John Cena lost first WWE match to forgotten wrestler with traumatic past
John Cena faced the best of the best in his glittering WWE career but his very first opponent is very much an unknown quantity.
Cena called time on his in-ring exploits after 22 years, facing Gunther in a losing effort in his last ever match at Saturday Night's Main Event in Washington, D.C back in December.
The 58-year-old, who will return as the host for WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, squared off against the likes of AJ Styles, Dominik Mysterio and CM Punk in his retirement tour - which also saw him make history and beat Cody Rhodes to become a record-breaking 17-time champion.
Rhodes then beat him at SummerSlam to take back the title. But who was the very first man to score a victory over the face of WWE?
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Cena's official debut came in 2002 against Hall of Famer Kurt Angle, answering his open challenge.
However, his first taste of in-ring action in WWE came against Mikey Henderson a couple of years before that. In October 2000, he faced Henderson prior to a Sunday Night Heat taping.
Years before he became the biggest star in the business, Cena was called the 'Prototype' - a semi-robotic character who had a blonde mohawk hairstyle.
He suffered a loss but was still handed a WWE developmental deal, which saw him join the likes of Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton and Dave Bautista in OVW.
Henderson, meanwhile, had an unfortunate and traumatic before he got his foot in the door in WWE.
As per SoCalUncensored.com, when he was 20, Henderson was the subject of an independent film about his childhood - which included being raised by a single father and having sex with a woman at the age of eight.
He began training at the age of 11 and won his first title at the age of 15. At that very same age he became a father.
He competed for OVW, UPW and APW went by many other names such as 'American Ninja' and 'Suicide Kid.
Henderson never bagged himself a WWE contract but did wrestle in non-televised dark matches - including a tag team match against Hardcore and Crash Holly.
He also attempted to pursuing a career as an actor and it was claimed he was set to star in two major feature films.
That big break did not appear to happen and after he retired from wrestling in 2011, there does not appear to be much information available on Henderson's whereabouts and recent activities.
Josh Lawless