10 Biggest Swerves WWE Made Before WrestleMania
8. Batista Grants Mr. McMahon's Wishes (2010)
Successfully defending his newly-won gold at the Royal Rumble against Randy Orton didn't change the popular opinion that Sheamus wouldn't make it to WrestleMania with the WWE Title. There was a bigger match that creative had planned, another rematch which loomed on the horizon and threatened the Irishman's 'Mania dreams.
Plans would become clear at the Elimination Chamber show in February. John Cena outlasted the likes of Sheamus and Triple H to win the WWE Title, but the babyface would see his celebrations cut short by an emerging Vince McMahon. Callously pulling the rug out from underneath Cena, McMahon ordered the new champ to defend against a fresh Batista.
One Spear and Batista Bomb combination later and 'The Animal' was the new titleholder heading into WrestleMania XXVI. Batista had been refreshed by turning heel at the end of 2009, and he was the ideal choice to further McMahon's storyline attempts to replace Cena in the 'poster boy' role.
Even though Cena would still bag the title come 'Mania, it felt like a huge swerve to have Batista come out at McMahon's behest, destroy him at Elimination Chamber and take the belt before then.