SUMMARY
- Sandbagging is one of those terms about which a lot of pro wrestling fans are unaware.
- Sandbagging is an attempt of making your opponent look weak while they try to carry out a move inside the ring.
Whether you like it or not, there’s no denying the fact that pro wrestling is one of the most loved industries in the world. From storylines to in-ring action, all such things plays an equally important part, but the biggest role is played by the performers competing inside the ring.
When a pro wrestler enters a ring to fight, it’s not just up to him or her but also the opponent to decide how well they perform. It’s the trust they have in each other that helps them take responsibility for their performances and take out the best from each other while also taking care of each other’s safety.
However, on certain occasions, a wrestler makes the opponent look weak by acting as dead weight. By doing so, they make it very hard for the opponent to carry out moves. This attempt of making the opponent look weak is called “Sandbagging,” and it is considered one of the most unprofessional things all across the professional wrestling world.
Three times Where A Wrestler “Sandbagged” Their Opponent In WWE
Despite being considered a highly unprofessional thing, there have been a fair number of instances of sandbagging. So let’s check out 3 instances where a wrestler “Sandbagged ” their opponent in the Stamford-based promotion.
3. Shawn Michaels’ sandbagging made Diesel look weak even in victory
Shawn Michaels is considered to be one of the most technologically gifted names in professional wrestling history. But despite this, he was once involved in a sandbagging incident in the Triple H-led promotion. This incident took place back at WrestleMania 11, when The Heartbreak Kid challenged Diesel for the prestigious WWE Championship.
The two in-ring stars competed against each other in a one-on-one match, which was the co-main event of the mega event. In the final moments of their encounter, Big Daddy Cool used the Jackknife Powerbomb, but it didn’t come off well.
Diesel was trying his signature move, but he had to go through some trouble as HBK sandbagged him during the execution. It made the move look really weird and ended up making the WWE Champion look weak even in victory. Even though it was later clarified to be accidental, it will always remain a bad memory of HBK’s professional career.
2. Hulk Hogan sandbagged The Undertaker back in 2002
Hulk Hogan is arguably one of the biggest names to ever step foot in a pro wrestling ring, but his career also had a number of bad instances, which became a part of his reputation. One of the most embarrassing moments in The Hulkster’s career came in 2002, when he sandbagged The Undertaker.
This incident took place during their match at Judgment Day 2002, when Hogan tried to do things in his own way. In the middle of their encounter, The Phenom caught Hollywood Hogan by his throat to deliver the Chokeslam. But Hulk didn’t jump along with the move’s flow, which was a clear sandbagging attempt.
As Hulk sandbagged The Undertaker, the icon visibly whispered something in The Hulkster’s ears and delivered a Chokeslam. Due to the attempt by Hogan, the move looked weak, which was the reason the crowd didn’t really like it. As it was the move that gave Taker the victory, the criticism was probably valid.
1.Hardcore Holly paid the price after sandbagging Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar was also part of a sandbagging incident in his early years, as Hardcore Holly sandbagged The Beast during his initial days in the Stamford-based promotion. This is arguably the most controversial sandbagging incident in WWE history, as it resulted in a huge injury to the performer.
The incident took place in 2002, when Lesnar was completing against Holly on a SmackDown episode. During this encounter, Brock was sandbagged when he tried to pick his opponent up for a powerbomb, as he didn’t pull himself up to take the move, and things got worse.
Despite the sandbagging attempt during the Powerbomb, The Beast completed the move. This resulted in Holly falling on his neck, and it took him out of in-ring action for a year due to a broken neck. Thus, it’s true that Hardcore Holly paid a heavy price after sandbagging Lesnar.