5 Iconic Underdog Stories In WWE History
The two best things about WWE and all professional wrestling are the action in the ring and the backstories that accompany the matches. We all love the eternal struggles between the faces and the heels, the switching of loyalties and the rise of an underdog.
The possibility for underdogs to come from behind to become world champions is one of the things that makes betting on WWE events so much fun. You never know what’s going to happen, but you can always be sure that anything could happen!
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Whether you bet on professional wrestling events or not, you probably love a good underdog story. Here
are five of the most iconic underdog stories in WWE history.
Zach Gowen
Most underdog stories in professional wrestling are manufactured narratives to create storylines and keep the action interesting. Zach Gowen is a real-life underdog who became the first amputee to compete in WWE.
Gowen lost his leg as a child but idolized wrestlers like Rey Mysterio and Shawn Michaels. It seemed impossible for a man with one leg to become a professional wrestler, but Gowen beat the odds to star in a partnership with Mr. America in 2003-04. Since then, he has continued to perform on the independent circuit.
Hulk Hogan
Casual fans aren’t likely to remember the days before Hulk Hogan was one of the most iconic professional wrestlers in history. Early in his career, however, he wasn’t the All-American hero who could do anything. He was just another beefy blonde who occasionally made it to the top spot.
His biggest underdog moment was his 1987 WrestleMania match against André the Giant. The match ended with “the bodyslam heard around the world” and sealed Hogan’s position as an all-time iconic crowd favorite.
Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio is the classic underdog. Despite being much shorter than most of his opponents, he was frequently able to battle his way to Championships and title belts. He is viewed as a giant killer for frequently beating larger opponents.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Before he was “Stone Cold”, Steve Austin was an unknown wrestler called The Ringmaster. A loudmouth, a feud with Vince McMahon and a great ring presence helped carry him to stardom. With a rapid rise from underdog to WWE, he became one of the most beloved wrestlers in history.
Mick Foley
Mick Foley didn’t seem like he would ever be more than a useful journeyman, helping to tell other wrestlers’ stories. He spent years in the smaller circuits before finally making the jump to WWF in 1996. He appeared as Mankind, an unsettling character that threw him into the spotlight. Even though Mankind was a heel, he became a fan favorite.
Foley’s true starring moment came when he competed in the 1998 Royal Rumble as all three of his main personas — Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love. He remains a wrestling legend.