10 Iconic Wrestling Moments That Weren't Meant To Happen

10. Tables, Medals & Chairs

The sight of Kurt Angle in full Shield garb, just a fortnight ago, was only realistic in the context of the most fanciful WWE 2K18 session imaginable. An injury to top star Roman Reigns, a presumed "no chance in hell" from Universal Champion and man of leisure Brock Lesnar, and a fit of goodwill (and or desperation) all converged to make the surreal a reality.

Angle's performance was shaky, at first. He conspicuously over-sold the opening exchanges in order to avoid a tiring frenzy, and made an eventual beeline for Kane, the slowest and safest worker in the match. In something of an indictment of WWE's premier and most expensive attraction, all Angle mustered prior to his awesome, heroic return spot was a parade of Germans. Angle threw suplexes because he was out of ring shape and is physically shot, generally. Lesnar throws suplexes because he's found a glorious storyline method of coasting.

That return spot was sensational stuff. The close-up on Angle's face immediately after he smashed Cesaro through a ringside table was cinematic in its framing and glorious in its catharsis. The Skull Crushing Finale near-fall spot was a genuine jaw-dropper perfectly sold by an apoplectic Miz.

Is it too soon to define the match as "iconic'? Possibly. But given the man's incredible story, the unthinkable sight of Angle roaring like Roman is as worthy of the BluRay cover as anything in the red, white and blue colour scheme.