Wrestlers’ slip-ups during live shows can be quite embarrassing, especially when they happen during a finishing move that fans expect to seal the victory. WWE and other wrestling promotions have had their fair share of such in-ring blunders. Wrestlers must push past these mistakes, complete the match, and aim for perfection next time. Because these moments are televised, fans continuously witness these errors even years later, marking some of the most awkward finishes in wrestling history.
Triple H
Incident: Nearly injured enhancement talent Marty Garner during a June 1, 1996, match on Superstar.
WWE backed Triple H early on as a dominant heel, often featuring him in one-sided matches against local talent. In one such match, a finishing move called the pedigree went wrong when Triple H dropped Garner on his head, nearly causing a serious injury.
Brock Lesnar
Incident: Accidentally dropped A-Train on his head on January 9, 2003, at SmackDown.
Lesnar, rising quickly in WWE, used the powerful F5 finisher to establish dominance. However, during a match with A-Train, Lesnar heightened the move’s impact, which resulted in a dangerous mistake, dropping A-Train on his head.
AJ Styles
Incident: Criticized for botched "Styles Clash" that injured opponents like Yoshi Tatsu and Lionheart on November 8, 2014, during NJPW Power Struggle.
Despite decades of safely executing the move, some errors caused concern among fans, leading to calls for banning the move. Nonetheless, AJ continued to use the finisher, rebuilding his reputation for safety and skill.
Billy Kidman
Incident: Injured after landing a shooting star press on Chavo Guerrero on August 26, 2004, at SmackDown.
Kidman’s botched move severely injured himself and Guerrero, leading to a storyline where Kidman’s confidence wavered, and he eventually portrayed a heel, turning the embarrassing moment into compelling drama.
Goldberg
Incident: Nearly injured The Undertaker with a botched jackhammer finisher on June 7, 2019, at WWE Super Showdown.
Both older, part-time performers, Goldberg and The Undertaker struggled to sync perfectly, resulting in Goldberg accidentally dropping The Undertaker on his head, though The Undertaker avoided serious injury.
Kevin Nash
Incident: Nearly ended Big Show’s career with a botched powerbomb on January 24, 1998, at WCW’s Souled Out event.
Both men were highly credible giants, but Nash’s failed lift landed Big Show on his head, a terrifying spot that WCW used to justify banning powerbombs in storylines due to safety concerns.
Rob Van Dam
Incident: Injured Triple H by landing on his throat with a frog splash during the Survivor Series on November 17, 2002.
During the historic Elimination Chamber match, RVD’s mistimed aerial move caused a painful injury to Triple H, who nevertheless completed the match despite the pain.
Fan Take: These infamous botches highlight the high-risk nature of professional wrestling and the importance of precision in performance. For WWE fans, it’s a reminder of the physical dangers wrestlers face to entertain, adding depth to their appreciation of the sport’s dedication and resilience.
