John Cena

After applying for 60 colleges and getting in 58 of them, the wrestler-to-be chose Massachusetts’ Springfield College and became a Division III offensive lineman and team captain for the Pride. Cena started training for the professional wrestling world at the California-based Ultimate Pro Wrestlings "Ultimate University" in 2000. In response to his first challenge by Kurt Angle, Cena had his first televised WWE match in June 2002.

During 2004 Cena's popularity started to rise. The year debuted for him with a participation in the annual Royal Rumble, later winning the United States Championship from Big Show in a match at March's WrestleMania XX and the title at October's No Mercy. The feud between Cena and the champion John Bradshaw Layfield a year later ended with Layfield's defeat. In August, same year, Cena beat Jericho in a "You're Fired" match for the WWE Championship although Kurt Angle interfered and attacked Cena.

The two tried to settle their differences in September's Unforgiven but Cena lost by disqualification when he hit Angle with the WWE title belt. The two met again November's Survivor Series, when Cena won the game honestly.  WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber in January but Edge's win against Van Dam later that year started a new quarrel between him and Cena. Edge ultimately defeated Cena. Sabu, Rob Van Dam, Bobby Lashley, and Kane, Cena formed Team Cena and fought against Team Big Show (that included The Big Show, Test, Finlay, Montel Vontavious Porter, and Umaga). Cena, along with his team mate, Lashley, were the only ones that remained standing at the end of the game.

This year, Cena began with dealing with his adversary, Kevin Federline. He was pinned by Britney's husband in the first RAW match of the year with the help of Umaga. The rivalry Cena had with Umaga ended at the New Year's Revolution, when he won thus putting an end to Umaga's undefeated streak. WrestleMania 23was the place where Cena proved once again he is worthy to keep his WWE Championship. After this event, Michaels threw Cena over the top rope causing the team to lose their title.