WWE 2K23 Showcase mode is one of the most anticipated features of the WWE 2K23 video game. This mode highlights an iconic wrestler, John Cena, who has been a household name for many years and has wrestled some of the best matches in WWE history. The gameplay format has been updated this year to provide fans with more insights about John Cena’s career, and players can play against him to unlock various features.
Unlike previous years, where players had to use the featured superstar to defeat past opponents, the WWE 2K23 Showcase mode puts players in the shoes of John Cena’s opponents in some of his most iconic losses. This new format is a result of feedback from fans who found playing as the same superstar for an entire Showcase repetitive.
As players dive into each match, they are presented with mid-match objectives requiring them to execute specific moves to progress. These objectives keep the gameplay fresh and engaging and capitalized phrases like “Hit Chokeslam Signature Move” indicate the controls needed to execute these moves.
In WWE 2K23’s Showcase Mode, you can unlock new characters, attires, arenas, championships, and more by completing objectives. The John Cena Showcase Mode features 14 exclusive matches, and 3 bonus matches. (Note that the Showcase Mode does not follow a chronological order). Below is a complete list of matches, how to complete the objectives, and every unlockable reward:
Match #1: The Gold Medal Debut: Kurt Angle vs. John Cena (June 27, 2002)
Unlockable Rewards:
- SmackDown 2002 Arena
- 2002 John Cena skin
- 2002 Kurt Angle Skin
Kurt Angle exemplified excellence throughout his career – a master on the mat with a counter for any attack and a Gold Medal to back it all up… His open challenge on SmackDown is answered by a brash newcomer fueled by Ruthless Aggression. Is he truly the prototype of the future, or will Angle ruinJohn Cena’s arrival?
Match #1: The Gold Medal Debut Objectives:
- First, do two front light grapples
- Inflict heavy damage on Cena by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Perform an Ankle Lock Finisher move
- Use a Heavy Combo
- Use a Light Attack
- Use an Angle Slam
- Dodge or Reverse Cena’s attacks three times
- Use three German Suplexes on Cena inside the Ring
- Use a Light Combo
Match #2: Breaking the Chains: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (April 27, 2003)
Unlockable Rewards:
- Backlash 2003 Arena
- WWE Undisputed Championship Title Belt (2003 version)
- 2003 John Cena skin
- 2003 Brock Lesnar skin
John Cena seizes his chance at the WWE Championship! Brock Lesnar aims to fend off a bold contender who believes he merits the opportunities that, until now, appear to have been reserved for “The Next Big Thing!”.
Match #2: Breaking the Chains Objectives:
- Perform a Backbreakers or Toss Combo on Cena
- Inflict heavy damage on your opponent by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Successfully perform a Fallaway Slam on Cena
- Reverse or Break a move
- Use Heavy or Grab Combos two times
- Use a Front Heavy Attack on Cena while inside the ring
- Perform a Running Clothesline inside the ring
- Reverse or Break a move
- Inflict heavy damage on your opponent by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Stand in front of Cena and successfully perform a standing Powerslam
- Use a Front Heavy Grapple move
Match #3: Dead Man Walking: Undertaker vs. John Cena (July 27, 2003)
Unlockable Rewards:
- Vengeance 2003 Arena
- 2003 John Cena Vengeance skin
- 2003 Undertaker skin
Undertaker had over a Decade of Destruction under his belt, taking every WWE Superstar on their Last Ride. John Cena decided none of that was important, disrespecting Undertaker at every turn, forcing The Phenom to answer the call and inflict his own brand of vengeance!
Match #3: Dead Man Walking Objectives:
- Inflict heavy damage on Cena by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Perform a Hammer Throw on Cena
- Grab John Cena while grounded and drag him outside the ring
- Perform an Apron Guillotine Drop
- Use Body Blow and Uppercut moves two times
- Dodge or Block Cena’s attacks three times
- Perform and Old School Signature move
- Use your Chokeslam Signature Move
- Dodge or Reverse Cena’s attacks three times
- Perform a submission on Cena while grounded
- Attempt a Break Grapple or Combo
- Use a Front Heavy Corner Attack on Cena while stunned
- Perform Flip Clotheslines two times
- Inflict heavy damage on Cena by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Use a Front Light Corner Attack on Cena while stunned
Match #4: A Revolutionary Cashing In: Edge vs. John Cena (January 8, 2006)
Unlockable Rewards:
- New Year’s Revolution 2006 Arena
- 2006 John Cena skin
- 2006 Edge skin
- 2006 New Year’s Revolution Lita skin
A completely drained John Cena finds himself in the challenging position of having to defend his WWE Championship right after barely making it through the intense and demanding Elimination Chamber match.
Match #4: A Revolutionary Cashing In Objectives:
- Perform two Heavy Combos on Cena
- Use the Spear move on Cena inside the ring
- Use another Spear move on Cena
- Try to pin Cena
Match #5: One of a Kind: Rob Van Dam vs John Cena (June 11, 2006)
Unlockable Rewards:
- ECW One Night Stand 2006 Arena
- WWE Spinner Championship Title Belt (2006 version)
- 2006 One Night Stand John Cena skin
- 2006 Rob Van Dam skin
RVD’s mix of speed, agility, and a love for the hardcore made him difficult for anybody. Having a hostile crowd backing him up gave him a huge home-ring advantage and made him nearly unbeatable.
Match #5: One of a Kind Objectives:
- Start off really fast and try to deal some big damage
- Use a Hammer Throw to toss John Cena to the floor
- Use Two Heavy Combos
- Use an Irish Whip
- Perform a Diving Moonsault from the top rope to the floor while John Cena is stunned outside the ring
- Use a Corkscrew Leg Drop while John Cena is leaning across a barricade
- Hit John Cena with a steel chair inside the ring
- Use Rob Van Dam’s Signature Rolling Thunder move
- Use a Front Heavy Grapple
- Launch a Dive Attack from the top rope
- Use another Hammer Throw
- Stun John Cena with a Light Combo on the ringside
- Grab a table from the apron and Set It Up In the Corner
- Use another Front Heavy Grapple
Match #6: Masterfully Manipulated: Edge vs. John Cena (August 20, 2006)
Unlockable Rewards:
- SummerSlam 2006 Arena
- 2006 John Cena SummerSlam skin
- 2006 Edge SummerSlam skin
- 2006 Lita SummerSlam skin
Edge’s realization that rules were merely suggestions took him straight to the top. Months of cheating led to this moment – if Edge is disqualified, he loses the WWE Championship. Would John Cena find out that there’s no stipulation beyond Edge’s master-level manipulation?
Match #6: Masterfully Manipulated Objectives:
- Perform a Front Light Grapple Attack
- Perform a Grounded Heavy Attack while Cena is grounded
- Perform a Crowd Taunt
- Use the Running Single Leg Dropkick
- Perform a Diving Attack
- Perform a Grounded Light Grapple Attack while Cena is grounded
- Use Front Running Attacks two times
- Use the Edgecution move
- Perform Three Combos on Cena
- Run to the Corner and Climb the Top Rope, do this while Cena is on the ring
- Perform an Opponent Taunt while Cena and Edge are on the ring
- Reverse or Break opponent’s attack
- Use the Edgecution move again
- Use the Spear move while in the corner
Match #7: Time to Play the Game: Triple H vs. John Cena (June 29, 2008)
Unlockable Rewards:
- Night of Champions 2008 Arena
- 2008 John Cena skin
- 2008 Triple H skin
Triple H dominated the WWE landscape in the 00s. Anyone who tried to play The Game wound up falling short. Seeking to avenge a submission loss 2 1/2 years earlier, WWE Champion Triple H walks into his Night of Champions rematch against John Cena with vicious intent!
Match #7: Time to Play the Game Objectives:
- After hurling Cena to the ropes with an Irish Whip, immediately perform a Rebound Attack
- Perform a Hammer Throw
- Use a Vertical Suplex on John Cena while on the ringside
- Use an Irish Whip on Cena inside the ring
- Either Dodge, Reverse, or Break Cena’s attacks three times
- Perform an Opponent Taunt move
- Attempt to use the Pedigree move
- Dodge or Block Cena’s attacks three more times
- Reverse or Break Cena’s moves one time
- Perform another Pedigree move
- Use a Light Attack on Cena
- Grab and lift Cena with a Carry Attack
- Use the Spinebuster move
- Perform another Pedigree move
- Perform a Pedigree move again
- Then Pin Cena
Match #8: The Animal’s Rage: Batista vs. John Cena (August 17, 2008)
Unlockable Rewards:
- SummerSlam 2008 Arena
- 2008 John Cena SummerSlam skin
- 2008 Batista skin
Continuously compared, both Batista and John Cenaclaimed their first World Championships at WrestleMania 21. Fast forward three years, they seek to discover which one genuinely has the upper hand.
Match #8: The Animal’s Rage Objectives:
- Perform a Crowd Taunt
- Perform a Front Heavy Grapple
- Stand behind Cena and perform a Release Back Suplex
- Stand in front of Cena and perform a Sidewalk Slam
- Perform a Figure Four Leglock on Cena while he’s grounded
- Grab Cena while grounded and successfully damage his legs until it reaches to Orange level
- Perform a Front Heavy Grapple
- Perform Light or Heavy Combos three times
- Use the Spinebuster move
- Use the Batista Bomb move
- Stand in front of Cena and perform a Bearhug Submission
- Reverse or Break an attack
- Do an Irish Whip to get Cena into a corner, then put him on top turnbuckle and perform a Front Heavy Attack
- Use the Batista Bomb move again
- Pin Cena
Match #9: The Viper Strikes: Randy Orton vs. John Cena (October 4, 2009)
Unlockable Rewards:
- Hell in a Cell 2009 Arena
- 2009 John Cena skin
- 2009 Randy Orton skin
The ongoing conflict between Randy Orton and John Cena stays heated as they’re trapped in the Cell! A determined and aggressive Orton tries to win back the WWE Championship from the one who first claimed it from him!
Match #9: The Viper Strikes Objectives:
- Perform an Irish Whip on Cena, into stairs at ringside
- Inflict heavy damage on your opponent by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Perform a Front Light Grapple at ringside
- Use the Face Scrub move while Orton is on apron, and Cena inside the ring
- Stand in front of Cena, then Hit Orton’s DDT on him
- Perform a Front Heavy Grapple on Cena
- Attack Cena with a chair inside ring two times
- Perform a Heavy Combo
- Perform a Crowd Taunt
- Use a Front Light Attack on Cena while in a corner
- Try to do a Punt Kick while Cena is grounded in a corner
- Pin Cena
Match #10: One-on-One with The Great One: The Rock vs. John Cena (April 1, 2012)
Unlockable Rewards:
- WrestleMania 28 Arena
- 2012 John Cena skin
- 2012 The Rock skin
After an eight-year break, The Rock returns to WrestleMania. Does he still have the energy to surprise John Cena?
Match #10: One-on-One with The Great One Objectives:
- Stand behind Cena and use a Headlock Punch
- Either dodge, block, or reverse attacks from Cena two times
- Perform a Rebound Attack
- Perform an Irish Whip
- Perform a Rock Bottom on table move on Cena
- Perform an Arm Wrench DDT
- Perform a Jumping Clothesline
- Try to do a Light Combo
- Inflict heavy damage on your opponent by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Try to do a Sharpshooter while Cena is grounded
- Get Cena outside the ring and perform an Irish Whip, into the steel stairs
- Perform a Rock Bottom in-ring
- Either reverse, or break an attack
- Perform an Opponent Taunt
- Perform a Diving Attack on Cena
Match #11: Suplex – Rinse – Repeat: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (August 17, 2014)
Unlockable Rewards:
- SummerSlam 2014 Arena
- WWE Championship Title Belt (2014 version)
- World Heavyweight Championship Title Belt (2014 version)
- 2014 John Cena skin
- 2014 Brock Lesnar skin
- 2014 Paul Heyman SummerSlam skin
With victory over The Undertaker’s Streak at WrestleMania XXX, Brock Lesnar sees himself as unstoppable. As the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, John Cena understands he’s the last line of defense to stop Lesnar completely ruling WWE.
Match #11: Suplex – Rinse – Repeat Objectives:
- Perform a Heavy Combo
- Try to do a Front Corner Attack
- Perform a Suplex on Cena eight times
- Use a Front Grapple
- Use a Rear Light Grapple
- Use a Rear Heavy Grapple
- Inflict heavy damage on your opponent by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Try to do a submission inside the ring
- Stand behind Cena and perform a Rear Heavy Grapple
- Perform a Suplex on Cena seven times
- Use the Opponent Taunt move on Cena two times
- Perform Heavy Combos on Cena two times
- Perform a Leg Stomp Limb Attack on Cena while on the grounded
- Perform an F-5
- Pin Cena
Match #12: A Phenomenal Clash: AJ Styles vs. John Cena (August 21, 2016)
Unlockable Rewards:
- SummerSlam 2016 Arena
- 2016 John Cena skin
- 2016 AJ Styles SummerSlam skin
AJ Styles had done it all, and he’d done it everywhere. Everywhere except WWE. 15 years of resentment would erupt when AJ Styles and John Cena battled at SummerSlam! Would Cena earn redemption in the rematch, or is AJ truly The Face That Runs the Place?
Match #12: A Phenomenal Clash Objectives:
- After the rebound of an Irish Whip, perform a dropkick on Cena
- Dodge or Block Cena’s attacks three times
- Perform a Slingshot DDT
- Use the Submission move while Cena is grounded
- Perform a Front Heavy Attack
- Perform a Front Heavy Grapple
- Perform a Styles’ 450 Splash
- Use a Wheelbarrow Facebuster
- Use a Grab Combo
- Budge Cena in a corner and Perform a Light Corner Attack
- Hit Cena’s legs
- Use a Springboard Moonsault DDT while you’re standing next to the ropes inside the ring
- Perform a Front Heavy Grapple Attack
- Use the Phenomenal Forearm
- Pin Cena
Match #13: An Iconic WrestleMania: Undertaker vs. John Cena (April 8, 2018)
Unlockable Rewards:
- WrestleMania 34 Arena
- 2018 John Cena skin
- 2018 Undertaker skin
BONUS: 15 years later at WrestleMania 34, John Cena got exactly what he asked for when Undertaker returned. Two of WWE’s biggest icons clash at The Showcase of the Immortals!
Match #13: An Iconic WrestleMania Objectives:
- Use five Front Light Attacks on Cena while stunned in a corner
- Perform a Flip Clothesline move on Cena
- perform an Old School move on Cena
- Use the Snake Eyes or Big Boot Combo on Cena while stunned
- Strike John Cena with a Running DDT
- Inflict heavy damage on Cena by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Perform a Chokeslam Signature Move
- Perform a Tombstone Piledriver
- Pin Cena
Match #14: Greatness Acknowledged: Roman Reigns vs. John Cena (August 21, 2021)
Unlockable Rewards:
- SummerSlam 2021 Arena
- 2021 Roman Reigns SummerSlam skin
- 2021 Paul Heyman SummerSlam skin
Having reigned supreme over WWE for close to a full year, Roman Reigns has defeated every challenger. John Cena reappears, indicating to Roman that he desires another attempt to challenge The Tribal Chief.
Match #14: Greatness Acknowledged Objectives:
- Stand behind Cena and use a Headlock Punch move
- Perform a Front Shoulder Tackle Heavy Grapple Attack
- Perform Snap Suplexes on Cena two times
- Perform an Irish Whip
- Either Dodge, Block, or Reverse attacks from Cena two times
- Perform a DDT
- Perform a Heavy Combo one time
- Stand in front of Cena and perform a Cravate Sleeper
- While running, perform a Front Running Attack move
- Use a Superman Punch
- Inflict heavy damage on Cena by successfully attacking, grappling, or diving at him
- Perform another Front Running Attack
- Block or Reverse attacks from Cena two times
- Use the Spear move while in the corner
- Use another Spear
- Try to Pin Cena
Bonus Match #1: The Choice: You Pick vs. John Cena
Unlockable Rewards:
- None
Who is John Cena’s Greatest Opponent? Make the choice and take them into battle against Cena one more time! During this first bonus match, there are no rewards because John Cena immediately goes for an AA finisher and wins the match without any input on your part. John Cena wins this round.
Bonus Match #1: The Choice Objectives:
- Considering John Cena will automatically execute an AA move and win the match regardless of your actions, there are no realistic objectives to follow.
Bonus Match #2: Didn’t See That Coming: Your Pick vs. John Cena
Unlockable Rewards:
- Super Cena Character
One more chance for you to show John Cena that you’ve got his Toughest Opponent ready to take him out! You’ll get him this time! The second bonus match is the real bonus match where you’ll battle “Super Cena”, a version of John Cena who’s practically invisible.
Bonus Match #2: Didn’t See That Coming Objectives:
- Start off with Heavy Combos and damage Super Cena as much as possible until you fill up the bar in the upper left corner.
- Perform any moves and deal huge damage while Super Cena is grounded until you fill up the bar in the upper left corner.
- Use your character’s finisher
- Pinfall Cena to win
Bonus Match #3: Council of Legends: John Cena vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan vs. Bruno Sammartino
Unlockable Rewards:
- 80’s Hulk Hogan skin
- Bruno Sammartino skin
John Cena battles three of WWE’s All-Time Great Legends to join the club! But Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin have no intention of providing a warm welcome!
Bonus Match #3: Council of Legends Objectives:
- Eliminate Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and Stone Cold
Once you’ve completed all of the challenges in the matches featured in WWE 2K23’s Showcase mode, not only will you gain access to 14 additional arenas, but also 23 new playable character models, 11 unique new attire, and 4 new titles.
If you like this guide, be sure to check out more of our WWE 2K23 articles.
