John Cena secured the Intercontinental Championship during the Monday, Nov. 10 edition of Raw by defeating Dominik Mysterio, achieving the Grand Slam and adding the final missing title to his record-setting WWE career. The result makes Cena the 25th Superstar in WWE history to earn the Grand Slam distinction, which includes holding the WWE, Intercontinental, United States, and Tag Team championships at least once.
The match began with Cena facing Mysterio, who had held the Intercontinental title since WrestleMania this year. Despite taking hits and a submission attempt that went unnoticed by the referee, Cena remained focused throughout the contest. The decisive moment came when Cena countered Mysterio’s Frog Splash and delivered his signature Attitude Adjustment, resulting in a pinfall and the title win.
The road to this achievement was significant for Cena, who had previously never competed for the Intercontinental Championship on television. His prior attempts were limited to house shows, making this televised title bout a first and final opportunity as his wrestling career draws to a close. Cena had previously won the WWE Championship a record 17 times, in addition to five United States and four Tag Team title reigns.
Dominik Mysterio sought to disrupt Cena’s farewell by taunting him ahead of the match, declaring that he was better than the legend in his prime. The confrontation was set in motion by WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who decided Mysterio would defend his championship against Cena immediately following the challenge.
The match itself was marked by moments of controversy, including Mysterio attempting to cheat and a submission not seen by the referee. Nevertheless, Cena maintained control in the closing moments, capitalising on a critical counter to secure victory and the championship.
Cena now joins an elite list that includes Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, and others. The Grand Slam accomplishment remains one of the most prestigious in the company, requiring versatility and longevity across WWE’s major titles.
The win also coincides with the start of a tournament to determine Cena’s final opponent during his farewell tour.
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