It’s lovely having a friend. A best friend. Someone you can tell all your problems to, have a beer with maybe, or have your back when you’re defending the world title. But these friendships are only great until the moment your best friend stabs you in the back (or smashes your skull with a steel chair)!
Here, we take a look at the Top 10 Brutal WWE Betrayals.
10. Seth Rollins Turns on The Shield (2014)
One of the most shocking betrayals in modern WWE history occurred when Seth Rollins turned on his Shield brothers, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. The Shield had dominated WWE for over a year, battling some of the top stars in the company. They were viewed as inseparable. In June 2014, however, Triple H offered Rollins the opportunity to join The Authority, and he accepted.
Rollins viciously attacked his partners with a steel chair, signaling the end of the beloved faction. Fans were outraged as Rollins, previously the moral compass of the trio, became a corporate sellout, aligning himself with Triple H and cementing his role as one of WWE’s top heels.
“Sometimes to build a future, you have to tear down the past“
Seth Rollins
At the time, I was leaning towards Ambrose being the one who would turn, but Seth got the jump first.
9. Triple H Betrays Shawn Michaels (2002)
In 2002, Triple H and Shawn Michaels reunited as D-Generation X. Fans were ecstatic to see the iconic duo back together after Michaels had been out of action for several years. However, the reunion was short-lived. On an episode of Raw, after teasing a DX comeback, Triple H shockingly attacked Michaels with a brutal Pedigree.
This betrayal was made even more vicious when, later that year, Triple H hit Michaels with a sledgehammer, leading to an unsanctioned match at SummerSlam. Triple H’s cold-blooded actions kicked off one of the most personal and intense rivalries of the era, with both men pushing each other to their limits.
I remember this as if it were yesterday. I was so excited to see DX reunited and then BAM! Pedigree. I was furious and so I suppose HHH did a good job!
8. Chris Jericho Betrays Kevin Owens (2017)
Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho were one of WWE’s most entertaining duos in 2016, creating the “Festival of Friendship” segment as a symbol of their bromance. The Festival was filled with over-the-top decorations, gifts, and Jericho’s trademark humor, culminating in him giving Owens a list. However, when Jericho noticed that his name was on “The List of KO,” it became clear something was wrong.
Owens brutally attacked Jericho, shattering their friendship and leaving fans devastated. The betrayal was so emotional because of how much fans had grown to love their dynamic.
“How could you do this to me? I trusted you, you were my best friend!”
Chris Jericho
Owens would lose his championship to Goldberg just days later, before going on to face Y2J at WrestleMania. In my opinion, this is still one of the worst booking decisions in history. The Owens/Jericho story ran for a year and culminated in a match at WrestleMania, which I think should have been for the championship.
7. Randy Orton Betrays The Authority (2014)
As the hand-picked “face of the WWE,” Randy Orton was at the forefront of The Authority’s corporate regime. However, tension between Orton and The Authority grew after they started favoring Seth Rollins. Orton reached a boiling point when he felt disrespected, and it culminated in a volatile attack on Rollins.
The Authority retaliated, and Triple H ordered a vicious beatdown on Orton, symbolizing the end of their relationship. While Orton’s rebellion might not have been a betrayal in the traditional sense, it was a dramatic break from the group that had nurtured his career for months. His defiance led to a brutal feud with Rollins and The Authority.
The Rockers were one of WWE’s most beloved tag teams in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels had incredible chemistry, and their partnership seemed unbreakable. However, cracks began to show, and tensions escalated. In the now-infamous “Barbershop” segment, it seemed like the duo was going to patch things up. But in a shocking moment, Michaels superkicked Jannetty and then threw him through the glass window of the barbershop set.
This betrayal launched Michaels’ Hall of Fame singles career as the Heartbreak Kid, while Jannetty’s career never fully recovered, making it one of the most heartbreaking betrayals in WWE history.
5. Bret Hart Betrays the United States (1997)
In 1997, Bret Hart’s heel turn came not from betraying an individual but from turning his back on the United States as a whole. As the leader of the Hart Foundation, Bret Hart transformed from a beloved hero to a bitter anti-American villain. His anti-USA rhetoric and disdain for American fans contrasted with his hero status in Canada and other parts of the world.
This “betrayal” of the U.S. fanbase intensified the divide between American and international fans, resulting in some of the most electric crowd reactions in WWE history, especially during his feuds with American stars like Shawn Michaels and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
“America, you can kiss my ass!”
Bret Hart
4. Stone Cold Joins Vince McMahon (2001)
WrestleMania 17 is often regarded as one of the greatest WWE events of all time, but it is also the site of one of the most shocking, brutal betrayals in WWE history. After a brutal match against The Rock for the WWE Championship, Stone Cold Steve Austin did the unthinkable—he aligned himself with his longtime nemesis, Vince McMahon.
This brutal heel turn stunned fans, as Austin had been the ultimate anti-authority figure for years. His decision to shake hands with McMahon marked a drastic character change that many fans found difficult to accept. Though it was bold, this betrayal marked the beginning of the end of Austin’s reign as WWE’s top anti-hero.
This would have had a much greater effect if WWE had a top babyface to go after Austin after WrestleMania, but with Rock leaving for Hollywood and HHH aligning himself with Austin, it fell a little flat.
3. Tommaso Ciampa Betrays Johnny Gargano (2017)
The friendship between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, collectively known as DIY, was one of the most beloved in NXT history. Fans were heartbroken when Ciampa viciously turned on Gargano following their loss at NXT TakeOver: Chicago. The moment was brutal, as Ciampa threw Gargano into the LED boards and repeatedly assaulted him, solidifying himself as NXT’s top heel.
This brutal betrayal led to one of the greatest rivalries in modern WWE, with their matches becoming instant classics. Ciampa’s cold, calculating attack on his former best friend shocked the NXT fanbase, and the emotional weight of the betrayal made it unforgettable.
Watching this at the time, I loved these two together and I was shocked the moment Ciampa turned. A great story here.
2. Andre the Giant Turns on Hulk Hogan (1987)
Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan were two of WWE’s biggest icons in the mid-’80s, with their friendship serving as the backbone of WWE’s rise to mainstream popularity. However, in 1987, Andre, feeling overshadowed by Hogan’s popularity, turned on him in an infamous episode of “Piper’s Pit.”
Andre challenged Hogan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania III, ripping off Hogan’s shirt and crucifix necklace in a symbolic act of betrayal. This moment led to one of the most famous matches in wrestling history and solidified Andre as a villain. The betrayal hurt fans deeply, given the friendship the two had shared on-screen.
“You were my friend, but you’ve never respected me.”
Andre The Giant
We now know that the plan was for Hogan to be the ultimate babyface star, so they needed a huge heel to do the deeds for Hogan, and who bigger than Andre?!
1. The Montreal Screwjob (1997)
You knew it right? The most controversial and infamous betrayal in WWE history occurred at Survivor Series 1997 when Bret Hart, the WWE Champion, was double-crossed by Vince McMahon. In his home country of Canada, Bret was scheduled to face Shawn Michaels. Unbeknownst to Bret, McMahon had orchestrated a plot to end the match by having the referee call for the bell prematurely, even though Bret had not submitted.
The betrayal came as a shock to Bret and fans alike, as he had been a loyal WWE employee for over a decade. The Montreal Screwjob forever changed the wrestling industry and remains a defining moment in the history of WWE betrayals.
Vince has said that he wanted Bret to drop the title to Shawn Michaels before he left for WCW, but Bret refused to losing it in his home country. Therefore, Vince took matters into his own hands and this left us with the Montreal Screwjob!
Thanks for reading and let me know yours in the comments.
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