10 Wrestlers Who Broke The Muta Scale

6. Bill Alfonso

Eddie Guerrero Bloody Hell
WWE.com

Scrawny, bratty referee Bill Alfonso just barely warrants the designation of "wrestler," but this triumph of an impromptu match wasn't just unexpected: it was inconceivable.

Alfonso, like every wrestling referee, was trained in the dark arts of bumping. Ditto opponent Beulah McGillicutty. But that was about it; neither performer was athletic nor experienced enough to craft an actual wrestling match. However, the superb grasp of their respective characters, a winning match layout, and the simple, supreme novelty of the sight gag converged to create something great out of virtually nil resource. Beulah suckered Alfonso in with a bait and switch, bruising his knuckles with a hidden baking tray, before the tone of the match was set. It was Alfonso's inexperience that made it; he cut himself far too deeply, creating the indelible spectacle of a stuck pig - fitting, given his mannerisms throughout. He struck Beulah with a low blow and choked her to generate immense heat from the crowd. Then, in an hilarious, blackly comedic note, he signalled for a moonsault, a move he had no chance of pulling off. Beulah's comebacks were timed perfectly, engineering a totally delirious atmosphere.

Paul Heyman, known tall tale teller, has it that Alfonso lost a third of his blood. That may be bullsh*t, but the job of the booker is to lionise his talent. That this match lives on in the memory is a testament of his genius.

Contributor
Contributor

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!