10 Most Shocking Wrestling Betrayals

One thing WWE has taught its viewers over the years is to never trust anyone. Whether it’s honourable babyfaces revealing their malevolent true colours to the fans or long time factions imploding, few characters ever remain noble.

Wrestling factions are typically formed so the members can support one another. Teaming can lead to reinvention, hot angles and all manner of hijinks. It’s all great for a while but eventually the members will start to clash and tease feuds with one another. Soon enough, friendships have imploded and betrayals lead to blood feuds.

There are other times when a lone wrestler betrays their promotion and their fans, often pushed too far by one too many setbacks. Wrestling’s even had its fair share of romances over the years and by this point, it should be rather obvious how most of them end...

Betrayals often make for thrilling moments in wrestling, remembered by fans for years to come. Such angles conclude old storylines and introduce new ones for all of the wrestlers involved. From the heartbreaking to the wholly unexpected, let’s take a look at 10 of wrestling’s most shocking betrayals.

NXT TakeOver: Chicago was a fun show full of fantastic action to send the fans home happy. Everyone was having a great time right up to the heartbreaking last five minutes. In a dark and depressing turn of events, the injured Tommaso Ciampa turned on long time pal and tag partner Johnny Gargano after their loss to AOP. The logo had come up, we thought the show was over and yet tragedy still struck.

Ferociously assaulting his former comrade in arms, Ciampa would not be seen again for months, leaving a devastated Gargano in his wake. Bitter about his injury and a perceived lack of respect from fans, Ciampa wanted to be remembered for better or for worse. Fans were left slack-jawed, horrified at the violent demise of a beloved underdog team.

What followed was a twist and turn filled rivalry that goes on to this day. Best friends turned bitter enemies has been a popular trope in professional wrestling but few have taken it to such an emotional extreme. Ciampa’s betrayal of Gargano remains a seminal moment in NXT's (and professional wrestling as a whole's) history.