10 Most Controversial Wrestling Match Finishes Ever

3. Hulk Hogan Vs. Jeff Jarrett (Bash At The Beach 2000)

Hulk Hogan Jeff Jarrett Bash at the Beach 2000
WWE.com

In 2000, the ailing WCW drafted Vince Russo on board in a desperate attempt to keep their ship afloat, a move akin to patching up the Titanic with etamine. Amongst his bag of terrible tricks, Russo's most cherished was the worked shoot, something he'd conjure up at any and every moment for a cheap talking point, regardless of any long-term, substantial damage to the product.

Generally speaking, however, it was the audience who were supposed to be worked, not the wrestlers themselves.

Russo's grand plan for WCW's Bash at the Beach PPV was to have champ Jeff Jarrett 'lie down' for perennial headliner Hulk Hogan, whose reputation for manipulative backstage politicking had acquired such currency that by 2000 it was ripe as the basis for an entire angle. After the 'match', Hogan was to grab a mic and rip into Russo in a barbed 'shoot' promo, raising eyebrows - and hopefully, interest.

What wasn't in the scripted 'off-script' script was for Russo himself to hit Hogan with a rejoinder after 'Hollywood's exit. The head booker began shooting from the hip - and his bullets weren't mere blanks. Russo 'fired' the champion and declared the prior contest void. Had it ended there, it might have been fine.

But things got messy when Russo called Hogan a "piece of sh*t", and delivered an extraordinary, defamatory tirade against the 'Hulkster', promising WCW fans they'd never have to see him again.

He was right: so incensed by the promo, Hogan refused to return to work, and later sued Russo for the diatribe. Did Russo's stunt heal WCW's ailing health? We'll let you decide that one.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.