Wrestling outcomes are often scripted and sometimes pre-recorded, which means spoilers can easily surface, a problem that has happened repeatedly. These leaks can stem from WWE accidentally revealing plans, rival promotions, or outside sources sharing information prematurely.
Examples of spoilers include “dirt sheets,” WWE.com posts, WWE magazine articles, and story leaks, all exposing company plans ahead of time.
Goldberg and Brock Lesnar’s exit from WWE after WrestleMania 20 was leaked online, revealing Lesnar’s move to the NFL and Goldberg’s contract expiration, which sparked fan backlash during their match. The internet’s growing influence in 2004 meant contract details and retirements became public knowledge faster.
When Mankind won the WWE Championship on a taped Raw episode in 1999, WCW’s Eric Bischoff leaked the results hoping to spoil WWE’s show. Ironically, this backfired as it drew fans to WWE’s Raw, excited to see Mankind become champion.
At Raw’s Netflix debut, The Undertaker was supposed to be a surprise guest to celebrate Rhea Ripley, but WWE accidentally revealed rehearsal footage, dulling the shock but still exciting the audience.
Chris Jericho’s 2007 WWE comeback was spoiled early by WWE Magazine, which revealed his return before the cryptic binary code vignettes aired on TV, reducing the suspense.
Daniel Bryan’s 2010 return at SummerSlam was prematurely revealed through an article on WWE.com, though many fans remained unaware, allowing the surprise to succeed for most viewers.
In April 2025, when WWE acquired AAA, spoilers emerged about the AAA Mega Championship title change from Alberto El Patron (formerly Del Rio) to Chad Gable, revealed through promotions before the event aired, although WWE hoped to keep it under wraps in Mexico.
At WrestleMania 15, Michael Cole inadvertently spoiled the main event outcome by announcing an interview with the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion before the finish of the match between Steve Austin and The Rock, though fans still enjoyed the contest.
After WWE bought WCW in 2001, Shawn Stasiak leaked details that WCW talents would appear in the Vince and Shane McMahon match at WrestleMania 17, forcing WWE to change plans due to the leak.
Penta’s WWE debut followed the expiration of his AEW contract in November 2024, but his arrival was spoiled by merchandise releases and internet confirmations before his first appearance on Raw.
Kofi Kingston’s WWE Championship win at WrestleMania 35 was marred by two technical spoilers: the WWE title podium was seen ringside before the match, and WWE.com prematurely released merchandise displaying Kofi as champion.
Fan Take: Spoilers, while frustrating, highlight how passionate WWE fans are about the sport and its storylines. They remind WWE to safeguard their surprises better, as these moments are crucial for maintaining excitement and emotional investment in wrestling’s dramatic narratives.
