9 Most Anticlimactic Unmaskings In Wrestling History

For any of us who have ever wanted to believe that wrestling is still real, dammit, the unmasking of a wrestling should be one of the most thrilling moments sports entertainment can offer. "You mean we're finally going to discover the true identity of this previously disguised man who's been consistently haunting the company in one form or another? Hell yes I want to see that!"

Unfortunately, even those who cling tightest to the kayfabe world are often disappointed by these types of character unveilings. Maybe it's because we set our expectations too high, so we're inevitably letdown when the guy takes his mask off and we find out it wasn't Keanu Reeves the whole time and the WWE isn't actually a program in the Matrix.

That's not to say that a few unmaskings haven't delivered the goods. Remember when Dustin Rhodes' mystery partner at Clash of the Champions yanked off that ridiculous lizard mask to reveal himself as Ricky Steamboat returning to the WCW!? That's the kind of magic it can give fans.

None of the following unmaskings are anything like that. Not even close, actually. In fact, they're so stupid, unnecessary, and thoroughly anticlimactic that some of them go right to the point of being insulting.

When Sting finally captured the NWA World Title from Ric Flair in 1990, it seemed like everything was finally falling into place for the Stinger. Everything except for his next challenger, that is.

Aside from Flair, there wasn't anyone in the company who bookers considered a viable number one contender. So they decided the best idea was to introduce a new, mysterious wrestler, who they dubbed The Black Scorpion, a masked man who claimed to be an old friend of Sting's. 

Bookers had no idea who should actually play the character, however, and depending on whose stories you believe, there were as many as five different wrestlers rotating Black Scorpion duties. Mid-carder Al Perez was supposed to take over the role from Ole Anderson - who was pretty much just a stop-gap to begin with - but quit before the ultimate reveal.

Jeff Allis and Dave Sheldon filled in at house shows, but neither were intended to be the final product. But maybe Ole? Nope, Ole broke his arm, he's not coming back. They were pretty much back to square one.

So fans were rightfully suspicious when The Black Scorpion showed up to Starrcade many of Ric Flair's signature mannerisms and moves. When it finally came time for the big reveal, obviously it was just The Nature Boy. You could practically hear the sighs echoing through the building that night.