10 Most Divisive WWE Match Outcomes Ever

3. Brock Lesnar Vs. Randy Orton - SummerSlam 2016

Goldberg Lesnar
WWE.com

At which point does wrestling get taken too far?

Some applauded Mankind's Hell In A Cell fall at King Of The Ring 1998. Others decried it as the ultimate transgression of logic within a business predicated on using pretend violence to draw money.

At SummerSlam 2016, Brock Lesnar defeated Randy Orton by TKO to enhance the hard man aura that had been tarnished by the USADA doping violation he incurred after his UFC 200 vacation. The MMA-influenced finish went some way towards accomplishing that - but for all its novelty and visceral appeal, many felt it went too far.

In bludgeoning and scraping Orton's skull in such gory fashion, many fans (and seasoned veteran Chris Jericho) were aghast at both the gore in itself and the head-scratching practise behind it. WWE had outlawed blading because its PG rating could not withstand any association with old-timey carny wrasslin'. That relatively safe practise was out, and the very real risk of concussion was in.

It was, to some, an injection of much-needed realism. But couldn't - and shouldn't - have they just used the blade?

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!