06-04-2017, 05:45 AM | #1 |
Do Unto Others...
Posts: 2,086
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Most Shocking Title Changes
For this week's podcast, we're talking about the most shocking title changes in history, and are looking for█your suggestìons.
As a fan, which ONE title change did you personally find the most jarring when it happened, and why? Of course it can be any title in any promotion at any time, and the best nominations/explanations will be read on the show and you'll be credited accordingly. So which one was it for you and why? EDIT - The show discussing the Most Shocking Title Changes in History, featuring many of your contributions, is now available at the following link: https://squaredcirclegazette.podbean...In_History.mp3 Crazy Like A Fox - The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later **Featuring interviews with members of the Pillman family, Dave Meltzer, Kim Wood, Raven, Jim Cornette, Mark Madden, Shane Douglas, Mark Coleman, Alex Marvez, Les Thatcher and many more close friends and colleagues** Available on Amazon now: http://amzn.to/2h93SxL Last edited by hb2k; 06-11-2017 at 07:19 AM. |
06-04-2017, 06:14 AM | #2 |
Rigged from the start
Posts: 35,422
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Edge at New Year's Revolution 2006. Cena had just retained the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match featuring Shawn Michaels, Kane, Kurt Angle, Carlito and Chris Masters, and out comes Vince, asking for the cage to be lifted, as Edge was cashing in the very first Money in the Bank right then and there.
I found it shocking due to the fact that there was really no precedent for a MitB holder to almost be guaranteed to win the WWE or WHC/Universal Championship, and also because for a 2-3 minute match at the end of the first PPV of 2006, Cena actually put up more of a fight than a lot of others in his position would or would be able to, and I honestly recall thinking Edge's opportunity was going up in smoke, but I was more than glad and overjoyed to be proven wrong. |
06-04-2017, 08:25 AM | #3 |
Doin' It Right
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Finger Poke of Doom
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06-04-2017, 09:13 AM | #4 |
Fire up Chips!
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David Arquette. While I believe he was a truly great in-ring technician, I thought he was only upper midcard talent. When he won the belt I was shocked and I just had to tune in every week to watch the super exciting Nitro shows.
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06-04-2017, 11:26 AM | #5 |
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* Sheamus winning the WWE Title from John Cena at TLC 2009. Not for any particular reason. I just didn't think they'd actually try and go with him that early. I'm glad it galvanized Ireland behind the WWE for life, just like Jinder Mahal will do with India though.
* Mankind winning the WWF Title for the first time too, and not just because the pop is shocking by today's standards. In retrospect, I'm not sure Austin helping Mankind win the WWF Title even makes sense. But it was Austin, and he could do whatever the hell he likes. Mankind gets the Mandible Claw on The Rock, before Ken Shamrock cracks a chair off Mankind's back. Billy Gunn then manages to not completely fuck-up taking Shamrock out of the equation, spilling with him to the outside, as Vince -- an infinitely better heel than Stephanie McMahon -- guffaws around the ringside area, worried about losing control of the situation. He's about to. Austin's music hits, and the crowd goes nuts. Anyone who thinks Tye Dillinger is over should check out that moment. Austin hits the ring, picks up the chair, and casually just kills the fucking Rock with it. He puts Mankind on top of The Rock. The people in the back stop marking out and realize shit's about to go down and cut the real Franchise's fucking music. The referee slides into position -- 1-2-3. The crowd goes crazy and Austin walks back to the ringside area and gives Vince the two-finger salute, before throwing his hat at Vince, who registers, but doesn't sell -- this isn't the old WWF Title belt we're talking about here. * The date is September 20, 1997; the location is Birmingham, England. Reigning WWF European Champion, "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith, dedicates his scheduled title defence to his cancer-stricken sister. His opponent is accomplished, but Davey Boy Smith has the home-field advantage, baby... Shawn Michaels winning the European Title from The British Bulldog wasn't that shocking, but what absolutely was shocking was the return match -- in Davey Boy's hometown of Manchester, doing record business at the Manchester Arena, as The British Bulldog looks to reclaim his...oh... * JBL beating Eddie Guerrero. At least, I must have been in shock, because I was numb to the next 8 months. * Daniel Bryan winning the WWE Title from John Cena at SummerSlam was shocking in such a "They're not actually going to do it," sort of way. Daniel Bryan actually winning the WWE Title was invigorating. He may have lost it a second later, but that was obviously all part of the WWE's master-plan to make Bryan a massive star. That is why Bryan's win here is emphasized so heavily in the "Monster" music video at WrestleMania next year. Well, I mean, at least the Triple H betrayal is in there. * Zack Ryder winning the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania 32. There's surely something clever to be said about it, but I don't know what it is. Last edited by Mr. Nerfect; 06-04-2017 at 11:44 PM. |
06-04-2017, 11:32 AM | #6 |
boop/bop/beep
Posts: 38,428
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Noid never abiding by less being more.
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06-04-2017, 11:41 AM | #7 |
I am the cheese
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06-04-2017, 11:45 AM | #8 |
boop/bop/beep
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06-04-2017, 12:52 PM | #9 |
His name is Jeff Harvey
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Shawn Michaels winning the WWF Title from Bret Hart at Survivor Series 1997 was pretty shocking.
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06-04-2017, 12:53 PM | #10 |
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06-04-2017, 03:49 PM | #11 |
Da Gif/Pic Pimp
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Ziggler cashing in MITB.
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06-04-2017, 03:52 PM | #12 |
Loque Ja
Posts: 87,987
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I found Kevin Nash defeating Goldberg was a pretty shocking result.
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06-04-2017, 03:53 PM | #13 |
Loque Ja
Posts: 87,987
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06-04-2017, 04:25 PM | #14 |
Former TPWW Royalty
Posts: 66,592
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David Arquette winning the WCW World championship. Damaged more than helped the credibility of the belt at the time due to WCW pulling a publicity stunt for a wrestling movie. Even Arquette thought it was a really dumb idea to do but WCW Creative still went ahead with plans.
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06-04-2017, 05:26 PM | #15 |
Resident drug enabler
Posts: 45,473
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Jericho becoming the first undisputed champion. It was before WWE got in the habit of constant "shock" title changes and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion going into the event that we'd be getting Austin vs Rock for the title. Never thought for a second Jericho would get past Rock, much less win the title.
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06-04-2017, 09:54 PM | #16 |
Taller than Adam Cole
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Ronnie Garvin defeats Ric Flair for the NWA World Title because it came from nowhere. It wasn't necessarily good, but it came from nowhere. Fans turned Flair face during the match he regained.
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06-04-2017, 10:02 PM | #17 | |
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Quote:
Truth be told, shock value aside, do you think giving Jericho the Undisputed Title was the right move? Booking aside, I never took Jericho seriously as a heel until 2008 -- he was still doing his WCW mid-card shtick, which was entertaining in the WCW mid-card, but was feeling a bit out of place against guys like Austin and Rock who were presented as definitively better. Putting the Undisputed Title on Austin from the start and having him face Triple H at WrestleMania X-8 may have been the better overall direction for the company, and long-term for Jericho, who entertered a slump after, well, I wish I could after Mania X-8, but it was really before then. |
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06-05-2017, 12:16 AM | #18 |
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I know the subject asks for ONE, but going through the memory banks, it is making me realize how hard it is to think of truly shocking memories in professional wrestling. Everything is painted over with a brush of "anything can happen" and a retroactive conditioning to the emotions you felt at the time.
Ultimately, I do have to settle on JBL as the most shocking choice for champion. The sudden transformation from Bradshaw, the lack of build. It's impossible to find Khali or Jinder Mahal (sorry, India, it's not you) too jarring once that precedent has been set. Not even Jack Swagger. When you consider that leading up to it, the previous first-time champions in WWE had been Eddie Guerrero, Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and, before that, Triple H, it really does emphasize how random JBL was. But the most shocking change, and one of the few times I had to talk to someone about a title change I saw in wrestling, was when Austin turned heel to win the title from The Rock at WrestleMania X-7. The nature of it -- Austin shaking hands with Vince, and essentially bringing an end to the Attitude era, while detrimental to business, might have been one of the last true shocks to the system wrestling has delivered at that level. |
06-05-2017, 08:35 AM | #19 |
( ._.)
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I for one was absolutely shocked that Christian won the title at Night of Champions 2009.
The ECW championship was on fire at that point (many people feel as if it was the most prestigious world championship at the time). Tommy Dreamer breathed new life into the ECW brand and probably should have held the championship belt until WrestleMania... But low and behold Christian wins the belt and a few months later ECW is dead. |
06-05-2017, 08:38 AM | #20 |
President of Freedonia
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06-05-2017, 08:57 AM | #21 |
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06-05-2017, 10:15 AM | #22 |
Save_Us.sandwich
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Doink the Clown winning the Intercontinental title from the Undertaker & Lex Luger in a handicap match. Vince McMahon said so on commentary himself. "*BZZZZT!* Shocking!!!" |
06-05-2017, 10:21 AM | #23 | |
Loque Ja
Posts: 87,987
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Quote:
No one thought that. What was shocking about that win was bringing Christian back with no fanfare and sticking him on your C-Brand. |
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06-05-2017, 02:48 PM | #24 |
President of Freedonia
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I marked the fuck out the night Christian returned. ECW was easily my favorite of the brands for a few years.
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06-05-2017, 03:32 PM | #25 |
Best Poster
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Speaking from the perspective of a 9 year old kid at the time: I couldn't believe it when Warrior beat Hogan at Wrestlemania 6.
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06-05-2017, 03:39 PM | #26 |
Feeling Oof-y
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Has to JBL for me.
I wasn't able to watch at the time due to being in halls of residence at university but was following the product via reading results. There wasn't much fanfare around the transformation from Bradshaw to JBL, so in my mind - having not actually seen the JBL character - the beer-swilling, "past it" tag team wrestler was WWE Champion. I couldn't believe it. |
06-05-2017, 04:02 PM | #27 |
Loque Ja
Posts: 87,987
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Speaking of Christian...... still can't accept that WWE were so dumb to have Orton take the belt off him two days after he won it.
:foc: |
06-05-2017, 05:25 PM | #28 |
Doin' It Right
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06-06-2017, 01:58 AM | #29 |
Best Poster
Posts: 56,917
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ECW was pretty awesome. It was better than the original ECW post 98
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06-06-2017, 03:35 AM | #30 |
Posts: 60,962
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They didn't even give it a chance. The plan was never to run with him, but why not see if you can build something worth watching there?
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06-06-2017, 05:48 AM | #31 |
boop/bop/beep
Posts: 38,428
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Bret Hart beating Ric Flair at a House Show in Saskatoon in 1992.
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06-06-2017, 08:10 AM | #32 |
( ._.)
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Oh and since no one said it before Jinder was just a tad bit shocking.
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06-06-2017, 12:09 PM | #33 |
Resident drug enabler
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They've thrown the title on lower card guys enough in the 2 title era that you pretty much expect it when one is challenging. Jinder winning didn't shock me at all.
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06-06-2017, 02:48 PM | #34 |
Rigged from the start
Posts: 35,422
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Jeff Hardy winning his first WWE Championship @ Armageddon 2008 was pretty shocking...he was in there with 2 guys with multiple WWE & WHC titles in Triple H and Edge in a triple threat. It was REALLY surprising that Triple H allowed himself to be the one pinned and put Hardy over IMHO. Classy move on the part of The Game.
RVD defeating Cena at ECW One Night Stand 2006 for the WWE Championship also springs to mind. Cena was only a little over a year into playing the role of SuperCena and overcoming the odds every time, so it was quite a shock when they put RVD over. I can only imagine how his reign would've played out if not for that one stupid mistake that cost him it and the ECW Championship. |
06-06-2017, 03:08 PM | #35 |
( ._.)
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I'm pretty sure he was going to lose at SNME, just lost it a few days sooner.
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06-06-2017, 05:12 PM | #36 | |
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Quote:
As far as shocking title changes are concerned, Rey Mysterio's second reign as World Heavyweight Champion and his first reign as WWE Champion were unexpected. |
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06-06-2017, 05:44 PM | #37 |
boop/bop/beep
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06-06-2017, 06:05 PM | #38 | |
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Quote:
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06-06-2017, 06:31 PM | #39 |
Resident drug enabler
Posts: 45,473
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Swagger, Daniel Bryan's first win, Punk's first win...
They've done the "guy who is jobbing in the midcard suddenly wins a title" thing for shock value so much that it's not shocking anymore. When a guy like that suddenly gets a title shot you pretty much expect them to win. |
06-06-2017, 07:46 PM | #40 |
In His hands...
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Wyatt.
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