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In early July, a rookie hit the PWF ground running: John Cena. Cena would
score win after win heading into Fall Battle Fields, where all of the "experts"
were picking Mr. Perfect, Chris Jericho, or Lance Storm to win the Battle Field
match and earn themselves a shot at Excellence and the PWF Championship at WrestleFest. In
the Battle Field, Cena was able to last eliminate then-five-time World Champion
Mr. Perfect, a feat that legitimized his rise.
In the two months leading up to the bout against Excellence, Cena was labeled
"The Rookie" and Excellence "The Legend." Insiders theorized that Excellence's
ownership of upstart wrestling organization -- and PWF competitor -- Valiant
Championship Wrestling, while reigning as PWF Champion, could take a toll,
leaving him open to a rare defeat.
The WrestleFest main event was everything it promised to be. A wild card
would enter, though, as a masked man dressed in black hit ringside, drilling the
champion with a steel chair. Neither senior official Earl Hebner nor Cena saw
this, leaving Excellence in a precarious position. Despite an untimely mistake
by Cena, Excellence couldn't capitalize and hit his famous finisher. Cena escaped, landed an
F-U, and ended the incredible six-month reign of Excellence. The Rookie had
defeated The Legend.
The mysterious masked man's identity wouldn't become known for many months,
but when he finally unmasked, professional wrestling's entire landscape would
change forever.
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JOHN CENA