10 Most Embarrassing WWE Botches Ever
WWE stalwarts Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns might want to look away now!
It's actually surprising there aren't more botches.
Think about it: Hundreds of pro wrestling matches and promos take place every week across major companies like WWE and AEW, but most of them go off without a hitch. Sure, someone might potato the sh*t out of someone with an errant strike, or a wrestler's dive spot could be less-than-smooth, but those aren't a big deal.
They're certainly nowhere near as embarrassing as the flubs featured here. All of them happened on pay-per-view, and that meant such mistakes were immortalised forever. Let's just say that Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman never want to see a pair of handcuffs again, and that Vince McMahon's physical pain was nothing compared to the bashing his ego took.
Welcome to a world where wrestlers make fools of themselves at WrestleMania, referees do the same when it matters most, legends like Steve Austin battle the humble ring ropes in an accidentally-epic back and forth tussle, and...one man's entrance gaffe becomes the most memorable moment of his entire career.
These men and women probably wanted the world to swallow them whole after this nonsense!
10. Gene Okerlund’s SummerSlam Outburst
Let's kick things off with a true classic.
SummerSlam 1989's promos were pre-taped either the prior day or earlier that afternoon. Somehow, one of the WWF's producers managed to slide the wrong tape in when it came time for Gene Okerlund's interview with Rick Rude and Bobby Heenan. What happened next was mortifying.
A piece of the SummerSlam promo set fell down behind the trio and gave Gene-o quite the fight. "F*ck it", he shouted loudly. Then, commentary pair Jesse Ventura and Tony Schiavone had to pick up the pieces and "ha ha" the hell out of a quick sell job before moving on.
Here's where things get even more embarrassing. Okerlund, Heenan and Rude had shot a retake minutes later, but someone showed the wrong footage. Vince McMahon, who was already producing a slick operation by '89, had to be tearing his finely-coiffed hair out that something like this could even happen.
"F*ck it" indeed.