10 Biggest Wins & Most Disappointing Losses For WWE’s Top Stars
WrestleMania XXVI was simultaneously bitter and sweet for Shawn Michaels...
The ecstasy of victory and the bitter taste of defeat go hand-in-hand when it comes to WWE; no star goes through a career unbeaten, not even the best. That's just the way it is, and WWE's scriptwriters enjoy pulling the proverbial rug out from underneath fans just as they think they have it all figured out.
Shocked faces were in abundance when The Undertaker dropped his WrestleMania winning streak to Brock Lesnar in 2014. This was one nobody expected, because 'Taker's legacy on WWE's grandest stage seemed destined to remain intact until 'The Deadman' decided to retire for good.
It didn't, and the expressions of disbelief around ringside at 'Mania XXX only heightened when Paul Heyman and Lesnar himself laughed hysterically upon leaving the ring. For Brock, this was a victory like no other in a career filled with big moments.
Quite unbelievably, given the circumstances, this wouldn't be The Undertaker's most disappointing defeat...
Roman Reigns - Biggest Win (Vs. Triple H, WrestleMania 32)
There's no getting away from the fact that fans booed Roman Reigns becoming WWE Champion at WrestleMania 32. This wasn't quite the babyface struggle story WWE wanted it to be, but that shouldn't take away from what it meant for Roman personally.
Being booked to defeat 'The Game' in the main event of WrestleMania must have provided a sweet reflection for when Reigns retired to his hotel room later that evening. His story with Triple H finally over and done with, the man could look forward to carrying the WWE brand on his shoulders despite fan derision. That had to feel good.
Roman Reigns - Most Disappointing Loss (Vs. Brock Lesnar And Seth Rollins, WrestleMania 31)
Sporting a helpless, defeated look upon watching Seth Rollins pose with the WWE Title atop the 'Mania 31 entrance ramp, Roman Reigns was forlorn as a moment which was supposed to be his had been snatched away from him.
Few fans cared enough to focus on Reigns, although WWE's cameras did catch a glimpse of the title challenger looking utterly distraught.
WWE's creative team clearly wanted to hold off on Roman's inevitable crowning as champion, but even the knowledge that better days were to come couldn't have prepared Reigns for the feeling that someone else (in this case Rollins) had been elevated before him.