10 Most embarrassing live TV moments in Pro-Wrestling 

Fred Ottman (AKA Tugboat Thomas and Typhoon) under the SHOCKMASTER mask
Fred Ottman (AKA Tugboat Thomas and Typhoon) under the SHOCKMASTER mask

Ah, professional wrestling--or sports entertainment, if you want to make yourself sound trendy and intelligent.

It is a world of contradictions, where heavily muscled alpha males threaten each other but try not to actually cause injury in the ring.

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It is a world where people who aren't wearing pants fight over a belt. It is a world of entertainment, where things might be scripted but definitely doesn't always go according to plan.

Professional wrestlers are consummate performers, able to improvise when things don't always go according to plan.

Of course, sometimes the plan is laid out and the wrestler ends up flubbing something simple or forgets a line. Then there's the time that Triple H spent several very awkward moments searching through a pile of barbed wire 2x4s until he found the harmless 'prop' version...

In short, Pro wrestling, like any other form of live entertainment, sometimes hits a snafu. Sometimes the result is not only hilarious; it's pro wrestling history. We salute ten of the most embarrassing yet undeniably entertaining moments from pro wrestling history.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article belong to the writer and doesn't represent Sportskeeda's stand.


#1 Mean Gene Okerlund- Dropping salty language live on Pay Per View

There's a reason Mean Gene Okerlund is hiding his face from Ravishing Rick Rude and Bobby the Brain Heenan in this classic clip.
There's a reason Mean Gene Okerlund is hiding his face from Ravishing Rick Rude and Bobby the Brain Heenan in this classic clip.

SummerSlam was WWE's first foray into a secondary major event, meant to be the mid-year equivalent of Wrestlemania.

SummerSlam has given us many classic moments, such as Honky Tonk Man losing the Intercontinental championship in a matter of seconds to the Ultimate Warrior.

It has also been the place where things didn't always go according to plan. In the video below, dearly departed veteran interviewer 'Mean' Gene Okerlund is startled when a Summerslam poster suddenly crashes behind him and ends up saying a few things you're not supposed to say on television.

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#2 Booker T drops a bomb during the Harlem Heat interview

Booker T., flanked by brother Stevie Ray and manager Sensational Sherri Martel, got a little bit too excited in this classic interview.
Booker T., flanked by brother Stevie Ray and manager Sensational Sherri Martel, got a little bit too excited in this classic interview.

Booker T is a bonafide professional wrestling legend. He has an iconic look, has always kept himself in tremendous physical condition, and possesses an athletic ability that is the envy of Olympic level athletes around the world.

He also has a very distinctive voice, John Cena once quipped it sounded as if Booker T had 'eaten an ashtray', meaning he can't deny accountability for this particular flub.

It was early in the days of Hulk Hogan's foray into WCW, when he was still the hero and not the villainous, Darth Vader-esque Hollywood Hogan.

Booker T was still in Harlem Heat, and they were ostensibly the 'bad guys,' but there are things even bad guys aren't allowed to say on television in any case.

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#3 That time Xavier Woods threw up in the ring

Xavier Woods used to wrestle in TNA under the name Consequences Creed. One moment from his tenure there has to stick in his craw, no pun intended.
Xavier Woods used to wrestle in TNA under the name Consequences Creed. One moment from his tenure there has to stick in his craw, no pun intended.

These days, the New Day is the most unexpectedly popular and meme-worthy pro wrestling act on the face of the Earth.

From their colorful anime-inspired costumes to their pancakes and breakfast cereal branding, the New Day has managed to stand out and stay fresh and interesting amid a sea of other tag teams in the WWE.

New Day member Xavier Woods hasn't always worked for WWE, however. He got his early start thanks to a recommendation to TNA officials by a little known indie wrestler named AJ Styles--perhaps you've heard of him?

Xavier signed with TNA at the tender age of 18 and used his original ring name Consequences Creed.

In a No.1 contenders match for the X-Division title, things were getting heated, perhaps a bit too much for poor Xavier Woods, who lost his lunch on the wrestling mat.

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#4 Vince McMahon really needs to source a new microphone supplier

Vince McMahon doesn't skimp when it comes to wireless microphone costs, apparently.
Vince McMahon doesn't skimp when it comes to wireless microphone costs, apparently.

One of the great things about Monday Night Raw is the fact that it's live, which leads to some good things and some bad things.

The good is that the action comes fast and furious, and fans feel as if there are few filters between themselves and the action on screen. The bad is that sometimes things don't go according to plan, as happened on this night.

Way back during the Attitude Era, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon were bitter rivals.

Most of the time, RAW would begin with Stone Cold in the ring delivering a promo as only he could do.

On this occasion, some malfunctioning microphones led to Austin tossing the device out into the arena--and prompted Vince McMahon to ad lib a rather unrealistic figure for replacing the mic.

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#5 Sid Vicious would like a retake, Mr. Jim Ross

Sid Vicious in 1995
Sid Vicious in 1995

Sid Eudy, better known to the world variously as Lord Humongous, Sid Justice, and most of all Sid Vicious (no relation to the punk singer) has had a storied career where he has operated at or near the main event level.

He was considered main event talent in the NWA and later WCW, where he joined the fabled Four Horsemen faction and challenged Sting for the World Heavyweight championship.

Sid, was likewise considered the main event draw in WWE, where he feuded with men like Shawn Michaels.

However, there is a moment Sid would rather forget about during his WWE run. During the 1990s most WWE pay per views did not have individual names save the big one (Wrestlemania and Summerslam) but were referred to as In Your House.

It was during the pre-show, which was airing live on cable, that Sid made a bit of a flub and asked for a do-over. You can watch in on this link--but Sid would probably prefer you didn't!

#6 The Black Scorpion terrorizes Sting, with lame magic tricks

There's a familiar face under that Black Scorpion mask....
There's a familiar face under that Black Scorpion mask....

When you hear longtime wrestling fans talk about the Black Scorpion angle in WCW, they are probably wearing a bemused smirk on their face.

That's because the Black Scorpion wasn't just one moment, but a long series of misfires that WCW management just kept doubling down on.

Originally, the Black Scorpion only appeared in mysterious vignettes where he taunted world heavyweight champion Sting.

He mentioned having attended wrestling school with the Stinger, leading many to believe the man under the mask would be Ultimate Warrior, Sting's old comrade and tag partner.

However, the plan was for a wrestler named Angel of Death, also an old friend of Sting's. But after weeks of airing the video packages, and a few instances of the Black Scorpion performing really lame magic tricks. WCW management had failed to get Angel under contract.

Stumped at what to do, WCW wound up playing things by ear, attempting to sign another wrestler to fill the mask, but they wound up putting Ric Flair in the gimmick. Flair's trademark style and recognizable physique fooled no one at all for even a second.

Here is pretty much all you need to know about the Black Scorpion in one video package--watch for Sting trying not to laugh when Scorpion misses his cue during a magic act.

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#7 Owen Hart turns heel and forgets his lines

Owen Hart could never live his flubbed line down.
Owen Hart could never live his flubbed line down.

When Owen Hart first made his debut for the WWE, there was a problem. WWE management wanted to utilize the high flying, exciting Owen as a babyface, but his brother Bret Hart was already an established star and a heel, at that.

In order to keep Owen out of big brother Bret's shadow, they created the Blue Blazer gimmick.

After spending a few years under the mask, Owen finally unveiled himself after Bret turned face. He was often used in storylines where heels would beat him up to get under Bret's skin.

However, the time came for Owen Hart to break out on his own, and huge brother vs brother match was planned for Wrestlemania.

In fact, it's considered one of the best Mania matches of all time, including a shocker ending. But during the lead up to the Wrestlemania match, Owen had to turn heel, which he did by attacking Bret and kayfabe injuring his leg.

Then Owen went backstage to explain his actions...with unintentional if hilarious, results.

#8 Scott Steiner is no mathematician

Scott Steiner has never been known for his gift of gab...which is ironic considering he talks. A lot.
Scott Steiner has never been known for his gift of gab...which is ironic considering he talks. A lot.

When it comes to wrestling superstars, some men are simply legendary. One such man is Scott Steiner.

Not only was he a tremendous amateur wrestling standout, just like his big brother Ric Steiner, but he became one of the most dynamic and exciting pro wrestlers of all time.

Scott Steiner utilized his agility in a lot of unique ways, such as using a front ankle scissors takedown he called the Frankensteiner.

He also developed one of the scariest looking finishers of all time the Steiner Screwdriver. So in terms of wrestling ability, at least before he injured his back severely and had to adjust his wrestling style, Scott Steiner was one of the best.

When it came to talking on the microphone, however...maybe not so much. Steiner's gravel voice was hard to understand at times, but one thing wrestling promoters learned was never ever let Steiner write his own speeches.

Otherwise, you end up with this little adventure into the world of mathematical probabilities.

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#9 Titus O'Neil slides into the history books and under the ring

Well, at least he didn't tear his quads, right Vince?
Well, at least he didn't tear his quads, right Vince?

Titus O'Neil began his WWE career relatively late in life, so you have to think that any attention he receives is good attention.

After all, he was part of one of the more successful tandems in recent wrestling history, the Prime Time Players.

And the fans rose up in a groundswell of support when Titus was suspended for grabbing Vince McMahon to make him let his wife leave first.

However, the moment that will likely come up first when you do a web search for Titus O'Neil/WWE is his inglorious slide under the ring during the Greatest Royal Rumble.

A combination of overzealous speed and moisture on the protective mats led to Titus taking a tumble on live television. Generally, Titus has been of good humor about the event and even parodied it for WWE.

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#10 Behold the advent of the dangerous, deadly SHOCKMASTER

The Shockmaster's entrance proves the difficulty of recording live programming.
The Shockmaster's entrance proves the difficulty of recording live programming.

One of the umpteen million times Ric Flair has 'retired' occurred in the early 1990s. The Nature Boy was looking to take some time off from taking wrestling bumps, but WCW still wanted to capitalize on his celebrity.

Thus, they created the Flair for the Gold segment just for him. Much like Piper's Pit, the whole point was for Flair to interview hot superstars and help them build momentum for their feuds, title matches, etc.

However, there was one moment that stands out in wrestling history as quite significant. In fact, it's widely regarded as the most hilarious and unexpected botches in wrestling history--the WCW debut of Fred Ottman, AKA the Shockmaster!

Ottman had a great run in WWE, where he feuded with Hulk Hogan and reigned as tag team champion as part of the Natural Disasters along with Earthquake.

Obviously, WCW could not use his names Tugboat or Typhoon because of copyright issues. They also wanted to make the somewhat soft looking (though Ottman was anything but soft) talent and make him more menacing.

Someone had the bright idea to glitter spray paint a Stormtrooper helmet and dub in an electronically deepened voice for Ottman.

He was supposed to smash through a wall and terrify the gathered heels. Instead...well, you can just watch the video and see for yourself.

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There you have it; Ten times pro wrestlers were embarrassed on live television. Do you have any favorite flubs, botches, or miscues? Please comment and let us know, and as always thanks for reading!

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Edited by Alan John