10 Kayfabe-breaking moments from WWE history

Kayfabe. It's the je ne sais quoi of pro wrestling, that air of 'admitted fakery' that allows us to suspend disbelief and accept that undead zombie (Undertaker) and post-apocalyptic warriors (the Ascension) really do lace up a pair of boots and wrestle to fulfill their evil destinies.

It's also one of the most confusing things for a non-wrestling fan to understand. "You know those punches are fake, right?" Yes, we wrestling fans are well aware that the performers are following a script and that they take pains not to hurt each other.

But by the same token, why don't those people complain about Robert Downey Junior in the Avengers franchise? After all, that armor is 'fake' and just a computer generated image.

Kayfabe, loosely defined, is anything that happens in a wrestling show that is scripted and not 'authentic.' For example, when Braun Strowman was stuffed into the back of a garbage truck, and then returned driving the same truck a week later, we as fans accept that Strowman is an unstoppable monster who can't be killed by conventional means.

Kayfabe can also refer to the words spoken by a wrestler. When Rick Rude declared, "I must be in Ohio, because all I see are a bunch of fat, out of shape hicks," he wasn't making a declaration of fact, he was speaking in kayfabe.

So kayfabe is an essential ingredient in pro wrestling, and the performers go to great lengths to make sure it isn't broken. But despite their best efforts, sometimes the fourth wall comes crashing down and kayfabe is sundered as surely as a steel chair over the victim of a Van Damminator.

Here are ten times Kayfabe was broken in WWE history, in no particular order.

#1 The Kliq's curtain call at the Garden

Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall embrace in the ring after Nash and Hall's final WWE match.

In our earliest kayfabe busting moment, we go back to the New Generation era of WWE. During this time, the company's top stars were Shawn Michaels - the then-WWE Champion, Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall, and Kevin "Diesel" Nash. Along with Triple H, who had recently been hired by WWE, they formed the "Kliq."

The Kliq was not an on-screen wrestling stable. In fact, in wrestling storylines Nash and HBK were enemies, and Razor Ramon was a face while Triple H was a heel. Hall and Nash had just signed contracts with WCW, and on the last night with WWE both HBK and Triple H came into the ring to hug it out.

The event was not televised but was captured by wrestling journalists and fans on camera. WWE never officially acknowledged the incident, though Triple H would comment on it during a worked shoot interview.

These days, the incident would probably not have caused a ruckus, but at the time Vince McMahon was terribly angry at the wrestlers for breaking kayfabe. HBK was the champion, Hall and Nash were gone from the company, so McMahon reportedly told Triple H he would have to 'learn to eat s*** and like it, kid."

Triple H went from a King of the Ring hopeful winner to being jobbed out to the Godwins. Of course, things worked out well for The Game in the end.

This was one of the earliest incidents of kayfabe being broken and the fans in live attendance had to question what had just transpired before their eyes.

#2 Sycho Sid's semantic silliness

It's always important to know when the cameras are a live feed and not pre-recording footage. Just ask Sid Vicious.

Back in the days of pay-per-views coming via a cable connection, wrestling promotions would often pay for a chunk of time before the event for interviews, match promos, and video packages of the various superstars and their heated rivalries and feuds.

Much of the time, these would be pre-taped segments. However, WWE began running live interviews and promos during this era in hopes that more fans would be enticed into purchasing the pay-per-view because of a more 'raw' feel and new content.

Unfortunately, Sid Vicious didn't get the memo. Sycho Sid was being interviewed by WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross. Sid flubbed his line, then requested a do-over. Good Old J. R. could only say, "Sorry, we're Live, pal." A clearly flustered Vicious was forced to do the interview all over again without a cut.

Sid has some legendary promo botches to his name and this was just another infamous episode. His promo against Kevin Nash and Scott Hall is another memory he would like to forget.

#3 Booker T uses a forbidden word on live television

Booker T's flub was something he definitely couldn't dig, sucka.

These days, many pro wrestling interviews and promos are heavily scripted. The talent, the writers, and sometimes Vince McMahon himself all congregate together and work on the material to make sure it hits all of the apropos points and remains fit for PG-rated television.

However, in the old days, that's not how it was done. Often, wrestlers were given very little instruction about what to specifically say during their interviews. People like Mean Gene were meant to prompt them on certain points, but they were by and large left to their own devices as to how to construct their dialogue. Most wrestlers were fond of 'winging it' and doing their speeches on the fly, relying on passion and experience to get the message across.

Unfortunately, this method led to Booker T--yes, that Hall of Fame Booker T--to getting a little bit too worked up during his interview, and dropping a word that should never be heard on PG-rated television.

If you look closely at the video velow, Booker realizes his error and tries to look tough as Sherri consoles him.

#4 Bobby Heenan storms off during Brian Pillman match

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan is well known as one of the most pitiless, merciless, evil, and yet funny and entertaining wrestling heel managers of all time. But, at one time, he was also a wrestler. As Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan, he played up his smaller size compared to many of the other wrestlers. He once gave an interview right after a match while his forehead just oozed blood.

By the time he joined WWE in the 1980s, however, time and surgery had taken their toll on his body. He rarely took major bumps, and when he did it was a major event. Hulk Hogan once 'choked' Heenan during a match and then the Brain wore a neck brace for years afterward.

When Heenan joined WCW as a commentator, he clearly stated he was done taking bumps of any kind. In fact, as part of his contract the wrestlers weren't even allowed to touch him. Thus, when a riled up Brian Pillman unexpectedly put his hands on Heenan during a Nitro broadcast, the Brain went into a kayfabe busting fit and walked out.

#5 Vince McMahon breaks kayfabe and kick starts the Attitude Era.

No one is powerful enough to break kayfabe without repercussions. Except Vince McMahon.

Most of the time, kayfabe breaking moments happen completely by accident. Someone gets a little worked up, like with Brian Pillman in our previous slide, or forgets their lines, like Sid Vicious. However, there was one major instance where kayfabe was shattered by none other than Vince McMahon himself--and it was entirely on purpose.

For years, WWE had been steadily losing ground, with fans abandoning the promotion for WCW, mostly because former WWE talent like Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage were under contract there. Realizing they had to do something new and different, Vince decided to start catering to the males 18-34 year old demographic.

As part of the new initiative, he came on WWE television and delivered a promo basically stating that WWE was going to try new, more complicated storylines and characters. "We feel that wrestling fans are tired of having their intelligence insulted with 'good guy vs. bad guy."

Not only did Vince smash Kayfabe into oblivion, but he also unofficially started the Attitude Era.

#6 The Montreal Screwjob

Bret never tapped, but the bell rang anyway and HBK was declared the winner.

Next on our chronological countdown is the most infamous moment in kayfabe breaking wrestling history. Back in 1997, the WWF had its back against the wall. Ted Turner's WCW promotion had lured away many of WWE's top stars with more money, a less exhausting road schedule and creative control.

In order to ensure that the top star of the era, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, would remain with WWE, Vince McMahon offered him a twenty million dollar twenty-year contract. In the contract, Hart would wrestle for roughly five more years before retiring to become a trainer and backstage official.

However, McMahon soon realized he could not afford the lucrative contract. He persuaded Bret to break the contract voluntarily and even suggested the Hitman call WCW and see if they wanted his services.

Bret Hart did just that. It so happened that WCW was going to be legally allowed to announce Bret Hart's signing on air on November 10's edition of Monday Nitro. The only problem was, Bret was still the WWF World Champion.

Hart refused to do the job to HBK at Survivor Series on November the 9th, saying he did not want to lose in his home country of Canada. What followed was Vince McMahon conspiring with referee Earl Hebner to take the belt off of Bret without his knowledge. The Montreal Screwjob effectively smashed kayfabe into pieces and changed McMahon from a simple announcer to the vilest heel villain mastermind in wrestling history.

#7 Chris Jericho gets into it with a ref over Neville's broken ankle

Chris Jericho takes it to Neville (Now known as PAC.)

The show must go on. That is an old axiom in the entertainment industry, and it's particularly true when it pertains to live performances, such as the WWE. Even if someone forgets their line, or blows a spot, or even gets injured the match must continue if at all possible, and if the wrestler's health is not in jeopardy.

During a match with Neville, now known as PAC, Chris Jericho was taking his game to a new physical level. Not to be outdone by the former world champion and veteran, Neville pulled out all the stops and used every trick in his aerial artistry handbook.

Unfortunately, a bad landing led to Neville fracturing his ankle. Jericho quickly recognized the problem and surmised that Neville would be unable to continue the match. He instructed the referee to count to three, but the pinfall ended at two. Charles Robinson held up two fingers to indicate the two count, even though Neville's shoulders were clearly still on the mat.

Frustrated, Jericho can be seen and heard arguing with the official. Eventually, Jericho makes his point and Neville is stretchered out for medical treatment. This was a case of kayfabe being broken for the most honorable of reasons.

#8 Triple H breaks character and consoles a fan he accidentally scared.

The Game is all mean, nasty business...unless he makes a kid cry, then he turns into Mr. Rogers.

The Cerebral Assassin. The Game. The King of Kings. The Authority. Triple H has never played a 'nice guy,' even when he was a babyface. His sophomoric antics in DX could best be described as juvenile delinquency, even if a middle-aged man is performing the acts.

Whether it's pulverizing the competition with a sledgehammer, bringing out his stablemates to gang up on a babyface, or using his political power to make opponents suffer, Triple H is a consummate villain.

Except when it comes to a child's tears. During an episode of Raw, Triple H snapped on a young fan at ringside. Triple H had been acting in character, but when the boy burst into tears we got a glimpse of the soft-hearted, compassionate man hiding beneath the gimmick.

When in a suit, The Game is a very different individual and will do pretty much anything that is best for business.

#9 Kofi Kingston wants us to know he, not his character, hates country music

Currently, The New Day is one of the most popular acts. Not just in the World Wrestling Entertainment promotion, but in all of wrestling. From their colorful costumes, snappy catchphrases, and obsession with pancakes and booties, the New Day went from being an afterthought ethnic stable with religious revival overtones to being one of the top merchandise sellers in the WWE.

Xavier Woods has millions of subscribers on his "Up Up Down Down" YouTube channel, and of course, Kofi Kingston went on to become the WWE Champion as part of Smackdown Live. But, during their early iteration, the New Day were heels. Cheerful and smiling heels, but heels none the less. When RAW came live from Music City USA, the birthplace of country music, the New Day trolled the audience about their musical taste.

However, Kofi Kingston would suddenly, oddly, break kayfabe in the middle of the segment, pointing out that it was him, and 'not his character' who hated country music. It was jarring, made no sense, and was never mentioned on WWE television again.

#10 Roman Reigns vacates the Universal Title, admits he has Leukemia

Most of the time, breaking Kayfabe is either entirely an accident, or is done for comedic or entertainment purposes. Wrestling fans find themselves quite amused when wrestlers break kayfabe on the air--usually. But when Universal Champion Roman Reigns came out on Monday Night Raw on October 22nd of 2018, he wasn't his usual confident self.

Rather than wearing his Shield-inspired black fatigues, Reigns arrived in plain clothes with his hair pulled back. He dropped his real first name--Joe--and stated that he would have to relinquish the Universal title due to a recurrence of Leukemia, a disease he had already fought once before and won.

Instantly, Roman Reigns went from being a neo-Cena who was booed loudly to having the full support of the WWE Universe. Happily, Reigns would return after defeating the disease a second time, but not until he'd broken kayfabe on Raw.

There you have it; Ten kayfabe busting moments from WWE history. Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article and as always thanks for reading!