John Cena has revealed that Randy Orton tied his boots together before his WWE debut match against Kurt Angle — forcing the future 16-time world champion to cut his laces and wrestle with half of them. Cena shared the backstage prank story during a New York Q&A, recalling the chaos of his first night as a WWE superstar.
John Cena and Randy Orton (Credits: WWE)
Cena made his WWE debut on the June 27, 2002 episode of SmackDown, answering Angle’s open challenge. The match launched one of the greatest careers in wrestling history — but it began with a classic locker room rib.
John Cena Says Randy Orton Tied His Boots Together Before Kurt Angle Debut Match
“In 2002, I went to Chicago as an extra talent — someone not to be used,” Cena said. “I was then told I was going to have a match against an Olympic gold medalist. 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.”
That was not the only indignity of the night. Cena added that he had to go off campus to get “one of the worst haircuts that people watching on television had ever seen” before stepping into the ring with Angle.
Despite the prank, Cena looks back on the night with gratitude. “That was my welcome to the WWE, and it was better than I ever could have imagined,” he said. “A moment that was supposed to be celebratory was also humbling. It was filled with tough love that belongs to our fraternity, and I was grateful to go through that.”
John Cena and Randy Orton: From Prank to Legendary Rivalry
The rib marked the beginning of a relationship that would define an era. Orton went on to become one of Cena’s greatest rivals, with the two clashing repeatedly at the top of WWE across more than a decade of main events.
Cena’s WWE in-ring career came to an end in December, closing the book on a run that began with tied boots, half laces, and a bad haircut — and ended as one of the most decorated careers the company has ever seen. He is set to appear on Monday’s Raw and Tuesday’s NXT.
Also Read: John Cena & Cody Rhodes Set for November 4 NXT: Dusty Classic Final and Unsanctioned Match Announced
Source: Fightful — read the full story there.
