5 Biggest Upsets In WWE History
The realm of WWE has seen countless twists and turns, with underdogs emerging triumphant and favored giants falling unexpectedly. Some of these upsets remain etched in the annals of wrestling history, resonating with fans long after the event has transpired. These unanticipated victories come from wrestlers whose careers span the spectrum – from those destined for the Hall of Fame to those whose stars shone brightly but briefly. One thing’s certain: fans cherish these iconic moments, applauding the WWE for crafting compelling upset narratives.
When talking about upsets, it’s impossible not to recall the astounding match between The Hurricane and The Rock. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, always generous in the ring, worked diligently to uplift emerging talents. This generosity wasn’t only evident with huge names like Brock Lesnar and Goldberg. The Rock, in an unexpected move, engaged in a short storyline with The Hurricane. Their dynamic interaction, filled with humorous backstage exchanges, had fans hooked. But the climax was when Hurricane, with a little interference from Steve Austin, managed to defeat The Rock. This not only escalated the intensity of the impending Rock/Austin face-off at WrestleMania 19 but also brought Hurricane to the forefront, commemorating his tussle with The Rock.
In another shocking event from 2004, Shelton Benjamin’s trajectory dramatically changed. With the disbandment of his team with Charlie Haas, Benjamin found himself on Raw following the brand split draft. The WWE’s faith in Benjamin’s solo potential became evident when he faced and stunningly defeated Triple H cleanly on Raw. Although Benjamin’s career didn’t skyrocket to main event levels, this victory solidified his position as a formidable upper mid-card player.
John Cena, by the late 2000s, was WWE’s golden boy, a superstar who could seemingly do no wrong and suffered defeats on rare occasions. Enter Sheamus, the Irish bruiser freshly transitioned from the ECW brand to Raw. In a surprising twist, Sheamus, the rookie, met Cena, the stalwart, for the coveted WWE Championship in a tables match. The world watched in shock as Cena was sent crashing through a table, marking Sheamus’s rise to WWE Championship glory. Although Sheamus secured this colossal victory, he struggled to reach the pinnacle of fan adoration that the WWE had envisioned for him.
Fandango’s inception into WWE was marked by anticipation and intrigue. Adopting the gimmick after Johnny Curtis’s introduction, he was the wrestler who refused to compete until everyone got his name right. His first real test came in the form of WWE legend, Chris Jericho, at WrestleMania 29. Against all odds and to the astonishment of fans worldwide, Fandango clinched victory in his debut match against Jericho. Regrettably, WWE couldn’t sustain the initial buzz around his character, leading to a decline in his momentum.
Lastly, who could forget Santino Marella’s meteoric rise? Introduced to the WWE universe during a Raw episode in Italy, Marella was seemingly a random fan plucked from the crowd by Vince McMahon to answer Umaga’s open challenge. In a turn of events that left fans and commentators flabbergasted, Marella pinned Umaga, securing the Intercontinental Championship. Despite this impressive start, Marella’s serious wrestler persona didn’t stick with audiences. A transition to a more comedic character eventually became his calling card.
These moments, surprising as they were, define the unpredictable and exhilarating nature of WWE. The essence of wrestling is rooted not just in athleticism but in the stories that unfold within the squared circle, and these upsets serve as testament to that magic.
