10 Awesome Ways Wrestlers Got Back At Critics

Return Fire

Edge Lita
WWE.com

Sami Zayn's inspired recent character shift has presented a brand new assault on audiences apparently all too willing to pile on performers for perceived failings, but the gimmick ironically only works because it's so brilliantly portrayed.

If Zayn wasn't so fantastic in the role (and thus destined to be showered with praise for his efforts), the entire idea's premise would be all-too-transparent. In reframing the 'Underdog From The Underground' as 'The Critic's Critic', WWE have created a potential heel monster that can't be slayed by babyfaces but by fans getting behind a hero to do the job for them. He's not railing on Braun Strowman for chucking him in a bin - he's abusing the audience for having the gall to throw jibes and him or others he deems unfair and undeserved. Braun, theoretically at least, is doing a service for hoying him in a skip.

Thankfully, not all moments of vindication have to end with somebody left laying in trash. Proving those in and out of the industry wrong is just another joyous element of success within a notoriously tough business, particularly if your own road to redemption results in a new career high...

10. Triple H's 2000

Edge Lita
WWE

The next time WWE give up on a push with seemingly the slimmest of rationales, consider how much they stuck with ensuring Triple H made it to the top of the mountain in spite of huge internal and external pushback.

Advantaged by having Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels as his biggest fans, Hunter's 1999 was tale of two 'Games'. One being played by Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bruce Prichard and several other higher ups, and the other by the future heir himself as he navigated through valid criticisms on his ability to truly supplant either 'The Rattlesnake' or The Rock as the industry's top performer during a fertile time for megastars.

Ultimately, determination won out before talent justified it. Only upon leveling up against Mick Foley in January 2000 did Triple H's in-ring work match the man he'd become on the microphone at the very end of a challenging year, but it soon surpassed wildest expectations. By the end of the year, he was simply untouchable.

Ratifying the doubts of his many critics and vindicating Vince before he was "nnnnDaddduh", Hunter knocked out banger after banger atop the organisation during its creative and commercial peak.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett