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In any form of entertainment, there is always the concern that those people who consume said entertainment will be able to guess the conclusion.
It happened with George RR Martin's Game of Thrones series, where so many fans guessed the eventual conclusion to the "Song of Fire and Ice" saga that the author allegedly changed it. The Russo brothers, directors of the hit Avengers movies Infinity War and Endgame, didn't even give complete scripts to their actors in fear that some tidbit might be leaked online about how the story would end.
The world of sports entertainment is no different than the rest. Fans, especially those who have been watching pro wrestling for a very long time, can sometimes predict what's going to happen next. This isn't always a tragedy since a well-crafted storyline will lend itself to a particular ending, but sometimes it can be an annoyance for the creative types in the back office.
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But then the opposite is sometimes true. Sometimes, the fans are taken completely by surprise by a particular storyline conclusion or twist. When this happens, wrestling fans take note.
Here are ten times that WWE has surprised fans.
#1: The higher power is revealed
Journey with us back to the Attitude Era in 1998, a time of chair shots and beer-guzzling antiheroes. During this time in WWE, two factions emerged vying for power over the WWE.
The first was the Corporation stable, comprised of The Rock, Triple H, Ken Shamrock and others, led by Vince McMahon. The other was the Ministry of Darkness, led by Undertaker and featuring men like Farooq, Bradshaw and Viscera.
It seemed as if the two groups were at each other's throats. The Undertaker delivered Stephanie McMahon's teddy bear to Vince and set it on fire. He then crucified the CEO's daughter on live television.
So when the Undertaker started hinting at a 'higher power' who was directing him in his bid to take over WWE, everyone turned to speculation. Names like Kevin Sullivan and Jake the Snake Roberts were floated about, as well as several WCW stars whose contracts were known to end in that time period.
Fans were taken totally by surprise, however, when the Undertaker revealed the higher power as Vince McMahon himself. His evil smile and catchphrase "it was me, Austin. It was me all along!" have joined the ranks of internet memedom, proof of the twist's lasting impact.
#2: Stone Cold Sell Out
Some things just don't go together. Fire and ice. Pineapple and pizza. Pro wrestling and logical physics.
Something else that doesn't go together is alcohol swilling rednecks from Texas and corporate billionaires from Connecticut. Almost from the inception of the Stone Cold Steve Austin character, he had been at odds with WWE CEO Vince McMahon.
For years, Vince McMahon hatched one evil plot after another in a bid to either prevent Steve Austin from becoming WWE champion or trying to get the belt off of him by hook or crook. So when the Rock was set to face off with Austin in the Wrestlemania 17 main event, everyone assumed the Boss would be firmly behind the People's champion.
They were wrong. To the shock of fans around the world, Vince McMahon would come to ringside and interfere on Austin's behalf, helping him defeat Rock and win the WWE championship.
This was a clear betrayal of not only The Rock but also years of storylines that had been built up focusing on the McMahon-Austin rivalry.
#3: He did it for the Rock, people
At WWE Survivor Series 1999, one of the most heinous acts ever performed in WWE history occurred. An unknown assailant ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin with a car, busting through a security gate to do so.
In one of the longest and most extended mysteries in wrestling history, the prevailing question was who ran down Stone Cold? In reality, Austin needed time for neck surgery and the recovery, and sharp-eyed fans noted that it was a stunt double that did a controlled tumble off the windshield of the vehicle.
But this is pro wrestling, and reality is trumped by drama. Austin was gone for almost a year, and when he returned he investigated his own assault in his own particular idiom: By beating up and stunning suspects.
This caused consternation for Mick Foley, who was in a managerial role at the time. He begged Austin to stop beating up suspects while he investigated the incident. Over time, Foley uncovered clues. It was a blonde man driving the car, and the seat was set back for a large person to drive.
Fans speculated that it would turn out to be Billy Gunn or Triple H, both of whom fit the bill. But they were shocked when Foley named Rikishi as the culprit. The dancing, beloved babyface instantly became a heel, and his admission of guilt is part of wrestling history.
Rikishi claimed the he did it for the Rock and would not mind doing it again.
The Rock, in one of his most famous promos, took a pot shot at Rikishi's confession and mimicked the Samoan to good effect.
#4: Hulk Hogan turns on the fans
The next shocking moment happened in WCW, which technically isn't WWE. However, since the WWE bought WCW in 2002, and the rights to all of its archival footage and trademarks, it actually kind of is a WWE moment now.
When Scott Hall and Kevin Nash showed up on Monday Nitro, fans sincerely believed they were there to wreak havoc upon WCW. They claimed they had a 'third man', and speculation ran from Sting--who was so upset by the accusation he turned into a Crow knock off--and Lex Luger.
But when the Immortal Hulk Hogan strode out, everyone assumed he was there to fight off Nash and Hall. Then he dropped a leg across Randy Savage and turned into the villainous Hollywood Hogan in one of the most shocking moments in wrestling history. Fans were swerved because no one expected the company's biggest baby face to join the villainous nWo.
The new nWo has since then remained one of the industry's most famous factions, even going on to win a WWE Hall of Fame induction spot.
#5: Cena shocks the world at the Royal Rumble 2008
Late in 2007, John Cena was wrestling against Dave Batista. The two fierce rivals pounded each other with every move in their arsenal. When Cena went for his turnbuckle leg drop, Batista countered with a powerbomb, which legit injured Cena's neck.
The injury seemed serious. John Cena would need surgery, and was set to miss at least six months of action, and possibly would be gone for an entire year. Fans resolved to themselves that WWE would be bereft of the Face that Runs the Place for some time to come.
So when the Royal Rumble 2008 came around, no one expected the number thirty man to turn out to be John Cena. Thanks to advanced surgical techniques and a rigorous rehab program, Cena managed to recover for ring action in just two short months. He went on to win the Royal Rumble, sealing his fate for a Wrestlemania coveted main event spot.
#6: The Nexus destroys Raw
NXT, in its early inception, was meant to be a hybrid reality show/wrestling program. The rookies in its inaugural season included men like Wade Barrett and Daniel Bryan.
Eventually, the program ended with Wade Barrett emerging as the winner. Barrett was guaranteed a title shot opportunity in the future and signed to the Raw roster.
But Barrett didn't come alone. During a match between John Cena and CM Punk, he came out to the ring along with the entire cast of NXT, all of them wearing ominous black and yellow armbands.
The newly dubbed Nexus proceeded to demolish the main event talent, and also took out their aggression on non-wrestlers at ringside. The shocking moment took fans totally by surprise and became the most talked-about angle of the year.
What started off as a terrific angle found itself in steep decline owing to how badly the creative team had booked it, eventually fizzling out right when it was expected to gain traction.
It's odd to note that of the Nexus only Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett are still signed to the company.
#7: Mark Henry 'retires'
Mark Henry joined the WWE in 1997, and in his first match he betrayed Ahmed Johnson and joined the Nation of Domination.
Henry went through a variety of trials and tribulations during his WWE career. He was assigned the 'Sexual Chocolate' gimmick, a character which many fans thought was offensive and racist. He was engaged in a romance with an eighty-year-old Mae Young, which resulted in a pregnancy and the delivery of a hand.
He was then sent back to Ohio Valley Wrestling to spruce up his in-ring skills. But Mark Henry didn't give up. He improved his polish in the ring and developed better mic skills. When he returned, it wasn't as sexual chocolate, but as the World's Strongest Man.
Henry had some mid-card success but never made it to the main event. So when he came out on Monday Night Raw in 2013 and started hinting at retirement, fans were stricken with pathos over his melancholy over never wearing the world title belt.
John Cena's theme music hit as the Cenation leader came out to pay his respects to Mark Henry, who he believed was about to retire right along with the fans in the audience. But when Henry and Cena tearfully embraced, Henry hit the Measuring Stick with a World's Strongest Slam. He then announced he was NOT retiring and would go on to win the world championship for the first time in his career.
#8: 21-1
The Phenom known to fans around the world as The Undertaker is one of WWE's longest-tenured, and most loyal, employees.
Mark Calloway bounced around the indie scene under a variety of gimmicks. He was known as the masked Texas Red, the Punisher, and finally settled on Mean Mark Callous. It was while working as the Mean Mark character that he was signed to WCW, ironically managed by Paul Heyman.
Then Calloway signed with WWE. Famously, when Vince McMahon called Calloway's home to offer him a job, the first thing the Boss said was "Is this the Undertaker?"
Calloway's response? "Hell yeah, I'm the Undertaker."
Thus a legend was born. The Undertaker embarked upon one of the greatest winning streaks in wrestling history, being undefeated at Wrestlemania. When the streak got up into the double digits, it became a yearly storyline for WWE. Who would break the streak? CM Punk, HBK, and Randy Orton all tried and failed to beat the deadman on the grandest stage of them all.
Then Brock Lesnar stepped up to the plate. While Taker's streak seemed more in jeopardy than ever, fans were still convinced that the Undertaker would retire without ever tasting defeat at Wrestlemania.
Of course, history tells it differently. Brock Lesnar defeated the Undertaker, shocking everyone, even his own advocate Paul Heyman.
#9: Tommaso Ciampa attacks Johnny Gargano
When Johnny Gargano and long-time indie scene friend Tommaso Ciampa joined NXT, they did so as a tag team.
Calling themselves DIY, short for 'do it yourself', the duo branded themselves 'tag team specialists.' After several unsuccessful attempts, they managed to capture the coveted NXT Tag Team Championship belts.
The duo reigned for a time, but then they lost the titles in a grueling ladder match at NXT Takeover to the Authors of Pain. After the new champions left in triumph, a dejected Ciampa was cheered up by both Gargano and the capacity crowd, who gave DIY a standing ovation.
But then, treachery struck. Ciampa brutally attacked his partner in one of the most surprising heel turns of all time. The turn led to an extended rivalry which blessed fans with some of the best matches in NXT in particular, and pro wrestling in general.
Fans never saw this swerve coming, and they felt the shock and betrayal right along with Johnny Wrestling.
#10: I am Phenomenal
You never know who is going to show up at the WWE Royal Rumble match. It could be a returning legend, like Hurricane Helms, or someone who was thought to be away on injured leave, like John Cena.
Or, just maybe, it might be a man who would 'never' be signed by the WWE because he was 'too small,' or 'too technical,' or not WWE's 'kind of wrestler.'
Fans who were internet savvy knew that AJ Styles had been signed by WWE, but he was expected to make his debut on the NXT brand just like his former NJPW cohort Shinsuke Nakamura. But AJ Styles shocked the world by being the number three entrant in the 2016 Royal Rumble match.
The words "I AM PHENOMENAL" appeared on the titan tron, and fans erupted into cheers for the man who was 'too small' to be a WWE superstar. Though he would eventually be eliminated, AJ lasted half an hour and established himself as a major star in the WWE.
There you have it: Ten times WWE totally surprised fans. What WWE moment surprised you the most? Please comment and let us know, and as always thanks for reading.
