10 Wrestling Matches That Were NOTHING Like You Expected

8. The Big Show Vs. Kane - WWE RAW, May 8 2006

John Cena The Undertaker
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In addition to tag team gold, once upon a not particularly great time, Kane and The Big Show shared something less illustrious in common: both were creaking freak show attractions that didn't do much moving in a WWE ring, not least by 2006, at which point they were sensibly shoved into a burden-sharing monster tandem.

On the May 8, 2006, the inevitable split materialised. We expected a slow, lumbering, typical WWE "big man" match, all clubbing blows in the corner, grunting noises, and basic slams - maybe one top rope move at a push, for the novelty value and the interest spike before the finish.

What we received instead was an unfathomable old World of Sport-style match; Show and Kane actually chain wrestled. Now, chain wrestling by definition is smooth, and this wasn't. But it was chain wrestling, and it was interesting and fresh - two words hardly associated with two mummified dinosaurs immune to meteorite after meteorite of new, more exciting talents. Show was blown up after 20 seconds, but he still managed a forward roll, incredibly. Kane meanwhile did a Big Daddy version of Jonny Saint's WOS style, confused by the whole thing as much as WWE is to this day. It's not really competition, Vince.

"I don't expect this to be a catch-as-catch-can classic, quite frankly," said Jim Ross on commentary. He was only half wrong.

 
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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!