WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:06.160 Welcome to the WWE Podcast, the most passionate and authentic 2 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:09.839 wrestling analysis on the web. We've got you covered with 3 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:14.359 every Raw, SmackDown and NXT show, giving you a no 4 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:18.440 bullsted opinion. We know you love wrestling. We do too, 5 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:20.559 so let's get this show underway. 6 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:26.679 And that's the bottom line. What costone co e SETSU. 7 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:42.119 Hey, guys, what is going on? And welcome back to 8 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:49.159 WWE Rivalries with your host, yours truly, Anthony DeMarco. You 9 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:52.479 can find me at aid Marco twenty five on Twitter 10 00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:55.280 if you guys want to get in touch. And I 11 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:59.840 hope you guys are doing well. We are September tenth 12 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:02.960 when I'm recording this Thursday, September tenth, but you will 13 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:08.439 be listening to it most likely on September eleventh. So 14 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:13.519 back by popular demand, or should I say brought to 15 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:18.560 you by popular demand? We have this week's feature rivalry 16 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:22.920 of Edge versus John Cena, and I'm going to focus 17 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:27.840 on They're one that really ran through the better part 18 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.040 of two thousand and six. I don't want to make 19 00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:35.480 this huge, story long rivalry when it spilled into the 20 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:39.000 World Heavyweight Championship picture leading up to wrestling at twenty 21 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:43.359 five when they had the triple Threat match with the 22 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:46.640 Big Show that was mainly a part of SmackDown. I'm 23 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:50.680 going to focus mainly on the two thousand and six 24 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:54.799 version of Edge versus John Cena, because, as I've said before, 25 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:57.760 I wasn't too in touch with the product in the 26 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:02.400 year two thousand and nine, ten whenever that was. But 27 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:06.560 to be quite honest, I think their rivalry in two 28 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.319 thousand and six was the best part of it, as 29 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:13.120 it was a catapult for Edge and it was one 30 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:17.240 of the first big rivalries for John Cena as a 31 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:20.879 main event star. But before we get to that, I'm 32 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.879 just gonna give you a few of my thoughts on 33 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:29.240 the current WWE product at hand. So we'll start firstly 34 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.319 with the Talk of the Town, and that is a 35 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:36.360 heel Roman Reigns, who was set to go one to 36 00:02:36.599 --> 00:02:41.360 one on one with his cousin jay Uso. Look, there's 37 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:43.960 no way Juso is going to win. This is clearly 38 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:48.719 a means to an end type of storyline and program, 39 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:54.080 and that end being solidifying Roman Reigns as a true 40 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:58.280 top heel. Look, I think that it's gonna be a 41 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:01.520 slow burn with rains going to a full heal mode, 42 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:04.479 and I think there's no better way to start that 43 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.879 off by making him go up against his family member 44 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:11.479 and a crowd favorite in one of the Uso brothers. 45 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.199 I'm interested to see how they play this out over 46 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:20.000 the coming weeks, how the interactions between jay Uso and 47 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:23.800 Roman Rings are, because look, for all intents and purposes, 48 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.960 ja Uso has no business being in this match, has 49 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:29.960 no business being had no business being in the Number 50 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:35.039 one Contenders match, just no business being around the Universal 51 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:38.319 Championship picture. Like, I don't even think he's had a 52 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:41.159 one on one opportunity for a singles title at all, 53 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:45.680 including the intercon Nettal or United States Championship. So look, 54 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:49.479 we're gonna throw logic to the wayside and just look 55 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:54.080 at it for the betterment of this program and this storyline, 56 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:57.560 which it is. To be quite honest, I can't think 57 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:02.879 of a better first one on one guy to go 58 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.400 up against the Roman reigns, then a family member to 59 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:09.879 really push home the narrative that he is a true 60 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:13.080 top heel. So I'm really looking forward to that, and, 61 00:04:13.159 --> 00:04:15.639 to be quite honest, SmackDown as a whole I think 62 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.639 has been doing very, very well of late. I love 63 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:22.399 what they're doing with the Intercontinental Championship picture bringing back 64 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:25.240 Sammy Zain, and you know he comes from the same 65 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:28.160 place in Montreal that I do, so I got a 66 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:32.360 kick out of him speaking French. Just overly obnoxious type 67 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.519 of character. I really missed him on television and then 68 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:39.680 him involved with Jeff Hardy and aj Styles. I just 69 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:43.639 think it's a great mid card type of feud for 70 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:46.439 SmackDown right now, and I just think as a whole 71 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.879 they are doing very well. The Bailey turn on Sasha Banks. 72 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.519 I didn't know they were gonna do it that fast. 73 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:56.079 I thought they're gonna let it drag on for a 74 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.600 bit longer, but hey, they did it excellently. I'm here 75 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:02.480 for a but it SmackDown as a whole is really 76 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:05.720 doing well, and I think I touched on it last week, 77 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:09.360 but I'm enjoying it a lot more than Monday Night 78 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:13.279 Raw as of right now, and even the tag team division, 79 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:16.600 Like I know that we haven't really seen Cizarro and 80 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:20.720 Nakamura engage in any type of feud strictly on SmackDown. Obviously, 81 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:23.839 they showed up on Raw this week to come face 82 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:27.720 to face with the Street profits. But the way that 83 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:32.720 they've given Nakamora and Cizarro screen time to kind of 84 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:35.680 push home the fact of, you know, the Champions Lounge 85 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:38.920 and the Champions Champagne. I think it's been really cool. 86 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:42.680 I like Cizarro and Knackamora. I think they just fit 87 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:45.439 like a glove with one another for a tag team. 88 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:48.759 So as a whole, I am really intrigued on what's 89 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:53.519 going on on SmackDown. As for Monday Night Raw hasn't 90 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:56.480 been bad, but I'm starting to get a bit tired. 91 00:05:56.759 --> 00:06:00.600 Like I'll just say it, Mysterial Family cannot and them 92 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:04.439 cannot take any more of it. Dominic coming out there 93 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:09.800 looking like a power Ranger beating up Murphy, which I 94 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:13.160 don't understand what the point of that was. I think 95 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:17.160 Murphy becoming a jobber to the Missterio family is a joke, 96 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:22.399 quite honestly. As for the main event feud, look, I'm 97 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:27.240 still invested in Orton versus McIntyre, but at the same time, 98 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:32.759 I feel like the injection of Keith Lee into that 99 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:38.360 into that program has really hurt Randy Orton in particular. 100 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:42.240 It's almost like he has two foes right now. I 101 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:44.920 know that they had Keith Lee say like that Drew 102 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:47.319 Barer not interfere in his match again and whatnot. But 103 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:51.160 I just don't think that's where Keith Lee needed to be. 104 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:54.519 And I love Keith Lee, he has a bright future 105 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.480 on the main roster, but just any other type of 106 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:00.879 program would have been better to did for Keith Lee. 107 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.319 I thought they were doing an excellent job with pushing 108 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.920 Randy Orton as the true top heel in the company 109 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:12.519 and in professional wrestling as a whole, maybe rivaled by 110 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:16.720 MJF and AEW, but they I don't know, they cool 111 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:19.519 them off the back to back losses in the same 112 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:23.040 week by the roll up and then the power bomb 113 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:25.480 by Keith Lee or I forget what his version of 114 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.240 the power bomb is called. But I don't really like 115 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.240 what they've done with Orton in the past few weeks, 116 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:34.160 even Drew getting the three claim wars on him this week. 117 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:37.759 I just I feel like they've really halted the momentum 118 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:41.759 of Randy Orton and kind of disappointed there, to be 119 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:46.839 quite honest. Then the biggest positive though of Monday Night 120 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:51.439 Raw is the Hurt business. I love it, absolutely great. 121 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:57.519 They've taken three I would say obscure and random and 122 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:04.120 insignificant guys in MVP and Shelton, Benjamin, Cedric Alexander. And 123 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:07.680 we can't lump Bobby Lashley into that mix because he 124 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:10.680 did have a solid run going on even before the 125 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:16.079 herb business showed up. But they have really taken Raw 126 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:19.240 by the horns and in my opinion, are the most 127 00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:22.600 entertaining part of the show right now. I really love 128 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:27.600 what they're doing. I really hope to God that on 129 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:31.120 two of the members tag team together and take the 130 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.120 Tag Team championships away from the street profits. I think 131 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.639 that's what this faction needs. Hopefully it would be Shelton 132 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:42.240 and Cedric Alexander or MVP and Cedric Alexander. Just Cedric 133 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:45.440 Alexander would have to be involved. I love him joining 134 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.919 the group, but I'm hoping that they get more gold 135 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:53.120 around their ways, as Bobby Lashley is already the United 136 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:58.600 States champion. So look, all positives across the board for SmackDown. 137 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:02.039 Not so much for Monday Night Raw, but it isn't 138 00:09:02.039 --> 00:09:04.879 awful by any means. I just think that for whatever reason, 139 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:09.320 it's kind of become a bit redundant on Monday Night Raw, 140 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:12.840 especially the mysterio thing, and I don't mean to keep 141 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:18.080 coming back and rehashing and whatnot, but my god, I 142 00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:22.200 am just so done with that whole mysterio seth Rawlins 143 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:26.480 thing and Dominic. I don't know, there's something unlikable about him. 144 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:29.759 Maybe it's the Power Ranger costume. Not too sure there, 145 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:36.440 but certainly has not been my cup of tea. But look, 146 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:39.600 let's get to the reason why you guys are here, 147 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:43.960 and that is WWEU rivalries and brought to you by 148 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:46.279 popular demand. I know a lot of you guys email 149 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:51.200 the Matt at REALWWE Podcasts at gmail dot com to 150 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:58.080 express your interest in me taking a episode to focus 151 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:02.519 on Edge versus John, And look, I had that one 152 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.480 sitting in the back pocket, and I was gonna do 153 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:07.279 it anyway. No, I'm just kidding. I know, I definitely 154 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:11.440 thought about doing it for a couple weeks now, but 155 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:14.279 figured I might as well do it right now, seeing 156 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:17.799 as though so many of you wanted to hear about it. So, 157 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:20.960 like I said, I'm going to concentrate on their feud 158 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:26.360 in two thousand and six that culminated at the Unforgiven 159 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:30.960 pay per view following SummerSlam. So to bring you back 160 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:33.399 to two thousand and five a bit to really set 161 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.120 the stage for where these two guys were coming from 162 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:39.159 and how they led to be how they ended up 163 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:42.879 being against one another. Rather in two thousand and five 164 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:47.360 WrestleMania twenty one. This was a big pay per view 165 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:51.159 for setting the stage as to where John Cena and 166 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:56.000 Edge were heading for the succeeding year, year and a 167 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:59.879 half even two years. So at this time, John Cena 168 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:04.080 was the number one contender for JBL's WWE Championship over 169 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:08.759 on SmackDown, And at this time SmackDown was really going 170 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:11.080 through a changing of the guard for who their top 171 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.440 face was going to be and their top heel for 172 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:17.000 that matter. As you may have recalled, Brocklesner had left 173 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:20.320 the company the year before. They had just gone through 174 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:23.960 the Eddie Guerrero w W Championship, a run that ended 175 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.720 at the previous Great American Bash in June of two 176 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:32.240 thousand and four, and JBL was on a nine month 177 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:37.440 run as WWE champion, and he faced off against guys 178 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:42.759 like Eddie Guerrero, Booker, t Undertaker, Big Show, and he 179 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:46.519 fought them all off and blow and behold John Cena, 180 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:50.080 who was fresh off of a year of being the 181 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:53.399 US Champion on and off, having a lengthy feud with 182 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:58.320 Booker t the debut in Carlito ended up losing it 183 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:02.919 to the Chief of Staff to JBL Orlando Jordan and 184 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:06.919 had never been a champion other than the US Champion 185 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:10.840 to this point in his career. So following the No 186 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:14.559 Way Out pay per view of two thousand and five, 187 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:19.320 John Cena faced off against or embarked on a program 188 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:23.399 with John Bradshaw Layfield, his first ever main event feud, 189 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:27.639 which he ended up winning the ww Championship from him 190 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:33.279 at WrestleMania twenty one in two thousand and five. Meanwhile, 191 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:38.360 over on Raw, RAW was enjoying some of its best 192 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:43.080 time during the Ruthless Aggression era in my honest opinion, 193 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.840 because at this time Bautista and Triple H were entering 194 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:50.799 their inaugural feud in the main event scene, as Bautista 195 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:55.440 just turned on him and hence just ending evolution as 196 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:58.200 we knew it for the time being. But while they 197 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:02.480 had a strong upper car main event scene, the other 198 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:08.279 great part about Raw during this time was the fact 199 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:13.480 that they just had a such a strong mid card, 200 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:17.519 and you saw guys in the mid card like Shelton Benjamin, 201 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:22.480 Chris Jericho, Christian Crisp and Wah and Edge and just 202 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:26.519 other people who I'm missing, but Raw at this time Caine. 203 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:31.720 They just had a very very very strong mid card. 204 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:34.279 You could even make the case that Randy Orton had 205 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:37.120 slid back into the upper mid card at this point 206 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:40.080 as he faced off against the Undertaker at this WrestleMania. 207 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:43.879 So essentially what happened at WRESTLEMANA twenty one was the 208 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.039 inaugural Money in the Bank ladder match. And at this time, 209 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:50.639 if you guys remember, the Money in the Bank ladder 210 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:53.639 match was held annually at WrestleMania did not yet have 211 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:57.879 its own pay per view, and at this WrestleMania it 212 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:02.600 was a raw exclusive. So what we saw here was 213 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:06.639 basically all the upper mid card guys get thrown together 214 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:10.240 in a ladder match for the money in the Bank contract. 215 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.639 And it was such a foreign concept. We didn't even 216 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:16.360 know how this would work, how you would cash it in. 217 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:21.840 The match featured Edge, Christian, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Caine, 218 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:25.759 and Shelton Benjamin, who was the inter Continental Champion at 219 00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:28.960 that time. Throughout the match, very good match, I suggest 220 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.600 you guys go back and watch it, and it ended 221 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:35.080 up with Chris Benoit on the ladder seemingly ready to 222 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:38.679 win the first ever money in the Bank ladder match, 223 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.960 but during the match he had really got his arm 224 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:45.000 messed up, so he's climbing the ladder very gingerly on 225 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:48.159 one arm. Edge comes in the ring, smashes him in 226 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:52.480 the bad arm with a steel chair, climbs the ladder 227 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:56.360 and unhooks the first ever money in the bank briefcase. 228 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:02.559 And this set Edge on a very strong year as 229 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:06.320 he really came into his own in two thousand and 230 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:09.000 five as a top heel, because in two thousand and 231 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:11.879 four he was a babyface for much of it. Had 232 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:15.879 a program with Randy Orton over the Intercontinental Championship in 233 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:19.639 two thousand and four, so it was clear that following 234 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:22.080 wrestling in twenty one, giving him the money in the 235 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:27.080 Bank contract was a way to really push forward with 236 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:30.639 Edge as a top heel. Because you gotta remember, at 237 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:34.600 this time on Monday Night Raw, Triple H had reigned 238 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:38.600 supreme atop the heel part of the mountain. At least 239 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:41.799 of Monday Night Raw for almost three years running. He 240 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:44.720 had been the World heavyweight Champion. I would say at 241 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:47.279 least eighty percent of the time, save for a few 242 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:51.320 short brief runs by Ben Wah and Sean Michaels and 243 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:55.240 Randy Orton and Batista just won the World Heavyweight Championship 244 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:58.840 at that same pay per view, so they had to 245 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:02.080 start looking to the future, and two thousand and five 246 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:05.000 was their first step in doing so in the main event, 247 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:10.000 specifically with Edge. Now, to be quite honest, it took 248 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.799 Edge quite a long time to get to the main 249 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:16.799 event picture, even following that money in the Bank, I 250 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:22.360 keep saying championship. Sorry, guys, it's just its habit for me. 251 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:27.720 Following his money in the Bank contract victory. So following 252 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:31.279 this pay per view, he obviously had a short brief 253 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:34.919 feud with Kine where he aligned himself with Leda. Then 254 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:38.279 he had what I love, one of the most underrated 255 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:41.159 feuds that I guess it kind of fell flat, But 256 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:45.279 his feud and program with Matt Hardy in the summer 257 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:47.399 of two thousand and five playing off of real life 258 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:50.440 events was pretty damn cool, even though it was kind 259 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:53.639 of lackluster in the end. So while Edge was on 260 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:56.879 the ascent in two thousand and five, John Cena was 261 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:59.480 doing much of the same. He closed out his program 262 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:03.639 with John Adshaw Layfield on SmackDown, and then he was 263 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:08.039 drafted over to Raw as him and Batista swap swapped places, 264 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:12.319 both world championships, swapped the brands, and it was a 265 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:17.640 pretty big shift in the landscape of w WE. Personally, 266 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:21.119 I think it's because Vince mcmahnon company saw John Cena 267 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:24.400 as the top guy ahead of Batista. That's why they 268 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:28.400 made him switch to the flagship show, Monday Night Raw, 269 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.720 and right out of the gate, he engaged in a 270 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:34.680 feud with Chris Jericho. I believe. He defended the WWE 271 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:37.680 Championship at Vengeance two thousand and five in a triple 272 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.480 threat batch with Christian and Chris Jericho, his first title 273 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:45.799 defense as part of Monday Night Raw. Then he embarked 274 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:48.880 on a program with Jericho just up until SummerSlam. Jericho 275 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:53.119 ended up getting fired AKA pursuing his Fozzy career and 276 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:56.599 he was away from WWE for about two years after that, 277 00:17:57.359 --> 00:18:01.000 and then afterwards he had a see had a program 278 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:04.519 with Kurt Angle which lasted much of the fall of 279 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:09.000 two thousand and five, culminated at Survivor Series, and he 280 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:15.880 ended up defending his WWE Championship in a elimination chamber 281 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:22.359 match at New Year's Resolution two thousand and six, and 282 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:27.039 this match included the likes of Chris Masters, Carlito Cain, 283 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:32.599 Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle along with John Cided. And 284 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:35.519 if you guys don't remember, Carlito and Chris Masters were 285 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:40.319 really kind of getting pushed as top young guys on 286 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:42.720 Monday Night Raw. They were part of Team Raw in 287 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:47.000 the inaugural Raw Versus SmackDown Survivor Series match. Then I 288 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.359 think I'm going to do a Rivalries edition on that 289 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:52.680 as well, Raw Versus SmackDown in two thousand and five, 290 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.480 because it's not kind of like the forced version as 291 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:59.599 we see in today's WWE. It's more so it was 292 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:03.519 more so of an organic program. But nonetheless, so we 293 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:06.640 saw Cain in that match, who was won half of 294 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:10.319 the World Tag Team Champions with Big Show, Shawn Michaels 295 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:14.759 and Kurt Angle. So what we saw in this one 296 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:18.759 as Kurt Angle went out first, Shawn Michaels and Cain 297 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:23.279 followed and it came down to Carlito Masters and John 298 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:26.920 Cena and John Cena started this match with Shawn Michaels. 299 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:29.960 So he was a bloodied mess and he was just 300 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:34.640 getting double team by Carlito and Chris Masters. Carlito turned 301 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:38.400 on Chris Masters, got the pin, and then John Cena 302 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:43.519 pinned Carlito for the roll up, seemingly closing out the 303 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:48.200 night as WWE champion, overcoming the odds. And by this 304 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:52.559 point John Cena was he was w W champion for 305 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:54.400 going on ten months. At this point, you know, he 306 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:57.200 had won it back in I believe it was in 307 00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:01.319 March that year Wrestlmingia or April, so it was almost 308 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.680 a year. It was coming up on a year of 309 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:07.799 John Cena being the WWE champion. But while we thought 310 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:12.640 that John Ceno was gonna walk away from that pay 311 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:16.640 per view as WWE champion, and just when we thought 312 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:19.200 the show was over and John Cena would live to 313 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:23.440 fight another day as w w E Champion, Vince McMahon appeared. 314 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:32.279 This individual is cashing in his money and the bank 315 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:39.599 privilege thirty earned in Wressellmania Championship match will take place 316 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:46.279 right here, right now, Oh Johnsina defense ac. 317 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:52.079 Cash Well, I thought, and I said it earlier than that. 318 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:54.640 Are you kidding me? That head would use it. 319 00:20:54.680 --> 00:21:00.799 A Presselmania, but his casting in cash it is big 320 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.920 time when. 321 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:07.599 Jud Cina is not his weakest. Oh hard, turn around, 322 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:09.119 Tony boy, turn her around. 323 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:12.960 It's over and drelse waiting on the tow You ain't chip, 324 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.960 it's waiting on him. 325 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:16.759 Check under the spin. 326 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:18.720 Too. 327 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:22.680 Did he get in? 328 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.279 No? 329 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.119 He didn't. 330 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:28.240 How in the world did John Cena kick out him? 331 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.839 That was it a three or two? 332 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:30.960 It was a two? 333 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.039 It was a two. 334 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:36.960 And Edge is in total disbelief. I don't think Edge 335 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:39.599 is the only one in disbelieve. 336 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:45.720 After all that Sina's gone through. Look at Edge now, 337 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:49.559 he can't believe it. But this belief now turn into 338 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:52.960 frustration and angry. You can see the face of age changing. 339 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.839 Oh no, not another spear everybody. 340 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.119 I guess that's figures. That's what it's gonna take. Edge, 341 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:00.799 will spirit seen them all? 342 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:12.200 We're gonna be asked and I can't cover are good? 343 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:15.079 What has he been here tonight? Why are you? 344 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.839 I can't believe it. 345 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.319 I can't believe it. 346 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.559 That's what the. 347 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:32.799 Data historical nights. It just sucked the world. I want 348 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.799 to tell you what he's done. 349 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:38.240 So there you have it. Edge, with the inaugural money 350 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:41.599 in the bank. Cash In takes the championship away from 351 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:44.680 John Cena, the first time the w W Championship had 352 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:47.519 changed hands in close to ten months. As I just said, 353 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:50.200 and fun fact, and I believe you guys already knew this. 354 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:53.400 Uh Matt was in the crowd for that, for that, 355 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:56.880 for that match and that pay per view. So a 356 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:00.440 pretty cool bit of info there. I'm pretty sure Matt 357 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:04.960 did a whole restling nostalgia based on this. So this 358 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:09.240 was the kickoff to the Edge versus John Cena feud. 359 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:14.039 But while it was the kickoff, it didn't really last long. 360 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:17.240 The falling night on Raw, Edge had the infamous live 361 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.359 sex celebration, which, uh, man, you want to talk about 362 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:24.480 rated R superstar that is just about as rated R 363 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:29.759 as it gets. John Cena interrupted, and they embarked on 364 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:34.000 a program that led to Royal Rumble two thousand and 365 00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:37.680 six and le and Behold, John Cena won back the 366 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:41.640 WWE Championship less than a month later. And I guess 367 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:47.000 if I look back at this objectively, I understand why 368 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:51.119 they put the belt back on Sena right away, because 369 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:53.680 if you think about it, I know we think of 370 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:56.559 John Cena now as being forced down our throats for 371 00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:59.799 the better part of ten years and never losing paper 372 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:06.799 matches and just basically a WWE version of Superman. There 373 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:10.119 was still a lot of juice to be squeezed from 374 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:13.119 the initial John seen a push at this time. And 375 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:15.880 I know that may be crazy to say, because he 376 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.440 had just been on a near year long run as 377 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:21.759 WWE champion. Why put the belt back on him right away? 378 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:26.200 But there was still a lot of runway to go 379 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:29.359 with John Sieda, because even though he had only been 380 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:33.039 in the main event picture for or that he'd already 381 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:35.119 been in the main event picture for a year, they 382 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:40.960 really hadn't got him involved in very high level feuds 383 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:43.920 to this point. Like I said on SmackDown, it was 384 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:47.599 a four month long program with John Bradshaw Layfield, he 385 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.880 came over to rob he had a two month long 386 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:52.759 program with Chris Jericho, who was no longer on the 387 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:55.480 Monday Night Rob Brand. Then he went to Totoe with 388 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:58.160 Kurt Angle for three months, who by this time in 389 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:01.960 January two thousand and six, had jumped back over to 390 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:06.839 SmackDown and once again had reclaimed the World Heavyweight Championship. 391 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:10.400 So John Cena had yet to really engage in a 392 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:13.640 few that's stuck. It was all kind of one and 393 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:17.519 done's And you saw what they did following him regaining 394 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:20.279 the w W Championship at the Roe Rumble, as he 395 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:24.920 went into a pretty good and underrated program with Triple 396 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:28.680 H leading into WrestleMania twenty two, and maybe they thought 397 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:31.039 it was premature to put the strap on edge. If 398 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:34.200 I had to give an objective take on it, I 399 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:39.279 think it's because they saw the potential by booking John 400 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:43.359 Cena versus Triple H at WrestleMania twenty two. And at 401 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:46.720