In professional wrestling, the finish of a pay-per-view (PPV) can make or break a show. A great ending sends fans home excited. But a controversial ending? That can stir up outrage, debate, and even change the course of wrestling history.
Whether it was poor booking, real-life drama, or shocking swerves, these PPV endings left fans stunned—and in some cases, furious.
Here are the most controversial PPV endings of all time and why they’re still talked about today.
Survivor Series 1997 – The Montreal Screwjob
No ending is more infamous than the Montreal Screwjob. At Survivor Series 1997, Bret Hart faced Shawn Michaels in what was supposed to be his final WWE match before leaving for WCW.
The plan was for Bret to retain the title or lose it later, not in Canada. But Vince McMahon had other ideas.
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As Shawn put Bret in the Sharpshooter, the referee rang the bell—even though Bret didn’t tap out.
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Bret was legitimately furious, spit on Vince, and destroyed TV equipment.
This wasn’t just a storyline—it was real. It changed how fans viewed WWE and created Mr. McMahon, the most hated villain in wrestling history.
Hell in a Cell 2019 – Seth Rollins vs. The Fiend
The ending of this match was so bad, fans chanted “refund” and booed the product off the air.
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Rollins hit The Fiend with chair shots, ladders, and even a toolbox.
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He then used a sledgehammer while debris covered Bray Wyatt.
Instead of ending in a decisive win, the referee stopped the match due to “excessive violence”—inside Hell in a Cell, a no-DQ match by design.
The finish made no sense, damaged both characters, and is still viewed as one of the worst endings in modern WWE history.
WrestleMania IX – Hulk Hogan’s Last-Minute Title Win
Yokozuna had just defeated Bret Hart to win the WWE Championship. But moments later, Hulk Hogan came down, challenged Yokozuna, and beat him in less than a minute.
Fans were stunned—but not in a good way.
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Bret Hart had carried the company through the year.
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Hogan hadn’t been in the title picture and just stole the spotlight.
This controversial decision felt like politics at play and left many fans (and Bret Hart) bitter. It was a rare moment when WrestleMania ended with boos and confusion.
Royal Rumble 2014 – Batista Wins, Fans Turn
Daniel Bryan was the most over wrestler in WWE at the time. Fans wanted him to win the Royal Rumble. But he wasn’t even in the match.
Instead, Batista, returning from a long break, won the Rumble—and the crowd completely turned on him.
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Rey Mysterio entered at #30 and was booed, just for not being Bryan.
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Batista’s win sparked “Boo-tista” chants and hijacked shows for weeks.
This misstep forced WWE to rewrite their plans and eventually led to Bryan getting his big WrestleMania 30 moment. But the Rumble ending was a disaster.
King of the Ring 1999 – Vince & Shane Beat Austin
The storyline was wild: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Vince and Shane McMahon in a handicap ladder match for control of the company.
The match itself was full of chaos, but the finish was pure controversy:
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Vince and Shane won, keeping full control of WWE.
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Fans expected Austin to overcome the odds, as he always did.
Instead, the McMahons’ victory felt like a cheap move to drag out the feud. It wasn’t satisfying, and it undercut Austin’s momentum.
SummerSlam 1993 – Lex Luger Wins… by Count-Out
WWE tried to push Lex Luger as the next American hero, challenging Yokozuna for the WWE Championship. The match was heavily promoted, complete with a cross-country bus tour.
But when the match happened at SummerSlam, Luger won by count-out—and didn’t win the title.
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Confetti still fell.
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Luger celebrated like he won everything.
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Fans were confused.
It was a strange booking choice. Luger looked weak for not pushing for a rematch, and fans quickly lost interest. The moment fell flat.
Starrcade 1997 – Sting’s “Fast Count” Botch
This was supposed to be WCW’s biggest moment—Sting defeating Hollywood Hogan clean after a year of buildup.
The plan: Hogan would cheat to win with a fast count, leading Bret Hart to restart the match and Sting to win.
But here’s the problem: the referee didn’t do a fast count. It looked like a clean win, which made Bret’s interference feel unjustified.
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The crowd was confused.
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Sting’s win felt tainted.
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WCW’s biggest story ended with a whimper, not a bang.
This moment marked the beginning of WCW’s creative downfall.
Final Thoughts
Controversial endings aren’t always bad—but they should make sense and serve the story. When done wrong, they confuse fans, kill momentum, and sometimes even drive people away.
From real-life screwjobs to baffling creative choices, these pay-per-view endings remind us just how important a finish really is. In wrestling, how a show ends can be remembered forever—for better or worse.