5 Times WWE's Stage Was Destroyed

Broken equipment, people on stretchers and fire rescue on the scene - in most industries this sounds like a disaster, but in WWE, these are all the ingredients for a brilliant stage-breaking spot.

Paul Heyman's tenure as the new Executive Director of Raw started with a bang when the LED entrance way was destroyed, and the fans loved it. This wasn't the first time WWE's poor stage has been caught up in the conflict. On multiple occasions throughout the years (usually when WWE are planning a makeover) wrestlers have involved the set in their feuds.

These sorts of spots are ridiculous fun because you won't see it anywhere else but professional wrestling.

You're not going to see Raheem Sterling get thrown through the wall of the Etihad Stadium next season, and even if it did happen, most people wouldn’t be celebrating. Also, unlike TV shows and movies, there's no stuntmen or multiple takes: it is real wrestlers smashing their bodies into screens on live TV for fans' enjoyment.

Thankfully, WWE have shown uncharacteristic restraint in breaking up the stage. Too many times in WWE has a once-emphatic spot – like chair shots and announce table bumps - been diluted as a result of overuse. The rarity of seeing the stage get wrecked makes it feel more important when it does happen.

This seemingly attempted murder of The Undertaker by Randy Orton stands out due to the use of a car to break the stage, instead of the usual throw or spear. Furthermore, it differs to most other stage destructions as the fans aren’t supposed to cheer it; they’re meant to hate the ruthless Orton for what he’s done.

To set up the spot, Orton used a tire iron to lay out the Dead Man on the back of a low rider (which was left behind from Rey Mysterio’s tribute to Eddie Guerrero). He then reversed the car up the ramp, right through the entrance way, and into the electrical equipment behind it. The usual explosions and fire commenced while Orton watched at a safe distance, having escaped the vehicle.

Keeping the camera on a wide shot as the car reversed was smart, as it gave the impression that the cameraman was just following what Orton was doing. If they got a close up as they were crashing, it would feel like the cameramen knew what was going to happen.

Obviously, as with many classic Undertaker spots you have to ignore the fact that there was no way a human being would be able to survive those explosions unscathed.

Still, it is a very well-crafted spot.