10 Totally Embarrassing WWE On-Air Production Botches

4. Literal Dark Matches

undertaker caught on fire
WWE Network

The term "dark match" isn't supposed to be literal.

No promoter in their right mind would book wrestlers to compete in a gloomy arena, but this has happened to WWE more times than you'd think - although it hasn't always been their fault.

The most well known example came at In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog back in May 1996. The local area had been struck by severe thunderstorms on the day of the event, and they ended up completely destroying the broadcast. Power to the production trucks cut out at the start of Steve Austin and Savio Vega's strap match, killing the feed completely, although the bout continued in dim light for the live crowd.

The next three matches went unaired, but the power eventually returned as Shawn Michaels and The British Bulldog made their main event entrances. It was such a shambles that WWE were forced to book an "encore presentation" two nights later, in which three of the four unaired bouts were finally filmed.

It happened again on an episode of Raw 10 years later, then at WrestleMania XXIV, when several wrestlers were forced to compete under backup spotlights following another big power failure. Unfortunately, this wasn't the Show of Show's only major production issue...

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.