10 Most Shocking Wrestling Betrayals
3. Hulk Hogan Joins The Dark Side
Not that dark side.
When Hulk Hogan explored the dark side of Hulkamania in 1995, in order to better understand the essence of the Dungeon of Doom or whatever, it was shocking - but only because he was fond of groaning like a zombie, indulging in a spot of Princess Bride cosplay and comparing himself to OJ Simpson. The whole thing was mercifully abandoned almost as quickly as it had started. It was goofy and firmly in line with the total tripe that was mainstream American wrestling in 1995 - but his real heel turn yanked pro wrestling into its own Cenozoic Era.
Hogan, at Bash Of The Beach 1996, finally accepted the grim march of time and the proto-John Cena audience reactions to which he was subjected by the WCW faithful. He joined forces with the Outsiders and formed the New World Order (or the more unwieldy New World Organisation, as he botched more than once) by dropping a leg on former storyline ally Randy Savage.
Commentator Bobby Heenan almost spoiled the surprise; when Hogan made his way down the entrance ramp, he asked "Who's side is he on?" - but Heenan was always quick with a bluntly moronic insight for comic effect. Besides which, Hogan was Hogan. He was never going to turn heel ever again because he was Hogan.
When he did, fans pelted the ring with garbage in one of the most iconic scenes in wrestling. They hated him before - and they loathed him now.