15 Biggest False Narratives In Wrestling History

11. ‘X-Pac Heat’

Jimmy Uso Jey Uso Thumb
WWE.com

It is absolutely true that X-Pac, across 2000 and 2001, played the same bratty character he had throughout 1998 and 1999. It is also true that Sean Waltman - who incidentally never receives due credit for revolutionising the stylistic shift across the ‘90s - had, in the wake of Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and the Radicalz debuting, been lapped as the guy fans could rely on for a nice dose of state-of-the-art action on undercards. X-Pac was passé. He felt dull and fans let him have it. 

So while ‘X-Pac heat’ is hardly a false narrative, it’s nonsense that his good name is forever associated with the phenomenon. 

Countless more wrestlers were infinitely more boring for a much longer stretch of time than X-Pac ever was. 

X-Pac didn’t hang around for anywhere near as long as, for example, the Miz or Dolph Ziggler, whose ceaseless runs were amongst the most tedious byproducts of WWE’s tedious monopoly era. 

The phenomenon could and should be named after somebody else. How about ‘Jericho Heat’? 

The awld carny could even slap that on a t-shirt (if he hasn’t already).

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!