On a recent edition of his “The Kurt Angle Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle discussed wrestling John Cena in his main roster TV debut match on the June 27, 2002, episode of WWE SmackDown.
Cena made his WWE TV debut by answering an open challenge by Angle. After declaring he possessed “ruthless aggression,” Cena lost by a pinning combination, but put on a spectacular performance. Following the match, Cena was congratulated by Billy Kidman, Faarooq, Rikishi, and The Undertaker, becoming a fan favorite.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On working with John Cena in his debut match: “We didn’t do much to prepare for it. We talked a little bit and went out. The match was only about nine minutes, so it wasn’t a very long match but it was a good match. It was a very solid match, especially for John’s first match on TV. I thought it was really good.”
On when he found out about the match: “I found out that day, it was like last second. And I think what happened was he came in, they invited him in for a tryout and John showed up, and Vince loved his look. You know, you look at the kid. He looks like a freaking bodybuilder. He’s a pretty damn good athlete. He’s smart, intelligent, and can cut a promo. So, did I know he was going to be a big superstar? You don’t know that after only one match. But did he impress me? Yes. He did.”
On whether he had an issue with Cena getting a shine in the match: “He was supposed to shine because I was the heel, and he was the babyface. When they have a match like that where someone’s not under contract against the WWE superstar, it’s usually a crush match. It’s quick, you know, it doesn’t last long and the person doesn’t shine. But John, they were really looking at him. They wanted to see what he had. So they wanted me to get on him and, and put a really good match together. So that’s what I did.”
You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on eWrestlingNews.com. Or, you can follow us over on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
In a recent episode of “The Kurt Angle Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle discussed his memorable match against John Cena in Cena’s main roster TV debut on the June 27, 2002, episode of WWE SmackDown. This match marked the beginning of Cena’s journey to becoming one of the biggest superstars in WWE history.
During the podcast, Angle revealed that they didn’t have much time to prepare for the match. They had a brief discussion before going out to perform. Despite the limited time, the match turned out to be a solid one, especially considering it was Cena’s first match on TV. Angle praised Cena’s performance and acknowledged that he was impressed by Cena’s look, athleticism, intelligence, and promo skills.
Angle also shared that he found out about the match on the same day it was scheduled. Cena had been invited for a tryout, and Vince McMahon was immediately drawn to his physique and overall presence. While Angle couldn’t predict Cena’s future stardom after just one match, he admitted that Cena made a strong impression on him.
One interesting aspect of the match was the decision to give Cena a shining moment despite him not being under contract with WWE at the time. Typically, matches involving non-contracted wrestlers against established superstars are quick and one-sided. However, WWE wanted to see what Cena was capable of and asked Angle to put together a compelling match with him. Angle embraced the opportunity and helped showcase Cena’s potential.
The match itself lasted about nine minutes and ended with Angle defeating Cena through a pinning combination. After the match, Cena received praise from fellow wrestlers Billy Kidman, Faarooq, Rikishi, and The Undertaker, which helped solidify his popularity among fans.
To get a glimpse of this historic match, fans can watch the embedded video titled “A debuting John Cena accepts Kurt Angle’s open challenge: SmackDown, June 27, 2002.” Additionally, the podcast episode titled “The Kurt Angle Show #140: Ask Kurt Anything (November 2023)” provides more insights into Angle’s experience working with Cena.
As always, fans can stay updated with the latest wrestling news on eWrestlingNews.com or follow their social media pages on Twitter and Facebook.
Overall, Cena’s debut match against Kurt Angle on WWE SmackDown was a pivotal moment in his career. It showcased his potential and set the stage for his rise to becoming one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling.