10 Biggest Swerves WWE Made Before WrestleMania

9. John Cena & The Rock Go Twice In A Lifetime (2013)

Sycho Sid Bret Hart
WWE

It's still cringeworthy to look back on WWE's 'Once In A Lifetime' promotion for The Rock vs. John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII and then realise that the same match happened again one year later. In hindsight, it would have been better for the creative team to steer clear of such restrictive branding, because they were always going to try and squeeze another rematch in somewhere.

As the reigning WWE Champion in January, a high-flying CM Punk was shut down by the returning Rock at Royal Rumble. On the exact same pay-per-view, Cena won the Rumble match itself and secured himself a slot in the main event of 'Mania XXIX.

Suddenly, Rock vs. Cena was set for WrestleMania yet again. What's more, the WWE Title would be on the line, surely enraging Punk when he realised that he had been dislodged from the top table just in time for WWE's most lucrative time of the year.

Those wondering if Punk's lengthy title run would continue into WrestleMania were left disappointed, as the outspoken champ was left dethroned and out of the main event picture while WWE focused on adding the title to Rock vs. Cena II.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.