10 WWE Legends Who Tapped Out To Kurt Angle

Cena made his debut against Kurt Angle in 2002 during the latter’s invitational challenge. Just a year later, he had progressed from a clean cut, fairly bland babyface to the doctor of Thuganomics, and found himself in the best match of the night with his old foe.

Angle is clearly a serious individual, but in the WWE he was game for whatever they threw at him, including but not limited to a rap battle with Cena. The younger man’s star is on the rise, and he is allowed to get some good offence on Kurt, but Angle is in his prime here. Cena’s ability to play the cowardly heel is underrated - he generates some terrific heat in his repeated attempts to bash Angle’s head in with a chain - and while he’d turn face not long after this encounter, he puts Angle over as the most gifted and resourceful of the locker room in a big way. The ankle lock comes out of nowhere, and once locked in, it’s game over.

Once Cena had established himself as the top dog, his days of tapping out were over, and like other huge stars before him, he has been accused of selfishness. With matches like this on his CV, though, you can’t say he hasn’t paid his dues.