WWE often likes to surprise their audiences. Whether it is the return of veterans like The Rock, with heel/face changes, or with match endings.
Wrestlemania is one of the WWE’s biggest events, and while many of the matches provide some of the best pro-wrestling ever seen, the results can often be predictable.
There have been numerous occasions though, when the true underdog, the predicted loser, rises up, shocks WWE audiences and comes away with a victory as the Superstar makes WWE history.
The Rock vs. “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan – Wrestlemania X-8
Hulk Hogan rarely loses at Wrestlemania. That was almost a fact until his encounter with “The Great One” at Wrestlemania X-8. Hulk Hogan headlined so many Wrestlemania main events and along the way he defeated stars like Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy, and Macho Man Randy Savage.
The Rock and Hogan’s match was built up for weeks on WWE programming, with Hogan’s newly reformed now faction bashing The Rock any chance they could get.
When Wrestlemania X-8 arrived, Hogan’s pay per view return could overcame the bad guy image and fans actually started cheering for Hogan to win. The back and forth match provided great drama, but it looked like Hogan could do his leg drop and win at any moment.
The tides changed, The Rock performed multiple Rock Bottom finishers and Hulk Hogan was defeated by The Rock in a surprising upset.
Triple H vs. The Rock vs. Big Show vs. Mick Foley – Wrestlemania 2000
In the first ever Fatal Four Way main event at Wrestlemania, Triple H had his hands full. Along with his three opponents, a member of the McMahon family stood in each corner, and odds are always against the defending champion at Wrestlemania.
The Rock eliminated Big Show early in the match, but it would be Triple H who surprisingly elminated his other two opponents. First he pedigreed Mick Foley onto a chair and eliminated him.
With The Rock and Triple H remaining, The Rock had all the momentum on his side. Before The Rock could win, Vince McMahon turned on him, hit him with a chair twice, and Triple H got the surprise victory as he retained the title.
Three years later, Triple H would retain the title again at Wrestlemania XIX as he took on Booker T and won with the help of manager Ric Flair. The Wrestlemania XIX win was predictable, but no one saw him leaving Wrestlemania 2000 with the title.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle – Wrestlemania XX
One year prior, Kurt Angle lost his title at Wrestlemania XIX in an epic enoucnter with Brock Lesnar. WWE fans thought that after he defeated John Cena and Big Show at the 2004 No Way Out he was destined to reclaim his Wrestlemania throne.
Everyone underestimated WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero though and the two battled back in forth in an old school styled mat wrestling clinic.
Loosening up his boot to escape the ankle lock, Eddie Guerrero rolled Angle up with pin and got the surprise victory. The shocked look on Angle’s face at the end of the match showed it all.
Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – Wrestlemania X
Due to a tie during the 1994 Royal Rumble, both Bret Hart and Lex Luger participated in a mini-tournament to decide the new WWE Champion.
Before Bret would go to the main event match and either face Luger or Yokozuna, he had to open the card and face his own brother Owen.
What should have easily been a squash match, turned into a back and forth battle that showcased the skills both brothers possessed. They battled outside the ring, back into the ring, and constantly reversed each other.
As Owen climbed onto Bret’s shoulders, he scooped down, rolled Bret up, and got the 1-2-3 victory. Even though Bret still got to go to the main event and win, Owen’s shocking win stood out more.
The two would face each other again at the 1994 Summerslam in a Steel Cage match that Bret Hart successfully won.
