TEXAS-(MaraviPost)-John Cena’s legendary WWE journey has finally hit the one milestone that escaped him for more than two decades, as the 16-time world champion defeated Dominik Mysterio on Monday Night RAW to claim the Intercontinental Championship for the first time in his career.
The bout wasn’t just another high profile RAW match. It was the product of weeks of tension between the two but it crystallized earlier in the night when Triple H stepped into the arena to make the match official after Cena and Mysterio traded sharp words in the opening segment.
Mysterio, confident and disrespectful, had mocked Cena’s age and questioned his relevance.
Cena, who rarely bites back, didn’t hold back this time. He made it clear he had one more historic run left in him.
What made this match even more symbolic is that Cena entered it knowing he has only three WWE appearances left before his planned retirement in December.
For someone who debuted in 2002 and carried the company through entire eras, the weight of the moment was obvious.
The crowd sensed it and Cena seemed determined to make every second count.
Once the bell rang, Mysterio came in aggressive, using his speed and trademark athleticism to keep Cena off balance.
The turning point came when Mysterio landed his signature 619 cleanly, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But the young star miscalculated the frog splash that followed, allowing Cena to use his veteran instincts.
In a split second, Cena caught him mid-air, powered him into an Attitude Adjustment and secured the three-count.
The stadium erupted. Not just because of the victory but because of what it meant. Cena, after more than 20 years of climbing every mountain WWE has, finally completed the Grand Slam a rare achievement that requires holding the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, United States Championship, Tag Team Championship and Intercontinental Championship.
WWE have hinted that Cena’s final run is designed as a gratitude tour. WWE wants to honor his loyalty, his mainstream impact and the countless moments he delivered during the most transitional periods of the company.
His Intercontinental win is a career-capping moment not even some all-time greats have achieved.
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