There isn’t any scarcity of legendary rivalries within the prolonged historical past {of professional} wrestling. Not all of these rivalries are created equally, and the standard of lots of them is instantly related to the time in a fan’s life by which they happened. The historical past between John Cena and Randy Orton, who meet for Cena’s undisputed WWE championship within the essential occasion of WWE Backlash on Saturday, suits firmly into that class.

Saturday evening additionally options three extra title matches. Most notably, a deadly four-way for the US championship is ready when Jacob Fatu, who earned the title at WrestleMania 41, faces off in opposition to Drew McIntyre, L.A. Knight and Damian Priest. Fatu beat Knight for the title and McIntyre and Priest have continued their blood feud past WrestleMania as properly.

Cena and Orton have met in lots of massive matches through the years, however not all of these matches are of the identical high quality. In truth, Cena and Orton have met in downright disappointing matches, together with a really dangerous match at SummerSlam 2009.

Nevertheless, the Orton/Cena rivalry is revered by many, and there are many matches that specify why. Let’s check out the 5 finest matches between these legendary superstars.

5. No Method Out 2008

This can be a match that many are cut up on. There are some points, together with the match taking place on the occasion in any respect. Cena gained the Royal Rumble in January and selected to money in his title shot in opposition to Orton at No Method Out in February as a substitute of at WrestleMania. That was a controversial selection by WWE, and nonetheless does not make a lot sense outdoors of a clunky strategy to get to Orton vs. Cena vs. Triple H at WrestleMania.

What elevates this match to the highest 5 for me is how into the match the group was. By the tip of 2009, followers had been bored with seeing Cena wrestle Orton, however at No Method Out, the Las Vegas crowd was ravenous all through. Ultimately, Orton would hit the referee to deliberately get disqualified and retain his title, resulting in a match at Uncooked the next evening with Triple H as particular visitor referee to arrange the WrestleMania triple risk match.

4. Bragging Rights 2009 — 60-minute iron man match

This match was the fruits of a stretch that noticed Cena and Orton face one another 4 occasions on pay-per-view between August 23 and October 25. The 2 males had traded the title forwards and backwards just a few occasions, with Orton holding the belt coming into Bragging Rights, so that they blew off the state of affairs with a 60-minute iron man match. The match additionally carried the stipulation that Cena can be moved to SmackDown if he misplaced the match.

Iron man matches might be difficult to tug off as they require a pacing that permits for conservation of power whereas nonetheless offering fixed drama. Cena’s in-ring abilities have been underrated at occasions, however his strengths aren’t in producing a 60-minute traditional alongside the strains of legendary iron man conferences like Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII. The match overperformed expectations as a result of they neatly paced the match to benefit from the “something goes” stipulation, permitting for brawling and interference to happen all through the match slightly than counting on pure move-for-move wrestling. Many place this match as arguably the very best between the pair, however I consider Cena and Orton delivered higher matches through the years, and this bout suffered from stretches the place the group disconnected from the motion earlier than Cena gained the title.

3. Hell in a Cell 2014 — Hell in a Cell match

Cena and Orton had met in a Hell in a Cell match throughout their run of matches in 2009, however that match was disappointing. Figuring out that, there have been low expectations heading right into a rematch 5 years later. As an alternative of the match falling flat once more, Orton and Cena adjusted by amping up the depth. The 2009 match was sluggish paced with most massive moments revolving across the ring steps. In 2014, they introduced extra of the massive spots followers anticipate from a Hell in a Cell match.

This was a No. 1 contender match to face Brock Lesnar, and the group was absolutely hooked over the ultimate stretch. A sequence of plausible close to falls obtained the followers to purchase in, resulting in Cena hitting an Angle Adjustment from the center rope via a desk to get the win. Success on this evening got here from a energetic crowd and the wrestlers overperforming low expectations.

2. Breaking Level 2009 — ‘I Give up’ match

The crown jewel of the 2009 sequence of matches between Orton and Cena is their “I Give up” match at Breaking Level. This was the best stipulation for the 2 males, as neither is high-spot oriented in ways in which elevate their TLC or Hell in a Cell matches to this stage. The place each excel is in brawls that depend on dramatic moments, and Breaking Level delivered loads of that drama.

There is a system to Cena matches, and that may put on on anybody — and was a key a part of why he confronted such resistance from followers through the years. That system exists within the match, with Cena making a brilliant heroic comeback after being punished by the heel. However the trip to get to that second was full of massive moments, equivalent to Cena being handcuffed to the ring publish and hit repeatedly with a kendo stick. Breaking Level 2009 is the very best gimmick match Cena and Orton ever had.

1. SummerSlam 2007

This was the primary singles pay-per-view match between Orton and Cena, and it stands out as their finest as a result of it was two “younger” (Cena was 30, Orton was 27) wrestlers, recent to the rivalry and without having to lean on any stipulations just like the three matches ranked instantly beneath. The group was not fully burned out on both man or the rivalry as a complete, and like different matches on the checklist, issues are boosted by the followers reacting properly all through.

Each males had been on the high of their sport for this match, and even Cena’s regular flaws, equivalent to not being a robust vendor, weren’t on show on this evening. The ultimate stretch of the match was pink scorching, with Orton hitting an RKO to have the match gained, just for a fierce Cena rally to show issues round. SummerSlam 2007 was a nasty occasion, particularly for the twentieth version of a WWE flagship occasion, however Cena vs. Orton stands out as one of many evening’s few memorable matches.