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.

Match of the Week: CM Punk vs John Cena (WWE Money in the Bank 2011)

Match of the Week: CM Punk vs John Cena (WWE Money in the Bank 2011)

Five years ago, CM Punk gave the pipe bomb heard around the world thus kickstarting WWE version "Summer of Punk" storyline leading to this match against John Cena for WWE World Heavyweight title. Outside the ring Punk's contract was coming up and set to expire after Money in the Bank. There been talks of him not going to re-sign with WWE after the show. After he gave his infamous pipe bomb shoot promo he became most talked about wrestler with wrestlers, fans, and the media. With realism of his contract status up in the air gave main event of Money in the Bank huge buzz which was held in his hometown of Chicago. During the build he proclaim himself as "The Voice of the Voiceless." Vince McMahon threaten to fire John Cena if he does not beat Punk making it high stakes. Cena fighting for the company. Punk fighting for himself and the voices of the voiceless.

Big question mark is what's going to happen at the match. Will they straight up wrestle for clean finish? DQ finish? Be another screwjob finish? Bunch of crazy possibilities going into the match.

In the match these two put on 40 minute clinic trying out beat each other for the WWE World Heavyweight title. The loud rabid Chicago crowd fully backing their hometown guy and booing John Cena over each move they performed. The commentary was golden as they talk about possible impact if Punk wins. Vince McMahon sent John Laurenitis to screw CM Punk, but John Cena would not let it happen. Punk hits Cena with Go 2 Sleep for the win and WWE World Heavyweight title. Soon Vince sic Alberto del Rio on Punk only to eat a kick to the head. Punk escaped to the wild hometown crowd celebrating.

Behind the scenes Punk did re-sign with WWE on day of the show, but Summer of Punk storyline continued. He posted a picture of WWE World Heavyweight title in his fridge then crashing Wizard World panel that was hosted by Triple H. The angle and storyline fizzled out going into Summerslam. The months, June and July of 2011, produced one hell of entertaining RAW moment and great match at Money in the Bank.

CM Punk vs John Cena (Money In The Bank 2011)

Wrestling Match of the Week: Sheamus vs John Cena (WWE TLC 2009)

Wrestling Match of the Week: Sheamus vs John Cena (WWE TLC 2009)

TLC 2009 - John Cena vs. Sheamus - WWE Title... by hardy_girl222

Just like how Shemaus changed WWE landscape at Survivor Series he first did his damage in 2009.

He debut in ECW brand trading jabs with Shelton Benjamin for few months. Then popped up on RAW brand in October of that year and was one of survivors in the traditional Survivor Series match. He won battle royal to become no. 1 contender for WWE title held by John Cena. With the tables match signed for TLC the build up involved booting Cena in the face and putting Santino Marella and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban through the table.

These two brawled it out with couple teases of putting each other through the table. Just as he arrived on main roster he quickly and shockingly became WWE champion after sending Cena through the table.

Whether it was WWE immediate attempt to build new main eventers (which include Miz and former Drew McIntyre) the experiment lasted for few months before losing the belt at Elimination Chamber. Went on to face Triple H at Wrestlemania 26. Sheamus continue to be around main event scene adding three more WWE/World Heavyweight title reigns to his resume including his current run.

Rebel's Top 10 Wrestling Matches of the Year - Part 2 (1-5)

This is part 2 of my 2012 Top 10 wrestling matches of the year. They are based on matches and shows I saw throughout the year. You can part 1 here. This list ranked no. 1-5.

 5. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar - WWE Extreme Rules

This match is far different than the cookie-cutter matches WWE puts out. The entire match had a big time fight club feel with a cocky Brock overpowering and completely destroying over-confident Cena most of the match. At the end over-confidence prevails over cockiness. I haven't questioned the finish.

 

4. Robert Evans vs Portia Perez - ACW Guilty By Association 6 (Grudge Match)

  

This match filled emotional hatred and it showed throughout the battle. Short story of a year long build Robert Evans confessed his love to Portia Perez and she responded with a superkick splitting up the team. While Evans gone marching, Portia terrorize ACW til fall of 2011 when Evans came marching back costing her matches. After Evans first match in ACW in almost year Perez return the favor back superkicking him and issuing a grudge match challenge at Guilty by Association 6. What a match they produce. Before the match I could feel the hate between these two as Evans stared down at Perez. Once the bell rang they fought, battle, brutalize each other all over the ring trying to break each other will for almost 30 minutes. After the brutal hard-fought battle Evans came out on top in one of best emotionally invested hatred of a match....and its not the end to this saga yet.

 

3. Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan - WWE Extreme Rules (2 out of 3 falls match)

After 18 second match at Wrestlemania 28 these two got another go this time at Extreme Rules in a 2 out of 3 falls match.This time crowd nearly split based from aftermath of their Wrestlemania match. They were for happy-go-lucky tough guy Sheamus because he's the good guy to sympathetic Daniel Bryan who felt got cheated out of his moment.This should have been their long Wrestlemania match, these two put on amazing performance as they traded falls before Sheamus came out on top.

 

2. CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan - WWE Over the Limit

 This match has classic written all over way before their PPV encounter. Both battle to two non-finish matches on RAW which they tore down the house each time. Their third battle took place at Over the Limit this time for WWE World Title. They gave fans another masterpiece this time for near 30 minutes with a finish. They were times you thought either man would win. At the end CM Punk took victory and kept his belt.

 1. Undertaker vs Triple H - Wrestlemania 28 (Hell in the Cell)

My 2012 match of the year. One hell of a battle in this hard-hitting slugfest between two legends with a third legend involved in this match. I watched this live at friend's place and on edge our feet each moment, each move, each pin. There were times when you thought Undertaker streak would end throughout the shear brutality inside the Cell. Undertaker prevailed again pinning Triple H. This match far exceeded their Wrestlemania 17 and 27 matches. The post match of Undertaker, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels embracing in the ring and on stage gave a good lasting image. Dubbed "End of Era" they gave the fans are memorable last hurrah.

Rebel's Top 10 Wrestling Matches of 2012 - Part 1 (5-10)

 Almost end of the year and I saw doses of wrestling in-person and on DVD. There were plenty of good, average, and bad matches and shows.There are selected few the leave you more than enjoyed. I'm giving you my top 10 wrestling matches of the year. These are match I seen personally of this year. If I haven't watched it its not going be on the list. That means PPVs, DVDs, and shows I missed or haven't seen despite the praised it got like PWG or A.C.H./Davey Vega match. Here is my list:

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10. Big Show vs Sheamus - WWE Hell in the Cell

Raise your hand if you were looking forward to the match on a PPV. If your hand still raised you must be a big Sheamus/Big Show fan or just lying to yourself. It's one of those matches that look ok on paper, but turned out quite good live in-person. In a surprise these two have good in-ring chemistry producing barnburner of a match with Big Show taking the belt away from Sheamus. Lesson learned is never let looks fool you on a match.

 

9. Jun Kasai vs Masada - Freedoms 8/12 (Pain Limit finals)

These are two familiar with each other. In this match both fought each other at finals of Pain Limit tournament featuring no mats, panes of glass, and gusset plate board. They brutalized each other with one insane spot after another with Jun Kasai taking victory and winning the tournament. My mouth was literally dropping throughout the match.

  

 8. Matthew Palmer vs Masada - ACW Guilty By Association 6 (Scaffold Match)

Masada on the list again this time at Anarchy Championship Wrestling taking on Matthew Palmer in a scaffold match for ACW Hardcore title. I was in-person to watch the carnage unfold. Highly underrated Matthew Palmer was in his "Son of Anarchy" phase throughout 2011 after winning ACW Heavyweight title. After losing it he targeted Masada who is reigning hardcore champ at the time. The match started on top of the scaffold with chairs being used and Masada using skewers on Palmer before tossing him off to the ring. The brutality continue in and outside the ring with Palmer taking a beating. Palmer fought back against Masada with both going up and fighting on top of the scaffold once again. This time Palmer got the best of Masada sending off the scaffold and down to the mat of chairs. He revealed his "Centerfold" tights and hits Centerfold Splash from top of the scaffold ending Masada two-year reign as ACW Hardcore champion. I seen hundreds of hardcore style matches, but this is first I saw in person. It left me lasting impression on both Palmer and Masada as both busted and nearly killed each other throughout the match in jaw-dropping insane way.

7. Rachel Summerlyn vs Jazz - ACW Queens of Queens

Anarchy Championship Wrestling has their annual women tournament called Queens of Queens. In the first round strong-style Rachel Summerlyn took on former WWE Women champion Jazz. In the match both of these women trade each hold for hold and move for move with Summerlyn coming on top in possibly the best women match within past few years. This was just first round of the tournament.

 

6. Rock vs John Cena - Wrestlemania 28

A year in the making this is a dream match lived up to its billing.  Both of these guys put on entertaining match with the crowd helped the match pumping up to big time feel. The ending left me surprised with Rock coming on top of Cena. Looks like on a verge of getting Cena vs Rock part 2.

Part 2 coming up with matches 1-5. Stay tuned.