9 Most Disappointing Wrestling Surprises Ever
What could it be?! Only disappointment, my friend.
Wrestling loves itself a big surprise doesn't it? Whether it comes in the shape of months of vignettes, creepy videos or even just an anonymous individual within the show, wrestling history is littered with reveals that shocked us, appalled us or moved us. Sometimes a date would be announced, and speculation would run wild until the date itself came and the surprise was even more earth-shattering than we expected.
Other times, it was Hornswoggle.
Yeah, some of the most built up surprises and reveals in wrestling history have fizzled out on arrival, drawing groans and gasps from the audience, although those gasps were more through 'they did what?!' as opposed to any display of shock in a positive manner.
TNA made this into something of an art-form, promising arrivals and moves that were going to change the game but managed only to question the sanity of the game. Not to be outdone, World Wrestling Entertainment (and the World Wrestling Federation before it) has its own impressive back catalogue of questionable reveals and surprises, ranging from the downright insulting to the Hornswoggle.
But what are the most disappointing and underwhelming surprises of all time? Here are 9 that are right up there.
9. #August1Warning
By the summer of 2013 the Aces & Eights story had just about to outlasted its course of relevance. The Main Event Mafia had reformed to rid TNA of them forever, albeit a MEM that included Magnus and Rampage Jackson.
An #August1Warning had kept many (okay, some) on tenterhooks for a whole week. Would could it mean? Would it have consequences for Kurt Angle, Sting and the Main Event Mafia, or was time truly up for Bully Ray and his Aces & Eights?
The night came, and as Kurt Angle challenged A&E to a 5-on-5 career ending match. A brawl then ensued, because TNA. Mr. Anderson eventually accepted the challenge as only a professional wrestler can (ie; loudly), but once he did the lights went out. What could it be? Was the August1Warning about to be revealed?
It was indeed! The man behind the hashtag was revealed to be none other than MMA legend Tito Ortiz, causing the crowd to go absolutely mild. Yeah, no-one cared about Ortiz, and what followed was a very awkward minute or so of Ortiz standing with his arms crossed and Mr. Anderson looking a little perturbed. This definitely fell into the 'underwhelming' bracket.