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WWE is a global juggernaut that thrives on ratings and audience investment. To sustain the fan interest from one episode to the next one is of paramount importance to the creative team. Just like how a cliffhanger ending that keeps the fans talking is a hallmark of any good TV show, WWE has also produced several cliffhangers to end their weekly episodes and pay-per-views.
The late '90s and the early 2000s, especially the Attitude Era, had countless moments that ensured people stuck with the product instead of tuning in to the rival's product. While those kinds of cliffhanger endings are a rarity in the modern WWE landscape, the recently concluded episode of RAW, in which Randy Orton seemingly set Alexa Bliss on fire, has gotten the fans talking.
On that note, let's recount some of the most memorable cliffhanger endings in the company's rich history that got the fans excited about what's to come. These endings didn't only keep the viewers invested for a week but have become a part of wrestling lore and are widely discussed to this date.
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#5 Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn assault Daniel Bryan upon his return announcement (WWE SmackDown)
Announcing his return to in-ring action after almost three years, Daniel Bryan's promo on the 20th March 2018 episode of WWE SmackDown was one for the ages. An emotional moment for him and legions of his fans, he spoke straight from the heart that night. However, what happened later stunned the WWE universe.
Making their way to the ring, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens first congratulated Bryan by hugging him and terming him as their 'biggest supporter'. They even pitched for the former five-time WWE Champion to join them and form a 'dream team.
But Bryan was in no mood to accept this offer and berated them for their attack on Shane McMahon. He would go on to fire the two for their actions, with the crowd wildly cheering him.
Though KO and Zayn pretended to leave the ring, they would soon unleash a brutal assault on the then WWE SmackDown GM. While The Yes Man did make a minor comeback with a flurry of 'Yes Kicks' to Owens, Zayn soon blindsided him.
The powerbomb on the ring apron was painful to look at, and it left the fans stunned and wondering if this attack would allow Bryan to make the return he promised a few moments ago.
#4 Randy Orton seemingly sets Alexa Bliss on fire (WWE RAW)
One of the most talked-about endings to RAW in recent memory, Randy Orton seemingly setting Alexa Bliss on fire has gotten the WWE Universe buzzing about what can happen next. Coming on the heels of The Viper's Firefly Inferno match against The Fiend at TLC 2020, Bliss herself asked him to lit her on fire just like he did it to his opponent at the pay-per-view.
Though Orton was visibly hesitant to do it, the former five-time Women's Champion doused herself with gasoline. Soon the lights went off, and Orton stood holding a lit match in his hands to end the show on a massive cliffhanger. The terrifying ending has given the WWE creative team enough momentum to craft an equally satisfying end to this tale.
While there's a chance that The Viper didn't set Bliss on fire in the first place, the development has gotten the viewers hooked, and the company can be assured of a bumper rating to start the new year.
#3 Shane McMahon purchases WCW (WWE RAW)
The Monday Night Wars was one of the best times to be a wrestling fan. Two big companies, WCW and WWE, with legit Superstars, competing and trying to put out better TV content than the other. While WCW Nitro dominated the rating game for 83 consecutive weeks, WWE/WWF soon bounced back with the emergence of the Attitude Era and stars like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mankind at their disposal.
It was eventually in 2001 that WCW went defunct with none other than Vince McMahon himself purchasing it. However, in the kayfabe world, Shane McMahon announced himself as the owner of the company.
On the simulcast of RAW and Nitro episodes on March 26, 2001, Shane McMahon appeared on the latter's finale. Telling his father that he will bring about his downfall, he thus initiated the infamous Invasion storyline.
The fans present at both the shows were left stunned about this development, with the possibility of several dream matches pitting the WCW stars against the WWE ones seemingly coming true.
Yes, the eventual execution of the story left a lot to be desired, but it nonetheless brought about a seismic shift in the wrestling landscape.
#2 Nexus creates havoc on the main roster (WWE RAW)
No matter how many invasion angles WWE book, there's nothing that can come anywhere close to the 7th June 2010 episode of Monday Night RAW when The Nexus invaded the show. The faction, consisting of eight men, attacked John Cena, CM Punk, Luke Gallows, Justin Roberts, and pretty much destroyed everything around them.
It was shocking and unexpected, with the live audience watching the proceedings in stunned silence. After all, it's not every day that we witness relative newcomers take down the biggest Superstars of the company in such a manner.
It felt like a much-needed departure from the typical booking patterns of the main roster. The 'been there, seen that' feeling that was quite apparent while watching WWE in those days was broken by this massive cliffhanger of an ending.
Irrespective of how poor booking decisions, especially at WWE SummerSlam 2010, seemingly killed the momentum of the faction, this debut was a spectacular one and gave fans one of the most shocking RAW endings of the current century.
#1 CM Punk walks out of WWE as the world champion (Money in the Bank 2011)
CM Punk's 'Pipebomb' promo could have very well topped this list if the follow-up development a few weeks later at WWE Money in the Bank 2011 wasn't this shocking. Punk was all-set to challenge John Cena for his WWE Championship in the main event of the pay-per-view.
While The Voice of the Voiceless was on his way out of the company, WWE CEO Vince McMahon warned John Cena that even he would be out of the company if he lost his title.
Wrestled in front of a rabid Chicago crowd, Punk's hometown, the challenger was widely cheered, while the champion was heavily booed. Despite the crowd support, nobody expected Punk to come on top, considering his status with the company.
However, to the utter shock of everyone, CM Punk walked away as the new WWE Champion. The visual of Punk giving McMahon a flying goodbye before leaving the building through the crowd is still etched in the minds of fans.
No one except the close-knit management of the company knew about Punk signing a new contract with WWE just an hour before the match. It's almost impossible to pull off something like this in today's times without the news going out.
