A lot happens backstage in the WWEWe all know that pro-wrestling is scripted – the moves that we see inside the ring are real, but everything goes according to the script. However, there have been times when the inflated egos of WWE superstars have led to some controversial backstage moments in the WWE.Retired wrestling great Paul Orndorff beat up monster heel Vader in WCW when the mastodon tested him before one of the shows. Vince McMahon was almost choked to death by Nailz over a pay dispute. WWE’s resident bully JBL was smacked over the head straight with a number of chair shots by Steven Richards as retaliation for JBL beating up Blue Meanie during the ECW invasion angle.The controversies are essentially endless. This list takes a look at the top five most infamous backstage moments that have occurred in the WWE.

#5 Chris Jericho beats up Goldberg

Goldberg and Jericho carried their WCW beef over to the WWE

This incident has karma written all over it.

Back in the WCW, Goldberg was built as this monster face whereas Chris Jericho was desperately trying to market himself as more than just a Cruiserweight. Jericho’s heel promos had started to strike a chord with the WCW fans and Y2J repeatedly called out Goldberg to have a PPV match.

However, Goldberg felt that him battling the 220-pounder would not make sense from a business perspective. WCW head Eric Bischoff followed Goldberg’s suggestion and booked him to squash Jericho in 30 seconds – with no legitimate match taking place.

Disgusted that WCW would never book him in the main event, Jericho jumped ship to the WWE and became one of the mainstays of the promotion.

Meanwhile, WCW went bankrupt and Goldberg would come to the WWE in 2003. While he was still pushed strongly, Goldberg could not digest the fact that one of his first major feuds in the company was with Jericho himself.

Goldberg went on to badmouth Jericho in the locker room and an incensed Y2J confronted Goldberg about it. Goldberg lost his head in the ensuing shout-fest and put his hands on Jericho.

However, Jericho was too agile for Goldberg and proceeded to beat the hell out of the big man, almost choking him with a face lock.

Goldberg’s reputation as a legitimate badass took a considerable hit after the incident, and he chose not to renew his one-year WWE contract.

#4 Booker T teaches Batista a lesson

Batista would not want to piss off Booker T again

After his elevation to WWE main event status in 2005, Batista started developing a bit of a haughty attitude. Once, during a backstage segment, Batista got in the face of industry veteran Booker.T.

Booker, who had once served time for a robbery, was not one to get intimidated by Batista and proceeded to beat up the then World Heavyweight champion. The locker room was pretty much with Booker over the incident and the general feeling was that Batista deserved to be brought down a peg or two.

Later, a remorseful Batista said that the fight was a mistake on his part and that he had erred in not respecting Booker.

#3 Jacques Rougeau breaks the Dynamite Kids teeth

The British Bulldogs were renowned pranksters in the WWE locker room. Once, when the Rougeau brothers came back from a match and found their clothes torn to shreds, they had no doubt that it was the Dynamite Kid and the British Bulldog who had done the deed.

The Rougeaus proceeded to confront the Bulldogs about the issue, but the volatile Dynamite Kid decked both Rougeau brothers and left the room.

The Rougeaus weren’t guys to take abuse lying down, and they plotted their revenge. Dynamite would feel their wrath in full force a few weeks later when he found himself without a number of teeth, after Jacques pounded on him with a roll full of quarters.

Dynamite would need $1,800 worth of a doctor’s time to get his teeth fixed. But the biggest irony was that it wasn’t the Bulldogs who had messed with the Rougeaus’ clothes, but a sneaky Curt Hennig!

#2 The Bret Hart/Shawn Michaels/Vince McMahon saga

HBK accused Bret Hart of having an affair with Sunny

Bret Hart started to resent Shawn Michaels once he learnt of HBK’s backstage politics to ensure top spots for himself and his ‘Kliq’ pals. The bad blood between the two reached its zenith after Michaels pretty much accused the married Hart of having an affair with WWE Diva Sunny.

An incensed Hart decked Michaels in the locker room, and the latter lost a chunk of hair during the ensuing melee.

The beef would extend to Vince McMahon after the latter ruined Hart’s WWE farewell with the ‘Montreal Screwjob’. Hart found McMahon backstage and knocked him out with one shot to the face – McMahon reportedly flew 6 inches in the air because of the force of the punch.

It would take over a decade for the animosity between the three men to subside.

#1 The plane ride from hell

The entire WWE roster could have perished on a plane ride

This occurred on a plane and not backstage, but because of the sheer vitriol that was invovled, I couldn't put it anywhere but No. 1 on the list.

WWE was flying its wrestlers back to the States after a tour of England, and many of them got intoxicated during the long commute. Curt Hennig proceeded to taunt a then rookie Brock Lesnar about how he was a better amateur wrestler than he was. Lesnar did not react at first, owing to his respect for the veteran, but on Paul Heyman’s advice, decided to stand up for himself.

Lesnar almost body-slammed Hennig through the aircraft door, which would have spelt disaster for everyone aboard the plane.

A drunk Michael Hayes had a physical altercation with Bradshaw and X-Pac proceeded to cut off Hayes’ mullet while he was asleep.The plane ride also saw Goldust serenading his then wife Terri Runnels before being asked to stop by Jim Ross.

The aftermath of the journey saw both Curt Hennig and Goldust lose their jobs.