10 Most Surreal WWE Matches Ever

7. The Toxic Turtles Vs. Ron Preston & Tommy Stevenson - Wrestling Challenge, March 9, 1993

Toxic Turtles II
WWE.com

The Toxic Turtles were Duane 'Gillberg' Gill and Barry Hardy - two jobber journeymen who, after years of searching, finally conceived of their big break: ripping off, wholesale, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

This idea wasn't as moronic as it first appeared, insofar as getting the green light. Vince McMahon loves alliteration, and in 1993, he loved the most naff sh*te imaginable. The second he saw Gill breakdancing in the outfit backstage, he booked the Turtles on the spot in a match with two other jobbers. Bear in mind that this was a different time. The reviled Survivor Series semi-main, banana skins and all, actually drew a mildly positive reaction. This did not.

It isn't in the so-bad-it's-good realm; it's just bleak. The Turtles ran to the ring, bumping their fists in the air as if they'd finally made it. One or two kids in the audience - max - popped. One Turtle - "Terry" or "Tommy" - started the match by dancing about and giving the crowd a "Get a load of this!" gesture as his partner encouraged a clap. He then fell on his back, but, being a turtle, could not get up.

The crowd died. Tragically, so too did the enthusiasm of the Turtles; they soon dispensed with the radical body language, and finished their match with shame visibly seeping out of their pores.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!