Kurt Angle issued an “Open Problem” on the June 27, 2002 episode of WWE SmackDown. A relative unknown, wanting carved out of granite, in crimson and black tights would reply the decision. That newcomer’s title was John Cena. The defiant newcomer stood face-to-face with an Olympic gold medalist.
Regardless that the upstart didn’t win his debut match, he gained one thing maybe far larger long-term. The long run 16-time world champ and Hollywood heavyweight turned heads and gained the respect of a revered veteran. Cena would induct Angle into the WWE Corridor of Fame in 2017. Quick ahead to as we speak and the chief of the Cenation will rejoice his twentieth anniversary showing on the June 27 episode of Uncooked. Right here Angle displays on that first assembly with Cena, their future encounters, and his legacy within the enterprise.
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When did you discover out you had been working with a debuting John Cena?
Kurt Angle: It was that day. Final second. No pre-planning. I believe Vince McMahon simply needed to see what he had and needed him to go up in opposition to a formidable opponent. That’s how he began his profession and by no means appeared again.
Do you know a lot about him?
I knew he was a handsome child with an incredible construct. His wrestling title was “The Prototype.” I didn’t know a lot about him other than that he labored in OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling) on the time. The WWE developmental the place I believe he was even coaching with Brock Lesnar.
What do you keep in mind most about working with him that first evening?
I preferred what that they had him do. I assumed his response to me and the entire “Ruthless Aggression” response was excellent. He had that written throughout him. It was a good suggestion for them to mainly begin that complete period with John Cena. I keep in mind him saying these two phrases and slapping me within the face like he wasn’t petrified of anyone. I believe that gave him a whole lot of traction to grow to be an even bigger celebrity.
You had been the go-to when it got here to creating opponents look good and even higher than they could be.
I might have a match with a broomstick. That was what a whole lot of the wrestlers would say about me. I suppose they knew Cena would have a assured nice match with me as a result of it was me. Cena did step up. There was a time limit in that match the place I stored on him. I stayed with him. I needed to check him to see if he had the conditioning to stick with me. And he did. He stored up with me the entire time. We went exhausting for 12 minutes. We didn’t have any pause. It was excessive throttle the entire time. He proved to me he was a really well-conditioned athlete.
WWE
Did Vince say something to you after?
He mentioned, “Nice stuff. You guys had an incredible match. This was an incredible debut for John.” He patted me on the again.
Did you’ve gotten any interplay after the match with John?
All I mentioned was, “You stepped up tonight. It was an incredible match.” He mentioned, “Thanks, Mr. Angle, for working with me. I actually do admire it.” He was very respectful. I knew this child was very particular from the primary time I obtained within the ring and after I obtained completed wrestling him, I knew he could be an enormous star down the street.
How was it attending to know him through the years?
He caught on very nicely. He was actually good with the merchandise. This child might promote something, and he did — hats, wristbands. He was a really marketable athlete. He got here in nicely ready. He knew as soon as he obtained on TV, he was going to promote merch, and he did. He is likely one of the prime merchandise sellers of all time.
You two not solely wrestled however labored some fairly entertaining segments together with a rap battle.
John was actually cool about it. He might have mentioned no and that he didn’t need to do it. However he performed together with it. We did the rap battle and different stuff collectively. He was at all times agreeable. He performed together with it, which is actually cool. As a result of he was a heel on the time and I used to be a babyface, he needed to make me look good and he was doing that by making an ass out of himself. He understood the enterprise and obtained the way it was speculated to be. He knew the babyfaces should be cheered and the heels should be booed. That’s one factor about John that’s lower and dry.
Do you’ve gotten a favourite match between the 2 of you?
I’d say most likely the place I made him faucet. I imagine it could have been No Mercy 2003. We had a very good match. John stayed with me and labored actually exhausting. He hit all his strikes. The match was magic and certainly one of my favourite matches. All my favourite matches although are after I make somebody faucet out. [Laughs] John and I additionally had an incredible match in No Manner Out 2005 the place he beat me. It was proper earlier than WrestleMania earlier than he gained the WWE championship for the primary time. That match might need been a little bit higher. That was after they had been actually pushing John to be the champion.
WWE
You helped set the stage for constructing momentum for him to enter dealing with John “Bradshaw” Layfield at WrestleMania 21.
I used to be at all times that man. Vince relied on me to assist convey up one other expertise. Not that Rey Mysterio wanted it, however Vince put me with him for his first match. There are lots of people Vince put me with that had been first matches. I believe he knew he might belief me.
What do you assume John Cena’s legacy will probably be?
Essentially the most profitable WWE celebrity of all time. He has gained 16 world titles, and they’re all WWE world titles. No person else has completed that. John was in a position to accomplish that. I wouldn’t say he’s the best wrestler of all time. There are a whole lot of nice technicians. John was probably the most profitable.
WWE Uncooked, Mondays, 8/7c, USA Community
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