10 Most Fake Wrestling Props Ever

4. Erick Rowan's Spider

Chris Jericho CM Punk
WWE.com

Was Erick Rowan's spider meant to look real?

It's one of wrestling's - nay, life's - greatest mysteries. Because it didn't look remotely f*cking real. It looked like a toy destined to rot in a box when a four year-old lost interest in it on Boxing Day. What, really, can you do with a spider with a happy face on it?

Ha, the normally scary thing is smiling!

That is unusual. They're meant to be scary.

Thanks a f*cking bunch for the clutter, Auntie Deborah. See you next year.

So was this a convenient punchline payoff? To give the marks something, just as Vince McMahon had lost interest in it? Like an eight-legged Hornswoggle?

Possibly. Vince clearly did tire of the mystery creature angle, hence why Drew McIntyre unceremoniously squished it about a week after the reveal. The tease dragged for so long that perhaps it was felt a concession had to be made to the people who, you know, watch and invest in the product.

But.

The case thickens when one recalls that Rowan showed it to Mojo Rawley, who was terrified. He also revealed it to No Way Jose, who was also terrified.

So the question becomes: who intelligence was insulted, precisely? Two undercard characters, or the viewing audience? Or both?

Both.

It's always both.

 
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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!