WATCH: John Cena Knocks Out Kurt Angle in an Iconic Match at Survivor Series 2005

John Cena and Kurt Angle share a special bond which started with Cena debuting against Angle on SmackDown. Since then, both men have faced each other on multiple occasions.

Before this year’s Survivor Series, WWE posted a throwback video of Angle and Cena, fighting for the WWE Championship in 2005. Their feud began in August when Eric Bischoff chose Angle as the number one contender to the WWE Championship after Cena defeated Chris Jericho in a ‘You’re Fired’ match to retain the WWE Championship.

Cena retained the title at Unforgiven as he was disqualified. The two squared off against each other again at Taboo Tuesday in a Triple Threat match that also included Shawn Michaels, and again, Cena retained the title.

Kurt Angle finally agreed to compete if he’d have a special guest referee. Angle chose Daivari.

Throughout the match, Daivari preferred Angle over Cena. The Champ even slapped him, but Angle and Daivari chose not to disqualify him. After that, Cena knocked both men out of the ring. As Daivari was knocked down outside, a Raw referee came out to officiate.

After Cena gained the advantage, Angle knocked down the referee and executed an illegal low blow. Angle called for another referee but failed to get the win.

Cena went for an FU, but Angle would not let the referee count as the other referee was knocked out. SmackDown! Referee Charles Robinson came out. Cena then delivered a DDT to Daivari and executed an FU on Angle, pinning him to retain the title.

In the future, this feud with Angle would see Cena using his now-iconic submission based, finishing maneuver—the STFU. Cena first used it in a triple threat submissions only match on the November 28 episode of Raw.

However, both men share an excellent relationship outside the ring. In fact, Cena inducted Kurt Angle into the Hall of Fame in 2017. Angle has even said John Cena is the greatest WWE Superstar of all time.

Unfortunately, neither of the two men will be there for this year’s Survivor Series. John Cena is focusing on other ventures while Angle left WWE to start his supplement company.