10 Most Shocking Kick Outs In WWE History
"And he's gone for the cover - one, two and he got him! Oh wait, no he didn't..."
It's fair to say that finishing moves in pro wrestling have become far less meaningful in recent years. Near falls and false finishes are now an accepted part of main event matches, and have become overused tools in modern day WWE.
'Stone Cold' Steve Austin himself has gone on record as saying that finishing moves are becoming almost meaningless in wrestling when performers go to the well too many times. The evolution of the business has led to a faster pace of matches with less selling and more action. As a result, the audience has become largely desensitised - which has led to finishing moves losing their impact. After all, what good is a finisher if it never finishes anyone?
However, when done right, the art of the false finish can be just the right ingredient to make a big match special - and big matches don't come any bigger than those at WrestleMania. As such, a fair amount of the entries on this list come from the 'Showcase of the Immortals'; however, in the interest of variety, we've limited the selection process to just one entry per superstar.
10. Randy Orton - Backlash 2004
After a four year stretch of inactivity, Mick Foley returned to the ring in 2004 as part of his feud with Evolution and, in particular, Randy Orton. Despite contesting an enjoyable tag match match with The Rock at WrestleMania XX, Foley wasn't happy with his performance - and a driven 'Hardcore Legend' turned up to Backlash 2004 a month later in the shape of his life.
As Cactus Jack, the revitalised Foley managed to turn back the hands of time with Orton, and gave the fans all the extreme action they they could have wanted in a hardcore war for the Intercontinental Title. After being beaten to within an inch of his life, including a sickening back bump on thumbtacks and another huge fall through a platform off the stage, it was surprisingly Orton that was left bloodied when the action returned to the ring.
Sensing victory in his grasp, Foley grabbed the IC Champ and hit him with his trademark Double-Arm DDT. As the crowd counted along with the ref, Orton shockingly kicked out at two, robbing Foley of his first Intercontinental Championship. Orton would ultimately retain just minutes later but the match itself still holds up as one of the best of both men's careers.