10 Times WWE Worked Their Audience Into A Shoot

8. Brock Beats The Streak (WrestleMania XXX)

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A deeply inconsistent night of action, WrestleMania XXX is primarily remember for two things: Daniel Bryan's overdue coronation as WWE Champion, and Brock Lesnar beating The Undertaker's legendary 'Streak'.

Few expected 'The Deadman' to actually lose that night, but it happened. 'The Beast Incarnate' ended wrestling's most legendary undefeated run in just over 25 minutes. It took three F-5s to put him away, but Brock eventually became the first man to ever beat 'Taker on wrestling's biggest stage, and the crowd were stunned.

The feed quickly cut from one shocked audience member to another, with an overwhelmed Paul Heyman mirroring their reaction at ringside. It was WWE's most surprising result in years, and one that outraged a huge portion of the fanbase, many of whom couldn't believe that such an honour had been bestowed upon a part-timer.

The backlash was impossible to ignore. Fans and critics alike savaged WWE for the booking decision, but it was ultimately justified. Lesnar rose as the company's star attraction in the aftermath, and soon became the focal point of their programming, before capturing the WWE Title later in the year. Sure, it put an almighty dent in The Undertaker's legacy, but 'The Beast' may not have reached his current transcendent status without it.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.