How Kurt Angle Legitimately Beat Up John Cena in Real Life During a WWE Match

John Cena might be one of WWEâ€s most respected legends today, but his early days in the company werenâ€t without a few painful lessons. WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson recently opened up about one such moment, recalling the time Kurt Angle humbled a young Cena in the ring.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Anderson reflected on being Cenaâ€s assigned producer during his early run in WWE. He explained that Vince McMahon personally tasked him with helping Cena develop his in-ring skills and understanding of the business.

“Vince pulled me in the office and went, ‘Weâ€ve got a new kid that we pulled up, we think heâ€s got a very bright future, Arn teach him how to work.†I did in fact have his matches and John was very, very green. He was green in his thought process. He was trying to find his way.â€

Anderson then recalled the infamous night when Cena learned what happens when you disrespect a veteran mid-match.

“One night, he was working with Kurt Angle. Some guy out in the audience had one of those hands, and John spotted it, he just leaves Kurt, rolls out of the ring, and goes about 10 rows deep, takes the hand, and folds it into a (middle) finger.â€

When Cena returned to the ring, Kurt Angle made sure to remind him about respect — in a very physical way.

“He goes back over the rail, right there is Kurt. Kurt hit him with a belly-to-belly on the floor, then threw him in the ring and stomped his brains out.â€

Anderson said Cena looked completely shell-shocked after the match, but it was a necessary lesson about professionalism.

“When he came back through the curtain, I went, ‘Learn anything tonight?†And he had this (wide-eyed) look on his face. Because he had just got the dog s**t kicked out of him by somebody that could do it and not have any repercussions from it.â€

The veteran producer then told Cena the truth: you never turn your back on a man like Kurt Angle.

“I just said, ‘Youâ€ve gotta respect the guy. You donâ€t leave a guy, even in the ring, you donâ€t leave a guy and walk over and start screaming at the fans, with your back to that guy.â€â€

That night became a turning point in Cenaâ€s evolution — from a brash rookie to one of the most respected performers in WWE history.

Even the best have to learn the hard way sometimes. Do you think Kurt Angle was right to teach Cena that lesson in such a brutal way? Share your thoughts below.

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