25 Most OUT OF POCKET WWE Attitude Era Moments

1. Bubba Ray Dudley Powerbombs Mae Young Off Stage, Through Table

Bubba Ray Dudley
WWE

The episodic formula of the WWE Attitude Era necessitated increasingly deranged craziness at an ultimately untenable frequency. In 1997, Stone Cold Steve Austin hit Vince McMahon with the Stunner. In 1998, Vince was eating unprotected chair shots like they were ketchupless burritos. The fans were insatiable. They always wanted more.

The WWF was more than happy to provide. 

On March 13, 2000, with his tag team surging in popularity, the WWF needed an idea to pile more heat on The Dudley Boyz, and settled on a vintage Attitude Era trope: misogyny. Terrorising a woman, that always works. 

Well, that stuff worked in 1998 and 1999. This was 2000. Gotta raise the stakes. 

OK, then how about an octogenarian woman?  

Better. Better. So what are we thinking? 

3D?  

It’s good, but not great. Moolah took a guitar shot last year. A 3D isn’t going to cut it. 

They can put her through a table? 

Better. But we see a table spot every week. The fans might not even pop that loud. 

OK. What if Bubba Ray Dudley picks her up - out of a wheelchair - and drills her with a powerbomb off the stage and through a table? That way, it will look like every last one of her brittle old lady bones gets vaporised, killing her instantly? 

We’re almost there. 

OK. What if this murder attempt makes Bubba Ray Dudley cum?

Book it. 

The layers of heel awfulness in this segment were absolutely incredible, and the beauty here was that Mae Young was up for absolutely owt and was perfectly OK afterwards, making this the darkest comedy moment you’re allowed to laugh at. 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!