00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most viral and buzzed
00:10about moments in professional wrestling that sparked the biggest reactions across the internet.
00:24Number 10, Montreal Screwjob.
00:27The Montreal Screwjob may have occurred in 1997, before the advent of modern social media,
00:34but its deeply conversational nature reverberated everywhere, including the internet.
00:46In fact, it's often regarded as the first wrestling event to ignite widespread outrage
00:51among online fans, lighting up plenty of chat rooms.
01:03The real-life act of betrayal unfolded during the 1997 Survivor Series, where Vince McMahon
01:09infamously screwed Bret Hart out of his championship in front of a stunned Montreal crowd.
01:15This to ensure Bret didn't bring the top title to rival WCW.
01:20Decades later, fans still scrutinise the event, fuelling an online debate that remains
01:26as intense now as it was back then.
01:28Number 9, Cody Rhodes Returns To WWE.
01:36After helping build All Elite Wrestling from the ground up as a founding executive vice
01:40president, Cody Rhodes shocked the world by returning to the company he famously exited
01:46– WWE.
01:55This full-circle moment immediately ignited the internet, with fans and critics alike
02:00buzzing about The Prodigal Son's return and what it meant for both companies.
02:06His emotional entrance at WrestleMania 38, coupled with a high-profile match against
02:10Seth Rollins, cemented Cody's comeback as one of the biggest wrestling stories of the
02:15year.
02:24The return also added plenty of fuel to the online rivalry between AEW and WWE fans.
02:31Number 8, The Final Deletion.
02:39This bizarre and over-the-top match between Matt and Jeff Hardy in TNA became nothing
02:44short of a viral sensation.
02:46Matt Hardy's glorious descent into his broken persona culminated in The Final Deletion,
02:52a match against his brother Jeff at the Hardy Compound in Cameron, North Carolina.
02:58Unlike anything seen before in professional wrestling, the uniquely cinematic brawl featured
03:03everything from tree dives, to fireworks, to Señor Benjamin.
03:19It became an instant internet phenomenon, spawning countless memes and reactions, not
03:25to mention a sequel.
03:26The Final Deletion's unexpected virality proved the potential of alternative wrestling
03:32storytelling, opening the door for more cinematic matches.
03:41Number 7, Brock Lesnar's Night After WrestleMania comeback.
03:45Surprise appearances in professional wrestling are a thing of beauty.
03:49Take John Cena's unexpected entry in the 2008 Royal Rumble.
04:00Or imagine if Chris Jericho's 1999 WWE debut happened in the social media era, it would
04:06have trended instantly.
04:17Of course, few compared to Brock Lesnar's shocking comeback in 2012.
04:26After leaving for a high-profile UFC career, Lesnar stunned everyone the night after WrestleMania
04:3228.
04:38Marching to the ring, Brock Lesnar delivered a devastating F5 to Cena, igniting an intense
04:44frenzy online.
04:46Yep, everyone seemingly lost their minds as the dominating force of the UFC had returned
04:51to the WWE, blurring the lines between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts in the process.
05:00Number 6, The Rock vs. John Cena.
05:03If social media had been as pervasive as it is today, The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania
05:0918 would have surely sent the internet into overdrive.
05:19However, that legendary dream match no doubt set the stage for another historic showdown
05:29years later.
05:36The Rock and John Cena's 2012 WrestleMania match was another battle of icons that transcended
05:42wrestling and captured widespread attention.
05:45Announced a year in advance, the bout generated immense hype, much of it fuelled online.
05:52Fans of varying generations flocked to social media to express their enthusiasm and opinions
05:58on The Rock and Cena's first encounter, demonstrating that wrestling could still engage
06:03the public on a massive scale.
06:11Number 5, WWE Buys WCW.
06:15To say that the wrestling industry changed forever when WWE purchased its biggest competitor,
06:21WCW, in 2001 would be a wee bit of an understatement.
06:25The once fierce Monday Night Wars had suddenly come to an end, with WWE standing tall as
06:31the victor.
06:41This monumental acquisition, not to mention the subsequent storyline, Revelations, sent
06:47shockwaves through the wrestling community.
07:00It also set online discussion into overdrive, with fans visiting forums and news sites to
07:06ponder the ramifications.
07:08This mainly dial-up, internet-shattering moment led to more jaw-dropping instances, as former
07:14WCW talent would appear on WWE programming in the future, breaking the internet all over
07:20again.
07:28Number 4, AEW Debut.
07:31Sticking with industry-altering events, the launch of All Elite Wrestling was a groundbreaking
07:36moment, providing an alternative mainstream platform to WWE.
07:41Spearheaded by industry performers and backed by the wealthy Khan family, AEW's arrival
07:47sent shockwaves through the online wrestling community.
07:59The company's debut event, Double or Nothing, and the appearances of major stars the likes
08:04of Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley instantly legitimised the new company.
08:10Online discussion about the new era of competition in pro wrestling grew to critical mass with
08:15the premiere of AEW's weekly TV show, Dynamite.
08:20With that, it's safe to say that the internet played a significant role in spreading AEW's
08:25vision.
08:32Number 3, The Yes Movement.
08:34Daniel Bryan's underdog rise to the top of WWE, fuelled by the echoes of Yes Chants,
08:40became a genuine phenomenon.
08:47It not only captivated audiences live in the arena, but dominated social media, even crossing
08:53over into mainstream pop culture.
08:55This organic groundswell of support, amplified by the internet fanbase, propelled Bryan to
09:01the main event of WrestleMania 30, culminating in one of the most emotionally charged and
09:06feel-good victories in wrestling history.
09:16The journey of the Yes Movement was a testament to the power of fan support, and its ability
09:21to truly influence storylines in the digital age.
09:32Number 2, CM Punk's Pipe Bomb.
09:39On a June 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw, CM Punk grabbed a microphone and delivered
09:45the most viral promo in all of professional wrestling.
09:57Referred to as the Pipe Bomb, Punk would go on to blur the lines of what was real and
10:02not by addressing real-life grievances in an unfiltered manner, all while sitting cross-legged
10:08on the stage.
10:24Punk managed to resonate with disenfranchised fans of the company, sparking immediate reactions
10:29online.
10:30The internet community dissected every word, speculating about how much of it was in fact
10:35unscripted.
10:37In the end, the promo transcended wrestling norms, giving jaded fans something to get
10:42excited about.
10:55Before we unveil our top pick, here's some honorable mentions.
10:59The entire Bloodline Saga, Family Betrayal and Power Struggles made this storyline continuously
11:05trending.
11:11Seth Rollins' WrestleMania cash-in.
11:14This money-in-the-bank cash-in made millions of people lose their mind.
11:26Fandango's theme music.
11:28The most viral theme song of all time?
11:37Edge's Royal Rumble return.
11:40A never-say-never comeback that the internet exploded for.
11:51Hashtag give divas a chance.
11:53A viral hashtag started a new era and led to the women's revolution.
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12:28The end of the streak.
12:29For 21 years, The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania was considered a sacred
12:35cornerstone of WWE lore, with many believing it would never be broken.
12:52So when Brock Lesnar did the unthinkable and actually conquered The Undertaker's streak
12:57at WrestleMania 30, it generated widespread disbelief.
13:09Stunned reactions spread across the internet, becoming one of the most talked-about wrestling
13:13moments of all time.
13:15Social media exploded as outlets reported on the historic moment, one that wrestling
13:20fans thought they'd never see.
13:27The end of the streak not only crushed the hearts of Undertaker supporters, but broke
13:31the damn internet in the process.
13:40What pro-wrestling moments sent you straight to social media?
13:44Share your personal picks in the comments below.
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