By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

Brock Lesnar and John Cena did not get along nine years ago. There are a lot of stories from behind the scenes backing this, and it was mostly Lesnar who was not a fan of a young emerging Cena.

As one source familiar with the situation first-hand back then tells me: "Brock absolutely positively hated and detested John Cena!"

In fact, Lesnar, who was a main eventer when Cena was a rookie, bad-mouthed Cena to Vince McMahon often, especially anytime Cena was doing something being perceived as positive. Apparently the feelings Brock had for Cena came through if you watch body language in their first pay-per-view match in 2003 at Backlash.

In that match, there was a series of really sloppy moves which some believed at the time was a result of the two just not working well together, if not outright intentional lack of cooperation on Lesnar's part. Cena was rising through the ranks at this point, reaching WWE Title challenger status, and given the animosity Lesnar felt toward Cena, it wouldn't have been shocking if he tried to make Cena look green and clumsy - which at that stage of Cena's career was a reputation he was trying to overcome.

Here's my match report from that event, which was sixth on an eight match card. Chris Jericho & Triple H & Ric Flair vs. Booker T & Kevin Nash & Shawn Michaels and Goldberg vs. The Rock were the two main events:

(6) Brock Lesnar pinned John Cena to retain the WWE Title. Cena's local-oriented pre-match rap fell pretty flat overall. Cena went after Lesnar aggressively at the very start, but Lesnar quickly took over. Cole said maybe Cena got himself in over his head. Cena came back at 4:00. The crowd got restless after a couple minutes of a mathold by Cena. At 12:30 Cena charged at Lesnar with an elbow. Lesnar fired back with two clotheslines. He followed with a powerslam for a near fall. Lesnar speared Cena into the corner and followed with two shoulder blocks. The match got really sloppy during this time with neither wrestler seeming to be sure-footed about what the other was doing. For being lost, they covered relatively well, though. Cena fired back at 13:45 with a low blow and a roll-up for a near fall which popped the crowd. Some fans booed Lesnar's kickout. Lesnar charged into Cena, sending him backward into the corner. Cena took out his chain, but the ref admonished him and took the chain. Lesnar then finished Cena with a F5. Just an average match. (**)

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[Brock photo credit Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE for PWTorch]