10 Times Wrestling Shows Ended In Scandals
All's well that ends in a scandal? When it comes to pro wrestling, the answer is often yes.
Wrestling bookers love a bit of controversy in their stories. Shocking turns, referee screwjobs, interferences, and a plethora of other such plot devices have been used over the years to elevate the drama at the end of a big match. It is really what puts the entertainment in sports entertainment.
Over the decades, all wrestling companies have helped themselves to a fair serving of these scandalous finishes. Sometimes they create sensational storytelling, sometimes they make for an absolute car wreck. Either way, no one can stop talking about them - which is kind of the point.
It isn’t hard to imagine why companies keep coming up with new kinds of controversy to decorate their matches. An overbearing story hanging over the in-ring action is professional wrestling’s USP. It’s what sets this crazy form of entertainment apart. And this works best when the story in question ends with a big scandal. If done right, that is.
Let’s jump straight into it. A list that is a true embodiment of the term the good, the bad, and the ugly, these are the 10 times wrestling shows ended in kayfabe scandals.
10. WrestleMania XXVIII
There is only word to describe this: underwhelming. Which is really strange because on paper this should have been an amazing conclusion to WrestleMania. Just look at the names involved.
The problem here was that anyone could see it coming a mile away. Miz was the reigning WWE Champion and John Cena was his challenger, but the feud was dominated by the presence of The Rock. The Great One had made his huge return as the Guest Host of ‘Mania and kicked off his long awaited feud with Cena in the process.
Throughout the build-up, WWE kept playing up the tension between Cena and Rock, reducing Miz to an afterthought. Still, it was a WrestleMania main event involving an angle between two of the biggest stars of all time. Surely this had to be good? Sadly, it wasn’t.
Miz and Cena had an unspectacular match that ended in a double count out. Rock came down, restarted the match as a No DQ affair, because apparently he was also General Manager of WrestleMania, and then promptly Rock Bottomed Cena, allowing Miz to win. While it was certainly the biggest talking point in wrestling at the time, the scandal didn’t do anything for the actual show itself.