From shocking returns to viral promos, we're diving into the wrestling moments that set the internet ablaze! These are the epic encounters, unexpected twists, and groundbreaking events that had fans worldwide talking, sharing, and losing their minds online.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most viral and buzzed
00:10about moments in professional wrestling that sparked the biggest reactions across the internet.
00:24Number 10, Montreal Screwjob.
00:27The Montreal Screwjob may have occurred in 1997, before the advent of modern social media,
00:34but its deeply conversational nature reverberated everywhere, including the internet.
00:46In fact, it's often regarded as the first wrestling event to ignite widespread outrage
00:51among online fans, lighting up plenty of chat rooms.
01:03The real-life act of betrayal unfolded during the 1997 Survivor Series, where Vince McMahon
01:09infamously screwed Bret Hart out of his championship in front of a stunned Montreal crowd.
01:15This to ensure Bret didn't bring the top title to rival WCW.
01:20Decades later, fans still scrutinise the event, fuelling an online debate that remains
01:26as intense now as it was back then.
01:28Number 9, Cody Rhodes Returns To WWE.
01:36After helping build All Elite Wrestling from the ground up as a founding executive vice
01:40president, Cody Rhodes shocked the world by returning to the company he famously exited
01:46– WWE.
01:55This full-circle moment immediately ignited the internet, with fans and critics alike
02:00buzzing about The Prodigal Son's return and what it meant for both companies.
02:06His emotional entrance at WrestleMania 38, coupled with a high-profile match against
02:10Seth Rollins, cemented Cody's comeback as one of the biggest wrestling stories of the
02:15year.
02:24The return also added plenty of fuel to the online rivalry between AEW and WWE fans.
02:31Number 8, The Final Deletion.
02:39This bizarre and over-the-top match between Matt and Jeff Hardy in TNA became nothing
02:44short of a viral sensation.
02:46Matt Hardy's glorious descent into his broken persona culminated in The Final Deletion,
02:52a match against his brother Jeff at the Hardy Compound in Cameron, North Carolina.
02:58Unlike anything seen before in professional wrestling, the uniquely cinematic brawl featured
03:03everything from tree dives, to fireworks, to Señor Benjamin.
03:19It became an instant internet phenomenon, spawning countless memes and reactions, not
03:25to mention a sequel.
03:26The Final Deletion's unexpected virality proved the potential of alternative wrestling
03:32storytelling, opening the door for more cinematic matches.
03:41Number 7, Brock Lesnar's Night After WrestleMania comeback.
03:45Surprise appearances in professional wrestling are a thing of beauty.
03:49Take John Cena's unexpected entry in the 2008 Royal Rumble.
04:00Or imagine if Chris Jericho's 1999 WWE debut happened in the social media era, it would
04:06have trended instantly.
04:17Of course, few compared to Brock Lesnar's shocking comeback in 2012.
04:26After leaving for a high-profile UFC career, Lesnar stunned everyone the night after WrestleMania
04:3228.
04:38Marching to the ring, Brock Lesnar delivered a devastating F5 to Cena, igniting an intense
04:44frenzy online.
04:46Yep, everyone seemingly lost their minds as the dominating force of the UFC had returned
04:51to the WWE, blurring the lines between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts in the process.
05:00Number 6, The Rock vs. John Cena.
05:03If social media had been as pervasive as it is today, The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania
05:0918 would have surely sent the internet into overdrive.
05:19However, that legendary dream match no doubt set the stage for another historic showdown
05:29years later.
05:36The Rock and John Cena's 2012 WrestleMania match was another battle of icons that transcended
05:42wrestling and captured widespread attention.
05:45Announced a year in advance, the bout generated immense hype, much of it fuelled online.
05:52Fans of varying generations flocked to social media to express their enthusiasm and opinions
05:58on The Rock and Cena's first encounter, demonstrating that wrestling could still engage
06:03the public on a massive scale.
06:11Number 5, WWE Buys WCW.
06:15To say that the wrestling industry changed forever when WWE purchased its biggest competitor,
06:21WCW, in 2001 would be a wee bit of an understatement.
06:25The once fierce Monday Night Wars had suddenly come to an end, with WWE standing tall as
06:31the victor.
06:41This monumental acquisition, not to mention the subsequent storyline, Revelations, sent
06:47shockwaves through the wrestling community.
07:00It also set online discussion into overdrive, with fans visiting forums and news sites to
07:06ponder the ramifications.
07:08This mainly dial-up, internet-shattering moment led to more jaw-dropping instances, as former
07:14WCW talent would appear on WWE programming in the future, breaking the internet all over
07:20again.
07:28Number 4, AEW Debut.
07:31Sticking with industry-altering events, the launch of All Elite Wrestling was a groundbreaking
07:36moment, providing an alternative mainstream platform to WWE.
07:41Spearheaded by industry performers and backed by the wealthy Khan family, AEW's arrival
07:47sent shockwaves through the online wrestling community.
07:59The company's debut event, Double or Nothing, and the appearances of major stars the likes
08:04of Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley instantly legitimised the new company.
08:10Online discussion about the new era of competition in pro wrestling grew to critical mass with
08:15the premiere of AEW's weekly TV show, Dynamite.
08:20With that, it's safe to say that the internet played a significant role in spreading AEW's
08:25vision.
08:32Number 3, The Yes Movement.
08:34Daniel Bryan's underdog rise to the top of WWE, fuelled by the echoes of Yes Chants,
08:40became a genuine phenomenon.
08:47It not only captivated audiences live in the arena, but dominated social media, even crossing
08:53over into mainstream pop culture.
08:55This organic groundswell of support, amplified by the internet fanbase, propelled Bryan to
09:01the main event of WrestleMania 30, culminating in one of the most emotionally charged and
09:06feel-good victories in wrestling history.
09:16The journey of the Yes Movement was a testament to the power of fan support, and its ability
09:21to truly influence storylines in the digital age.
09:32Number 2, CM Punk's Pipe Bomb.
09:39On a June 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw, CM Punk grabbed a microphone and delivered
09:45the most viral promo in all of professional wrestling.
09:57Referred to as the Pipe Bomb, Punk would go on to blur the lines of what was real and
10:02not by addressing real-life grievances in an unfiltered manner, all while sitting cross-legged
10:08on the stage.
10:24Punk managed to resonate with disenfranchised fans of the company, sparking immediate reactions
10:29online.
10:30The internet community dissected every word, speculating about how much of it was in fact
10:35unscripted.
10:37In the end, the promo transcended wrestling norms, giving jaded fans something to get
10:42excited about.
10:55Before we unveil our top pick, here's some honorable mentions.
10:59The entire Bloodline Saga, Family Betrayal and Power Struggles made this storyline continuously
11:05trending.
11:11Seth Rollins' WrestleMania cash-in.
11:14This money-in-the-bank cash-in made millions of people lose their mind.
11:26Fandango's theme music.
11:28The most viral theme song of all time?
11:37Edge's Royal Rumble return.
11:40A never-say-never comeback that the internet exploded for.
11:51Hashtag give divas a chance.
11:53A viral hashtag started a new era and led to the women's revolution.
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12:28The end of the streak.
12:29For 21 years, The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania was considered a sacred
12:35cornerstone of WWE lore, with many believing it would never be broken.
12:52So when Brock Lesnar did the unthinkable and actually conquered The Undertaker's streak
12:57at WrestleMania 30, it generated widespread disbelief.
13:09Stunned reactions spread across the internet, becoming one of the most talked-about wrestling
13:13moments of all time.
13:15Social media exploded as outlets reported on the historic moment, one that wrestling
13:20fans thought they'd never see.
13:27The end of the streak not only crushed the hearts of Undertaker supporters, but broke
13:31the damn internet in the process.
13:40What pro-wrestling moments sent you straight to social media?
13:44Share your personal picks in the comments below.
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