7 Most Infuriating Last Minute WWE PPV Changes

6. Chris Jericho Replaces CM Punk - Unforgiven 2008

Big Show Wwe Title
WWE.com

Just about an hour earlier, Chris Jericho had lost a brutal Unsanctioned match against Shawn Michaels, with whom he was embroiled in a feud so intense that it resulted in Michaels' wife Rebecca being punched full force in the face.

CM Punk, meanwhile, had been beaten down before his Championship Scramble World Heavyweight title defence at the hands of Randy Orton's Legacy faction. This angle wasn't booked to enable a heroic, Terry Funk-esque comeback - or even to protect Punk in defeat. The Straight Edge Superstar never made it to the ring.

Incredibly, despite suffering to a far worse degree - and losing in the process - Jericho was somehow considered an adequate kayfabe replacement. Predictably, he went on to lift the title at Batista's expense.

It was obvious from the moment he limped to the ring what WWE had in mind. The company has a habit of running every good thing to fall into their hands into the ground - Fandango was frogmarched to the ring as the next Rock one week removed from a gaggle of British lads on tour drunkenly signing his theme on the post-WrestleMania 29 RAW.

The hottest blood feud in years was consequently furnished, pointlessly, with a title. Punk, in the fallout, wasn't even allowed to avenge his attack or stake a claim to his contracted rematch.

The enterprising Punk at least had the nous to integrate the pre-match attack into his eventual feud with Orton two and a half years later.

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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 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!