7. Kevin Owens
On Raw, Cena opened up the US Open Challenge to anyone. On his first night on the main roster, Kevin Owens debuted by verbally stating that he was on the same level as Cena and then proceeded to put him down with a Pop-Up Powerbomb He also stepped on the United States title. If that’s not enough, he beat Cena clean two weeks later in the match of the night.
A new star was born. Admittedly, Owens was insanely over on NXT, but the majority of the main roster crowd didn’t know him. After mocking and then beating Cena clean, Owens had a name, reputation and he was on the main roster from that point forward.
Sure, Owens would lose the next two big PPV matches to Cena clean. Cena gave Owens his first major win and even though Cena should have dropped the US title to him at the time, Owens is the current Intercontinental Champion. No one can honestly say Cena didn’t put over Owens massively this past summer.