10 Most Shocking Upset Victories In WWE History

8. Jeff Hardy Beats Triple H

Mustafa Ali AJ Styles
WWE.com

This may not seem like an upset in 2018, but seventeen years ago, it was absolutely unheard of.

Jeff Hardy was beginning to make a name for himself in the WWE in the early 2000s. Alongside his brother, Matt, he'd put on amazing tag team matches against the likes of Edge & Christian and The Dudley Boyz and had wowed audiences with his amazing stunts and disregard for his own body.

WWE clearly saw some stock in Jeff as a singles performer, so entered him into a feud with Intercontinental Champion, Triple H. The Game was a former WWE Champion and was in a main event programme as Stone Cold Steve Austin's tag team partner, so Jeff was already getting a sizeable rub just from working with him.

That rub increased a billionfold on an episode of SmackDown in 2001, when Jeff challenged The King of Kings for his title. What followed was a great TV match, with Jeff telling a brilliant story as a plucky underdog babyface against the ruthless heel.

With help from his brother (and a steel chair), Jeff hit the Swanton Bomb on Triple H to pick up the win and the title, starting him on a career that would lead to multiple world championship reigns and a place in pro wrestling legend.

Stephanie McMahon didn't like this moment, but we all sure did.

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.