CHRIS JERICHO VS. JOHN CENA

Today (along with being Guy Fawkes Night over here in England) marks the anniversary of John Cena's professional wrestling debut. He would become one of the most recognizable faces to the general public and one of just a few to transcend to Hollywood with relative success. Before all that could play out though, he had the veteran Chris Jericho to get past as a WWE rookie. He already held a pinfall victory over Jericho in a tag team match on Smackdown. Michael Cole and Tazz are on commentary for this match. Chris Jericho makes his way down as we recap him attacking Cena last week with a steel chair. John Cena is inside Chris Jericho's head and Y2J doesn't like it. John Cena has some really generic music here, it's strange. Jericho grabs a chair from ringside but Cena cuts him off at the bottom of the ramp. John Cena hits Jericho over the back with the chair and takes it in the ring.

CHRIS JERICHO VS. JOHN CENA

WWE Vengeance 2002 (21^st July 2002)

The bell rings and Cena shoots for a takedown, hitting Jericho with rights on the mat. Chris Jericho takes it to the corner but Cena sends him across the ring, back again goes Jericho before walking into a clothesline. Chris Jericho is sent into the ropes but he bails to the floor. John Cena chases him back into the ring, Jericho ducks another clothesline but runs into a back elbow. John Cena gets a hip toss but Jericho reverses an irish whip. Chris Jericho tries to leapfrog but is caught in a spinebuster for a nearfall. John Cena makes the rookie mistake of arguing with the referee and letting Jericho get to his feet. Cena walks into a Hot Shot over the top rope. Jericho stomps at Cena on the mat and hits a back suplex. John Cena is dropkicked in the face and choked over the middle rope. Chris Jericho charges into Cena's back and takes the padding off one of the turnbuckles, but gets caught by the referee, John Cena rolls him up for another nearfall. He might have had that won if the referee wasn't replacing the pad. Chris Jericho knocks Cena down first with a leg lariat.

Chris Jericho trash talks whilst knocking Cena down with right hands and chops him in the corner. John Cena is sent across the ring but he gets the boot up. Chris Jericho ducks a haymaker and catches Cena with the Breakdown. Tazz wants Jericho to cover but everyone knows that move was a joke. Jericho climbs to the top rope but is cut off with a right hand. John Cena brings Jericho back into the ring with a superplex and covers but only gets 2. John Cena ducks a right hand and hits Jericho with two of his own but ducks too early. Chris Jericho kicks him in the face and backs into the ropes but walks into a tilt-a-whirl slam. John Cena gets another nearfall. John Cena sends Jericho into the corner but he lands on the middle rope. Cena inexplicably jumps into a missile dropkick, Chris Jericho covers for 2. We see a replay of Cena's organs being rearranged as he's sent across the ring. He catches Jericho's legs, catapulting him into the corner but Jericho lands on the middle rope again, Chris Jericho jumps into a belly to belly suplex, getting Cena another nearfall.

Commentary wonder if Cena's hesitation in hooking Jericho's leg cost him there as he sends Jericho into the ropes. Chris Jericho stays put and Cena's dropkick hits the air. John Cena rolls out of the way of the Lionsault, he tries to roll Jericho up but the Oklahoma roll is countered and Jericho gets a nearfall. Chris Jericho stays on Cena with an elbow to the top of the head and a right hand. John Cena takes the Bret Hart corner bump and Jericho brings him down to the mat. Chris Jericho covers and gets his feet on the rope but Cena still kicks out. Chris Jericho complains to the referee because he can't cheat effectively and slaps Cena across the face. Chris Jericho sends Cena into the corner and Cena walks into a bulldog. Chris Jericho hits a Lionsault but refuses to cover, waiting for Cena to get to his feet. Chris Jericho trips Cena but John Cena counters the Walls of Jericho into a roll up for the win.

WINNER: JOHN CENA

This match was a good py per view debut for Cena. He was able to hold his own with Chris Jericho and took advantage of any small openings Jericho gave him. Chris Jericho was so focused on trying to humiliate John Cena it cost him the match. This match helps quiet the “you can't wrestle” chants Cena became known to get also, he showed some good technical ability and it all looked flush. – WORKRATE: 3.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.75/5 OVERALL 6/10

This match is available on the WWE Release “John Cena: My Life”.