10 "Shocking" WWE Moments Ruined By The Internet
We called it.
In many ways, the advent of the internet has been a godsend to the world of professional wrestling.
Without it, it would have been virtually impossible for independent promotions without a national television deal to generate the sort of fanbases they now command. Classic word of mouth promotion is fine and all, but nothing beats social media when it comes to getting your message out.
Even WWE, whose TV product now faces increasing competition from new entertainment channels, has benefited from it in some way. The company now has its own subscription-based streaming service, theoretically enabling it to monetise its already vast international TV presence.
That said, the effect of the internet hasn't been entirely welcome. For all the good that it has done, online spoilers (which, let's be honest, none of us can resist looking at) have persistently lifted the lid on WWE plans before they've had a chance to reach their natural climax.
Instead of experiencing "moments" in front of our television screens - as the wrestling Gods intended - we are now experiencing them in front of our computer screens. And that's not good: you can't mark out while reading a tabloid website.
10. Kurt Angle Is Raw GM
Announcements pertaining to which bland authority figure will take kayfabe charge of Monday Night Raw generally aren't that interesting anyway, to be fair, particularly in an era wherein commissioner Stephanie McMahon is seldom off our screens.
But that kind of changes when the incumbent candidate is a beloved WWE legend and recent Hall of Fame inductee who hasn't been a regular part of the product for well over a decade. Kurt Angle becoming GM was big news.
Big news, but not shocking news. Everyone knew that the Olympic gold medallist was to be given the reigns by Vince McMahon; the news had already leaked online by the time the show rolled around, taking any element of surprise off the table.
If they had gone for a conventional pick like Teddy Long or Vickie Guerrero, that would probably have killed the moment dead - but, since it was Angle, we were pretty much all prepared to let it slide. Welcoming the former TNA star back to the fold was a feel good wrestling moment if ever there was one.