This one is actually pretty strange in hindsight considering the events of last weeks Raw where Cena and Edge not only had an emotional and respectful reunion, but Cena actually came out and made the save for Edge which is doubly amazing considering Cena wouldnt even make the save on his friends and tag team partners as the Authority savaged them in the lead up to this years Survivor Series. Storytelling loopholes aside however, this slap was pretty influential at the time, and is still remembered for being quite a shocking heel act. In 2006 Edge and Cena were undergoing a feud that would help build the two of them into real superstars. Edge had won the Money in the Back Ladder Match at Wrestlemania XXI and held the briefcase for nine months until Cena had successfully defended the belt at New Years Revolution in January of 2006 in a brutal Elimination Chamber match. Edge redeemed his prize on a barely standing Cena and was thus crowned champion at the end of the PPV. At the time, Edge was the first competitor to redeem the briefcase on a beaten and exhausted champion and the move was an original and creative stroke of genius which is unfortunately now the standard. They battled on and off throughout the year, swapping the title a couple of times, and the two were to face off at SummerSlam where Edge would be champ and Cena would be challenger. Amongst the mind games between the two was an infamous segment where Edge and Lita would pay a visit to Cenas father in his own home. After a bit of psychological toing and froing, Edge and Lita turned to leave but then changed tack and slapped the bejesus out of Cenas much older father, who understandably fell straight to the ground. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp8MB9XRPAQ It was classic heel heat, and really helped Edges push as a truly scummy and disgusting bad guy at the time. Edge played it up and would replay the slap over and over to get inside Cenas head, and his heel build continued at the PPV where he would defeat Cena with the surreptitious use of brass knuckles to the back of the head. It was at the cessation of this feud where the baby face Cena would start his third title reign which would last over a year, and he would officially be the franchise of WWE.
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