10 Times WWE Had A BLACKOUT
7. William Regal Takes The Show Off The Bloody Air (Monday Night Raw, April 28, 2008)
A largely forgotten megalomaniac authority figure storyline due to its abrupt ending, William Regal's chaotic reign as the General Manager, King and "ruler" of Monday Night Raw in 2008 became synonymous with blackouts after he deemed fans unworthy of seeing the show.
The sort of thing that would have made him the company's biggest babyface in 2020 was still seen as a heel move in 2008 - how dare Regal rob the audience of what must only have been the 6000th main event between Triple H and Randy Orton before it had concluded? Or, as he'd do the following week, attempt to run an entire episode with the lights turned off.
The "Regal sucks" chants were deafening for that second one, itself a result of Regal being given an endorsement by Vince McMahon for flexing such obnoxious power one week prior. It felt like an idea sure to generate heat everywhere, but the angle was dropped suddenly when Regal was found in violation of the Wellness Policy and suspended for 60 days.
By the time he returned, he - rather fittingly - had no more power.