Only A Real Fan Remembers The Biggest Moments In WWE
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Sports
Thanks to Vince McMahon’s notoriously indecisive nature, there are times when it can be difficult for a wrestling fan to keep track of everything that happened in the WWE Universe. Sports entertainment tradition says bookers are allowed to ignore anything that happened more than three months in the past, leading to a constant rewriting of history when it comes to how certain wrestlers feel about one another. The same can be true about seemingly more concrete things like wins and losses, as the company has been known to outright ignore or retcon just about everything at one point or another.
Of course, all this practice really does is severely underestimate the memory of an average wrestling fan. Contrary to what McMahon believes, his audience can often vividly recall things that took place years or even decades ago, especially when they changed the course of sports entertainment forever. Even someone as focused on the present as McMahon will also occasionally remind the public at large about his company's most memorable moments from the past as well, through numerous countdown specials and WWE Network retrospectives.
If you’ve spent your fair share of weekends watching them, or if you happened to see it live when it all went down, keep reading for a quiz on the biggest moments in WWE from the Attitude Era onward that every real fan should be able to pass.
Who defined the Attitude Era with his 3:16 speech?
Having no off-season, it can be hard to break down WWE into individual years. However, the industry also happens to change so much and so often that Vince McMahon and other expert marketers have broken it up into eras. The most popular timeframe for wrestling from an audience perspective with the Attitude Era, which many people would agree began at King of the Ring 1996. After the new royal was crowned, he gave an unforgettable speech coining the phrase “3:16,” meaning “I just whipped your ass.” That Attitude went on to inspire every superstar of the era. Who said it?
Which WWE stable infamously parodied the Nation of Domination?
With chaos reigning supreme and the inmates running the asylum, the Attitude Era was one of the wildest and most dangerous times to be a wrestler. For this reason, many WWE superstars banded together in stables, with The Nation of Domination amongst the groups that started the trend. Originally led by Faarooq, the Nation soon became the launching pad for The Rock, largely through their feud with another rival stable. At one point, these rivals infamously donned blackface to parody the Nation’s members. Who were they?
What boxer was guest enforcer at the main event of WrestleMania XIV?
When operating at its peak, WWE truly is more than a mere professional wrestling company; it’s a sports entertainment empire. As the owner and impresario of the show, Vince McMahon does everything he can to ensure this reputation continues, including hiring major celebrities to get involved with some of his biggest storylines. Arguably the most famous celebrity wrestler of all was a World Champion boxer who came face to face with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on Raw before serving as the guest enforcer where the Rattlesnake won the WWE Championship. Who was it?
Who helped Mankind defeat The Rock for the WWE Championship?
Barring something truly surprising happening, chances are WWE will never quite get their audience to react the way they used to. To this day, the company has never come close to the massive response heard during the closing moments of the January 4, 1999 episode of Raw, when Mankind defeated The Rock to win his first World Championship. Exciting as that moment was, though, it was actually the interference of another star who cemented Mick’s win that got the WWE Universe to their unbeatable fever pitch. Who was it?
What liquid did Kurt Angle spray the Alliance with during the Invasion?
Aside from any particularly anticipated victories, arguably the most memorable moment of the Attitude Era came when “Stone Cold” Steve Austin drove a beer truck down to the ring and sprayed his favorite beverage all over The Corporation. The only thing that could possibly top this was the parody that came just over two years later, when Austin had become the industry’s top villain as the leader of The Alliance. The tables turned, it was now Kurt Angle who drove a truck delivering his own favorite beverage down to the ring and doused the WCW and ECW rosters in liquid. What was it?
Which tag team won the first two Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches?
Combining all of the most violent match concepts around at the time into one, Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches were once the wildest possible bout WWE could ever hold. All wrestlers to compete in a TLC contest were never the same for having done so, with even the winners suffering terribly from the physical strain jumping off ladders and through tables puts on the body. Despite how painful it must have been, the same team actually won both of the first two TLC matches, at SummerSlam 2000 and WrestleMania X7. Which team was it?
Who did The Undertaker throw off the Hell in a Cell structure at King of the Ring?
If not Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches, the most demonic creation of WWE in recent history would be the Hell in a Cell. Similar to TLC, the concept has been slightly overdone at this point, with fans barely batting an eye as wrestlers willingly bounce off and around the giant cage. The reason it all feels so passé is that no one will ever dare attempt the stunts pulled off in the second ever HiaC match, when The Undertaker threw his opponent from the top of the cage to the ground 25 feet below—twice. Who miraculously survived these falls?
Which wrestler was the center of the Montreal Screwjob?
Blending the real world of contracts with the fictional WWE Universe that takes place inside the ring, “The Montreal Screwjob” is the most talked about true event in which Vince McMahon was ever involved. During the main event of Survivor Series ‘97, Shawn Michaels placed the reigning WWE Champion in his own signature hold, cueing McMahon himself to call for the bell to ring despite the fact the champ didn’t submit. This happened because his former star was leaving for WCW, and McMahon didn’t want him to go out with the gold. Who did Vince and HBK “screw” that night?
Who did Stephanie McMahon plan to marry before Triple H interrupted the ceremony?
In today’s WWE Universe, just about everyone is well aware Vince McMahon’s daughter Stephanie is married to Triple H, and that the two are poised to one day inherit the company. Two short decades ago, however, the fate of sports entertainment looked a whole lot different, with the kind-hearted and innocent Stephanie a far cry from the woman she became after marrying The Game. She was also dating a less vicious wrestler, up until her relationship with him ended the same night her pretend marriage to Triple H technically began. Who was Steph’s first intended fiancée?
Which wrestler did “Stone Cold” Steve Austin brawl with in a grocery store?
Thanks to the controversial Hardcore Champion 24/7 rule, if WWE could hold a match in a given location during the Attitude Era, it was bound to happen. While this arrangement did occasionally lead to some funny comedy segments, none hold a candle to the greatest on-site brawl of all, which didn’t even have anything to do with the gold. Well, not the Hardcore gold anyway, as the assailant in this case was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, getting revenge on the man who cost the Rattlesnake his latest WWE Championship. Who did the Rattlesnake fight in a grocery store?
What legendary female wrestler gave birth to a hand on an episode of SmackDown?
Such is the nature of human memory that people can sometimes easier recall the absolute worst television WWE produced better than any of the good stuff. This is especially true when Vince McMahon is writing the show, because his “bad” content is more accurately described as insane and/or bizarre. Nothing better exemplifies this fact than the 2000 episode of Raw, where a veteran female wrestler went into labor with her 28-year-old boyfriend Mark Henry’s baby…or so we thought. Instead of a child, the future WWE Hall of Famer produced…a gooey hand. Who was the focus of this absurd moment?
Whose open challenge did John Cena answer in his official WWE debut?
First impressions can often mean everything in the WWE Universe. Introducing themselves in the right was can instantly make fans believe a new wrestler is destined for great things, which was definitely the case when a young John Cena hit the scene in 2002. In Cena’s very first match, he proved he could hang with the absolute best of them, wrestling a highly competitive bout with one of the best technical athletes in the business. Though Cena lost the match, his “Ruthless Aggression” earned the respect of many backstage, including The Undertaker. Who did he nearly defeat?
Who was the first and only female to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship?
Despite the ongoing women’s wrestling revolution in the modern WWE Universe, a paradoxical situation exists in that it’s highly unlikely any females will ever again win the Intercontinental Championship. Before WWE was PG, though, a select few ladies were dominant enough to challenge for traditionally male gold on a regular basis. Most notable of all was the one who pulled off the impossible and actually defeated Jeff Jarrett and Val Venis for two reigns as Intercontinental Champion. She also broke ground as the first female in the Royal Rumble or King of the Ring. Who was she?
Which wrestler’s “Pipebomb” proved his greatest weapon was a microphone?
Theoretically, one would like assume the most powerful weapon a wrestler had was their performance inside the ring. Whether specializing in technical grappling, hardcore brawling, high flying acrobats, or a combination of them all, it’s what wrestlers do in the ring that wins them championships…or at least that’s how it looks on the surface. To some WWE superstars, their true greatest asset is their own mouth, especially when bolstered with the power of a microphone. Who outlined this for Vince McMahon’s benefit through his legendary “Pipebomb” speech?
Which wrestler made their debut at the end of the Millennium Countdown?
Every wrestler feels the thrill of anticipation as the countdown to their entrance music begins, yet only one had an entire millennium to prepare for it. Okay, so the “Millennium Countdown” didn’t start until the middle of 1999, and as wrestling fans all surely remember, it reached zero a lot sooner than January 1, 2000. Through no small coincidence, it actually ended while The Rock was giving a speech on Monday Night Raw, leading to a new wrestler claiming to be the “millennium man” making his debut. Who was it?
Who retired Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV?
If there’s any one wrestler whose talents all fans can agree on, it’s the legendary “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. From the early 1980s all the way to 2008, Flair stood as the paragon of his industry, able to bring a great match out of the proverbial broomstick when at his peak. of course, as the years went on, his talents gradually diminished, leading to a much celebrated retirement match at WrestleMania XXIV. Flair’s only goal in that match was “to be the man,” something he pulled off in spades despite a hard fought loss. Who defeated and retired him?
Which wrestler hosted The Rock: This Is Your Life?
Bizarrely blending 1950s television with the hottest themes of the Attitude Era, the humor of The Rock: This Is Your Life somehow lead to some of the highest ratings Raw would receive in the era. Based on the old game show, a fellow wrestler lead The Rock on a journey through his past, filled with old gym coaches, ex-girlfriends, and of course, Yurple the clown. Ultimately, the celebration backfired, as Rock hated all of these people for various reasons, but the host was not dismayed in their friendship. Who was he?
Who was the first wrestler to cash in a Money in the Bank contract?
Every wrestler to become WWE Champion has a different journey to the gold. The one thing all of these paths have in common is that they aren’t exactly easy, although if given the pick of possibilities, most superstars would probably choose to first win a Money in the Bank contract. Then again, the sheer destruction of a single Money in the Bank match can subtract years off a wrestler’s career, almost making the promise of an any time, any place WWE Championship match seem like it isn’t worth it. In any event, who was the first wrestler to cash in?
Who was Stephanie McMahon’s opponent the first time two women wrestled in the main event of Raw?
It took several decades for the women’s wrestling revolution to hit the heights it enjoys today, but the first baby steps were being taken long ago. Believe it or not, Stephanie McMahon is only barely exaggerating when she takes credit and attention for inspiring the entire movement, considering she was actually one of the first two women to main event Raw. In fact, it was the match where Stephanie lost the Women’s Championship. Granted, dozens of male wrestlers were also involved, but for once, the focus was mostly on the ladies. Who defeated Stephanie to win the gold?
What stable did Batista break up with this iconic thumbs down gesture?
Before he was a movie star, Dave Batista was a dominant World Heavyweight Champion who reached his pinnacle at WrestleMania 21, where he first won the gold. En route to that achievement. Batista also won the Royal Rumble, leading to a tense decision when tasked with choosing between challenging for the Raw or SmackDown World titles. Although Batista was in the same group as the current Raw champ, he decided to take on his leader, giving an iconic thumbs down to the idea of ideas going as planned. What group did he break up by doing so?
Which rival businessman “purchased” Raw from Vince McMahon for several weeks in 2009?
Whenever a person starts making billions of dollars, they’re bound to develop a few professional rivals. Vince McMahon could use this phrase to describe practically every other person ever to attempt running a wrestling company, including a few people who just pretended to do that. On screen, none of his fellow businessmen quite outfoxed him like the man he faced in the Battle of the Billionaires, and later sold Monday Night Raw to for a few weeks in 2009. Changes made by Raw’s new owner would impact the company for years, and Vince never forgot their interaction. Who was it?
Which invading WCW wrestler debuted by stalking The Undertaker’s wife?
Of all the bizarre moments of the Invasion era, none were stranger than the moment when a former WCW wrestler revealed he had been stalking The Undertaker’s wife. For weeks leading up to the discovery, videos aired featuring Sara, the Dead Man’s bride, going about her every day life without knowing she was being watched. Much to everyone’s surprise, the culprit was a former WCW World Champion who wanted The Undertaker to “make him famous” in retaliation for the invasion of privacy. Compelling as it was, this kind of went against everything that made the guy a star in WCW. Who was it?
Whose speech did Brock Lesnar interrupt during his 2012 return?
Almost a full decade after rejecting his status as “The Next Big Thing,” Brock Lesnar decided he might have a place in the WWE Universe after all. At that point, The Beast Incarnate had already won and lost the WWE Championship three times, then left the industry for the greener pastures of UFC. Lesnar’s reign of destruction continued in the real world of MMA, with multiple legitimate fighting titles in Lesnar’s path. For whatever reason, though, he decided to return to WWE in 2012. Who did he attack when making his comeback?
Who did Daniel Bryan defeat in the opening match of WrestleMania XXX?
Rising up against an oppressive regime that bafflingly claimed he didn’t have what it takes, Daniel Bryan’s success story was truly one for the ages. A decades long uphill battle finally came to an end at WrestleMania XXX, where Bryan competed in both the opening and closing matches. Match number one was for the right to appear in the main event, where he went on to defeat Randy Orton and Batista in a triple threat match to win the WWE Championship. Who did he beat first to get there?
Which wrestler appeared on Raw and Nitro on the same night in 1997?
With the spirit of competition hotter than any other point in wrestling history, the Monday Night Wars lead to outrageously intense times for wrestlers in both WWE and WCW. Whenever a contract was almost up, both companies would desperately compete to win their favor, if only for the bragging rights. This meant big money, but tough decisions, as wrestlers couldn’t exactly choose to work for both WWE and WCW at once…well, with one exception. Thanks to WWE taping Raw in advance, one wrestler appeared on both that show and Nitro on the same night. Who was it?
Who did Triple H defeat to briefly unify the World and Intercontinental Championships?
Because of the way WWE introduced the World Heavyweight Championship, fans didn’t treat the belt as especially important during its first few months. To try and fix the problem, inaugural champion Triple H unified his prize with the Intercontinental Championship at No Mercy 2002. Leading up to this, WWE also had the Intercontinental title merge with the Hardcore and European Championships, ultimately leaving Triple H’s Big Gold Belt the only major achievement left in the company. Until they realized how silly this was and brought the Intercontinental title back, anyway. Regardless, who did Triple H defeat to absorb it?
Which wrestler was undefeated for at WrestleMania 21 consecutive matches?
While wrestling in general is often defined by specific moments that crowds could never forget, sometimes it’s the sum of many parts that makes a wrestler or event unforgettable. In the case of WrestleMania, it took over two decades for the longest story the Showcase of Immortals would tell to come to a close. It all began in 1991, when a new Phenom defeated Jimmy Snuka to take that nickname. From there, he won 20 subsequent matches at the Grandest Stage of Them All. To whom did The Streak belong?
Who did The Shield make their WWE debuts to protect?
Over the past five years, the three most dominant wrestlers in WWE have been Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose, making it no surprise all three have been friends for a long time, and even made their debut together. The rise of The Shield began at Survivor Series 2012, when they interfered in the main event to ensure the WWE Champion kept his gold. To do so, the Shield viciously attacked Ryback, driving him through the announce table moments after the Big Guy had Shell Shocked John Cena. Who retained the gold when it was over?
Which wrestler was Mark Henry swerving with his fake retirement speech?
In 2018, the Hall of Pain curator Mark Henry also became a Hall of Fame inductee, capping off a two decade career of major ups and downs. While low points like Mae Young and Sammy marred Henry’s career, a dominant World Championship reign cemented him as a definite star in 2011. Shortly after losing the gold, it looked like Henry might be winding down, delivering a epic speech about his impending “retirement” while wearing a pink suit. It was all a ruse, though, just an elaborate scheme to trick the current WWE Champion. Who was it?
Which diva had an in-ring, in-bed celebration with Edge after he won the WWE Championship?
The second WWE decide to enter the PG era, certain moments from the company’s past quickly needed to get covered up. For both a literal and figurative example, look no further than the manner in which Edge celebrated his first WWE Championship live on Raw. The Rated R Superstar lived up to his nickname by getting inside a bed with his girlfriend in the middle of a ring, and going under the covers to do, well, what any adult would reasonably expect. They were interrupted before things got to far, but who was between the sheets with Edge?
Who did Kurt Angle reveal was his illegitimate son?
After nearly a full decade working for the competition in TNA, Kurt Angle received a true hero’s welcome when he finally had his homecoming to WWE. Unfortunately, things quickly went downhill once Angle was officially in the Hall of Fame and made General Manager of Raw. There was nothing else for him to do at that point, so to give him some purpose, WWE decided to have the Olympic Hero announce a certain up and coming midcard wrestler was his illegitimate son. Who was it?
Which former WWE announcer was elected Governor of Minnesota in 1999?
The only thing more shocking than the fact a celebrity entrant to the WWE Hall of Fame later became President of the United States is the fact another person already beat him on that path to politics. The future Governor of Minnesota didn’t even have a long history in business bolstering his resume, making the leap directly from the wrestling ring to public service. Controversially, this wrestler continued making occasional wrestling appearances from his new post, including a gag as referee to the main event of SummerSlam 1999. Who was it?
What group has the longest reign as WWE Tag Team Champions?
Always ready to change his whims on the drop of a hat, Vince McMahon is notoriously flaky about whether or not tag team wrestling matters in the WWE Universe. Sometimes, doubles competition leads to the most popular matches in history, while at others, McMahon completely ignores the genre altogether, pretty much hoping the fans would forget about it. Even so, a select few tag teams have been way too popular for even Vince to silence, leading to extremely long Tag Team Championship reigns. Who had the longest in history?
Which wrestler tragically passed away during a live WWE Pay-Per-View?
No matter how bad WWE gets, there will never be a lower moment for the company than the tragic time a pro wrestler lost his life during a live WWE event. In the middle of Over the Edge 1999, a man portraying a superhero character was poised to “fly” down from the rafters on a harness, only for a terrible accident to instead result in his shocking and sudden death. Most rumors indicate that had he lived, the wrestler would have won the Intercontinental Championship that night. Controversially, WWE continued the show despite his death. Who was it that died?
Who was the first female to hold the newly revived Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 32?
While the women’s wrestling revolution was already well underway by the time of WrestleMania 32, there was still a huge, glittery, pink problem WWE had to overcome before true change could commence. For whatever reason, about a decade earlier, the company did away with the traditional Women’s Championship for a bright and shiny Diva’s Championship, which trivialized the hard work female wrestlers put into their performance in the ring. Thankfully, the error was finally corrected at the Showcase of Immortals, when which women won a triple threat match to bring back the Women’s gold?
What authority figure awarded Triple H the inaugural World Heavyweight Championship?
No matter how prestigious WWE would present the title as being, from day one, the World Heavyweight Championship was flawed in how the company chose to introduce it. Rather than go with the traditional means of creating a new accolade for wrestlers to compete over, like holding a tournament, battle royal, or some other sort of contest for the gold, WWE simply had the current General Manager of Raw carry the new title to the ring and hand it over to Triple H for no particular reason. Who gave him the belt?
Which wrestler was John Cena wrestling when The Nexus interrupted in their debut?
It’s hard for WWE to shock fans in the modern era, with the last true surprise taking place back in 2010. Throughout it’s first season, NXT wasn’t given all that much attention, a far cry from the celebrated brand that it is today. That said, fans of the show were interested in the developing wrestlers it promoted, surely becoming overjoyed when they all suddenly appeared on an episode of Raw. Of course, that emotion soon changed when the Nexus attacked the main event competitors, John Cena and his opponent. Ironically, Cena’s opponent later became the group’s leader. Who was it?
Who defeated Shawn Michaels in his retirement match?
Ladies and gentlemen, Shawn Michaels has left the building. Long considered the greatest in-ring performer in sports entertainment, HBK had his expiration date like any other, and that time came in the main event of WrestleMania XXVI. At that genuine Showcase of Immortals, Michaels faced one of his all time greatest rivals for the last time, going out in an all time classic filled with constant heartbreaking moments that don’t get any less suspenseful in repeat viewings. Ultimately, though, Michaels couldn’t go on any longer, losing the match and his career in the process. Who beat him?
To whom did John Cena propose at WrestleMania 33?
For all the violent mayhem that takes place in the WWE Universe, professional wrestling has proven a back drop to a surprising number of long lasting love stories. One of them even reached it’s greatest moment at the Showcase of Immortals, when 16 time WWE Champion John Cena dropped to one knee after a mixed tag team match against The Miz and Maryse so he could propose to his partner. The lucky lady immediately said yes, which was no surprise to any of the fans watching her reality show leading up to this moment. Who is the future Mrs. Cena?
Which former WWE Champion was blackballed from the industry after getting caught making racist comments?
Unfortunately, it seems like whenever WWE gets in the news, it’s because a former star did something extremely questionable in public. The latest and most infamous culprit was a former WWE Champion who in many respects defined the company for years as their most valuable star. Despite worldwide fame, it turns out this talent had been harboring racist sentiments for decades, and was caught revealing such on tape in a recording that was later made public. Because of the star’s harsh language and bigoted speech, WWE immediately tried to erase him from history, but do you remember who it was?