10 Most Shocking WWE WrestleMania Role Reversals

8. Triple H & Randy Orton - WrestleMania 25 & XXVI

BRET HART MANIA REVERSAL
WWE

Almost certainly by accident rather than design, it's comforting to think that Triple H and Randy Orton were punished for proffering such a pathetic main event in 2009 with midcard slots in 2010. Not least because, even with the gentle relegations, they still went over.

Randy Orton and Triple H's catastrophic show-closer failed in each of its stated aims. The blood feud build up was neglected in favour of a match that actively prohibited 'The Game' getting violent. Hunter himself went in as defending Champion rather than vengeful. 24 excruciating minutes warranted a finer finish than one that felt like the show was in a rush to get off the air. Orton - the man who had kicked his opponent's father and brother-in-law half to death and kissed his unconscious wife - was a minor inconvenience rather than a major threat.

Minor inconveniences were all that troubled either men 12 months removed from their topline stinker. At WrestleMania XXVI, Triple H breezed past Sheamus whilst Orton despatched his former Legacy interns Ted Dibiase and Cody Rhodes. Undertaker and Shawn Michaels - the very men Hunter and Randy couldn't follow one year earlier - went on last, as if the decision was ever remotely in doubt.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 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 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, 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