10 Wrestling Hoaxes That Fooled The Internet

8. The Big Show Died

Stephanie McMahon
WWE.com

The death hoax is the work of the despicable.

Imagine being the sort of person who starts that rumour. This sort of person delights in creating the worst strain of anxiety in the loved ones of the victim. It's not trolling so much as terrorism.

The Big Show is one of many to have endured this horror of celebrity; in late 2016, it was "reported" that Show had passed away following an automobile accident. It's the plausible specifics of the tale that inspire the most revulsion because they inspire also the most concern; such an accident can happen to anybody. Car wrecks do not discriminate. They take the life of the daredevil and the diligent alike. The young, the old, even the larger-than-life.

WWE quickly refuted the hoax by issuing a fact check via the Associated Press, confirming that Show was alive and well. Show himself countered the claim on Boxing Day by posting on Instagram. He was far from dead; in fact, he looked to be in his best shape in over two decades.

You can't eradicate this sort of evil from the world, but you can investigate a source thoroughly and banish these stories to the toilet from whence they came.

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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!