10 Classic WrestleMania Moments (WWE Won’t Ever Brag About)

10. Shango No-Shows

WWE tends to gloss over 1992 in general from its revisionist history book. The shrunken physiques of its roster were so noticeable that many were convinced the original Ultimate Warrior had died and been replaced by a gangly doppelgänger. Confronted also by a spate of unseemly sex scandals, this was a dire time for the WWF. Almost poetically, this shambles was transposed onscreen at the climax of the Show of Shows: WrestleMania VIII.

The main event was shambolic in itself even before the legendary botch; the bout between Hulk Hogan and Sid Justice was ponderous, softly-softly, formulaic fare. At the climax, Hulk Hogan dropped the leg on Sid. With the interfering Papa Shango nowhere in sight, Sid improvised by kicking out. Harvey Wippleman then accosted referee Earl Hebner on the apron, resulting, somehow, in a disqualification. Hulk then threw Wippleman into Sid's arms. Sid, using his extensive softball experience, caught his manager with some ease. He then, for the first time in his career, carried something around the ring, as everybody inside it exchanged looks of befuddlement. It was then that Shango, who had learned that interferin' ain't easy, eventually waddled out to kickstart Warrior's celebratory return angle. Which lasted less than a year. Even the guy doing the cursing was cursed.

That, in summation, was 1992.