10 Times WWE Pleasantly Surprised Their Audience
9. Kurt Angle Replaces Roman Reigns
A bizarre mumps outbreak shortly before October 2017's Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view created the sort of ripple effect that had previously hamstrung WWE in the past.
Vince McMahon, for his faults, has a proven track record of over-delivering a replacement for the original intended output when he has to make changes, but few could have foresaw his off-the-wall solution to Roman Reigns' unexpected absence just days before a blockbuster main event pitting The Shield against five of Raw's finest fiends.
Helicoptering in Raw General Manager Kurt Angle to side with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, WWE ramped up the anticipation for the main event tenfold with less than 48 hours to go, and spectacularly followed through with booking that saved his conversion to killer 'Wrestling Machine' for the closing moments of an otherwise-exceptional brawl.
It was one of the best possible scenarios pulled from the brink of one of the worst, and it wasn't the only fire they'd been forced to fight that night. From the fires of hell a 'Demon' re-emerged, but not to face a twisted sister. His new opponent was 'Phenomenal'...