10 Most Ridiculous Oversells In Wrestling History

7. Rikishi (Vs The Rock, WWE Survivor Series 2000)

123 Kid Chris Hamrick
WWE Network

There was once a lot to love about Rikishi, and not in the way people patronisingly speak about others his size. 2000 was a remarkably prosperous time for a former 'Headshrinker' that had clung onto the industry in lean years to reappear as anything but that midway through the company's remarkable Attitude Era rebirth.

Once one of the smaller big men worker, Rikishi was by that point entrenched as a super-heavyweight, adding peculiar value to his efforts when he was able to uncork them. A splash from the top of a steel cage in a criminally overlooked pay-per-view clash with Val Venis that year was just one such example.

Another was his propensity for a bump such as this, especially following his ill-advised heel turn. The occasional rotation from a clothesline drew certain sympathy as a hero, but carried greater heft when part of a giant-slaying third act.

This particular example came at the high point of arguably Rikishi's best singles match in his best ever year. Unlike Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H and others, 'The Great One' made a genuine effort to sell the threat of the newly disaffected Samoan, scraping his way to victory atop uncharacteristically gutsy fightbacks such as this.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett