The Kurt Angle Show - John Cena [Show Notes] (Patreon)

When did you first hear about or see this fella called John Cena?

Do you remember your first conversation with him?

June 2002 is when Cena is called up to the main roster full time. He wrestles a lot against fellow OVW star and future Team Angle member Shelton Benjamin.

We have a clip now of one of those dark matches, which is actually just 1 week before his Smackdown debut vs you!

Tell us what you’re thinking as we watch some highlights now:

A week later and they’re taping Smackdown in Chicago on June 25, and you’re issuing an open challenge, Kurt. This guy named John Cena comes out to accept.

When did you know this match was going to happen? The day of the show or before that?

How much did you talk with John to prepare for the match?

I’m sure you’ve seen this a million times but I think we need to watch some of it again right now!

Even though he‘s definitely still a bit green, can you see money written all over Cena for the future straight away here?

What were the good and bad of Cena in his first match?

Cena gets a bit of a push for his first 6 weeks or so on TV including teaming with the Undertaker to defeat you and Chris Jericho in Atlantic City.

Plus another singles match with you in Richmond, VA.

He’s then thrown way down the card and not in a much of a featured role for a few months.

Any idea what happened here? Was he just being pushed too soon when he wasn’t ready?

What is John like on the road? Is he a brash kid rubbing people the wrong way or is he quiet and just trying to get through?

His fortunes begin to change when he turns heel in October and debuts as a rap artist character on the Halloween edition of Smackdown. What did you think of this gimmick change for him at first?

As you’re both heels going into 2003, you don’t really cross paths on TV until September.

You did however team up once in Johannesburg, South Africa in March, losing to Chris Benoit & Rikishi.

Any memories you can share of working in South Africa?

Of course you miss a few months after WrestleMania 19 following neck surgery, but are you noticing Cena’s improved work during this time?

Later in the year, you and Cena start up a mini feud culminating at No Mercy in Baltimore, it’s pretty safe to say this was Cena’s best in-ring work so far, and it gets high praise in the Observer too:

“The show stealer was Kurt Angle vs. John Cena, which was a success in that it was Cena’s best high profile match to date. Angle’s winning cleanly via submission didn’t seem to make sense, since Cena is the one who needs elevation, and this marked his third straight PPV bout where he’s faced the Smackdown big three of Angle, Lesnar and Undertaker, and lost cleanly to their finishes. Cena is the best talker and best new prospect in the company outside the ring, and whether it was Angle, or him improving a lot of late (probably both), his weaknesses in the ring disappeared this time out.”

“Kurt Angle beat John Cena in 18:25 with an ankle lock turned into a heel hook. This was a tough position to be in (following Vince vs Stephanie), but Angle proved himself to be the man again here. Angle got his mouth busted early. Cena worked on the neck for a while. He came off the ropes and Angle nailed him with a dropkick to the shin to set up an early ankle lock spot. They did a NOAH spot of teasing a german suplex by Angle off the apron to the floor, but Cena turned it into a DDT on the apron which seemed to hit hard. Cena used a legdrop off the middle to continue working the neck. Cena also did the old Curt Hennig neck snapper for a near fall. Angle came back with three german suplexes. Cena came back with his FU, but Angle kicked out. Angle used the Angle slam, but Cena kicked out. Cena went for the chain, but got caught. With the ref distracted, he hit Angle with Angle’s own gold medal. That should have been the finish, and while it made it a better match because Angle kicked out, it was a great idea for a finish and shouldn’t have been wasted. The finishing sequence was excellent, with Angle going from a rana to an ankle lock to a heel hook. ****¼”

You didn’t often work as a babyface during your first WWE run, but in this brief period you were.

We all know you preferred to be a heel, but tell us a bit about playing a face here working with Cena.

By Survivor Series a month later, Cena is now a face, and you’re both on the same team as it’s Team Angle vs Team Lesnar, and Cena is the sole survivor.

Cena was now ready for a big push as a babyface, would you agree?

At No Way Out 2004 in San Francisco, the show is most remembered for Eddie Guerrero defeating Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion.

But earlier in the show, you defeated Cena and Big Show in a triple threat match to become number 1 contender for the WWE title at WrestleMania XX.

Any memories of this match?

After WrestleMania XX is when you take some time off from the ring, and become the Smackdown General Manager. Cena is also now the US Champion after Mania, and in July you abuse your power and strip him of the title after he put his hands on you - the GM.

Did you enjoy playing the heel authority figure role, and some of your interactions with Cena during this time?

Cena takes some time off to film the Marine. Were you surprised that Cena was already getting movie roles?

Moving into 2005, Cena finally became WWE Champion at WrestleMania 21. Was it the right move to wait until Cena was really ready for the big time to give him the title?

In the Summer of 2005, you and Cena were moved to Raw in the Draft after 3 years for both of you on Smackdown. Were you happy with this change of scenery?

There have been stories of John’s partying that it was close to legendary. Did you ever sit around back then with John at the hotel bar?

The night after SummerSlam, Cena successfully defended the WWE title vs Chris Jericho, in Jericho’s final appearance of his first WWE run.

After the match, you attacked Cena and were named number 1 contender by Eric Bischoff, and also formed a bit of an on screen alliance with him over the coming weeks.

What are your memories of working with Eric for the first time?

This sets up Unforgiven in Oklahoma, which Meltzer described as a disappointing match, with you winning by DQ when Cena uses the title belt. Cena then gives the FU to Bischoff and to you the other Spanish announcer’s table.

Do you remember this being disappointing, and not living up to your previous matches? Was it just down to the lack of a clean finish, even though it’s to keep the feud going?

You and Cena are on the road for all the house shows in the fall of 2005, including some matches in Australia.

The backlash to Cena from some fans is really starting to pick up steam during this time? Why do you think a lot of fans didn’t connect to Cena, or was it just “cool” for some people to boo him?

At Taboo Tuesday in San Diego, Cena defeats you and Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match in a great match.

Survivor Series was in Detroit, and during this time you’ve added Daivari to your entourage, and he is to be the referee for all your matches including here when you challenge Cena again for the title.

Cena ends up winning again.

“John Cena pinned Kurt Angle in 13:56 to retain the WWE title. The crowd seemed to start 50/50 and steadily grew for Angle as the match went on. They were working better together this month than in previous Raw matches (although not on the level of some of their Smackdown matches of the past). Mostly it was Angle carrying things. The story of the match is that Cena hit Daivari, the special ref, and Daivari was going to call for the DQ but Angle begged him not to. Cena laid out Daivari. Angle laid out Chad Patton and Mickey Henson, who came out as later refs. In between all this, Angle did a belly-to-belly on the floor. Angle got an Angle slam on Cena for a near fall as well as a top rope superplex for another near fall. Angle missed a moonsault. Cena went for an FU but Angle knocked down Henson. Daivari was back as ref. Charles Robinson, who is a Smackdown ref, ran in. They claimed all the Raw refs were injured (too bad there was a different Raw ref, apparently uninjured, in the next match). Cena DDT’d Daivari and gave Angle an FU for the win. ***”

Did you enjoy your partnership with Daivari?

Can you tell us about the evolution of Cena by this point?

Your final singles match vs Cena on TV was on the first Raw of 2006 where you defeated him in a First Blood Match in East Rutherford, NJ, and then there’s a brawl with everyone in the Elimination Chamber match coming up the following Sunday.

Cena wins the Elimination Chamber match at New Year’s Revolution in Albany, NY where you were the first eliminated!

Tell us about working in the Chamber for the only time.

Did you ever see John getting close to Ric Flair’s record of World championships?

Your final match with Cena in your WWE run here is on March 18, 2006 when Cena & HHH defeated you, Randy Orton & Rey Mysterio on the return Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC from Detroit.

Any memories of this match and all the NBC execs likely being involved with the show that day?

Did you see or hear much from John in your nearly 11 years away from WWE?

Were you surprised by his longevity in the company?

Did you know he was destined for bigger than wrestling?

We recently talked about your Hall of Fame induction so be sure to check it out in the archives but it had to be great to see John again was it not?

You and Cena shared the ring one final time at Survivor Series 2017 in Houston, in the Team Raw vs Smackdown match.

How great was it to lock up with Cena again?

You’ve told us how fitting it would be for Cena to be your final opponent and I think everyone would agree with that. What is your relationship like with John now if any?

What do you think your favorite John Cena match is that DOESN’T involve you?