10 Wrestlers The Fans Turned On

One person impervious to losing the fans must surely be The Rock, right? Wrong!

In 2002, The Rock was flirting more and more with his transition to Hollywood, although it would take a long time for him to become the certified box office draw and highest paid actor in the movie business. With his appearances fleeting, The Rock left WWE after his iconic clash with Hollywood Hogan at WrestleMania X8.

When he returned a few months later, Rocky thankfully ended The Undertaker’s poor WWE Undisputed Championship run at Vengeance '02, teeing him up for an exciting defense against King of the Ring winner, Brock Lesnar.

‘The Next Big Thing’ was certainly that, and his and Rock’s pathway to SummerSlam was well documented with some brilliant training videos showing just how much the match meant to them. When the two finally met in the ring, something happened that nobody saw coming.

The fans began to turn on The Rock, realising that he would be leaving the company again for another stint in Hollywood, and they threw their support behind the young, future headliner that was hell bent on maiming him. The Rock’s heroic comeback was met with jeers and Lesnar’s eventually coronation with loud cheers.

These reactions would eventually inform Lesnar’s quick face turn that autumn, whilst The Rock used that reaction as the catalyst for his fantastic Hollywood Heel turn.