John Cena reached a major career milestone on Monday night when he defeated Dominik Mysterio to win the Intercontinental Championship on WWE Raw.
The win makes Cena the 25th superstar in WWE history to complete the Grand Slam by winning the WWE, Intercontinental, United States (US) and Tag Team Championships at least once.
Mysterio entered the match as the reigning Intercontinental Champion after winning the title at WrestleMania earlier this year.
He tried to control the match with constant taunts and aggressive tactics, even attempting a submission that the referee failed to catch. Cena stayed calm and kept building momentum with his signature power moves.
The finish came when Mysterio went for a Frog Splash. Cena anticipated the move, caught him mid-air and delivered an Attitude Adjustment that secured the three-count and the championship.
The moment carried huge emotional weight for Cena. He had never competed for the Intercontinental Championship on television before this match. His only previous attempts happened during untelevised house shows, which made Monday night’s match feel like a final chance as the 48-year-old star moves towards the end of his career.
Earlier, Mysterio tried to spoil the farewell run by mocking Cena throughout the buildup.
WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque stepped in and confirmed the match, setting up a showdown that ended with Cena’s latest historic achievement.
With this victory, Cena joins a select group of Grand Slam Champions that includes Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero.
The milestone strengthens Cena’s reputation as one of the most decorated and influential performers in WWE history. His career has combined longevity, championship success and the ability to deliver on the biggest stages.
The win also signals the start of a new tournament that will determine Cena’s final opponent for his farewell tour. WWE plans to highlight his legacy in the coming weeks as one of the most respected names to ever step inside the ring.