5 Wrestlemania appearances you never saw coming

It is the WrestleMania season up and running as California gears up to host the biggest WWE event of the year. We have been heavily speculating the future of Brock Lesnar after he appeared at the recent UFC Pay-per-view and it looks like he will wrestle his last match for sometime at WrestleMania 31.We have seen in the past the result of such news coming out prior to the event with Goldberg and Brock Lesnar 11 years ago. The crowd was dead for the match and it was one of the biggest botches in the history of the company. Hopefully this time, Roman Reigns develops a strong following and some legitimate support in whatever time’s left for Wrestlemania.As we speak of the upcoming event, let’s take a sneak peek into the past to view some of the major surprises at WrestleMania. Here are five surprise appearances at the grandest stage of them all that you never saw coming:

#5 Celebrities rock the WWE Universe at the Grandest Stage of them all

How many of us would have actually thought that Kim Kardashian would enter the WWE ring? Certainly not me. Well, she did actually do that as the hostess of WrestleMania XXIV. In an effort to rack up the numbers, the actress who broke the internet last year did step into a WWE ring and made an attempt to cheer up the 74000 strong crowd at the open-air Citrus Bowl In Orlando.

And she isn’t the only one to make a celebrity appearance out of the blue. Notable former actor Steve Allen who was an incredible music composer as well, authoring over 50 books and penning over 14,000 songs ranks down as one of the most prolific and inspiring celebrities of the twentieth century. And it should be of great honour that he made a solitary appearance at WrestleMania VI as an interviewer.

It was a minor role relatively yet quite astounding that a man of his prominence was never advertised and took everyone by surprise. Apparently, he broke into television as a wrestling announcer back in 1949 at Los Angeles and that penchant never quite left him. Apart from him, Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson were two other famous women to appear in WWE’s biggest event of the year.

Back in 1995, WrestleMania XI saw Shawn Michaels and Diesel squaring off in the main event for the WWE Championship. While Pamela Anderson’s appearance was announced earlier, her role in the night was unknown prior to the event. And it was quite off-hand to see her accompanying the Champion Diesel while Jenny McCarthy was the valet of Shawn Michaels. Post-match, Jenny left with the victor Diesel and followed that up with an appearance few weeks later.

Jenny McCarthy is an activist and very vocal on issues regarding autism and Vaccination. Back then, her fame was more as a result of her work with Playboy magazine but nevertheless, how many would have fancied seeing her and Pamela Anderson at a WrestleMania main event?

#4 The Ultimate Warrior is back to save Hulk Hogan

Arguably the only WrestleMania so far with two advertised main events, WrestleMania VIII was one of the most spectacular shows in the history of the WWE. It was a true wrestling masterpiece with Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart and Roddy Piper putting on one of the best matches while Randy Savage’s main event against Ric Flair being rated no less exciting.

However, the true moment of reckoning for fans was seeing Hulk Hogan go on against Sid Justice to finish of a storyline essentially titled “Friendship Torn Apart”. Sid Justice who was accompanied by Harvey Wippleman took to a beat down of Hulk Hogan along with his accomplice towards the end of the match resulting in a disqualification victory for the Hulkster.

However, the fans were rarely ever made recipient to Hulk Hogan being portrayed that way, more so in a WrestleMania main event. This was all essentially to set up a return of the Ultimate Warrior as he made his trademark run as the crowd berserk over his return after almost nine months. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were equally effective in carrying the intensity of the moment across the world as the commentators did an excellent job signifying the event.

Only two years back, Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior had gone toe to toe in the WrestleMania event for the Championship and the crowd was excited to see them together once again, albeit on the same side this time. It finished off a perfect night for the crowd and viewers alike. Hulk Hogan would eventually stay off television for sometime owing to drug scandals but he did sign off with a stunning moment and celebration that no one expected.

#3 The Phenom returns at WrestleMania XX

This wasn’t exactly an appearance that no was expecting but it is present in the list because of the intrigue and mystery preceding it. Following around two years with the American Bad-ass gimmick, the WWE Universe was starting to miss their favoured Deadman persona of the Undertaker.

The phenom apparently went missing following a defeat in a Buried Alive match against Kane in the 2003 Survivor Series. And as an indication to the fans to be prepared, they started a storyline where Kane was getting secret messages while Kane was repeatedly telling the fans how he believed the Undertaker could never possibly come back.

There was an announcement stating that the Undertaker would return at WrestleMania to face Kane but no one had ever seen him flesh and bone yet. This surely created a mystical atmosphere leading up to the match and few were ready to bet on what could happen. As the time of the match arrived, Madison Square Garden was yet to witness the end of what had really transpired the past few months.

Finally, a Paul Bearer entrance followed by the return of the Undertaker in his famed gimmick set up the stage for an exciting match which the Undertaker undoubtedly won and extended his legendary streak. That pay-per-view might have had a cursed ending with the Lesnar-Goldberg main event but this match and its build up played perfectly well into a pulsating storyline and equally exciting match to top it off.

#2 Miss Elizabeth returns to reunite with Randy Savage

The ‘Macho Man’ is often regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the history of the WWE and rightly so, he is to be inducted into WWE the Hall of Fame this year. But a big part of Randy Savage’s legacy was built alongside his illustrious Miss Elizabeth and the two of them had amazing chemistry together, perhaps fuelled by their marriage in real-life as well.

Often referred to as ‘The first lady of Wrestling’, Miss Elizabeth represented the best of women to enter into professional wrestling with her patient attitude. Her character was something extremely opposite to that of Savage, who was loud-mouthed and arrogant while she was the charming yet polite manager. Their on-screen presence was hugely effective back in the day and had a huge following, especially during the days of ‘Mega Powers’ and Savage’s subsequent feud with Hulk Hogan. However, her best moment was undoubtedly the reunion with Savage at WrestleMania VII following his loss against the Ultimate Warrior in a retirement match.

Miss Elizabeth had stayed off TV for some months before the event and Sensational Sherri was the valet of Randy Savage then. Miss Elizabeth and Savage had been separated due to a storyline but those viewers and crowd were shocked when they Miss Elizabeth in the stands at WrestleMania VII. Following Savage’s loss, Sherri had started beating him up which was followed by Miss Elizabeth coming out of the crowd and defending her former partner as the graceful pair reunited once again at the grandest stage of them all.

This was undoubtedly a special occasion and sent many of the fans at the arena in Los Angeles to tears. Savage eventually did return to wrestling in the WWE and appeared in the following WrestleMania as well but this was one moment that will stand in the memory of fans for years to come. Not to mention, no one had the faintest idea this was going to happen. Thankfully, back in those days, kayfabe really was alive with few giveaways.

#1 Austin, Hogan and the Rock unite at the Superdome

Preceded by the ultimate underdog story and a change in storyline upon the reaction of the fans, WrestleMania XXX was set up to be one of the best events in recent times. The three previous events had failed to impress as much as they should have and the fans had grown tired of seeing John Cena in the main event.

And suffice it to say, Daniel Bryan was mightily over with the WWE Universe such that his fame carries till date from performances then. And to top it all, Hulk Hogan was the guest host. The fans were always excited to see the Hulkster in the ring and the New Orleans crowd was no different. Hogan even shared a light moment with the crowd as he mispronounced the arena as the ‘Silverdome’. However, barring few members of the IWC who had seen the spoilers, most fans were treated to a surprise appearance by Steve Austin and subsequently, The Rock.

As the glass shattered, 93,000 people at the Superdome blew the roof off and welcomed the Bionic Redneck to a thunderous reception. And The Rock’s entrance was even louder for no one had expected to see this trio at the opening of WrestleMania XXX. It was always going to be a flagship for the WWE, signifying 30 years of Vince McMahon’s brainchild – WrestleMania.

And WWE was up to the task in creating a wonderful opening to mark the event. As the three superstars shared beer, we were watching a moment we would never forget. To paraphrase The Rock that night, it was the three biggest stars of the WWE sharing the same ring and opening a can of ‘Whoop-ass’. That night ended even better with Daniel Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and a vociferous ‘yes’ chant resonating across the Superdome. Well, we may have seen that coming but never did we anticipate Austin, Hogan and The Rock to set up WrestleMania XXX.