10 Times WWE Purposefully Lied To Sell A PPV

2. WrestleMania XXVIII - Twice In A Lifetime!

dwayne johnson
AP

'Once in a lifetime' usually means precisely that. Unless you're a converted Christian, a serial philanderer, or some sort of cat, being born, getting married, and - usually - dying, only happen to each of us on a single occasion. It's what makes these occasions so momentous.

So WWE billing a clash between John Cena and The Rock under that very same banner naturally convinced over a million punters scared of missing out to buy WrestleMania XXVIII. An entire year was devoted to build the contest, presented as the dreamiest of dream matches the Oneiroi themselves would have struggled to concoct. And it could only happen once. Sort of the point, wasn't it?

Except it wasn't. The Rock was already contracted to a three WrestleMania deal, and knew full-well that 'Once in a Lifetime' would add 'apart from this one' the following year. Come WrestleMania 29, fans were either reborn, experiencing long-term déjà vu, or had been duped by perfidious wrestling promoters. They wouldn't?!

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.