Sunday, June 14, 2020

Wrestling Underrated Classic: John Cena vs Kevin Owens II - WWE Money in the Bank 2015

When Kevin Owens made his main roster debut five years he immediately went at John Cena. Many fans remember the first matchup between the two which KO, who was NXT champion at the time, went over on Cena, a US champ, in a non-title match. These two would have far better match at the following PPV and its largely forgotten.
The setting is WWE Money in the Bank. In the rematch Cena put US title on the line against Owens, who is still NXT champion. A big match feel with the crowd split in half. The match told a story in the ring. You have Kevin Owens riding high from his victory against Cena at Elimination Chamber. He is salivating at chance making it 2-0 against him this time for US title. He is arrogantly pumped up and ready for fight at the ring of the bell. You have John Cena who underestimated Owens in his first match that he took the time to study opponent. The result is him opening up his wrestling movelist performing moves he never done before such as electric chair faceslam and sunset flip powerbomb. Owens took a page out of Cena's playbook hitting five knuckle shuffle in mocking disrespect. They study each other so well that they would counter each other moves especially with Owens countering superplex with his own in a twisting fashion. Both would show their frustrations as they couldn't put each other away especially Cena who hit his finisher on Owens twice. A near botch corner stunner (moment some fans only remember about the match) follow with third Attitude Adjustment to put Owens away for good with Cena exorcising his demons on getting a victory over him. Post match have Cena and Owens shake hands only for Owens to obliterate him with a powerbomb on the apron setting up Cena vs Owens III which was weaker match of the trilogy.

This match is where everything both did in the ring made freakin' sense from the moves, counters, and the emotions as both men threw everything at each other in entire match. John Cena lived up to "Big Match John" name while Kevin Owens lived up being a prize fighter. Of all WWE matches in 2015 I have this as top match of 2015. This match deserves more accolades and is slightly above their first match due the storytelling. This match was indeed underrated classic.

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