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Tag: upset

Bryan Shocking the World & Big Show’s Dynasty Nightmare Continues

Posted on by Maria Cristina Aguillera

If anyone thought Monday Night Raw was going to go smoothly in the dog days of August 2002, tonight proved otherwise. From an impossible midcard upset that will be talked about for months, to a main event finish that sent the World’s Largest Athlete into a total backstage meltdown, Raw delivered high-stakes drama from the moment the pyro went off.

Here is the complete breakdown of what transpired on August 26, 2002.

1. The War of Words Made Physical: Afa Opens the Show

The show wasted zero time establishing its main theme: The Big Show vs. The Samoan Dynasty.

Opening the show to a roaring arena, Hall of Famer Afa the Wild Samoan marched to the ring with a bone to pick. For four months, Big Show had been running his mouth following his devastating KO defeat on April 19th—where Umaga famously hit a candidate for Knockout of the Year via a superplex off the corner ropes. Having already lost to The Rock and Umaga in back-to-back outings, Big Show had spent his injury leave targeting the bloodline verbally.

Afa set the record straight in a fire-and-brimstone promo:

“You think because you are seven feet tall and five hundred pounds, the Samoan family is supposed to bow down to you? No! We don’t bow to anybody!… Tonight, you don’t get a junior. You get THE HEAD OF THE TABLE OF THE SAMOAN DYNASTY!”

The challenge was laid down, setting up a massive Main Event between two raw physical forces.

2. Upset of the Year: Daniel Bryan Outlasts Mark Henry

The midcard delivered one of the most unexpected finishes in recent Raw history. Two months ago, the young, nerdy, 21-year-old Daniel Bryan failed in his initial attempt to make the WWE roster. Tonight, Eric Bischoff granted him one final trial—placing him in the ring against the ultimate gatekeeper, Mark Henry.

The Match Dynamic

  • The Dominance: Mark Henry treated Bryan like a ragdoll. For over nine minutes, the World’s Strongest Man mauled the technician across the ring, driving him into the mat with heavy slams and backbreakers.

  • The Resilience: Bryan refused to stay down. Kicking out at two on multiple near-falls, Bryan clung to the match through sheer endurance and heart.

  • The Finish: After Henry got overconfident preparing for a final blow, Bryan countered out of nowhere, finding a brief opening to roll up the giant and hook the legs for a shocking 1-2-3!

The arena exploded as Bryan scrambled out of the ring clutching his ribs in complete disbelief. An enraged Mark Henry tore apart the steel steps at ringside, but the damage was done: Daniel Bryan officially earned his spot on the WWE roster.

3. Main Event Meltdown: Afa Steals One from Big Show

The Main Event featured Big Show’s long-awaited return to ring action after four months on the shelf. The 7-footer came out with bad intentions, completely overpowering Afa in the opening minutes of the bout.

The Climax

Big Show looked to have the match wrapped up after connecting with a bone-crunching KO Punch straight to Afa’s jaw. The Hall of Famer hit the canvas out cold, and Big Show went for the cover.

Just as the referee reached the count of two, Sika sprinted down the ramp, slamming his hands on the apron and screaming at the giant. A furious Big Show broke the pin to confront Sika over the top rope.

That split-second distraction was all Afa needed:

  1. As Big Show reached for Sika, Afa stirred behind him.

  2. Afa lunged, catching Big Show in a tight schoolboy roll-up while grabbing a handful of tights.

  3. The referee counted 1-2-3 before Big Show realized what was happening!

4. The Aftermath: Big Show Demolishes Backstage

The broadcast didn’t end with celebrations. The camera cut backstage to a chaotic scene where Big Show was seen destroying equipment, smashing wooden crates, and flipping tables in an absolute rage.

When interviewer Jonathan Coachman attempted to get a word, Big Show grabbed him by the throat, threw him against the wall, and issued a terrifying warning:

“That’s THREE OF YOU! Rock, Umaga, Afa… you think you’re untouchable because of your bloodline?! You think you can keep making a fool out of me?! NEXT WEEK! I don’t care if it’s Afa, Sika, Umaga, or the whole damn family—I am going to tear down the Samoan Dynasty brick by brick!”

Big Show hurled Coachman into a stack of boxes before storming off as Raw went off the air.

THE GHOST OF HULKAMANIA: A REFLECTION ON THE FALL OF THE ICON

Posted on by Maria Cristina Aguillera

POSTED BY: The Squared Circle Truth DATE: April 2, 2026 TOPIC: WrestleMania X-Seven / The World Cup Elite 8

[[ THE UNTHINKABLE SILENCE ]]

They say you never forget the sound of a legend breaking.

Last night in the Astrodome, it wasn’t a roar. It wasn’t a cheer. It was a cold, hollow silence that sucked the air out of 67,000 pairs of lungs. When the referee’s hand hit the mat for the three-count, and Andre the Giant stood over the motionless body of Hulk Hogan, the “Golden Era” didn’t just end—it was buried under 520 pounds of French steel.

Hulk Hogan, the #1 Pound-for-Pound King, the man who defined the WWF for decades, is out of the World Cup. And for the first time in his career, he looks… human.

[[ THE ANATOMY OF THE UPSET ]]

We all saw the signs in February. When Vader handed Hogan his first-ever WWF defeat at the Elimination Chamber, we called it a fluke. We said Hulk was “off his game.” We blamed the altitude. We made excuses because we needed to believe the Immortal was still immortal.

But Andre didn’t offer any excuses. He offered a reality check.

Hogan’s “Hulk Up” usually feels like a force of nature—a spiritual awakening that defies physics. But last night, when the finger pointed and the head shook, Andre didn’t blink. He didn’t sell the punch. He simply swatted it away like a man annoyed by a fly. Watching Hogan realize that his “spirit” couldn’t overcome Andre’s sheer mass was the most uncomfortable 15 minutes of wrestling I have ever witnessed.

[[ THE AGE OF THE NEW KINGS ]]

The irony of the night is staggering. While Hogan was being carried out with shattered ribs and a shattered ego, The Rock was tying Hogan’s record of 8 straight wins. While the “Old Lion” was whimpering, Ryu was capturing the Undisputed Title from a monster Hogan couldn’t beat.

The locker room has changed. The “alliances” Hisoka whispered about in the shadows? They couldn’t save Hogan. The “Nostrade Predictions”? They saw this coming. We are living in a world where “Hulkamania” is a nostalgic t-shirt, not a winning strategy.

[[ THE VERDICT: IS THE SUN SETTING? ]]

“I am just an actor… but today, I was a Filipino.” — Erap

Even the former President, bloodied and beaten by Balrog, showed more “heart” in defeat than Hogan showed in his clinical dismantling by Andre. Hogan didn’t lose a fight last night; he lost his aura.

As Andre moves on to face Son Goku in a Semi-Final that feels like a clash of gods, Hogan is left in a hospital bed in Houston, staring at a ceiling and wondering if the “24-inch pythons” have finally run out of venom.

The King is dead. Long live the Great One. Long live the Ansatsuken. And God help whoever has to stand in Andre’s way next.

[[ COMMUNITY POLL: Is it time for Hogan to hang up the boots? Or can the Immortal find one last ‘Hulk Up’ in him? Sound off in the comments below! ]]

Bob Sapp Upsets the Big Show

Posted on by Chinito Henson

The Pepsi Center is still buzzing after the most improbable upset in the Super Heavyweight Tournament. Big Show (500 lbs) entered the ring as the overwhelming favorite, but left the arena with his first professional loss—and a massive dent in his ego.

[[ THE LOCKER ROOM FALLOUT: BIG SHOW IN SHOCK ]]

Backstage footage shows a distraught Big Show flipping over a catering table. He was dominant for 80% of that fight, treating Bob Sapp like a training dummy with superior wrestling transitions. But as the analysts are saying, in the WWF Underground, one lapse in concentration is all it takes.

BIG SHOW: (To cameras, while pacing) “A fluke! A 1-in-100 haymaker! I was out-wrestling him, I was out-classing him! He couldn’t even lift me! Did you see that? He tried to be Hogan, he tried to be Bruno, and he looked like a fool! But I let my guard down for one second… one second… and the ‘Beast’ gets lucky. This isn’t over. Sapp, enjoy the Finals, because when I catch you again, there won’t be a lucky punch to save you!”

[[ THE BRACKET FINAL: VADER VS. BOB SAPP ]]

With Vader outlasting Yokozuna in a grueling “Heavyweight Classic,” the Finals are now set. It’s the “Mastodon” vs. the “Beast.” * Vader (450 lbs): Moving on despite exhaustion. He proved his stamina is elite for a man of his size.

  • Bob Sapp (329 lbs): The ultimate “Wildcard.” He is now 3-0 in the WWF, with wins over Tuli, Gonzalez, and now the Big Show.

THE ODDS: Microsoft’s rating software has adjusted the Final. Vader is the slight favorite due to Sapp’s lack of technical wrestling, but Sapp’s “Monster KO Power” makes him a threat to anyone—even a man who calls himself a Mastodon.

[[ LARRY MERCHANT’S FINAL THOUGHTS ]]

LARRY MERCHANT: “Jim, Lennox… look at the wreckage of this night. We started with a billionaire getting beaten by his son-in-law, and we ended with a Deadman winning in the blink of an eye. But the story for me is The Rock. He faced the man everyone said was ‘The Truth’ in Kimbo Slice, and he didn’t just win—he dominated. He proved that length, athleticism, and the Rock Bottom are a more reliable ‘Kill Switch’ than anything found in a backyard.”

JIM LAMPLEY: “And don’t forget Kim-Solo. Larry, that man is a ghost. To see him dismantle a veteran like Rey Mysterio… it was surgical. There are whispers in the back that he’s looking for a Top 10 scalp next. If I’m Kurt Angle or Ken Shamrock, I’m watching my back.”

LENNOX LEWIS: “The Super Heavyweights stole the show for me. Seeing Big Show fall was a shock to the system. Bob Sapp is dangerous because he doesn’t know he’s supposed to lose! He tried to lift 500 pounds! He failed, he got laughed at, and then he just punched the guy’s lights out. That’s a fighter’s mentality right there.”