Dominik Mysterio’s Victory Over John Cena Is a 'Game Changer'

Dominik Mysterio stood over John Cena with his three biggest accomplishments in WWE draped around him: the Intercontinental Championship, the AAA Mega Campeonato, and Liv Morgan.

He walked to the back laughing, fully aware of what had just happened — a true passing-of-the-torch moment.

Mysterio has been strapped to a rocket ever since he kicked Edge in the groin at Clash at the Castle in 2022.

On Saturday night, that rocket ignited in his hometown.

Beating John Cena in Cena’s second-to-last match — and doing it for the Intercontinental title — was monumental.

Even his boss hinted at it before the event.

"Dominik's rise has been incredible and the further away he gets from his dad's shadow the better he does,” HHH said. “Whether fans like that or not, he's incredibly successful and tonight he gets to go one-on-one with the greatest of all time in John Cena.

"You can say he bit off more than he can chew but at this point in his career, a loss to John Cena doesn't hurt Dominik Mysterio. But a win over John Cena? Game changer."

Leading up to the match, Mysterio said it was only right that the 17-time world champion face him in his own backyard and on his terms.

He entered Petco Park to a 50/50 crowd, half cheering and half booing. At one point, the stadium broke into the classic “Let’s Go Cena, Cena Sucks” chant.

Early in the match, Mysterio attempted a hurricanrana off the barricade but landed awkwardly. He immediately grabbed his left shoulder, and the entire stadium — along with Cena — looked around as if asking, “Is this real?”

As medical staff checked on him, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez attacked Cena and hit their finishing moves — a pretty cool moment.

Cena was left draped on the ropes when Mysterio suddenly popped up, slid into the ring, and hit his signature 619 followed by a frog splash. The referee refused to count because of the interference, then turned to Rodriguez and Perez and kicked them out.

Minutes later, Cena tried to set up Mysterio for a shoulder check that would lead into the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but the younger Mysterio ducked, causing Cena to accidentally knock out the referee.

That opened the door for the other two Judgment Day members, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh, to rush out in support. Fans chanted “619,” expecting Rey Mysterio to come help Cena.

Instead, Cena fought them off himself. He tossed them into a corner and lifted both onto his shoulders for a double Attitude Adjustment — the move he made famous.

Cena then hit Mysterio with an AA and called for a new referee to finish the match.

That’s when the unexpected happened.

Liv Morgan’s music hit. She had been out since June 2025 with a dislocated and separated shoulder.

Morgan stood between Cena and Mysterio.

The San Diego native looked relieved to see his “guerita” back, assuming she had come to help him. She looked at him, then slapped him across the face — Cena laughed.

She turned, ran into Cena’s arms, leaving Petco Park confused, until the camera caught her smile fade. Morgan hopped out of Cena’s arms, flashed another smile, and kicked him in the groin.

Mysterio looked stunned for a moment, then grinned, realizing she was still on his side. With Cena leaning against the ropes, Mysterio hit the 619 and frog splash while Morgan brought the referee back into the ring.

He recovered enough to count the 1-2-3 — and that’s when the rocket fully launched.

Mysterio stood tall over John Cena.

Right now, he holds the Intercontinental Championship and the AAA Mega Campeonato, but Saturday night might be the beginning of Dominik Mysterio’s future as a WWE world champion.

“The world might be ready, but I don't know if WWE is ready,” Mysterio said two weeks ago. “Their hands are going to be way too full if I'm the world champion. They're going to have no idea what to do with me.”