20 Incredible John Cena Matches To Binge-Watch Before He Retires
17. John Cena vs Kurt Angle - SmackDown, 27th June 2002
It feels like today's audience is knowledgeable about every facet of wrestling in every corner of the globe. A wrestler arriving on WWE's main roster with absolutely no fanfare to a global audience who know nothing about them is an almost incomprehensible concept, but that is exactly how John Cena arrived on our screens.
Coming fresh off wins over The Undertaker and 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle was riding the crest of a wave. High on his own supply, Angle issued an open challenge on the June 27th, 2002 episode of SmackDown, calling out any young superstar who wanted to make a name for himself. Cue a rookie John Cena entering the arena to zero reaction and the most generic music you've heard since Def Rebel dropped a new entrance theme.
As Angle smirked and guffawed at the young Cena, John seized his moment by showing the Olympic gold medalist a thing or two about "ruthless aggression". After taking the fight to Kurt and breaking out of the Ankle Lock early to avoid a squash, Cena put in a spirited and impactful performance. This is essential viewing, as John Cena proved he could mix it with a future Hall of Famer from his very first night in WWE.