5 WWE Superstars who shockingly tapped out

When it comes to losing, there is perhaps nothing more embarrassing than tapping out.

Whilst you could be knocked out thanks to a swift finisher, so unable to kick out of a pin, a submission is something way worse: it is a Superstar admitting that their opponent is better than them.

Ever since the tap out was introduced to the WWE in 1997 with Ken Shamrock (before then, Superstars quit via verbal submissions), there have been plenty of Superstars who have made a name for themselves by refusing to quit, no matter how dire the situation may seem.

With that said though, even the toughest of Superstars have given up on very rare occasions, with many of these submission losses being forgotten by the fans.

Here are five WWE Superstars who shockingly tapped out, and those opponents who made them.

#5 Brock Lesnar

Angle and Lesnar had an epic war at Summerslam 2003.

The reigning Universal Champion, it seems nothing could ever make the Beast Incarnate tap out, other than a full-time schedule.

But in 2003, a young Brock Lesnar did just that, when he faced Kurt Angle at Summerslam.

After losing the title to his friend the month prior, Lesnar snapped, attacking the Olympian and siding with Vince McMahon.

Crippling the beast with the ankle lock, Angle punished his opponent, leaving the Beast barely able to stand, with Lesnar tapping in the middle of the ring, in front of the Chairman.

History would nearly repeat itself though, 12 years later, when Brock faced the Undertaker at the same event in 2015.

After being locked in Hell's Gate, Lesnar refused to quit, instead passing out to the devastating hold, making Angle the only man to tap out the Beast.

#4 The Undertaker

Whilst The Undertaker would win his Summerslam match with Lesnar, it came at a great cost.

At Summerslam 2015, The Undertaker aimed to make Brock tap-out, but only because he had tapped first.

In a shockingly controversial twist, The Undertaker did indeed tap to the Beast's Kimura Lock, though was saved from losing to Lesnar once again, as referee Charles Robinson didn't see it.

Shockingly though, this wasn't the Deadman's first tap-out, as the Phenom of the WWE would do the same during a match with Kurt Angle in September 2003.

Meeting on SmackDown, the pair had an epic encounter, with Angle making the Deadman tap, but at the same time that Angle's shoulders were pinned to the mat.

Even today, fans speculate about whether the Deadman's submission loss should count, but regardless, it still is one of the most shocking sites in the history of the WWE.

#3 Triple H

Cena proved himself at WrestleMania 22, tapping out The Game.

For years, Triple H has built himself to be the ultimate star in WWE, holding 10 world Championships between 1999 and 2005.

So when he challenged John Cena at WrestleMania 22 for the WWE Title, it seemed like a sure-fire win for the Game, who even said at a pre-Mania press conference that he was expecting it to be the easiest match of his life.

He was very wrong.

Instead, Cena pushed the newly-dubbed King of Kings to his limit, and whilst Triple H tried to push back, there was no overcoming the Doctor of Thuganomics.

Locking in the STF, the Game had no choice but to tap to Cena, learning a lesson in humility along the way, as the WWE Universe saw once and for all, who would be leading the company for the next decade.

#2 Stone Cold Steve Austin

A rematch of their Summerslam encounter, Angle finally made the Bionic Redneck tap.

Another victim of Kurt Angle, Stone Cold Steve Austin in 2001 was the Rattlesnake at his most dangerous.

After turning on the fans at WrestleMania, and the WWF at InVasion, Austin was the company's champion, despite being with the WCW/ECW Alliance.

Facing Kurt Angle in the Olympian's hometown of Pittsburgh, Angle vowed to bring the gold back home, and did just so, making the Bionic Redneck tap in the middle of the ring.

In what was a truly heartwarming moment, Angle, who had for years been decried as a cowardly heel, finally got his hero's welcome, as his family celebrated alongside him, closing a show, that came less than two weeks after the 9/11 attack, as the WWF showed that good would still triumph over evil, and sent the fans home happy.

#1 John Cena

Mr. Never Gives Up, gave up.

He may have lived his entire life under the mantra of 'Never Give Up', but even the mighty John Cena isn't immune to slapping his hand to the mat.

But what kind of man, could do this? What kind of Superstar could take a man, who said he would never quit, and make him do just that?

Why, Kurt Angle of course!

Meeting at No Mercy 2003, the two had an epic bout, with both men attempting to get a huge win, in a war about respect.

When Cena got Angle primed for the AA, it looked like things would be over, though Angle would roll out of it, cinch in the Ankle lock, and give Cena one of his biggest losses ever.

Of course, Cena wouldn't take this loss laying down, and within two years, would be the face of the company.