[2005-06-26-WWE-Vengeance] John Cena vs Christian vs Chris Jericho

[ohtani's jacket]

This was a bog standard WWE triple threat match. it was competently worked and competently laid out, but there was nothing special about it whatsoever. It could just have easily been a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship or some other lower tier title. It certainly wasn't a match worthy of the WWE Championship, and for Cena's first title defence on the RAW brand, t was pretty weak compared to the JBL feud. 

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWE Champion John Cena vs Chris Jericho vs Christian - WWE Vengeance 2005

I remember this feud vividly from my teenage years. The Internet was strongly behind Christian and was pretty annoyed when Jericho was shoehorned in there for star power as Jericho had to rapidly turn heel. I think they would have been better off keeping Jericho babyface here turning him heel because he lost here to set up the mega match at Summerslam and ultimately Jericho leaving. Jericho was a perfect first opponent for Cena in a Mick Foley vein. Strong upper midcarder who can absorb losses easily and with him leaving it just made a lot of sense. Christian had some heat in 2004/05 but after this feud fizzled out and had to go to TNA. The cracks in Cena were forming in 2004 and would be blown wide open by late 2005. I think they thought could salvage it still so that’s why they rushed the Jericho turn to prevent Jericho for getting more cheers than Cena.

I normally skip Triple Threats but this one stuck in my craw. Looking back on being 16, I think this was a program I was interested in and I was interested to see how Christian would work with the big boys. I will echo what OJ said in his review rather everyone wrestling up to WWE Title level this was wrestled down to IC Title or Midcard Title Triple Threat. HHH/Batista feels like a titanic clash befitting  a world title main event. This felt like a fun micard opener. 
 

With both Jericho and Christian being heel most of the match is a Cena/Jericho and a Cena/Christian mini-match. Tomko, havent thought about him in a minute, interferes with both Cena and Jericho and gets tossed. The spot of the match is early as Cena FUs Christian over the top rope to the floor in a GNARLY spot. Cena/Jericho tussle that ends with a wicked DDT by Cena on Jericho on the floor. The match is structured to make Cena look great as they needed to cement him coming off Mania. 
 

Cena in 2005 is so raw. These Meathook Clotheslines are sick. I loved them. I want to see a video of Cena throwing a baseball or a football because I believe it would be awkward as shit because he can’t get his arm over his head for either his punches or clotheslines. Everything looks like a Meathook. He wrestled like a fucking ogre. His Shouldertackle just steamrolls Christian as opposed to the most graceful version of the 2010s. They do a fun spot where he drop toeholds one into Headbutting the other. Ten Knuckle Shuffle that was cute! Christian’s big move is a slop drop. Weak. Jericho gets a couples attempts at the Walls of Jericho but it is not like he had a lot of offense either. Christian goes for the Unprettier on Jericho never liked that move, but Jericho shoves him into waiting arms of Cena who clubs Jericho with Christian’s feet. FU 1-2-3!

FU on the floor, Cena’s ogre offense and a couple cute shuffles that make this good but not much more than that. ***