They say that truth is often stranger than fiction.

Well, when it comes to the WWE, that couldn't apply more. We all know that pro wrestling is scripted, choreographed, and pure acting. However, it's become one of the most entertaining brands of sports to watch.

It's only fitting that truth is, in fact, stranger than fiction. Because the fiction in WWE applies to the storylines, matches, wrestling characters, the moves they perform, and much more. Even though it's scripted, the truth behind the scenes is often surprising, and something you wouldn't expect.

Even though people in the WWE will tell you things and portray them as 100 percent real and not parts of the storyline, there are actually some lies they told you that you didn't know. I suppose when you grow up as a huge wrestling fan, you come to think that everything is staged, unless they're bragging up things that are supposed to look like facts, such as attendance figures, records held by superstars, among others.

Yes, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon deserves all of the credit in the world for making the company one of the largest in the world which attracts millions of people worldwide. But still, some of the lies that he and the company try selling to us aren't working anymore.

Telling the truth is always better than lying, but some major companies don't want you to think that. But it's time for us to show you the findings from past investigations. Here are the 12 biggest lies told by the WWE.

12 12. "Bringing Back" ECW

via wwe.com
via wwe.com

Though the Monday Night War prominently featured WCW against WWE, Paul Heyman was the mastermind behind ECW.

The company was popular for its lucha libre style and frequent hardcore matches, giving fans another element of wrestling that we didn't see as much over at the larger promotions of WCW and WWE.

So when WWE announced they were "bringing back ECW," which was re-ignited in 2006, the fans thought they'd see some of the best wrestlers and matches reborn. All we saw were stars like Christian, Tommy Dreamer and others perform incredibly well with very poor television ratings and a general lack of interest. The show shut down for good in 2010, failing to bring back the elements that made ECW popular in the first place.

11 11. Jim Ross' "Retirement"

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The vast majority of WWE fans will probably tell you that there won't be any announcer as good as J.R. His voice, loud passion, and ability to promote any average wrestler like a WrestleMania main event man was extraordinary.

Michael Cole doesn't seem to earn any positive receptions these days, though I personally think he's solid. Still, he's never going to be on the level of Ross. It's plain and simple and there's no debating that.

After many years of being on-and-off screen, Ross left the company in 2013. He claims it was retirement after his contract expired. Rumors have it that he was canned because he and Ric Flair showed up drunk at a special event.

J.R. then said he was released for his poor conduct, but McMahon said Ross freely left on his own. We hear different stories, but one truth is wrong. J.R. is giving us both sides, and McMahon, who has told more than a lie to his fans, could very well be trying to cover up his firing of Ross.

10 10. Randy Orton: The Record Breaker

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via goliath.com

When Randy Orton captured the World Heayweight Championship from Chris Benoit at SummerSlam 2004, we were told (and most of us, including myself believed it), that Orton was the youngest World Heavyweight Champion of all time which was true only to WWE and not the long lineage of the title.

The Big Show, who went by The Giant, won the title in WCW at age 23. Of course, because this victory would take place in the company that nearly put McMahon out of business, they won't acknowledge it.

The Big Show (Giant) is the record-holder folks. Don't believe everything you hear. But believe me here.

9 9. Royal Rumble Winners Headline WrestleMania

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via wallsofjerichoholic.blogspot.com

Winning the Royal Rumble is huge for many reasons, but it's not any bigger than the fact that the last man standing gets to "headline" on the "grandest stage of them all."

That's at least how it's supposed to happen, but that's not always the case. Eight winners of the Rumble haven't headlined WrestleMania. Among the most recent years, Sheamus in 2012, Albertio Del Rio in 2011, and Edge in 2010.

But for the past few years, it has followed the tradition. Let's see if it stays that way.

8 8. John Cena and The Rock: "Once In A Lifetime"

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via allin1platform.com

When John Cena faced The Rock in the main event of WrestleMania XXVIII, the year-long build up hyped it as a "Once in a Lifetime" event, and it felt that way.

The Rock would win, but you know the rest. They just HAD TO do it all over again, with Cena defeating The People's Champion the following year. And yes, the second showdown was nowhere close to being as epic as the first.

Perhaps this "Once in a Lifetime," slogan was just to get us hyped and bring back the fans who stopped watching years ago. The second match while taking place organically with Rock as WWE Champion and Cena winning the Royal Rumble was unnecessary.

7 7. Twenty-One Men Up, Twenty-One Men Down

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via thearmbarexpress.wordpress.com

Though I am questioning every day if ending The Undertaker's undefeated WrestleMania streak was the right call, I look at the bright side: We aren't being misled into incorrect information these days.

In Undertaker's promos, he would say "X men stepped up, X men went down." But really, that was wrong for years.

Before he lost to Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX, we'd be reminded that 21 men stepped up and 21 men went down. That's odd, because he faced Triple H three times, Shawn Michaels twice, and Kane two times as well.

These numbers don't quite add up.

6 6. Diva's Division is About "Promoting" Women

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via wwe.com

It's a sad truth, especially in an era and time when women deserve to be paid, treated, and have the equal rights that men do. Even though the WWE wants us to believe those are their reasons for women in pro wrestling, it's mostly inaccurate.

The women are simply there to have men watch. I don't like that being the truth, but WWE clearly has Divas there to be the gorgeous women in hopes that men will watch them. The women are just as gifted in the ring than men, but the idea of  "promoting" them in the industry as great wrestlers isn't all that true.

With the Women's Championship back, hopefully this will no longer be considered a lie in the near future.

5 5. Another RKO (Lie) Out of Nowhere

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via sekiller.net

Randy Orton isn't just "the youngest World Heavyweight Champion of all-time," but he's also allegedly the first Undisputed Champion. Or not.

That's what WWE wants you to think, but again, the truth seems to hurt them for some reason as they hold us back. After the WWE and World Heavyweight titles were formed into one, that's when Orton was referred to as the inaugural Undisputed Champion.

No sir, that honour actually belongs to Chris Jericho. But he's been on-and-off over the past decade, WWE would rather refer to someone who works for them full-time as the guy who holds the record.

Though they still refer to Jericho as the first Undisputed Champion from time-to-time, they still will lead you into thinking it's Orton when Y2J is off elsewhere.

4 4. The Nature Boy's Last Ride

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via pwpnation.com

Here's the deal: Ric Flair loses to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV in Orlando. As per the stipulation, The Nature Boy has to retire. He gets a great send-off and has an epic retirement show the following evening on Monday Night Raw.

So WWE elects to refer to that as his final match, when Flair actually wrestled on the Hulkamania Tour as well as in TNA from 2010-12. Of course, they don't want to promote their rivals' companies, so whatever works for them.

But the lie isn't working on us. We know the truth.

3 3. The "Macho Man" Leaves On His Own

"Macho Man" Randy Savage deserved a much better ending to what was the most impressive and storied career of a pro wrestler not named Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, or Undertaker.

A top-five all-time wrestler, based on how he changed and revolutionized the industry, Savage did a lot to help grow the WWE into a global powerhouse. But in 1994, his contract ran up, and Vince McMahon would announce on-air that they couldn't agree to a new deal, hence why he bolted for WCW.

That's wrong. Savage grew tired of working commentary and wanted back in the ring but WWE were involved in a "youth movement" at the time and Savage was denied a return to in-ring action, causing problems between both parties.

Vince wanted to make Macho Man look like a greedy wrestler, but the WWE just didn't stay loyal to him.

2 2. Attendance Figures

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via alilip2010.wordpress.com

The WWE can just come clean with us. They have millions of fans every year that watch on television and come out to their shows. The Pay-Per-View events, especially WrestleMania, generate more than enough revenue.

Instead, they mislead you with their attendance statistics. For example, WrestleMania XXIX supposedly had over 80,000 people, but Power Slam magainze claimed it was between 70-75 thousand.

As for WrestleMania III? They told us there were 93,173 people in Detroit, but Power Slam reported it to be closer to 72,000. This year, there was speculation that we didn't quite get the approximately 101,000 fans in Dallas.

Who knows for sure, but it seems obvious that WWE has to take an impressive crowd number and turn it into something ridiculous. Why can't they just be up front with us? We'll love them either way.

1 1. "Bret Screwed Bret"

Though most of us WWE fans know about it, here's a quick rundown of what was supposed to happen, and what actually happened.

Bret Hart faces his rival Shawn Michaels (on-screen and off-screen). Hart's about to bolt for WCW, but McMahon agrees to let Hart retain the WWE Championship in his home country of Canada, at Survivor Series 1997 in Montreal.

During the match, Michaels puts Hart in his signature Sharpshooter submission, and McMahon forces the ref to get the bell rung to end the match, even though Hart didn't tap out.

Hart realizes he got screwed, spat in McMahon's face and punched him backstage. In an interview shortly after, McMahon would tell us that "Bret screwed Bret."

It's obvious that didn't happen, given that McMahon went against what the original plans were.