatest US champion of all time.

[@JakeLlavore]

*3:37**-**6:39* *NXT Champion Kevin Owens* makes *his debut* in *WWE* and attacks *United States Champion John Cena,* during *John Cena’s United States Championship Open Challenge.* 🇺🇸

[@jjayala]

I got back into wrestling at this time as my life was in absolute shambles and i wanted some joy lol. Great run. The KO debut

[@animeswordsman9705]

Wes Lee had some really good open Challenges with the NA title

[@keno696]

John cena is super cena

[@potas8]

he got us hyped for a weekly show

[@therealmachine08]

Cena in the early 2000s, before The Time is Now, it was short, boring, but it holds a soft spot in my heart.

[@sportlegend4444]

It was one of my favorite thing in 2015

[@paulwatson3025]

That title was the most important title in the company at the time. No doubt about that

[@aigoorng9320]

Cena made that US Title worth much much more and probably my favorite title runs. Just the variety of matches and exposure to new or up-and-coming superstars made these title matches so good.

[@kevin75c]

Nothing was better than his first wwe title run

[@tyreepowell8367]

I Remember John Cena's United States Championship Open Challenge Like It Was Yesterday

[@dylanbryant3547]

John cena was a beast in 2015

[@J.D.hy1gd]

One of the reason 2015 was my favourite year of WWE

[@gykx92]

Rusev wasn't undefeated at the time, he'd lost matches by DQ, but wwe was in it's "Fans are stupid and dont remember anything" era, so they slowly shifted "never been pinned or submitted" to undefeated.

[@silverfuryranger]

Wwe was shit at this time. That's why people remember Cena's US title reing as something special

[@ronnieaghakhani1462]

What editing software was used to create the effects in this video?

[@cainmazarello3037]

Greatest U.S. champion ever

[@coreynance3874]

i know this has nothing to do with the video but that John Cena and Kevin Owens feud from Monday night Raw in 2016 was awesome and epic.💯👍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

[@Nicksisgoated]

WWE needs to have a weekly open challenge for US and IC title

[@BboyZoinks]

This was such a freaking fun time for wrestling

[@DylanQuitoriano]

Then they had him drop it to del rio LMFAO

[@Irtixxa]

I still remember the Kevin Owens vs John Cena feud, it was kinda entertaining

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Jon Stewart and Seth Rollins have a strange history together 😂

[@rottyhange8261]

11:05 Cesaro looking like Jason Statham

[@ryaneugenelawrencewalls1987]

John Cena the G.O.A.T my all-time favorite in WWE History the 16X World Champion 0:04

[@parthkotak6467]

Can you please tell the introduction song name?

[@TheWonesMusic]

Awesome

[@mbulelomdoda1494]

To this day, no one has elevated or even made the US title feel just as important as John Cena did back in 2015

[@RTG625]

#WeWantCena 😢❤️❤️

[@djdarq6311]

No we don’t 😂 worst era of all time

[@RTG625]

​@@djdarq6311 Still It doesn't means that Cena was worst he was the best thing that the wwe was going on in the 2010's Fact If john Cena wasn't there all this years WWE were been dead Cena carried the company more than everybody did that's why his the goat this men deserves his flowers🙏❤️❤️

[@bigdonald123]

Hell no the super cena era is the worst era of alltime he was lucky tsker, hbk, hhh were still around

[@TimeTParadox]

Banger after Banger after Banger!

[@afshansaif]

The most important thing was some of his matches were more better than the main events.

[@JakeLlavore]

*9:18* *Cesaro (Antonio Cesaro)*

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Cena and Kofi Kingston should’ve had a match

[@kayleglaister4657]

That was the best run with the us title

[@rishitsharma8791]

That's the John Cena effect baby❤

[@Chris.Jackaman]

Even when he will retire. The champ with always be here, you just won't see him. 😢

[@Nickearl1]

The us open challenge proved everyone that said he can’t wrestle wrong lol

[@NoboD-y]

He talks like Welt from HSR

[@willieroland5814]

My favorite cena run

[@JakeLlavore]

*3:36**-**4:02* *John Cena vs. Stardust* *Raw, April 6, 2015* *United States Champion* *John Cena* 🇺🇸 *Stardust (Cody Rhodes)*

[@JakeLlavore]

*17:06* *John Cena* *NEVER* gets to be as *UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP* with the *NEW CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BELT DESIGN,* since *2020*.*

[@ahmedsh1864]

God i miss these days

[@PhenomenalOne1000]

Del rio killed all the momentum Cena put on the U.S title in 2015,

[@the_ssj3master392]

Seth ended the goated reign. Del rio ended a 1 month reign. try again

[@jefferyjones8399]

I stopped watching for years because I got bored with Cena always being on top. I got back into it around the year before this due to Daniel Bryan and The Shield. While I didn't think he should have beaten Rusev, the open challenge was just well done and he really made his opponents look good. I finally understood Cena from that time on. While he was never the smoothest in ring technician, but he put in the work over the years and I respect that. He was finally willing to put over young talent and expand his own move set later in his career than anyone woudl have expected. Not to mention, the ability to get people emotionally invested. I realized that the problem over the late 2000s into the 2010s was never Cena. It was the booking that was lacking. McMahon (besides being a gross person) completely lost his touch when it came to booking in the years following WCW's death.

[@smvenkateshsmvenkatesh6950]

Cena💛

[@JakeLlavore]

*15:18* *Celebrity Beatdowns*

[@JakeLlavore]

*15:21* *Jon Stewart DESERVES IT!!!!!*

[@unholyperiodza5442]

Cena was the last good US champion ever. The US title has been a curse since Dolph Ziggler won it and vacated it soon after in 2018. Afterwards we had terrible champions like Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe and Austin Theory.

[@JakeLlavore]

Why did *Dolph Ziggler* vacated the *United States Championship?*

[@reinerbraun6670]

Losing to Alberto was one the worst calls

[@MinMwan]

John Cena is the greatest of all time

[@Must_gamer_7]

Am I the only one who thinks rusev was also pretty good US champion.

[@shaneaustin4418]

I’ve seen this video like 3 different times

[@akhilroy1069]

John Cena gave everything to WWE for over a decade, carrying the company and being a true workhorse. It's disheartening to see WWE Universe disrespect him after the Rock vs. Cena saga. The way WWE ended his career was totally disrespectful for a legend of his caliber. Cena deserved much better from both the company and the fans. #RespectCena #WWE

[@s1991kmn]

Cena stayed at the top for over a decade. That alone makes him the Goat. No one lasted or even stayed relevant that long without major gimmick change. Hogan turned heel, Undertaker became the American badass, neither Austin nor Rock lasted that long.

[@lifeofdbkent9939]

I loved it

[@JakeLlavore]

*15:18* *John Cena confronts and attacks the host of WWE SUMMERSLAM 2015 & former host Of ‘The Daily Show’, Jon Stewart!!!!!*

[@JakeLlavore]

*3:48* *John Cena vs. Rusev* *WWE United States Championship* *Russian Chain Match* 🇺🇸🇷🇺⛓️ *WWE United States Champion* *John Cena* 🇺🇸 *Rusev* *(w/Lana)* 🇷🇺 *WWE EXTREME RULES 2015*

[@JakeLlavore]

*7:38* *John Cena vs. Kevin Owens* *Champion vs. Champion* *United States Champion* *John Cena* 🇺🇸 *NXT Champion* *Kevin Owens* *WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2015*

[@davidsiaffa1709]

GOAT

[@shaneoleary9919]

John cena fire yay

[@JakeLlavore]

*1:30* *WWE WRESTLEMANIA 31 (2015) Official Match Card* *John Cena vs. Rusev* *United States Championship* 🇺🇸 *John Cena* *CHALLENGER* 🇺🇸 *Rusev* *CHAMPION* *United States Champion* *Rusev* 🇷🇺🇺🇸 *(w/Lana)* 🇷🇺

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Made me a Kevin Owens fan

[@mohammadidris5774]

Mine may be an unpopular opinion but i didn't care much for those open challenge segments. Sure, there were great matches but for me its not just good matches but gotta have a story to tell. For what its worth Cena's Open Challenge was better than others. It did what it should (showcase new talents). But overall i didn't like weekly open challenges.

[@nakulkumar4197]

No one can make mid card title better than WWE title, not even Roman or Rock.

[@mr.awesome6011]

All it did for me was prove that belts are nothing more than props. After Cena lost it, it went right back to the pre-show. Let's just call this run for what it really is. Cena wins lol but with extra steps.

[@SonnyK248]

I wasn't a fan. You knew he was going to win every week. It was kind of like when Miz had the IC title and he would cut promos saying "I'm making the title relevant" and the marks just ate it up in spite of him not really doing it. For me midcard title's get elevated through great storylines and feuds. Rock/HHH was the nation vs DX and was one of the best things on TV at the time and the IC belt was what they were fighting over. When I became a wrestling fan Shawm Micheals was the IC champ and he felt like the biggest star on the show and he was the reason I watched pay per views because I wanted to see him defend the belt or challenge for it more than the main event guys. Savage was a similar thing in the 80's when he had the IC belt. John Cena having matches on Raw and beating guys that you knew he was going to beat didn't really elevate it for me it just felt forced.

[@MaddenFifa]

Diverse opponents [shows the new day, 3 black men] "to established veterans" [shows Stardust] 🤦🏻 who wrote this dialogue?

[@GurdevSingh-nc9qy]

❤❤❤

[@HighWoody]

Mid card champions bring the best out of a wrestler.

[@garrattkenion2439]

Everybody knows why he brought prestige back to the US title .

[@Ascrediblewrestlingfigures]

Who’s here after he announced His retirement