10 Wrestling Matches That Inadvertently Became Infamous

The detriment of hindsight.

Chris Benoit Elijah Burke
WWE

As an industry, professional wrestling's fundamental driver is to convince audiences that a predetermined contest pitting rival performers against one another is worth investing money, time and emotional energy.

Each live event, television show and pay-per-view broadcast is (in theory) designed to be unmissable. WWE in particular have long attempted to fuse the urgency of a live sporting event with the theatrical chops of a broadway show. This presentation is more crucial now than ever before to ensure the safety of their television rights in vastly changing times for the way in which people digest content.

Of course, there is only ever so much juice in every fruit. Subsequently, the business follows a pattern of each encounter allegedly meaning even more than the last in order to re-energise fans for whatever storylines and angles they want to pursue next month. The wheels keep turning.

However some contests buck the trend, and become substantially more interesting after they've actually happened. Reviewed retrospectively, an entirely new subtext emerges around certain matches and their outcomes, with some unthinkable circumstances remaining unknown until detailed analysis in the aftermath.

Already attempting to manage pre-ordained expectations chasing fleeting glory, these performers had no idea just how infamous their matches would accidentally become.

10. Edge Vs Alberto Del Rio (WrestleMania 27)

Chris Benoit Elijah Burke
WWE.com

There are few performers that get to exit the business as a victor in a WrestleMania title match, but Edge's World Heavyweight Title clash with Alberto Del Rio subsequently became an unexpected retirement match for 'The Rated-R Superstar'.

Mounting injuries forced him out of the industry in 2011 after repeated numbness in his arms and neck was ultimately diagnosed as cervical spinal stenosis. As he'd explain in a tearful abdication of the World Title, the condition was too serious to afford him any further action. Noting the scale of the gamble should he elect to continue wrestling, he revealed that doctors refused to clear him for fear of paralysis or even death should something go wrong.

Interestingly, though partially down to the years of abuse he'd put his body through as a professional wrestler, a spear to Brodus Clay shortly before the Del Rio match caused him visible discomfort and triggered the overall review of his status. Whilst unaware of the potential severity of his ailment during the WrestleMania 27 encounter, it's retrospectively frightening to consider what could have happened as the two clashed.

His eventual (and somewhat surprising) victory only makes his thankfully safe pursuit through the match that bit sweeter.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett