'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwb/2gAIAQEAAAAACd//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAgEAACAQQCAwEAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEEBRESAAYHIYOh/9oACAEBAAE/AO19DuFrogRVMtoMabFzKQk9tJMt5Ihic4D99lyj8SXetpEVSW2uFPAWjuws4L5c/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQADEf/aAAgBAgEBPwCs1Z//xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMR/9oACAEDAQE/ALVfT//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE scripts everything. From promos to matches, everything is predetermined. Fans often complain about this but Vince McMahon knows that everything needs to be perfect. In rare cases, a wrestler goes off-script. However, breaking script was common during the Attitude Era as some wrestlers had enough freedom to change plans if it benefits the business. Since converting to a PG product, several major things have changed and everything is now scripted.
Sometimes sports entertainment has also blurred the line between heavily scripted content and reality. Fans fail to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Following are the 5 recent instances when WWE Superstars worked unscripted. Some easily caught it while others didn't.
Also read: 5 biggest questions after CM Punk's shocking return to the wrestling ring
#4 A returning speech
Sami Zayn tore his rotator cuffs in 2018 which kept him off from television until this year’s Raw after ‘Mania where faced Finn Balor for Intercontinental Championship. Zayn lost the match but delivered a heartfelt promo afterward.
Fans loved to see his return but being a heel, the underdog had to utter negative things. Zayn insulted the fans and said he enjoyed being at home but despite the insult in this promo, everything felt real. It is also relatable to CM Punk's “Pipebomb”.
Some fans also questioned whether it was scripted or not. Recently, Mark Henry, through Busted Open Radio, confirmed that WWE didn’t write this promo for Zayn and he’s spoke everything through his heart.
“That was not written for him, they said ‘Sami, how do you feel about this situation?’ And he let the world have it. I walked up to him and I said ‘Man, who the hell are you?’ Where has this guy been, all this time?
#3 Xavier Woods’ little rant
WWE Superstar Shake-Up 2019 saw many top Superstars jumping ship to Raw, but Xavier Woods isn't happy with it.
During the Kevin Owens Show, Woods vented his frustration with a promo. He was frustrated because the Shake-Up took his friends away from him. This is what the New Day Superstar said:
Honestly, on top of that, with all this Superstar Shake-Up nonsense, Raw took like 80 percent of the UpUpDownDown roster. And what am I supposed to do? I'm trying to make a successful YouTube channel. They are taking everybody from me and honestly, if I don't see Tyler Breeze on SmackDown by the end of the show, I would lose my mind.
Later, Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer confirmed that Woods was legitimately frustrated and his “little rant” was a shoot. It is a little surprising that little things could cause a wrestler to go off-script but since Woods didn't hurt anybody's reputation, WWE is okay with it.
#2 Hulk Hogan didn't know about Seth Rollins vs Brock Lesnar
Alexa Bliss hosted WrestleMania 35. When the show began, Bliss told the WWE Universe that she could make a 'Mania moment with a snap of her finger. Then, Hulk Hogan returned!
He gave a speech and promised that WrestleMania will run wild, but after giving his classic “Hollywood” pose with Alexa Bliss, Paul Heyman interrupted them. Heyman told fans that Brock Lesnar will kick off WrestleMania with his Universal Championship match. Everyone was excited except Hogan who was confused.
As per WON's Dave Meltzer, The Hulkster had no idea what Paul Heyman was going to do and the decision to put Rollins vs Lesnar on first was made at the last minute and nobody informed Hogan about that. However, as a WWE veteran, Hogan knows that Vince McMahon could change plans at the final second and it is why he didn't act much.
#1 “Slay the beast”
This week WWE finished The Shield's Final Chapter. Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose defeated Corbin, McIntyre, and Lashley in a 6-man tag team match.
Everyone knows that The Lunatic Fringe will leave WWE this month. Since turning on The Shield, Ambrose didn't do anything significant. His run felt underwhelming. Months later, WWE realized their mistake and made him a babyface. During Rollins’ quest for the Universal Championship, Ambrose, too, got involved. He interrupted Rollins and said:
"I only got one thing to say to you. Slay the beast."
However, The Lunatic Fringe wasn't supposed to deliver a brief promo. WWE had another script for him but Ambrose refused to follow it. Dave Meltzer said the following in regards to this matter:
“That turn was ridiculous. I don’t even know, well I do know they had something scripted and Dean wasn’t feeling it and Dean did what he did and my god was it bad.”
