10 WWE Title Moments You DEFINITELY Can’t Remember

5. Zack Ryder’s “Big Opportunity”

WWE Unforgiven 2008 The Brian Kendrick
WWE

It's 'Long Island Iced-Z' Jack Swagger. Sorry, wee inside joke at the returning Lilian Garcia's expense for those who get the gag. You'd need to be a Zack Ryder super fan to remember this match. Hell, Matt Cardona himself would probs look puzzled if someone brought it up to him backstage at an indy show. 'I wrestled who when?!'.

On the 23 August 2012 Raw, then-WWE Champ Sheamus handpicked Ryder as someone deserving of a "big opportunity" to wrestle him for the richest prize. This was all part of a storyline that saw Sheamus try to get out of defending the belt at Night Of Champions against one of the roster's best. The anonymous Raw GM was having none of it.

They weren't thrilled by Sheamus running over Zack with a Brogue Kick and winning a 10 second squash. Admittedly, it's pretty strange to look back on this knowing Ryder would become a cult hero the very next year. Fans in 2010 barely reacted to his entrance at all, and the commentary team laughed off suggestions he could ever win a singles title in WWE.

In your face, Michael Cole. Just kidding.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.