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It's not exactly a secret that WWE is a scripted show, and so is pro wrestling as a whole. The basic premise of the shows is a bunch of Superstars engaging in feuds with each other and rising up the ranks in order to bag the top prize. WWE matches, as fans are well aware, are predetermined and choreographed.
This practice ensures that the storyline will move ahead as planned and the winners and losers of the match can move on to other angles. Sometimes, things don't work out as intended though. When two or more WWE Superstars go at it in the ring, there's no telling what will end up happening and hamper the original plans. In this list, we will take a look at three times a winner was changed during the match, and two times the winner was changed beforehand.
#5 Eddie Guerrero and Perry Saturn vs. The New Age Outlaws (WWE changed the winner mid-match)
This match took place shortly after The Radicalz made their debut in WWE, in early 2000. On the February 3 episode of SmackDown, the unruly quartet was given a chance to win their WWE contracts in three separate matches. One of those matches pitted Eddie Guerrero and Perry Saturn with The New Age Outlaws.
The original plan for the ending of the match was to have Guerrero and Saturn defeat the DX members, but it all went haywire when Guerrero botched a Frog Splash and his shoulder got dislocated. The result was changed on the fly and Billy Gun picked up the win with a pinfall, immediately after. The other two matches saw X-Pac defeating Dean Malenko after hitting a low blow, and Triple H getting a win over Chris Benoit. Thus, The Radicalz ended the night with a 0-3 score, which was originally supposed to be 1-2.
#4 Royal Rumble 1990 (WWE changed the winner before the match)
Back in early 1990, WWE had planned that Curt Hennig would win the Royal Rumble match. The plans suddenly changed before the event, as Vince McMahon decided to give the win to Hulk Hogan, who was the WWE Champion at the time. In the end, The Hulkster threw Mr. Perfect out to win the whole thing.
Hennig bagged tons of accomplishments throughout his career but never won the Royal Rumble match. He is also dubbed as one of the greatest Superstars to never have won the World title in WWE. Hennig did win the Intercontinental title on two occasions. On the other hand, Hogan went on to have a title vs. title match against The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 6. This was a unique presentation as both men were beloved babyfaces going into the match, and fans were divided between rooting for Hogan and Warrior. In the end, Warrior pinned Hogan and left with both the WWE and Intercontinental titles on his shoulders.
#3 Ricky Steamboat vs. Chris Jericho (WWE changed the winner mid-match)
At WWE WrestleMania 25 in 2009, Chris Jericho took on Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, and Ricky Steamboat in a 3-on-1 Handicap match, and ended up defeating all three men. Jericho had made it clear heading into WrestleMania, that he had no respect for the Superstars of yesteryear. WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and the other three legends took exception to the same, and the match was scheduled for WrestleMania. At the event, Steamboat had a strong showing and there were moments when it felt like he would steal a victory over Jericho.
Steamboat and Jericho's rivalry didn't end at WrestleMania, and the duo went on to have several more matches. Steamboat lost again in their Backlash encounter. In their final match, that took place at a WWE house show, Jericho decided to change the finish mid-match. He quickly informed both the official and Steamboat about the change, followed by which the duo replicated the finish to the legendary Intercontinental title match between Randy Savage and Steamboat from WrestleMania 3.
#2 Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight title (winner was changed before the match)
Heading into WrestleMania 31, Brock Lesnar was the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, while Roman Reigns was determined to dethrone The Beast and win the top prize at The Show of Shows. The original plan was to have Reigns beat Lesnar and win the big one, but it was changed during the event itself. After Seth Rollins lost to Randy Orton, he was informed that he would be cashing in his Money in the Bank contract during the main event, thus making it a Triple Threat match.
Rollins came out during the main event, as the arena erupted in unison over what was happening. In a matter of seconds, Rollins pinned Reigns and won the WWE World Heavyweight title in possibly the most unexpected ending to a WrestleMania ever.
Fans had been booing Roman Reigns for a long time at that point, especially after his Royal Rumble win. WWE must have sensed that a Reigns win would lead to disaster, and decided to change the finish of the match at the last moment.
#1 Trish Stratus vs. Lita for the WWE Women's title (winner was changed mid-match)
At WWE New Year's Revolution 2005, Trish Stratus and Lita faced off with the Women's title on the line. The match didn't last long and ended with Trish defeating Lita to win the belt. This wasn't the original plan for the finish of that match though. The plan was to have Stratus chase Lita's title for a while, but the latter's injury during the match changed everything. The full story is told in "Rivalries: Trish vs Lita".
Lita injured her knee during the match, and the decision to let Trish Stratus win was made on the fly. Trish went on to have a 448-day Women's title reign and eventually dropped the belt to Mickie James at WWE WrestleMania 22.
Fans might remember that Lita acted as a mentor to Christy Hemme on the road to WrestleMania 21, with Hemme facing Stratus for the title at The Show of Shows. The match didn't even last five minutes and Trish Stratus comfortably retained her WWE Women's title at the event.
