9 Times WWE Promoted 'Freak-show' Matches

6. Lawrence Taylor Vs. Bam Bam Bigelow

Mayweather Big Show
WWE.com

Bam Bam Bigelow's WrestleMania main-event opposite former Giants' linebacker Lawrence Taylor wasn't an inter-discipline match as such; LT wasn't forced to run a gridiron whilst avoiding suplexes from the 'Beast from the East'. He did wear football apparel however, so it makes the list.

In 1995, WWE was in a bit of a pickle. With most of its top stars possessing either deflated bodies or inflated bank balances due to the steroid scandal and Eric Bischoff's chequebook, the company was shorn of any real draws for their supposed super-show. So Vince did what he knew best: desperate mainstream pandering.

Celebrities littered the Hartford Civic Center, albeit a very loose definition of the term. Salt-n-Peppa! Nicholas Turturro! Jonathan Taylor Thomas! No, those weren't enhancement talent in dark matches, but actual so-called household names drafted in to sprinkle their stardust on the show. Chief amongst them was retired and marginally disgraced pro-footballer Taylor, unbelievably given top billing ahead of Shawn Michaels and Diesel.

And you know what? The match wasn't half bad - almost entirely down to the professionalism and experience of big Bam Bam. Putting over the football player made a mockery of the business however, and the show garnered just 340,000 buys - the lowest in WrestleMania history.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.