.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
The anticipation during any good feud in wrestling is what helps sells tickets, as does the intrigue of what’s going to happen during the actual show. Every so often, a match is advertised with having a “mystery opponent,” adding even more mystery and intrigue to the show as fans try to determine who might be showing up to the big event.
In WWE, it’s always a brand new signing or a returning Superstar. Sometimes the mystery opponent is merely filling in for an injured competitor. But unfortunately, not all surprises get carried out to perfection, and some big mystery reveals are just disappointing.
10 Disappointed - Savio Vega
Despite taking place in his home state, Shawn Michaels' back was so terrible that there was no way he could compete at No Way Out of Texas. He and Triple H were set to team with The New Age Outlaws against Owen Hart, Cactus Jack, Chainsaw Charlie, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. No one knew at the time but his back was so injured that he barely had his WrestleMania 14 showdown with Austin left in him, let alone and eight man melee. Ideally, you want to give the crowd an equal or greater replacement, but when it’s the champion you’re replacing, there isn’t an equal or greater value. Instead, the boys in the match asked for and received Savio Vega. But as far as replacing Shawn Michaels goes, there wasn’t any chance.
9 Awesome - Daniel Bryan
When The Nexus debuted on Raw and destroyed everyone in their path, Daniel Bryan found himself on the bread-line due to choking out announcer Justin Roberts. But at this point, fans already knew Bryan was the best and hardest working wrestler in the industry.
The WWE Universe was already clamoring with chants of “Daniel Bryan.” Thankfully, for once, the powers that be listened and Bryan returned as the mystery partner for Team WWE against The Nexus at SummerSlam 2010.
8 Disappointed - Curtis Axel
As Triple H was waging war against Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman, The Advocate put another obstacle in The Game’s path. He debuted a new Paul Heyman Guy in Curtis Axel, after several years of doing nothing with Michael McGillicutty, basically jobbing him out. Of course in WWE logic that means repackaging him and shooting him straight to the top and in a major feud, which just doesn’t work when you buried the guy for so long.
7 Awesome - Cactus Jack
For the WWE’s first-ever Raw at Madison Square Garden, there was a big match planned between Dude Love and Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a Falls Count Anywhere match. But Dude knew that he wouldn’t be able to hang with Triple H in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Fans were treated to seeing the machinations of Mick Foley’s mind come to life, when Dude interviewed Mankind, who might have been able to beat Helmsley into a pulp. But he wanted to give the opportunity to another person who wanted to destroy Helmsley: Cactus Jack. He made his WWE debut in his hometown, much to the delight of the Garden faithful.
6 Disappointed - Jimmy Snuka
Rocky Maivia might have been making his grand debut at the 1996 Survivor Series, but one of his relatives was waiting in the wings as what was thought of as a big surprise. For years, Jimmy Snuka leaping off the steel cage at MSG was a big highlight. However, by the time this event occurred, Snuka was way past his prime and no one cared that he was the mystery partner of Savio Vega’s team. Even at MSG, where Snuka was once a god, he was greated by a chorus of boos.
5 Awesome - Sami Zayn
Years before he became the most annoying voice on SmackDown, Sami Zayn was the heart and soul of NXT. When Raw came to Montreal in 2015, John Cena declared the US Title Open Challenge open for business. The fans lost their minds when Bret Hart’s music played. But they actually came unglued when Bret announced Montreal’s own, Sami Zayn, was debuting on the main roster to answer the challenge.
4 Disappointed - The Big Show
While Jeri-Show helped to reinvigorate The Big Show’s career and reestablished him as the menacing giant, when he first debuted as part of this team, a collective groan was heard throughout the WWE Universe, because of the constant let down and stop-and-start pushes Show had gotten before this. But when they obliterated Legacy in less than two minutes with The Codebreaker and Colossal Clutch, it was apparent that the Big Show had no interest in being a disappointment during this run.
3 Awesome - The Ultimate Warrior
Unbelievably enough, fans were primed for Brutus Beefcake finally taking out The Honky Tonk Man for the Intercontinental Championship (that’s how much HTM was despised). But on the road to SummerSlam, Beefcake was violently taken out by Ron Bass.
With no opponent booked for the event, Honky declared he didn’t care who came out to face him. That cocky smile and attitude was erased in just 31 seconds when The Ultimate Warrior’s music hit and like a freight train he ran Honky right down to win his first Intercontinental title.
2 Disappointed - Diamond Dallas Page
Fans weren’t disappointed to see Diamond Dallas Page make his WWE Debut. But what was disappointing was that a guy who worked so hard and busted his hump to smash through the glass ceiling of WCW was shafted on such a poor gimmick. The People’s Champ of WCW against The People’s Champ of WWE had money all over it, as did a DDP feud with The Undertaker. But the way it was presented meant DDP getting squashed and his run in WWE never recovered.
1 Awesome - The Undertaker
During the build to the 1990 Survivor Series, The Million Dollar Man kept telling the world that he had the best team that money could buy, and the best mystery partner that money could buy. Little did anyone know just how true those words would prove, and they still pay dividends to this very day. The Undertaker made his debut as Ted DiBiase’s mystery partner and immediately made an impact just by walking to the ring. After his 30 year career concluded at the 2020 Survivor Series, The Deadman goes down in history as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.