25 Best John Cena Matches

25. Vs. Kurt Angle - No Way Out 2005

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Heading into 2005, John Cena looked destined to become WWE Champion. Though he narrowly missed victory in the Royal Rumble, he reached the finals of a Smackdown! tournament to determine a WrestleMania challenger for JBL's WWE Title. Unfortunately, to claim the shot, he would have to defeat his longtime nemesis Kurt Angle. Just the previous year at No Way Out, Angle had submitted Cena to claim a WWE Title shot of his own.

This time, Cena would not be denied. The three-time United States Champion took a German suplex into the corner in the early goings, but he weathered Angle's storm, escaped an Ankle Lock, and hit an FU. It wasn't enough to put the former WWE Champion away, though, and before long, Angle had the Ankle Lock in again - only this time, he grapevined his legs around Cena's. No one had ever managed to escape from that variation of the hold, but Cena clawed at canvas, finally pulling both himself and Angle to the ropes. From there, another FU followed, and John Cena was going to WrestleMania.