Grilling JR - John Cena 2006 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today we’re discussing the face of the WWE for over 10 years, John Cena and his 2006. Tomorrow, April 23rd, is his birthday and he turns 44 and what a way to celebrate it then to discuss what Cena did as a 29 year old!

2006 starts with the first Monday Night Raw of the year and Cena is main eventing with Kurt Angle in a non-title first blood match that Angle ends up victorious. It turns into a schmoz with Carlito, Davari, Chris Masters, Kane and finally Shawn Michaels running out and the show goes off the air...with Cena hitting the FU on HBK. This is to all lead to…

New Year’s Revolution...the first Raw pay-per-view...where Cena will defend the WWE Title against Shawn Michaels, Kurt Angle, Carlito, Chris Masters and Kane. You are not part of the commentary team as this is the Joey Styles, Jonathan Coachman & Jerry Lawler show. You were taken off the air last year due to your colon issue. It’s reported at the time you were working backstage during this to help produce. Were you at this show and how was this commentary team to produce?

Cena ends up retaining his title before Edge cashes in the first “Money in the Bank” contract after Cena has spent 28 minutes in the Chamber. Edge comes out...spears Cena...and looks like he gets the pin but Cena kicks out. Was it supposed to be one spear and over? Edge hits a second spear and gets the pin and wins his first WWE Title. Was this the plan originally when Edge wins the briefcase and was this just a bump in the road to get to WrestleMania for Cena?

The next night on Raw Cena cuts a promo talking about losing the WWE Title and tells those who boo him “they can kiss his ass.” Was this the first time you remember John talking like this about his mixed reaction from fans?

This is the night of the Live Sex Show with Edge & Lita which ends with Cena hitting Lita with the FU. What did you think of the Live Sex Show and was it good TV?

Lita has spoken out about how she felt pressured at the time to do things she didn’t feel comfortable with. Did anyone ever voice any concerns to you regarding anything during this time?

The next week Edge defends his WWE Title against Ric Flair in a TLC match which sees Edge win and Cena save Flair from getting a con-chair-two. Amazing to see Ric Flair in a TLC match isn’t it?

At Royal Rumble 2006 John Cena defeats Edge to win the WWE Title back in 14:03. Was there any thought on giving Edge a longer reign after the ratings success it was having at the time or was the plan always Triple H and there was no way to deviate?

Cena & Maria are linked up as a couple in the follow-up with them even making out before they teamed up to beat Edge & Lita. Why put these two together?

Cena defeats Edge again on Raw with Mick Foley as referee to begin the Foley - Edge program for Mania. Triple H wins a Road to WrestleMania match over RVD & Big Show to set the stage for Cena vs. HHH at WrestleMania. Was HHH the right challenger at the time for Cena?

HHH cuts promos on Cena talking about how he is a transitional champion and isn’t even a very good wrestler. Odd to highlight this about a multi-time and current champion don’t you think?

Saturday Night’s Main Event features John Cena & HHH teaming up to face Kurt Angle, Randy Orton & Rey Mysterio Jr in a battle of WrestleMania main events. Cena pins Orton to gain the victory and continue to build tension between the two.

John Cena main events a Raw against Vince McMahon as Shawn Michaels & Cena are battling the McMahon family (Vince, Shane & Triple H). Does it get old with the McMahons always on top in your mind? The WWE viewers didn’t think so as it drew a 4.99 rating which is equal to almost 6 million viewers. From the Observer…

“Main event was Cena over Vince via DQ in 3:24. HHH and Michaels were handcuffed to the ropes. Match was all tests of strength. They even did spots where McMahon would outmuscle Cena. Vince took the worst bump ever. I think the idea was Cena outmuscled him and threw him down, but it sure didn't come out like that. As Cena was getting a test of strength advantage, Vince kicked him low for the DQ. Vince used the handcuff key to release HHH. He got another sledgehammer from under the ring and laid out Cena, who juiced. They also surrounded Michaels and HHH hit him with a sledge hammer and Vince hit him with a chair. Last scene was HHH & Vince ending with heat as the faces were all bloody. I thought it was effective. Cena vs. Vince itself was a new level of bad for a main event.”

Vince is pushing up in age at this point to still be in the ring. Was this around the time he knew he had to pull back on being in the ring?

John Cena inducts William “Refrigerator” Perry to the WWE Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania.

John Cena defeats Triple H at WrestleMania in 22:04 to retain the WWE Title. Cena getting the win is the right move? The rumor and innuendo at the time is that Cena was moved to Raw from SmackDown to get the title to Triple H so it was a small shock to see Cena win.

It’s announced that Cena will defend the WWE Title against Triple H & Edge at Backlash. It makes sense to put Edge back in the title picture after the success he had early in the year as champion don’t you think?

The build to the 3-way is...odd to say the least. In consecutive weeks there are handicap matches with Cena, Edge & HHH teaming against and facing and then they team up in a 6-man to face the Spirit Squad. Be honest Jim...this creative isn’t the best.

At Backlash Cena defeats HHH & Edge by pinning Hunter by reversing the Pedigree into a roll over. Triple H ends the show laying out everyone with the sledgehammer and giving crotch chops. It’s surprising enough that Triple H loses two pay-per-view main events in a row but not surprising he lays everyone out right JR?

You worked Backlash instead of Joey Styles to start building to the re-launch of ECW. When did you know about that?

You officially return on May 8th to Raw to replace Styles. How did it feel to have returned?

Cena & Michaels main event the Raw you return at in a 5-on-2 handicap match against The Spirit Squad. None of these matches helped the Spirit Squad even when they won wouldn’t you agree?

It’s announced by Rob Van Dam that he would cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase at ECW’s One Night Stand to help relaunch the ECW brand and challenged Cena to face him at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Did Cena ever object to working in such a small building and have any reservations to working in that environment?

Johnny Nitro returns to Raw and loses to Cena in his first match back. The returning person to whatever brand and losing immediately has become a staple of WWE creative. Is it laziness or a directive?

Cena and RVD have a contract signing and it turns into a brawl (shocking I know) and Sabu botches an Arabian Facebuster off the top rope onto Cena through a table. This is not the best first impression for someone like Sabu. Did Cena voice any concerns about working with these guys?

WWE vs ECW is live on the USA Network featuring you and King for the WWE and Styles & Tazz for ECW. How is it working a 4 man booth?

Cena and Sabu ends in a DQ when Big Show interferes to attack Cena to solidify Show as ECW. Is there a more styles clash than Cena & Sabu?

At ECW One Night Stand Rob Van Dam defeats John Cena to win the WWE World Title in 20:39 when Paul Heyman counts the pin after Nick Patrick is knocked out. What did you think of the match and the atmosphere? Do you think it portrayed the WWE brand as uncool when you have ECW fans chanting “Same old shit”, “Fuck you Cena” and “You Can’t Wrestle?”

Cena is on the debut episode of ECW on Sci-Fi to give the show the boost it needs to launch. Sabu wins a battle royal to face Cena at Vengeance. There had to be faith in Sabu and Cena having a 3rd match live on pay-per-view right?

John Cena defeats Balls Mahoney on Raw. Never thought I’d have to say that sentence.

Cena defeats Sabu at the pay-per-view in an “Extreme Lumberjack” match. WWE had to have big plans for Sabu to be a big part of the roster did it not?

Well that all comes to an end shortly after. After a ECW show on July 2nd in Huntington, WV RVD & Sabu are pulled over by Ohio State Highway Patrol for speeding and they were found in possession of various controlled substances. This changes all the plans for the top spots does it not?

When do you hear about this and what are your immediate thoughts?

RVD is suspended starting July 4th because we need to get the titles off of him so in Philadelphia (fitting place for this match…) the scheduled 3-way tag team match between Cena & ?, RVD & ? And Edge & ? Turns into a straight 3-way for the WWE Title. When is it determined this is what the plan is and how to get the title off of RVD? Was John upset that the guy he puts over and then the guy he works with goes out and creates national headlines by getting arrested?

Edge regains the WWE Title by pinning RVD in the three-way. Why Edge here instead of John?

Cena & Edge face off at Saturday Night’s Main Event and the match ends in a DQ. Do you think the Saturday Night’s Main Event relaunch didn’t work because there never really was a payoff type thing on the shows?

Cena puts Umaga over on Raw. That’s a big deal don’t you think?

It’s announced that Cena and Edge will main event SummerSlam for the title. Are we now at the we’ve seen this too much stage?

Summerslam is in Boston...right by John’s hometown...and in the main event Edge pins Cena in 15:41 after hitting Cena in the back of the head with a pair of brass knuckles. Was keeping the title on Edge the right move in your opinion? How good were these two in the ring together? What is it about WWE not wanting to put people over in their hometowns?

Lita tosses the “spinner” belt into the Bridgeport Harbor the next night on Raw and Edge debuts his own version of the World Title. What did you think of the Spinner belt?

The trailer for “The Marine” debuts on Raw. What did you think of the movie Jim and how does it rank in terms of WWE movies?

Jeff Hardy returns to WWE after a 3-year absence and faces Edge. Cena throws Edge into the harbor after the match. Does Vince love seeing things thrown into water?

Chris Masters returns to face Cena and loses via DQ after Edge interference. It’s announced that Cena will face Edge in a TLC match at Unforgiven in Edge’s hometown of Toronto and if Cena loses he will go to SmackDown. What an odd coincidence that the two top stars are feuding with their home towns hosting pay-per-views two months in a row.

WWE returns to MSG for the first time in 17 months for a Raw taping on September 11th...the 5 year anniversary of 9/11. Lot going on at this show where your friend Toby Keith is sitting at ringside. Cena teams with Jeff Hardy & Carlito to face Edge, Johnny Nitro & Randy Orton and gets the win when Nitro submits to the STFU. What a night for this show wouldn’t you agree?

Unforgiven in Toronto is a sell out at the Air Canada Center and Cena gets his WWE Title back by defeating Edge in 25:28 by hitting a FU off the top of a ladder through two tables stacked on top of each other. These guys have gone through a lot of punishment and you have to worry that these two were burning through their bodies at this point aren’t you?

What did you think of this match and is it one of the best TLC matches of all time?

It’s announced that Cena would be on the second episode of SmackDown now that it’s on My Network TV teaming with Batista & Bobby Lashley to face Booker T, Fit Finlay & William Regal. When you need ratings you go to Cena isn’t that right Jim?

Cena fights Lita one-on-one to main event Raw in Oklahoma City, OK and wins in 47 seconds. Are they just piecing together creative at this point because this Cena - Edge story is now almost 10 months at this point?

Cena, Batista & Lashley defeat Booker, Finlay & Regal on SmackDown. Lashley gets the pin over Booker. This is a big win for Lashley to get the pinfall over Cena & Batista wouldn’t you agree?

Cena defeats Edge in a Steel Cage Match to main event the October 2nd Raw in 19:11 with the FU. This should be the end of the story between these two.

Raw Family Reunion...the start of the “new season for Raw” features John Cena facing off against the Undertaker. This is a big match on a big show...are you shocked we never got that program in a big way?

Kevin Federline debuts on Raw from the Staples Center as a friend of Johnny Nitro & Melina. How did this deal come together and what was John’s thoughts on the program?

At Cyber Sunday the three brand champions...ECW’s Big Show...Raw’s John Cena and SmackDown’s Booker T….will face off. This match just feels underwhelming for what it should be don’t you think?

Does this make the brand split look silly as everyone is on everyone else’s shows?

Cena is all over doing the shows in prep for the Marine’s release. Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Live with Regis & Kelly, MAD TV, Howard Stern show, The Best Damn Sports Show Period. How amazing an ambassador for the company is Cena?

We get to Cyber Sunday and there’s a backstage promo where Booker asks Cena if they can work together and Cena says if he gets one night with Sharmell. Booker sends Sharmell outside and agrees and Cena says he’s not interested. He walks out and tells Sharmell the deal is on for Finlay’s midget...Sharmell...Jim Duggan’s 2x4...and several other things. Jim...what the fuck?

Booker pins Cena to retain his World Heavyweight Title after Kevin Federline interferes. What was Federline like to deal with?

Cena saves Maria from an attack by Umaga and also accepts Federline’s challenge for a match on the New Year’s Day Raw starting 2007.

At Survivor Series 06 in Philadelphia Cena teamed with Kane, Bobby Lashley, RVD & Sabu against Big Show, Umaga, Finlay, MVP & Test. Umaga is DQed 56 seconds in for attacking Cena & RVD with a monitor. Cena is involved in only the finish where he hits the FU on Show to get the win for his team and be the final Survivor. This just feels like a mix and match Survivor Series match like the old days does it not?

Umaga lays out Cena the next night on Raw. So right now Cena is in a program with Umaga and Kevin Federline (with Johnny Nitro). Is this the time for Cena to begin to elevate talent around him and how do you think he was at doing that?

It’s announced at SmackDown’s Armageddon pay-per-view Cena will team with Batista to face Booker & Finlay. Ratings are down? Call for Cena am I right JR?

Cena defends his WWE Title in the Masterlock Challenge against Chris Masters when Cena put him in the Masterlock. Cena is the central point of most of what’s happening on Raw. Do you think it’s the correct way to book a champion like Kenny Omega on AEW now is the central point of a lot of people?

Tribute to the Troops is taped and Cena defeats Edge in Iraq. JR were you on these trips and how did John feel about performing for the troops?

Cena appears on a SmackDown episode to build up the Armageddon main event in Boston “his hometown.” Cena hugs his dad and then gives Michael Cole everything he asked for for Christmas - a hard salami, a topless photo of David Hasselhoff and a bag of salty nuts. This type of talk wouldn’t be able to be done today but how good was Cena in doing these types of deals?

At Armageddon Cena & Batista defeat Booker & Finlay when Batista pins Booker. Do you know if Batista felt a certain way about John having to come over and give him support as the top guy on SmackDown?

A 3-hour Raw coming off Armageddon is scheduled and Edge wins a 30 man battle royal to gain a shot at Cena’s WWE Title. Cena pins Edge in 14:07 with a whole bunch of interference between Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Umaga. It’s announced that later on there will be a 6-man tag match to main event.

So Edge’s battle royal goes 30 minutes, then he works Cena for 14 and now for the main event they go 7 before it turns into a schmoz. This is a lot of work on one night don’t you think?

That’s the last Cena would be on TV before the end of the year. What do you think of John’s 2006 and how he held himself as a champion?

Let’s take a look at the stats:

Raw stars the year off on January 2nd at a 3.7. The highest it gets is a 4.5 for the January 30th Raw. It would close out the year on December 18th (the 25th was a recap show) at a 3.5. Pretty steady all year with some peaks and valleys but it never cracks the 4 after August 21st. In terms of TV ratings Cena seems to have held Raw on his back all of the year wouldn’t you say?

PPVs main evented by John Cena:

• New Year’s Revolution: 345k worldwide, 214k in North America
• Royal Rumble: 585k worldwide, 357k in North America
• WrestleMania 22: 975k worldwide, 636k in North America
• Backlash: 230k worldwide, 143k in North America
• One Night Stand: 304k worldwide, 185k in North America
• SummerSlam: 541k worldwide, 330k in North America
• Unforgiven: 307k worldwide, 187k in North America
• Cyber Sunday: 228k worldwide, 139k in North America
• Armageddon: 239k worldwide, 139 in North America

PPVs not main evented by John Cena:

• No Way Out: 218k worldwide, 133k in North America
• Judgment Day: 252k worldwide, 154k in North America
• Vengeance: 429k worldwide, 270k in North America
• Great American Bash: 232k worldwide, 141k in North America
• No Mercy: 197k worldwide, 114k in North America
• Survivor Series: 383k worldwide, 234k in North America
• December to Dismember: 90k worldwide, 52k in North America

I’d say the answer is obvious that John Cena was the biggest pay-per-view draw for the WWE in 2006 wouldn’t you agree?

It’s obvious John’s career would continue so he wasn’t slowing down at this point but was this in your opinion one of his highlight years?