10 Precise Turning Points Where WWE Did The Impossible
The split-second moments of magic that changed EVERYTHING for performers and the very fate of WWE.
Vince McMahon bellowing that "anything can happen in the World Wrestling Federation" back in the post-Hogan 1990s was, at its core, just a bit of carnival barking from the industry's PT Barnum. But more often the not, it was one of his few used car lot promises that rang true.
As well it should have!
A universe of imaginary characters made real and theoretically able to battle over any fictional reason you can summon is the sort of place where anything should happen. Often that boiled down to a rapping wrestler fighting with a country wrestler or an undead zombie facing off with a mirror image version of himself, but the important thing was that this was NEW, pal, and anything else could happen too!
In recent years, the formality of everything about the output might have generated WWE's biggest ever financials, but a lack of that similar surprise or suspense did more to suppress the drama than anything else. But the seismic internal changes in 2022 (more on them shortly) have seen a return of some of the old magic to television, with some seemingly doomed prospects converted to cold hard cash by terrific creative.
The latest developments in The Bloodline saga have been captivating, but in perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to current Head Of Creative Triple H (which itself reveals how low the quality bar is), Roman Reigns' gradually-crumbling control of everything around him isn't even the only good thing in WWE...
10. Finn Bálor Kicks Edge Out Of The Judgment Day
It was kind of the stupidest thing imaginable when The Judgment Day celebrated their first significant win as a group by kicking the man that spearheaded the movement to the curb in favour of the one that they defeated the night before, but timing is everything and wrestling and this particular move fell at one of the most unique times in wrestling history.
That was on June 6th 2022.
On June 15th 2022, the first Wall Street Journal article on Vince McMahon's "hush money" payments broke. This matters. As the weeks passed, McMahon's position became untenable no matter how much he attempted to bullishly no-sell it. He resigned in disgrace on July 22nd, at which point all creative duties were handed over to Triple H. The timeline is crucial.
In the gap following Edge's injury write-off, the updated Judgment Day had been hassling Rey Mysterio with a view to get to his son Dominik. 'The Rated-R Superstar's SummerSlam return should have been all the faces needed to even the sides, but instead, he drove a jealousy in the younger Mysterio that resulted in a turn for 'Ex-Con Dom'. That made the stable whole, and from the most unlikely of origin stories, one of the hottest acts in the company.
The original incarnation was sweeping the board for wrestling Razzies at the halfway stage of the year. By December, they were appointment viewing.