Favorite Wrestling Mysteries (& Those That Sucked)
From the third man to the higher power.
Juan Bautista’s Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
Aces & Eights
A great mystery angle that had good length with Bully Ray being revealed as the leader at the right time.
Great Khali
Three former world champions had been laid out throughout the arena. As the current WWE Champion, John Cena was tasked with calling out the mystery man. Great Khali walked out and laid Cena out. The threat only lasted for the summer, but for a short time he was credible.
Shawn Michaels’ Mystery Attacker
The in-ring partnership was already broken up, but they were able to play off the real life relationship to plant doubt that Triple H couldn’t have done it to his friend. Michaels showing the tape revealing it to be Triple H was just icing on the cake.
David Gibb’s Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
Who’s been torturing Mr. Wrestling II?
In the early ‘80s, Wrestling II was one of the most respected figures in the business, but someone in the Mid-South locker room couldn’t stop messing with his bag, stealing his mask to do no-good things in his name and creating insulting effigies of him. The obvious but unspoken implication that it was a babyface (as Mid-South clearly portrayed in TV that there were two dressing rooms) set up a terrific turn for Mr. Olympia.
What’s up with Sting?
Even though it was ripped clean out of a movie, Sting’s rebirth as the Crow-style character really was dramatic and mysterious, especially when speculation on the internet was fueled as much by people fantasy writing as if it was by folks who actually had insight into planned storylines.
Who is Ted DiBiase Jr.’s tag team partner?
Cody Rhodes turning on Hardcore Holly shouldn’t have mattered at all, but it worked great and kicked off the march toward Randy Orton’s Legacy because of a simple, but well-told mystery.
Steven Jackson’s Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
Ciclope unmasks!
When Dean Malenko unmasked as Ciclope, it was a moment like no other! I’ll never forget my reaction seeing it and the nostalgic joy it brings me now.
Who is the third man?
When the third man of the nWo was revealed to be Hulk Hogan, it changed pro wrestling forever.
Who is Pentagon Jr.’s Master?
Season 1 of Lucha Underground had one of the best mysteries in wrestling history. The rudo broke the arms of so many only to be stopped by commentator Vampiro, who challenged Pentagon to a brutal hardcore match. The aftermath of which revealed the true identity of Pentagon’s master and shocked all those in attendance and viewers at home!
John Corrigan’s Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
Who is the third man?
Even though it wasn’t Mabel, it was still pretty cool!
Harley Race’s bounty
NWA World Champion Harley Race was so sick of Ric Flair that he put a bounty of $25,000 on the Nature Boy’s head, begging somebody, anybody, to take the money. There wasn’t a big reveal, but Dick Slater and Bob Orton trying to take Flair out of wrestling was riveting, as was Flair’s fired up return, all leading to the first Starrcade.
Triple H’s bounty
Taking a page out of Race’s book, Triple H put a $100,000 bounty (20 years of inflation) on the head of Goldberg. Stevie Richards, La Resistance and Mark Henry all tried to collect the money, but it ended up being the returning Batista to leave Da Man laying.
Juan Bautista’s Least Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
At Survivor Series 2006, Natalya attacked Nikki Bella. WWE tried to make it a mystery, but it was very obvious.
Vince McMahon’s Illegitimate Son: Yes, the other half of the angle was dropped after Mr. Kennedy was injured and failed a drug test. The same creative team that came up with this elaborate storyline then decided on Hornswoggle.
One Night in Milwaukee: This had so much potential for Aiden English. An affair between him and Lana was built up for weeks, but the tape was just them in a room. It makes you wonder if someone got cold feet.
David Gibb’s Least Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
Who hit Steve Austin?
As we discussed in the Worst Heel Turns roundtable, the revelation that Rikishi was the driver of the car that tried to kill Steve Austin was the beginning of the end of the good times.
The Black Scorpion
Most people agree that, while there were several ideas batted around at various times, booker Ole Anderson never had any idea who the Black Scorpion was or what he had to do with Sting other than “his past.” You can’t write a mystery without a solution.
Who is Vince McMahon’s illegitimate son?
Maybe there’s an alternate dimension where Ken Anderson stayed on the Good Boys List and this worked out, but it was an absolute disaster in our timeline. The revelation that Hornswoggle was first McMahon’s son and later Finlay’s son felt like a step back rather than a step forward at a time when WWE was desperately trying to get better.
Steven Jackson’s Least Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
Who is Vince McMahon’s son?
This was totally stupid, pointless and a waste of time. I didn’t get it then and I still don’t.
The Black Scorpion
Another one of those stupid mystery angles which didn’t lead to anything. The mystery didn’t have any intrigue and the reveal fell like a lead balloon.
The Gobbledy Gooker
Devoting time throughout a whole PPV to seeing what is going to hatch out of a giant egg needs to be on this list. Terrible.
John Corrigan’s Least Favorite Wrestling Mysteries
The Higher Power
As the leader of the Ministry of Darkness, and the “conscience of the World Wrestling Federation,” Undertaker shouldn’t be answering to anyone. Of course, the reveal of Vince McMahon as the Higher Power (who had been tormenting him for months) made even less sense.
Anonymous Raw GM
We waited forever to find out who was making matches and overruling referees, only to find out it was the creative team’s favorite answer to a mystery: Hornswoggle.
Gobbledy Gooker
I co-sign everything Steven said. Then again, what else do you expect to come out of a fucking egg?
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