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The most interesting thing about wrestling to most people is the theatrics that goes on outside the ring. As the drama that goes on backstage, the aesthetics of pay-per-views and the wrestler's personal lives are somewhat interesting to fans.
But, to the fans of professional wrestling that just want to watch two highly skilled athletes prove themselves in the squared circle, the actual structuring, booking and overall in-ring mechanics of the bout are all important to the success of the product.
However, sometimes the wrestling enthusiasts don't get that in-ring classic that they so dearly crave, as WWE and other promotions emphasise the entertainment side to wrestling rather than the actual wrestling, and this bears some truly fascinating results.
Today we will look at one of the outcomes from bookers taking risks, as here are some matches that lasted only a few seconds, and the funny thing about these matches was the fact that they were somewhat important for the company moving forward.
#5 Rey Mysterio vs JBL
The WrestleMania match between JBL and Rey Mysterio lasted only twenty-one seconds, and for reference, The Undertaker's entrance is about more than ten times longer than that clash. So, imagine watching this match live, only to realise it's over before it even started.
Moreover, this IC Championship match became infamous for more than just its runtime, as it marked the final time we would see JBL wrestle in the WWE, and it seemed WWE didn't roll out the red carpet for the former WWE Champion.
JBL had been sidelined for years due to injuries, and it seemed that it was time for the former WWE Champion to hang up his wrestling boots for good. As for the man that ended his career, Rey Mysterio went on to have a great feud with Chris Jericho that truly elevated the IC Championship.
#4 Yokozuna vs Hulk Hogan
The main event of WrestleMania 9 saw Bret "The Hitman" Hart take on the Japanese titan Yokozuna for the WWE Title, and this was a match that should have ended with Hart being crowned the new WWE Champion, but Mr. Fuji (Yokozuna's manager) had other plans in mind.
Hart had the big man trapped in the Sharpshooter, but Fuji threw a handful of salt in Bret's eyes, which led to Yokozuna getting the win. However, before the big man could celebrate, Hulk Hogan came down to the ring to check on his friend Bret Hart but soon found himself in a WWE Title match with Yokozuna.
Hulk put the WWE Champion on his back and leg dropped him to win the WWE Title in 22 seconds, which was the shortest WrestleMania main event ever.
#3 Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus
The most recent short WrestleMania match that fans still can't get over to this day is Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus for the World Title at WrestleMania 28. This was a bout that the fans in attendance thought was going to be a wrestling classic, but WWE pulled the rug from underneath our feet when they had Sheamus Brogue Kick Bryan to win the World Title in just 18 seconds.
The distraction that cost Bryan was none other than his then on-screen girlfriend AJ Lee, as Bryan got a good luck kiss from AJ and this led to Sheamus taking advantage. Even though this should be a moment where WWE was trying to bury Bryan, it was more of a stepping stone to bigger things for him, as it was not long before the man lept to the of the line and captured the WWE World Title at Wrestlemania 30 just a few years down the line.
#2 The Rock vs Erick Rowan
The Rock is one of the biggest entertainers in the world today, as the man made a name for himself in the WWE, but later discovered his talent for acting. This led to The Rock leaving WWE to pursue his passions in the other corner of the entertainment industry, and that meant WWE had to replace an iconic figure such as himself.
Sadly, that never happened, as The Rock is a once in a lifetime talent that could not be replicated. So, when fans see Rocky return to the company it's always a special moment, as he only comes around every few years, and when he competes, it's WrestleMania worthy.
So, it was a total shock to many fans when The Rock had an impromptu match with Erick Rowan at Wrestlemania 32. Moreover, the most shocking thing about this match was that it only lasted about six seconds, as it was clear that WWE pulled the stunt to give the one hundred thousand fans in attendance a WrestleMania moment.
#1 Shinsuke Nakamura vs Jeff Hardy
The US Title match between Jeff Hardy and Shinsuke Nakamura was sort of a dream match for many fans, as Jeff was an iconic part of the Attitude Era, and Nakamura was one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers working today, so the hype for this bout was always going to be there.
However, no one expected the match to end in the way it did, as Nakamura hit Hardy with his classic low blow and blasted the man with a Kinshasa after the bell rang to retain the title. This all happened in five seconds, as Nakamura proved to be a crafty heel that actually won a match by using common sense, and that made this bout all the more interesting.
Also, this match marked the day Randy Orton turned heel, as the former WWE Champion came down to the ring and kicked Jeff Hardy in the groin once again to symbolise his disgust for the man. From an overall perspective, WWE did what they needed to do with this match, as it benefitted all superstars.
