10 Most Re-Watched Wrestling Moments Of All Time

8. "The Streak...Is Over."

Undertaker Mankind HIAC
WWE.com

The sight of Brock Lesnar ending the Undertaker's legendary WrestleMania streak was the most surreal moment in WWE history. Lesnar was an expensive mercenary who didn't need the rub - nor was he even around much to reap its benefits. This was a platform to crown a new top heel decades in the making.

The decision was so maligned, so incomprehensible, that the first thing most thought when Chad Patton's hand struck the mat for a third time was "botch". Denial.

He had to have botched the count. This wasn't Mike Chioda in there. Maybe even a man of Patton's immense experience wasn't experienced enough. After an initial surge of WTF shock, the Superdome settled into an eerie hush. Mouths were agape. Lesnar wasn't announced as the winner - maybe because he wasn't meant to win, we tried to reconcile. Maybe Gorilla was a delirious scramble of called audibles, and that accounted for the delay. Bargaining.

Justin Roberts' voice rang out across the tannoy. Lesnar was your winner. Even then, the realisation didn't set in. It only did when the '21-1' graphic appeared on screens, like a flat-lined pulse.

Seeing wasn't believing. Only through time - and replays - was the elusive acceptance reached.

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!