10 Most Memorable WWE Mystery Opponents

2. The Ultimate Warrior (SummerSlam 1988)

The Undertaker Debut Survivor Series 1990
WWE.com

Few mystery reveals have had the impact of SummerSlam '88's Intercontinental Championship match when Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake was unable to challenge the Honky Tonk Man.

Once again taking place in Madison Square Garden, this mystery opponent made history by ending the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion's run of 454 consecutive days.

After the champion taunted the locker room by saying "I don't care who it is" in regards to his unannounced opponent, the crowd began to stir when that familiar, thumping music started to play and, soon after, The Ultimate Warrior burst into the arena, a volcano of neon and uncontrollable energy.

Equally as energised, the New York crowd erupted and were on their feet for the entire match, which culminated in Warrior's 30-second title win. The man from Parts Unknown celebrated with the title for a moment before returning, almost as quickly as he arrived, to the back of the building as the new WWF Intercontinental Champion.

This moment has been re-lived countless times over the years and has been the inspiration of many a WWE superstar, including Daniel Bryan, in their quest to become a professional wrestler. SummerSlam '88 set the bar for what fans would come to expect over the years when it came to mystery appearances, but few could live up to this one.

Contributor
Contributor

A former stuntman for Paramount Pictures, Matt enjoys sports, water skiing, driving fast, the beach, professional wrestling, technology, and scotch. At the same time, whenever possible. Having attended many famous (and infamous) shows including WrestleMania XV, In Your House: Mind Games, and the 1995 King of the Ring, Matt has been a lifelong professional sports and wrestling fan. Matt's been mentioned in numerous wrestling podcasts including the Steve Austin Show: Unleashed, Talk Is Jericho, and Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard. As a former countywide performer, Matt has been referred to as Mr. 300 for his amazing accomplishments in the world of amateur bowling. He is also the only man on record to have pitched back-to-back no hitters in the Veterans Stadium Wiffle Ball League of 2003.