100 Greatest WWE Matches Of All Time (Ranked)
58. Rob Van Dam vs. John Cena (ECW One Night Stand 2006)
The first One Night Stand event in 2005 proved so successful for WWE that thoughts quickly turned to a sequel and (eventually) a fully-fledged ECW return as a third brand underneath Raw and SmackDown. That didn't pan out as everyone had hoped, but those first twin ONS pay-per-views landed with the audience. Both original ECW hardcores and WWE's casual fans were charmed by the unique atmosphere and chaotic vibes in 2005 and 2006.
For the latter, WWE elected to move towards something more than a routine ECW tribute card. They put old extreme favourite Rob Van Dam up against Vince McMahon-created entertainment poster boy John Cena inside the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, and the results spoke for themselves. This, back then, was roundly considered to be Cena's best match yet.
RVD cashed in his Money In The Bank briefcase to win the WWE Title on the night, but there was a lot of controversy surrounding the finish, Edge's interference, and the fact that Rob was announced as the new ECW Champ instead. That was a matter for coming episodes of TV to sort out (which they did). At One Night Stand, Van Dam and Cena worked hard to put on a show for fans who were baying for the latter's blood before the bell sounded.
Pre-bell, Cena threw one of his t-shirts into the crowd. They hurled it back his way, and that set the tone for everything coming next. What a fantastic piece of business. Unfortunately, Rob's subsequent suspension for a drug issue cut his title reign short, but he'll always have this epic match vs. Cena to look back on fondly.
It really was special.