Some fans may not remember ECW One Night Stand 2006. That’s understandable; the event’s reputation paled in comparison to the first ECW One Night Stand a year earlier, considered one of the best one-off PPV’s in history, and the ECW revival that followed the 2006 One Night Stand left many with a bad taste in many mouths. But if nothing else, One Night Stand 2006, where Cena defended the WWE Title against Rob Van Dam, stakes a strong claim for being peak of the Cena backlash. Much like the Punk match, Cena was at a disadvantage, facing an ECW legend in hollowed ECW ground, the Hammerstein Ballroom. And yet, whereas MITB 2011 was about fans embracing Punk, one can’t shake that One Night Stand 2006 was less about supporting RVD and more about extending a giant middle finger to Cena.

It starts quickly with the “If Cena Wins, We Riot” sign seen at the start of the show, then hits like a ton of bricks during Cena’s entrance and pre-match activities, where his attempts to throw his t-shirt into the crowd resulted in it being thrown back multiple times. Every jeer and every middle finger can be felt throughout the rest of the match, and much like with the Punk match, it’s apparent it inspired Cena. At the time still considered an average wrestler, Cena’s performance against RVD remains among his best work, as Cena adapted to the hostile situation brilliantly, making it all the more sweeter when RVD ultimately toppled him to win the WWE Championship, while simultaneously revitalizing the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. In a way, ECW One Night Stand 2006 and MITB 2011 teach us a valuable lesson about John Cena the performer; when fans didn’t want him around, that’s when he seemed to perform at his best.