X-Pac is slated to get his second WWE Hall of Fame induction whenever the 2020 class is inducted. The first induction came in 2019 as part of D-Generation X. Fans were surprised when X-Pac was named to join the newest class as the fourth member of the New World Order along with Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall before the coronavirus forced WWE to cancel all WM weekend activities.
The career of X-Pac certainly deserves the love when breaking down all he accomplished during the ‘90s and early 2000s. Quite a few wild stories have come out about X-Pac since he lived the faster paced lifestyle with lots of questionable moments. Find out more about the wrestling pioneer. The following backstories will surprise you about X-Pac in the backstage world of wrestling.
10 Decided to retire after teaming with Jushin Liger
The last match from X-Pac came during WrestleMania 35 weekend during the Highspots show in New York City. X-Pac made a surprise appearance teaming with Jushin Liger and Shane “The Hurricane” Helms to defeat a team of indie heels.
The aftermath saw X-Pac unofficially retiring when finding happiness with the matchup as closure. WWE inducted him into the Hall of Fame two nights later with D-Generation. Liger had one of his final United States matches teaming with X-Pac in what appears to be his final match forever.
9 Vince let him cut the shoot promo on Eric Bischoff
X-Pac’s return to WWE in 1998 helped D-Generation continue after Shawn Michaels retired from the ring for a few years. The additions of X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws added to the appeal of DX, but X-Pac’s return promo gave him a newfound confidence.
Eric Bischoff fired X-Pac from WCW while injured and Hulk Hogan buried him in a promo. X-Pac unloaded all his frustrations towards Bischoff and Hogan with zero filter. Fans loved the promo they viewed as an unscripted shoot, but Vince McMahon told him to go as far as he wanted.
8 Mr. Perfect shaved his eyebrows before action figure shoot
The infamous action figure and promo picture of X-Pac during his time as the 123 Kid without his eyebrows will live on forever. Mr. Perfect decided to rib the young wrestler by shaving his eyebrows while asleep.
The next day featured the timing of photo shoots and scanning for merchandise. X-Pac was forced to remember the embarrassing night when looking back at those photos and having to sign that action figure all these years later.
7 WWE thought he could help save their version of the NWO
WWE realized fans wanted to cheer Hulk Hogan outside of the New World Order during his WrestleMania 18 classic with The Rock. This caused them to switch gears by having X-Pac and Big Show join the faction.
One idea was to recreate the Kliq in the new nWo with Shawn Michaels coming out of retirement and Triple H teasing joining the group. X-Pac was the first major piece to align with Kevin Nash, but the lack of interest slowed down WWE’s plan.
6 Slapped Ric Flair without warning in WCW
X-Pac’s best work in WCW came during a small feud with Ric Flair under the name of Syxx. The two faced off in singles matches and tag matches that were among the better matches with stronger in-ring quality for WCW at the time.
There were some moments of X-Pac crossing the line as a member of the New World Order. X-Pac admitted to Steve Austin that he legit slapped Flair in the face during a promo that ended with Flair chasing him all over the venue. This took off on the fly with Flair saying it created a great segment afterwards.
5 No one understood "X-Pac heat"
The term “X-Pac heat” is used to describe a wrestler that fans are sick of watching and booing out of annoyance rather than genuine heel heat. There are many differing opinions about this from wrestlers, but it was even more confusing at the time.
X-Pac admitted he had no idea what to make of the loud boos and negative chants. No one from WWE provided any reaction towards it positively or negatively. X-Pac remained an afterthought in the light heavyweight division during that chapter of his career.
4 Cruel backstage pranks on other wrestlers
X-Pac was known for delivering backstage pranks that often crossed the line. The one constant in his harshest pranks was his desire to use the bathroom in places opposing wrestlers would take great offense in finding.
Sable’s luggage, Jerry Lawler’s crown and Sunny’s food were just three areas of X-Pac’s pranking that would get him in far bigger trouble today. X-Pac would take his ribbing to a darker level if the wrestler was that hated in the locker room.
3 Teared up after emotional match with Sami Zayn on indies
The independent wrestling run of X-Pac after getting his line clean saw him having a few standout matches. Chikara focused on comedy and had wrestlers playing into nostalgia whenever it made sense.
Sami Zayn’s time as El Generico saw him leading X-Pac to turn back the clock for one more classic as the 123 Kid. The match took place at King of Trios 2011 with X-Pac revealing he teared up afterwards for having such a great match at that stage in his career in front of an appreciative crowd.
2 Cutting off Michael Hayes' ponytail during plane ride from hell
The Plane Ride from Hell remains one of the most fascinating stories in WWE history. Quite a few wrestlers got into trouble for drinking too much and engaging in rowdy behavior that resulted in fines, suspensions and firings.
X-Pac found a way to get one of his pranks in when a drunk Michael Hayes punched an injured JBL in the face on the plane as a rib. Hayes fell asleep and X-Pac struck by cutting off his ponytail. The following week’s Raw saw X-Pac sticking the ponytail to the wall in the men’s locker room.
1 Chris Jericho was forced to report to him as a punishment
Chris Jericho struggled in his first few months as a WWE superstar trying to learn the new style. Vince McMahon cursed him out on a few occasions and started making him get his match ideas approved by X-Pac.
The humiliating need for a tutor in wrestling showed just how upset Vince was with Jericho’s work. Despite DX having heat with Jericho, X-Pac did his best to help Jericho out with a few great matches. The punishment paid off faster than expected with Jericho becoming a main eventer within his first year in WWE.