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Most of those who’ve never watched professional wrestling complain about the business being “fake”, and don’t understand the artistic aspect of the industry. While the performers train for years, traveling around the world to hone their craft, there are those who cannot appreciate that fact, and are steadfast in their opinion about the professional wrestling business being phony.However, as most of the wrestling fans would know, there have been many instances when the situation turned into a real life fiasco inside the ring. While the performers trust each other, and have enough faith in their opponents to risk their health and well being, either due to personal grudges or getting into a dispute with the promoter, there are times when the performers go off – script, and “shoot” on their opponents.In this article, we look at five instances when the performers broke the number one rule in the business, and screwed their opponents.
#5 Frank Gotch vs. George Hackenschmidt
This has become infamous as the earliest known screwjob in professional wrestling. Frank Gotch was universally recognized as the world champion in wrestling, and known for his remarkable catch wrestling and his dreaded toe hold, Gotch had already won the earlier bout with Hackenschmidt after a two hour marathon.
After a couple of years, the two agreed for a rematch, but according to rumors, Gotch paid off one of Hackenschmidt’s training partners, who tore off George’s knee.
However, before their much anticipated rematch, both men agreed to win one fall each, before going for the decider in the three – fall encounter. However, once the match started, Gotch worked on George’s bad knee, and won two consecutive falls within just 30 minutes into the match, leaving the 30,000 audience in awe and disbelief.
Gotch trapped Hackenschmidt in his patented toe hold, as the “Russian Lion” had no other option but to submit and give the victory to Gotch.
#4 Don Eagle vs. Gorgeous George
Long before the wrestling business was revealed to be what it has become today (a mere form of entertainment, and not a sport), Gorgeous George became one of the biggest stars during the first Golden Age of professional wrestling.
It was during this period that theatrics and showmanship started bubbling up, and it was George who pioneered this transition, and he soon became one of the most popular entities in the professional wrestling business.
However, it was during this period that George was involved in one of the biggest screwjobs in wrestling history. In a match with Don Eagle for the AWA (Boston) World Heavyweight championship, which took place in Chicago – outside Eagle’s territory, George rolled Eagle up, as Eagle kicked out before the three count.
However, the referee, Earl Mollohan quickly counted to three, and took off as an irate Eagle, realizing what had just transpired, chased Mollohan down the aisle. Gorgeous George held the AWA title for several months, before eventually dropping it.
#3 Antonio Inoki vs. Bob Backlund
Antonio Inoki is perhaps the greatest professional wrestler to have hailed from the land of the rising sun, and was the founder and former owner of one of Japan’s greatest wrestling promotions of all time, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).
Inoki was also infamous during his wrestling days for trying to shoot on his opponents, with Bruno Sammartino being one of his opponents, and when Inoki tried to shoot on him, Bruno proceeded to pound Inoki before throwing him out of the ring.
However, it was during Inoki’s feud with Bob Backlund that the Japanese star decided to turn things in his favor. After Backlund lost the WWF title to Inoki in Japan, as previously agreed upon, Inoki dropped the title back to Backlund in the United States after interference from Tiger Jeet Singh.
However, after the match, the then WWF President, Hisashi Shinma ruled the match a no contest, with Hisashi and Inoki working in cahoots, making Inoki the WWF champion.
Vince McMahon Sr. then completely ignored what had transpired, and instead made a new title, which was called the WWF World Martial Arts championship to appease Inoki.
#2 Wendi Richter vs. Spider Lady
Wendi Richter was one of the main reasons behind WWF’s rise in popularity in mid 80s, and the birth of the Rock and Wrestling connection. Wendi was the WWF women’s champion back in mid-80s, and with Cyndi Lauper in her corner, defeated Fabulous Moolah, with Capt. Lou Albano in her corner at MTV’s “The brawl to end it all”.
However, Wendi believed that she was being underpaid by Vince McMahon Jr., and complained multiple times that she deserved a pay raise. However, Vince didn’t take Wendi’s suggestions too kindly, and during a show at Madison Square Garden, Vince and Moolah devised a plan to pry away the WWF women’s title from Richter.
Richter was set to face Spider Lady for the title, but what she didn’t know was that it was Moolah who was under the mask. Moolah quickly rolled Wendi up, and although Wendi kicked out at one, the referee did a fast count and signaled the end of the bout.
Wendi tried to continue the match, and unmasked Moolah, but with the bout already finished, Wendi stormed out of the arena and went directly to the airport.
#1 Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
The night that changed the wrestling world forever. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart never liked each other, and with the WWE getting more edgy, Bret and Shawn signified the changing times. Bret was the then WWF champion, and was on his way out of the company, as he agreed to a deal with WCW.
Going into Survivor Series, Bret didn’t want to drop the title to Shawn in his home country, while Vince McMahon couldn’t risk Bret walking out of the company with the title.
All the animosity, mistrust and spite led to Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels and the referee, Earl Hebner screwing Bret Hart in Montreal, as Shawn Michaels trapped Bret in his own signature move, the Sharpshooter.
Hebner immediately called for the bell and ran to the back for his life, as the fans couldn’t understand what was happening. As the realization dawned on the fans, the antagonists hurried to the back, and Bret destroyed the ringside area.
Bret would go on to punch Vince in the locker room, while Shawn Michaels pleaded his innocence. In the end, the Montreal Screwjob acted as the catalyst for the Attitude Era, and everything else is history.
