10 Weirdest WWE Matches Ever

2. Big Show Vs. Akebono - Sumo Match (WrestleMania 21)

Triple H Hog Pen Match
WWE Network

WrestleMania 21 was well on its way to becoming one of the greatest ever.

After a slight disappointing start, in a match between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, of all people, the first ever (and arguably best ever) Money In The Bank match ramped up the excitement levels. The beginning of The Undertaker's real, great-match-at-WrestleMania Streak maintained them. The absolute classic fusion of technicality and storytelling that was Kurt Angle Vs. Shawn Michaels spiked them.

Enter Big Show and sumo star Akebono, who contested an obviously-worked sumo wrestling match (!). What's even more bizarre than the match itself is the reverence with which commentators Michael Cole and Tazz treat it. An obvious sideshow attraction is built up as the main event, their straight-laced commentary betraying the awful attempts at comedy. As Big Show gets his (what would ordinarily be an) opening shine in, he dry humps and gives Akebono a wedgie. Ha!

When Snooki wrestled at WrestleMania XXVII, WWE weren't expecting the hundreds and thousands of Jersey Shore fans to order the event. They just wanted an inroad into the mainstream press. But barely anybody in America knew who Akebono was - so what was the point?

It was purportedly designed to attract publicity from Japan - but couldn't they have just signed one of the oceans of talented and popular puro stars instead?

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!