10 Most Memorable WWE Mystery Opponents
9. Savio Vega (No Way Out 1998)
Starting off the list is a memorable mystery opponent but for all the wrong reasons.
At the 1998 Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels legitimately injured his back when he took a back body drop onto the corner of The Undertaker's casket during his Casket Match with The Deadman. This injury would keep Michaels out of action for weeks prior to WrestleMania, including the February In Your House pay-per-view.
At the event subtitled "No Way Out (Of Texas)", Michaels was originally advertised to take on Austin as part of a ten-man tag team match but his injury caused him to pull out. His replacement? Well, that was the mystery that WWE had advertised as the big surprise to be revealed only at the PPV.
The industry was changing rapidly by February of '98 and speculation was rampant on who would be Shawn's replacement. After all, Michaels was the WWF Champion and arguably the biggest star in the business at that time. While few superstars could've truly "replaced" the Heartbreak Kid, surely a main-event level talent would be the solution WWE turned to.
Needless to say, when Savio Vega was revealed as the mystery opponent for Austin and company, fans were utterly disappointed. Vega had never even sniffed the main event and to be inserted into such a spotlighted role in the absence of HBK left many fans feeling cheated and remembering less-than-fondly to this day.