10 Most Unprofessional Performances In WWE History

9. Triple H Vs. Booker T - WWE WrestleMania XIX

JBL One Night Stand
WWE Network

18 seconds is synonymous in WrestleMania lore for being the time it took Sheamus to fell Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania XXVIII. 21 seconds is the time it took Rey Mysterio to send JBL into retirement at WrestleMania XXV.

23 seconds is also historic for being the time between Triple H hitting the match-winning pedigree on Booker T and bothering to cover him for the three count - which is just an unbelievable and inexcusable gap. The dragging-yourself-slowly-to-make-the-cover spot is a well-worn trope in pro wrestling.

It's designed to both sell exhaustion on the part of the wrestler hitting the move, and to protect his finish. It should never, in any circumstance, be used to actually win a match. That would be a horrendous slight on the durability of their opponent. What's worse is that Triple H had the nerve to kick out of Booker T's scissors kick after the exact same spot just minutes earlier.

Triple H was immune to such concepts of respect back in 2003-04. Mad with creative power, he knowingly used such tactics to ensure all around him knew their place. When CM Punk derided Trips as Vince McMahon's 'doofus son in law', this is what he was referring to.

In this post: 
JBL
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!