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Surprises?

By
Scott,
I randomly saw your old rant for WCW "Great American Bash" 1999 and, during the main event Sid Vicious returns to attack and you seemed legitimately surprised by it.  Whether that was the case or not, it got me to thinking: what are some of the best surprises for you in terms of legitimate surprises?  Warrior's return at Wrestlemania VIII is at the top of many people's lists of surprises, along with the Hogan turn (many guessed it not many actual KNEW).
To take it further, do you think it's even possible to be shocked at this point?  I mean, between Twitter, blogs, and other leaks, I don't know that a company could bring in a guy (Brock Lesnar's return?) without us hearing before hand.  Whether true (Brock Lesnar) or false (Batista), no return/debut/turn ends up being a shock because we've heard the rumors already.  We're also so conditioned at this point to look for a John Cena heel turn, a McMahon return, or a swerve just for the sake of it that it makes me wonder: are there any legitimate surprises left?


TNA could always make money on something.  

Anyway, yeah, Warrior at Wrestlemania was gigantic.  I remember Rude debuting in 97 as Shawn Michaels' new bodyguard sending my roommate and me into a frenzy for some reason.  Rude as the WCW Halloween Phantom was also pretty great in 91.

I think there's still some left.  JoMo could pop up literally any day now for either company and have a big impact.  The Brock thing was only leaked the day before, so that was a pretty big one and of course Batista is still lurking as a free agent now.  So's Lashley, although his star power is rapidly dropping.  

Comments

  1. David Bonzai Saldana-MontgomerJuly 1, 2012 at 12:08 AM

    CM Punk's worked shoot promo last year def. surprised everyone and got everyone talking for a few weeks before they went same ol same ol and the feud got infused with a lethal dose of POOIISSSSOOON....I mean, HHH and Nash.

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  2. Peter Trier AagaardJuly 1, 2012 at 12:08 AM

    I think the biggest one in recent years is the John Cena Rumble-win, simply because all the sites and sheets were dead sure he wouldn't be ready 'til Mania and maybe not even then. It really made me question how much of the "leaked info" is actually coming from the companies and is not just qualified guesswork. 

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  3. ChinJuly 1, 2012 at 12:51 AM

    Cena winning the Rumble is a good one.

    Roddy Piper appearing at XIX was a big surprise.

    I don't think we'll ever see big surprises like we did during the War era because the TV model has changed from "always have exciting programming" to "announce everything early in the hopes of getting a bigger rating".

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  4. Mar SoloJuly 1, 2012 at 1:05 AM

    Honestly, the Rock returning as guest host for last year's Mania came out of left field for me.

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  5. jabronivilleJuly 1, 2012 at 1:16 AM

    I remember the ECW guys joining the InVasion angle shocked the FUCK out of me when it happened. To say nothing of ERIC BISCHOFF debuting on WWF T.V.- I was literally staring with my mouth hanging open.

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  6. BeardMoneyJuly 1, 2012 at 1:47 AM

    The original Nexus assault blew my mind.  I had no idea that was coming and the execution could not have been better.  Too bad the WWE had to merge it with the status quo so quickly and all the momentum the group built on that night.

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  7. Tony MyersJuly 1, 2012 at 2:48 AM

    Does Owen's fall count as a suprise?

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  8. Buster AbbottJuly 1, 2012 at 3:14 AM

    Here's an odd one.....Truth's turn on Morrison in April 2011 was something I didn't see coming.  I was surprised because

    a) Truth had settled into a rut as a lower-midcard guy so it was surprising seeing creative actually do something with him.  It was quite a jump to see Truth go from five years as a cheap pop face to a really unique heel character at the drop of a hat.

    b) the turn was actually so well done, with that extended beatdown, the smoking and the water bottle attack (which I took more as symbolic than an actual big move)

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  9. Joe PetrowJuly 1, 2012 at 5:04 AM

    That depends on what a "suprise" is.

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  10. Joe PetrowJuly 1, 2012 at 5:05 AM

    They could totally still use that for a Cena/Bryan feud.  Just eliminate the tie choking footage, and have it be Bryan claiming that he was fired for spitting in Cena's face.

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  11. michaelkehm316July 1, 2012 at 5:13 AM

     This and the end of the WCW was really surprising. Especially when Shane McMahon was on Nitro.

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  12. PhredericJuly 1, 2012 at 5:21 AM

    Does JoMo really have that much buzz about him?  I guess he was on TV for pretty much all of the post-Attitude Era and he's put on some pretty amazing matches.  I'm a huge mark for the guy, didn't know others gave a shit.

    There are plenty of surprises left, Jeff Hardy jumping to WWE would be massive, simply because he's done so much to burn his bridges.  Likewise CM Punk/Cena/Triple H would be insane for obvious and unique reasons.

    Uh, what else.  A Vince McMahon/Eric Bischoff I Quit Ladder Match (you have to get the mic from the top of the ladder to get them to say I Quit with) live on RoH PPV.  Mostly because nobody would believe that you'd get to see that match.

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  13. Michael FitzgeraldJuly 1, 2012 at 6:11 AM

    The two biggest surprises for me would be Edge cashing in Money in the Bank for the first time and winning (Edge cashing it in was shock enough but I was certain Cena would dodge the second Spear and retain like he always did around that period)
    The other one would be Matt Hardy's return in 2005 when he hopped the rail and plugged ROH. I had no idea that was coming and it was a huge shock at the time
    An honourable mention would have to be Tazz at Royal Rumble 2000 as I wasn't online at the time so I had no idea he'd signed with WWF and didn't really follow ECW week to week

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  14. zanadudeJuly 1, 2012 at 6:19 AM

    Marty Janetty showing up on RAW unannounced, and promptly beating Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Title, was pretty shocking for the time.  And the Shawn Michaels collapse during his match with Owen Hart was so convincingly done that the IWC at the time was largely convinced that it was real, taking away all the attention from the first ever Hogan vs Sting match that was taking place on the other channel at that time.

    Speaking of Nitro, the first episode where Lex Luger showed up was a huge surprise to everyone, including the WWF.

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  15. MaffewofBotchamaniaJuly 1, 2012 at 6:32 AM

    ''To take it further, do you think it's even possible to be shocked at this point?  I mean, between Twitter, blogs, and other leaks, I don't know that a company could bring in a guy (Brock Lesnar's return?) without us hearing before hand. ''

    See, this annoys me because if you spend lots of time reading news sites, spoilers and whatnot then of course you're not going to be surprised by anything. I've never understood the parts of the IWC that read the spoilers to something THEN watch the show. /rant

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  16. Mike S.July 1, 2012 at 6:32 AM

    For some reason I missed all the Jeff Jarrett news in 1999 and was shocked to see him pop up on Nitro.

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  17. Curtis WilliamsJuly 1, 2012 at 6:39 AM

    CM Punk's worked shoot(last time I went back to being a fan, Vince will always have props from me on this one), Joey Styles' shoot, Brock's return was still pretty shocking to me even though most knew about a good 24 hours prior but I was just surprised because I never thought I'd ever see him back in a WWE ring. 

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  18. Curtis WilliamsJuly 1, 2012 at 6:41 AM

    I forgot to mention Edge's first cash in, that was shocking as hell because no one knew you could cash in on champ right after match or anytime for that matter. 

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  19. CulturebUllyJuly 1, 2012 at 6:44 AM

    The biggest genuine surprise for me was X-Pac returning to RAW to form DX, and then Road Dogg & Billy Gunn joining at the end of the show. I was marking out like an absolute bitch!!

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  20. The FujJuly 1, 2012 at 7:04 AM

    i love the hhh look when cena came out

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  21. The FujJuly 1, 2012 at 7:05 AM

    i liked when bryan came out for ss match

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  22. The FujJuly 1, 2012 at 7:06 AM

    just an roh ippv going off without any problems would be shocking.

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  23. pbreathingJuly 1, 2012 at 8:04 AM

    I think the next big shock should be a celebrity one. Wrestling exists in its own world, so there's a limit to the level of shock that can happen. Cena appearing on TNA would be about the biggest (hypothetical) thing that could happen. I reckon they should go for cross-culture.

    Whenever a celeb appears, it's always advertised for ages beforehand to get the mainstream tuning in. But imagine, say... Justin Bieber, running in unannounced and nailing CM Punk with a chair, costing him the title against someone like Miz. After the initial "What the fuck was that?" has passed, you're left with loads:

    * The feeling that ANYTHING can happen. Justin fucking Bieber just appeared in WWE
    * The mainstream media creaming their jeans at a massive showbiz story
    * Awesome promos with a shit-eating corporate Vince playing up Bieber as an amazing talent
    * A Punk/Miz storyline, with Bieber in the corner of the MTV-friendly Miz

    If you don't want to go down that route, substitute Bieber for a big sports star (a la Tyson/Mayweather) and make the storyline focused on sport/athleticism instead of celebrity.

    Point being, get a big star and the mainstream attention will come when it matters (i.e. a blowoff PPV). You don't need to advertise it in advance like they always do.

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  24. JordanJuly 1, 2012 at 8:05 AM

    I think Punk ACTUALLY winning the belt at MITB last year was pretty shocking. I remember at the time a lot of people online thought we were just going to see Cena mow down challenger after challenger to build him up for Rock, plus most of us thought Punk was just going to take time off after the loss.


    Him showing up 2 weeks later was surprising I guess too, but that one was a bit stupider as I wish they'd have kept him off TV for a lot longer.

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  25. JordanJuly 1, 2012 at 8:07 AM

    I read spoilers for a show like Smackdown (and Impact when it was taped) because it's nice to know ahead of time if the show is going to be terrible, ya know? 

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  26. JordanJuly 1, 2012 at 8:08 AM

    Not just the TV model, but also there is no surprise in somebody "jumping" promotions. When a guy who used to be on Nitro would show up on Raw or vice versa, it was a pretty big deal. Not the same effect when somebody leaves Impact to go to Smackdown.

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  27. Ryan MurphyJuly 1, 2012 at 8:12 AM

     I love how they did the Bischoff thing, like so they could have their cake and eat it too: Show him in that bumper segment with Booker before the commercial so everyone could talk about it online or call their friends or whatever, and then have the big reveal afterward for the big shocking moment where Vince & Bischoff hug. Some people would have preferred the big shocking moment of seeing Bischoff come out as a surprise with Vince, but I liked how they did it.

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  28. Ryan MurphyJuly 1, 2012 at 8:14 AM

     They just had one that went off smoothly, smartypants.

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  29. Ryan MurphyJuly 1, 2012 at 8:16 AM

    For a modern, non-spoiled surprise, how about Vader the other week? No one had any indication that Vader was in the building, so that was a legitimate "holy shit!" I guess Sid had some advance notice though.

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  30. nppyinzerJuly 1, 2012 at 8:19 AM

    Angle's debut in TNA was a big surprise. I don't remember anyone being *happy* about it, but everyone was definitely surprised.

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  31. The FujJuly 1, 2012 at 8:20 AM

    i knew that would get at you ROHbot. ;-)

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  32. Joseph LorraineJuly 1, 2012 at 8:58 AM

     To be fair though, the CROWD at that Raw spoiled Lesnar's return even if the viewer had kept away from dirt sheets.

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  33. jvc113July 1, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    Especially today, because if I guy like Samoa Joe decided to jump, they'd send him down to FCW to learn to work "WWE style" before he could show up on Raw or Smackdown, so everyone would know about him. 

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  34. cultstatusJuly 1, 2012 at 9:20 AM

    I think the next big surprise is the Rock at the Royal Rumble, unadvertised, at number 30 and winning it. At this point, I'd be shocked if it didn't happen. 

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  35. dirtyearsbillJuly 1, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    I'm with you on the Nexus attack. I was 100% captivated and shocked that they were putting these guys over so strongly. It's a shame that it started falling off the rails almost immediately after that first night. 

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  36. dirtyearsbillJuly 1, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    I remember sitting with my best friend and watching Raw the night Bischoff debuted. They were teasing who the mystery GM was going to be (that was how it happened, right? my memory is foggy) and I jokingly said, "It's going to be Eric Bischoff." When it turned out that it actually was him, I totally popped.

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  37. BeardMoneyJuly 1, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    I wasn't able to get SS that year, but I remember reading the results on my phone and catching Bryan's name as I scanned down.  I couldn't believe what I was reading; it was like all the fantasy booking everyone had been doing for months since his dismissal had come to life.  That happens so rarely.  I suppose I'll feel similarly if AJ ultimately turns on Punk, costs him the title, and reunites with Bryan.  I kind of expect it, but I don't really believe it could happen so it would still be a huge surprise.

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  38. dirtyearsbillJuly 1, 2012 at 9:36 AM

    When Cena came out at number 30, I was completely shocked. That was such a great moment. I remember my buddies and I all freaking out and marking for Cena for the first time. Too bad his Mania match that year was not very memorable at all. That was the year he had a triple threat match for the title, right? I don't even remember.

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  39. Joseph LorraineJuly 1, 2012 at 9:54 AM

     Yeah, he used his title shot he won at the Rumble early, that match went to a draw, and then WM ended up being Orton (c) vs. Cena vs. Triple H.  Orton retained by pinning Cena.

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  40. greatgamaJuly 1, 2012 at 9:56 AM

     "Tell me I didn't just see that!"

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  41. The_BoJuly 1, 2012 at 9:56 AM

    The Rock's return before WM27 was a legit surprise. I remember the week before when Vince said Wrestlemania was gonna have a host most of the IWC assumed it was gonna be Justin Beiber. 

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  42. The_BoJuly 1, 2012 at 9:58 AM

     But didn't WWE.com even report that Lesnar was in Miam?

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  43. Ryan MurphyJuly 1, 2012 at 9:59 AM

     Eh believe me, I wasn't counting on them to actually pull it off.

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  44. Ryan MurphyJuly 1, 2012 at 10:00 AM

     I was happy about it for TNA's sake. He was just spinning his wheels in WWE anyway, there wasn't anything left for him there.

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  45. The_BoJuly 1, 2012 at 10:00 AM

     If JOMO returned and the company treated it like the biggest fucking deal in the world, the fans might follow suit. Like if the lights went out, came back on, & Morrison is in the ring & starts kicking whoever's ass, while Cole and Lawler scream about how shocking this is perception might carry it.

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  46. The_BoJuly 1, 2012 at 10:02 AM

     Yeah, there were no rumors of anything like that happening. And it made perfect sense, I watched a little bit of NXT season 1, and it seemed to me like all of them were being shit on regularly for no reason. So now, they're gonna fuck up the WWE for treating them like children. In the long run it didn't work out (just my opinion), but it was a great start.

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  47. The_BoJuly 1, 2012 at 10:04 AM

     I wish I read all the comments first. I said pretty much the exact same thing

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  48. The_BoJuly 1, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    Here's a what-if that'd never happen. Vince McMahon shows up on Impact... "Screw my company, screw my family...TNA LET'S CROSS THE LIIIIIIIIIINE"

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  49. Night81July 1, 2012 at 10:12 AM

    Don't you think they'd be shooting themselves in the foot in regards to PPV buys by not announcing him as an entrant?

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  50. Adam CurryJuly 1, 2012 at 10:18 AM

    I saw on a couple sites that he was going to be there over the weekend, so it wasn't that big a shock.

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  51. robinwarderJuly 1, 2012 at 10:18 AM

    RVD making that one-shot return in the 2009 Royal Rumble was definitely a genuinely unexpected surprise, especially since it seemed like WWE was actually paying off the LONG-tired Internet meme: "Has RVD been signed to a contract or was it just a one-shot deal?".

    This one is going to sound silly, but I remember being genuinely shocked when Jerry Lynn showed up on that stupid WWA PPV from 2002 since for whatever reason, news about him being released from WWF a few months before had not leaked online. I remembering thinking, "He jumped ship from WWF to THIS?!".

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  52. Davey_Boy_JonesJuly 1, 2012 at 10:46 AM

    I can't believe anyone would dispute that opinion too strongly, given that the angle never quite lived up to that first night. I think they were wrong not to put the title on Wade Barrett; I don't necessarily think he was ready for it, but he needed it to legitimise the Nexus. It's not like Randy Orton's reign at the time was setting the world on fire.

    Mind you, the fact that so many of the members were green or limited in the ring didn't help. When you factor in Daniel Bryan being released immediately after the initial attack and injuries, maybe it was never quite meant to be.

    As far as surprises are concerned, I never would've figured that Heath Slater would become such an awesome heel jobber to the stars. Does a great job of making the fans want to see him get his ass kicked.

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  53. cultstatusJuly 1, 2012 at 11:01 AM

    Royal Rumble does well enough on it's own to take whatever the hit would be, plus it would create a lot of instant buzz. 

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  54. spicollidriverJuly 1, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    really? I remember even looking forward to The Rock.

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  55. spicollidriverJuly 1, 2012 at 11:39 AM

    but what if there is no blowoff?

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  56. The_BoJuly 1, 2012 at 11:47 AM

     I saw that WWA ppv and was legit shocked about Jerry Lynn too. Also, that show was horrible

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  57. BuckDiddyJuly 1, 2012 at 1:28 PM

     This sounds TERRIBLE.

    Let me recreate this moment in EWR.

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  58. David FenigJuly 1, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    I was pleasantly surprised when Eric Bischoff showed up as the very old priest in Chuck and Billy's wedding.

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  59. ChinJuly 1, 2012 at 2:19 PM

    That was pretty insane for sure, the night after 14 wasn't it?

    Probably the biggest pop Waltman ever got in his career.

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  60. ChinJuly 1, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    Speaking of Bischoff, him walking out on the Raw set and *HUGGING* Vince McMahon has to be pretty high on the list of crazy-ass surprises right?

    Between Vince's face opening the last Nitro, the Bischoff/McMahon hug and the Bischoff/McMahon/Heyman trifecta in the ring together at once that was the most surreal period of television ever. 

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  61. ChinJuly 1, 2012 at 2:24 PM

    That whole assault was so well done that even watching it years later when I know what's going to happen it's still shocking (wasn't a fan at the time so had to go back to re-watch what everyone was going crazy about). 

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  62. ChinJuly 1, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    The best part about that whole bit is Ross *FREAKING THE FUCK OUT* like Hitler just showed up a Bar Mitzvah. 

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  63. ChinJuly 1, 2012 at 2:34 PM

     I just rewatched that on YouTube, HHH always did have a great "Holy Shit WTF" face when he wanted to.

    Some of his reactions to UT are priceless.

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  64. kylelitkeJuly 1, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    Heh, just reread that rant. Not sure I've ever seen a bigger Sid fan than 1999 Scott. "I KNOW Nash VS Sid will draw!!"

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  65. kylelitkeJuly 1, 2012 at 6:42 PM

    I think it was somewhere in between you two. I don't think most people honestly thought Justin Beiber, that was just some rumor, but I don't think everyone thought Rock either. I personally did because he was the only one I could come up with that would be as big a deal as they were making it out to be while also not getting completely shit on by the live crowd at Raw.

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  66. kylelitkeJuly 1, 2012 at 6:45 PM

    Yes, I'm left with loads. Loads of shit on my TV. If it was Beiber anyway. And I'm not even "OMG IT'S SO COOL TO HATE BEIBER", I really don't care about him, but that would definitely make me not watch anymore. I can get behind a big sports star more, especially a boxer/mixed martial arts type guy who can actually get semi physical.

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  67. kylelitkeJuly 1, 2012 at 6:46 PM

    Same here. I like to know if I should watch SD or if it'll be totally wasting my time. Doesn't mean I don't enjoy live shows, but I've usually got other things going on on Friday nights and it's nice to know if I should bother with the DVR.

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  68. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 7:49 PM

    Bret hart doing the hall of fame induction was the most recent big shock for me. Christian doing a segment at a tna ppv would have been extremely shocking if not the spoilers (they even came from tna themselves). Imo Batista showing up on impact would be huge.

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  69. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 7:50 PM

    That would be an all time mark out moment.

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  70. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    Id agree with you if it was any other show but the royal rumble.

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  71. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 7:54 PM

    At the time I thought it would move the rating needle for tna since kurt is a living legend. The fact that neither he nor jeff hardy could budge the ratings shows me that maybe the days of a wrestler jumping ship and popping a rating are over

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  72. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 7:56 PM

    Even though I read he would be on the show I never imagined it would be to work a match so i was still shocked. A definite great moment.

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  73. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 7:57 PM

    Yup I never figured punk would go over. When he won it was a great markout moment

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  74. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM

    That was such a seismic switch in momentum for the Monday night wars. Not only had the wwf developed a more marketable star and found a new and interesting heel in vince but now big stars were jumping the other way for the first time in years

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  75. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 8:08 PM

    Nash showing up at summerslam was an extremely unpleasant suprise.

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  76. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    He probably learned from ric flair. Rics reaction at royal rumble 92 when piper comes out is classic heel cowardice!

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  77. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    I remember the nexus angle as a great example of the iwc saying the wwe would fuck the angle up and being right.

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  78. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    Definitely to owen

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  79. jobber123July 1, 2012 at 8:14 PM

    Its weird how hhh treated it like a huge deal when he brought jomo back and they buried him hard weeks later. They must really hate melina

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  80. Robert Bradley CurranJuly 1, 2012 at 9:08 PM

     I wasn't that surprised that he won, but I was surprised that Del Rio didn't cash in and he left with the belt. I had a feeling he'd beat Cena but someone would cash in a contract on him.

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  81. Robert Bradley CurranJuly 1, 2012 at 9:16 PM

    Didn't he attack Edge backstage before jumping the rail, but you didn't get a good enough look at him to be sure? I remember freaking out over that.

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  82. Robert Bradley CurranJuly 1, 2012 at 9:18 PM

    I remember being really surprised by this match. Not pleasantly, but I do remember yelling "Holy shit, it's Tatanka!" anyway.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LZn9sIeKmc

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  83. Buster AbbottJuly 1, 2012 at 11:31 PM

    THIS.  This was one of the best 'wtf' moments ever.  Bischoff totally sold the hell out of that old man outfit, I just thought WWE had hired some crappy actor.

    ReplyDelete

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