WrestleMania 31: 8 most surprising endings in Pay-Per-View history

A good climax is what makes or breaks a professional wrestling match. Two wrestlers could tear down the roof for twenty minutes but if they don’t have a good ending, the match will go down into the history books as a botched effort. And when the bout is stage at WrestleMania, the expectations will be a hundred times larger.The twist in the tale surprise endings have always worked wonders for the company when it comes to WrestleMania and they will be looking to bring out the same on March 29. However before we fasten our seatbelts and jump into WrestleMania 31, here is a look at some of the surprise endings from the pay-per-view’s rich history.

#8 Hulk Hogan spoils Yokozunas celebration (WrestleMania 9)

WrestleMania 9 is considered to be the worst WrestleMania in the history of the WWE. Heading into the pay-per-view, Yokozuna won the Royal Rumble and challenged Bret Hart for a WWE championship match at WrestleMania. It could have been a great match with proper booking but WWE went with a flat one.

Yokozuna won the match but the surprise was yet to come. Hogan came down the ramp after the match and was instantly challenged by Mr. Fuji for a match. Hogan accepted and Yokozuna made his first title defense after just minutes of winning the title. Hogan went on to win the match in just under 30 seconds and Yokozuna was like a duck lost in the desert.

#7 Sheamus ends the match in 18 seconds (WrestleMania 28)

The once in a lifetime showdown between Rock and John Cena is what made up the posters of WrestleMania 28 and no one really cared about the Royal Rumble winner and World Heavyweight championship. Maybe, that’s why WWE decided to end the match in just 18 seconds.

Due to the chemistry that Sheamus and Bryan had, the fans expected to see a solid outing between the two, but the match was even shorter than the kiss that AJ Lee gave to Bryan before the bout. Sheamus walked out as the champion and Bryan had nothing to cherish apart from the kiss from AJ. It was an embarrassing moment and was surprising as well.

#6 Undertaker hangs Big Boss Man (WrestleMania XV)

Undertaker is known for some mysterious mannerisms but the envelope was pushed beyond the limit at WrestleMania XV. Undertaker faced off against the Big Boss Man at the pay-per-view and it was a Hell in a Cell match. Though most of the Hell in a Cell matches last pretty long and tell a story, this one was different.

It only lasted 9 minutes and in the end, Taker came out winning. However, after the match, Taker did the unthinkable. He hanged Big Boss Man from top of the cage and gave the fans a scary sight. It was not good for viewing even for the ‘full of freedom’ attitude era.

#5 Mike Tyson turns on Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV)

Celebrities getting involved in the WrestleMania matches are nothing new but the Mike Tyson involvement in WrestleMania XIV was probably the benchmark setter for all of them. Shawn Michaels was the reigning champion back then and he faced Steve Austin for the title. Tyson was the special enforcer and he was aligned with D generation X when the match started.

However as the match neared its end, Tyson turned on DX and Michaels, and went on to help Steve Austin get the win. The quick three count of Tyson still is a memorable WrestleMania moment but his turn against Michaels is what makes this match make it to the list.

#4 Undertaker wins via Disqualification (WrestleMania 9)

Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak is responsible for some great matches and it is also responsible for some forgettable matches like this one. In WrestleMania 9, (which is regarded as the worst WrestleMania in case you didn’t already read it) Undertaker faced Giant Gonzalez.

Now, Gonzalez was a freak of nature who wore a skin suit. The only thing he had was his height and wrestling skills were well off the mark. Taker had no chances of making him look good and after seven minutes of chaos, Taker won the match via disqualification after Gonzalez’s manager used powder on Taker. It is Taker’s only disqualification win in the streak and it was a surprise indeed.

#3 Steve Austin shakes hands with Vince McMahon (WrestleMania X- Seven)

The legendary rivalry of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Rock saw a new chapter at WrestleMania X-Seven when they faced off for the WWE Championship. The match had no special rules in place so outside interference was guaranteed. So, when Vince McMahon came in between the match, it was never a surprise, but what he did was the twist in the tale.

McMahon allied with Steve Austin to swerve on Rock and helped the Texas Rattle Snake to win the WWE Championship. Austin shaking hands with the devil was a classic WrestleMania moment and the best part was all these happened in the home town of Austin. Now, that’s what you call the attitude era.

#2 Double Turn (WrestleMania 13)

Pulling off a double turn is never an easy task. It requires two wrestlers who know to manipulate the crowd and a perfectly drawn out plan without plot holes. WWE hasn’t always managed to do it but at WrestleMania 13, they struck gold.

Steve Austin and Bret Hart were having a submission match with Ken Shamrock as the special guest referee. Bret was a baby face back then while Austin had some dark shades of a heel. However as the match neared its end, WWE made Bret the heel. He refused to break the submission even after Austin passed out and the fans started jeering Bret. Austin got all the sympathy in the world, and was all of a sudden a crowd favorite.

#1 Brock Lesnar ends the streak (WrestleMania 30)

The story behind the streak ending has been explained a million times before and taking out the rabbit once again would feel repetitive. But then again, for the sake of the list, here goes. Lesnar ending the streak is hands down the most surprising ending for a WrestleMania match.

Undertaker’s legendary streak was supposed to be immortal until Lesnar conquered it and the shock factor was enough to silence an entire arena. The surprise climax at WrestleMania XXX marked the end of an era and the fans are unlikely to see a moment of such magnitude anytime in the near future. And that’s why Lesnar’s triumph ranks on top of the list.