10 WWE Classics That Never Should Have Worked

1. John Cena Vs JBL (Judgment Day 2005)

John Cena Jbl
WWE.com

Had John Cena and John Bradshaw Layfield actually played a blinder by playing down their abilities on WWE's 'Grandest Stage?'

The pair had underwhelmed underneath a blockbuster card, assembling a nothing television match when the biggest main event-calibre match of either man's career was the required encounter. It turned out they'd elected to save everything for the much-needed rematch just two months later.

With expectations diminished after the 'Show Of Shows' stinker and an 'I Quit' stipulation that had flattered to deceive over the years, the former and current WWE Champion went to all-out war over the company's richest prize in one of the only bloodthirsty brawls in Cena's mostly-PG career. At long last, Layfield had rich chemistry with a babyface rather than being required to play a total chickensh*t, and cheated, kicked and screamed his way to near-victory before the world was aware of Cena's inhuman recuperative powers.

Soaked in claret and armed with half a car, Cena rounded on the Texan to make him quit out of fear, rather than submission. Serving both characters and a rabid audience, the gripping display was an unqualified success.

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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett