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As every year passes in WWE, fans are treated to many memorable and surprising moments. Some are mostly great, but sometimes they can be shocking and leave the WWE Universe with a lot of questions.
2021 has been memorable in its own right. The company has continued to adapt with the COVID-19 pandemic that has crippled the world. We haven't seen anything quite like it in our lifetime.
WWE started the year inside the fan-less ThunderDome before returning to touring weekly this summer. Despite the obstacles, Vince McMahon's promotion has managed to deliver every single week as it always has done.
That being said, let's take a look at five surprising WWE moments in 2021.
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#5 Becky Lynch returns at WWE SummerSlam to win the SmackDown Women's Championship
In May 2020, Becky Lynch stepped away from WWE to give birth to her first child. At the time, The Man was RAW Women's Champion and the title was eventually handed to Money in the Bank winner Asuka.
Lynch has already cemented her name as one of the most popular superstars on the roster. Her return was always going to drum up a lot of fanfare and excitement.
It eventually happened 15 months later at SummerSlam in August at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. Becky Lynch stunned fans by returning unannounced to challenge SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair.
Sasha Banks was initially set to be Belair's opponent, but she was pulled from the match for an undisclosed reason. Carmella was selected instead, but Big Time Becks took her out before the bout.
Bianca Belair accepted Becky Lynch's challenge, but she was not expecting what was about to come next. Lynch defeated The EST of WWE in just 26 seconds to capture the SmackDown Women's Championship.
As you can imagine, the move caused quite a storm on social media, and The Man responded to the critics on CBS Sports:
"So, look, the thing is, people are not happy with how it went down. That’s a good thing when we want people to want somebody to overcome something. It’s better in the long run if people are not happy. If they’re happy and they’re happy with the match and she loses, then we have a problem. We want people to want the good guy to come out on top. If we see somebody we like do something that’s a bit underhanded, then we are displeased with them and don’t want them to win. That’s what we want," said Becky Lynch. (h/t No DQ)
All in all, it was certainly a surprising moment that got the WWE Universe talking, no matter how they felt about it.
#4 WWE revamps NXT to NXT 2.0
Earlier this summer, WWE President Nick Khan announced that NXT was going to undergo some major changes. At the time, the changes were unknown, but it was clear the company was moving away from its black and gold history.
The new NXT 2.0 concept debuted on September 14, 2021 with a whole new set-up. A new multi-color logo was revealed, a new set for production and a change in direction for characters and storylines.
Many fans who were loyal to Triple H's NXT that sold out arena's for TakeOver events were unsure. It came as a surprise and took time to adjust to the new incarnation. It appears many are now adapting to the brand that is producing some excellent stars and content.
#3 Big E wins the WWE Championship cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase
A moment that fans had been waiting for years finally happened on RAW. Earlier this year, Big E won the Money in the Bank briefcase and continuously teased a cash-in on his brand SmackDown.
He eventually pulled the trigger on September 13 on the red brand when Big E cashed in on his briefcase on then-WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. His New Day brothers Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods came to celebrate in what was a joyous moment.
#2 WWE releases Braun Strowman, The Fiend, and more big names
It has been a turbulent year for WWE when it comes to their talent roster. The company has seen mass releases and also major players walk away upon the expiry of their contracts.
Some of the shocking departures included former world champions Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt. The pair were released by the company with budget cuts cited as the reason.
It was a complete shock to the WWE Universe considering they were main event superstars. It left many wondering what exactly was happening behind the scenes.
#1 Brock Lesnar returns with a new look at WWE SummerSlam in August
Brock Lesnar was last seen at WrestleMania 36 before making his triumphant return at SummerSlam in August. The Beast Incarnate made his entrance to the surprise of fans and confronted Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
One very noticeable thing about his return was that he had brought a new look with him. He was sporting a ponytail and is now portraying a character that is a replica of his own real-life self.
It has given Lesnar a new lease of life in Vince McMahon's promotion, seeing him be himself on television. He has immediately become one of the most entertaining superstars on WWE TV.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
