10 WrestleMania Matches Scrapped Minutes Before Bell Time
Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 35
10. The Shield vs. Kane & The New Age Outlaws — WrestleMania 30
The opening segment of WrestleMania 30 featured an iconic in-ring interaction between Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock, which ran far longer than planned due to crowd reactions and unscripted moments like Hogan’s “Silverdome” slip. This forced production to cut time from the following matches. As a result, The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose) steamrolled Kane and The New Age Outlaws in just over two minutes. Originally intended to showcase The Shield’s dominance in a competitive bout, it instead became a decisive squash, though it still effectively cemented their rising status.
9. Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero — WrestleMania 24
At WrestleMania 24, this ECW Championship match became one of the shortest in WrestleMania history. Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero in just 8 seconds after a chokeslam. Reports suggest the match was originally scheduled for more time but got reshuffled due to pacing issues on the card. Interestingly, Guerrero later revealed in interviews that WWE compensated him well for agreeing to the quick loss, and the moment became ironically iconic due to its shock value and replay longevity.
8. The Miz vs. Wade Barrett — WrestleMania 29 (Pre-Show)
During WrestleMania 29, the Intercontinental Championship match between The Miz and Wade Barrett suffered from repeated time cuts even before it began. Initially planned as a longer pre-show contest to elevate the title, it was gradually reduced due to delays in earlier segments and production timing. By the time it aired, the match lasted only around 3 minutes, ending with Miz winning via submission. Both wrestlers later hinted at frustration, as the Intercontinental title—once a prestigious mid-card championship—felt sidelined.
7. Cody Rhodes & The Bella Twins Match — WrestleMania 29
An eight-person mixed tag match involving Cody Rhodes and The Bella Twins was quietly dropped from WrestleMania 29 altogether. The decision came after The Undertaker vs. CM Punk exceeded its allocated time due to its emotional storytelling and crowd engagement. Rhodes later described the cancellation as a “career low,” especially given WrestleMania’s importance. The match was reportedly rehearsed and ready, making its removal even more frustrating for those involved.
6. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan — WrestleMania 27
At WrestleMania 27, Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan was originally booked as a United States Championship match on the main card. However, due to time constraints and a packed lineup, it was moved to the pre-show and reworked into a battle royal format instead. Bryan ultimately retained his title, but both men later expressed disappointment, as this would have been a major spotlight moment for two rising stars who would later headline WrestleMania events.
5. The Corre vs. Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston & Santino Marella — WrestleMania 27
Also affected at WrestleMania 27, this eight-man tag was significantly shortened after Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio reportedly ran several minutes over its allotted time. Featuring Big Show, Kofi Kingston, and others, the match lasted roughly 90 seconds, ending with a quick knockout punch from Big Show. It served more as a crowd-pleasing filler than a meaningful contest, leaving little room for storytelling.
4. ECW Originals vs. The New Breed — WrestleMania 23
This match at WrestleMania 23 was nearly cut entirely due to time management issues on a stacked card that included major attractions like Donald Trump’s involvement in the “Battle of the Billionaires.” The ECW faction match survived thanks to backstage lobbying by Dusty Rhodes, who pushed for its inclusion. Even so, the bout was trimmed significantly and felt rushed, though it still provided a nostalgic showcase for ECW veterans.
3. Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio — WrestleMania 35
Despite WrestleMania 35 running over seven hours, the United States Championship match between Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio lasted just 58 seconds. Mysterio was reportedly dealing with an ankle injury heading into the event, which contributed to the decision to keep the match extremely short. Joe quickly retained his title, and insiders later described it as a “collapsible match”—a flexible segment designed to be shortened if the show ran long.
2. 10-Man Tag Match — WrestleMania 10
At WrestleMania X, a scheduled 10-man tag team match never took place due to time overruns caused by the iconic ladder match between Shawn Michaels and Scott Hall. That match went significantly longer than expected, leaving no room on the broadcast for the tag bout. This became one of the earliest examples of WrestleMania’s rigid time structure forcing full match cancellations.
1. Triple Threat Match (Cena vs. Edge vs. Big Show) — WrestleMania 25
The World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 25 featuring John Cena, Edge, and Big Show went ahead as planned—but under serious time pressure. The reason was the legendary match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, which exceeded its time due to its pacing and crowd reactions. Cena later revealed that talent backstage grew anxious, unsure if their match would be cut or heavily trimmed. While it still received decent time, several planned spots were reportedly adjusted on the fly.
