John Cena Recalls Randy Orton Boot Prank Before Kurt Angle Match
“Randy Orton tied my boots together in a locker where I couldn’t even reach them, so I had to cut the laces and wrestle with half of my laces.— John Cena
John Cena made his WWE debut on the June 27 2002 episode of SmackDown against Kurt Angle. The match marked the start of one of the most successful careers in WWE history.
Cena recalled the event during a New York Q&A. He arrived in Chicago as an unused extra talent before being informed he would face an Olympic gold medalist.
Randy Orton played a prank on Cena by tying his boots together in a locker that Cena could not reach. Cena had to cut the laces and wrestle with only half of them intact.
Cena also had to leave the venue to get a haircut that turned out to be one of the worst seen by television viewers. The experience served as his introduction to the WWE.
Cena described the debut as better than he could have imagined. The moment combined celebration with humility and the tough love common in the wrestling fraternity.
Orton later became one of Cena's biggest rivals throughout his WWE career that concluded in December.
Source: Fightful
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