10 Best WWE Wrestler Substitutions

From The Ultimate Warrior subbing in for Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake at WWE SummerSlam 1988 to AJ Styles replacing Bray Wyatt at TLC 2017, these are the 10 Best WWE Wrestler Substitutions.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, NXT and 205 Live), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@ThatsJustAaron]

I find it surprising that Mustafa Ali hasn’t feuded with Kofi yet. It’s right *there!* Staring at them in the face! EDIT (January 19th, 2021): Glad to see that it’s been referenced last night on Raw!

[@jaxontierney5063]

Ali 1000% should have been his first challenger instead of KO. It just made so much sense

[@samoanjoseph1457]

You are making the mistake of assuming any story connected to Retribution is intended to make sense.

[@Panwere36]

While I think it should happen, I think it should happen after Kofi either regains the WWE title or wins the Universal title. That being said.. remember, this wasn't any kind of screwjob or "screwjob".. Ali was legit unable to compete.

[@geminiseason6901]

what about Orton?

[@switchblade6]

Oh don't be silly. WWE doesn't understand logic.

[@makariousclemons780]

When you realize Kofi Mania almost didn’t happen 😳

[@hafizsyednomanali6868]

@@thehiddenone8892 Agreed Kofi never deserved to win it in the first place.

[@lukeayer1352]

@@hafizsyednomanali6868 Kofi>Ali

[@hafizsyednomanali6868]

@@lukeayer1352 Ali>>>Kofi, both in the ring and on mic. You know deep down that Kofi was the least charismatic member of the New Day. Big E and Xavier are way more talented than him.

[@jedediahcoulbourne1791]

I see y'all arguing but hear me out, Kofi Vs. Ali in the ring

[@bradcarver8127]

Ali is proving in recent months that he never deserved to win the title at Mania.

[@princealigorna7468]

The circumstances that led into it were maybe the worst in wrestling history, but that feud between Punk and Morrison for the ECW belt was really a star making feud for both men and it's a shame we don't discuss it for when it comes to the best rivalries for either man. Those two just had some damn good chemistry together

[@omegaruble3616]

@@mikeawesome9212 Didn't ask bud

[@logankerr8090]

at a Smackdown live event in Vancouver a few years ago, we were suposed to have then WWE champ Jinder Maha vs Shinsuke Nakamura for the title. Shinsuke couldn't make it due to work visa, so Seth Rollins replaced him instead(Seth was on RAW that time so that was a surprise)

[@manrajboparai8491]

I was there, seth Rollins put mahal thru a table.

[@moosaaijaz1615]

Kurt replacing Roman for Shield vs the bar,Kane,Strowman and Miz was also great

[@seandenapoli9180]

Imagine if the match happened on the cover

[@Juacamoleconnachos]

I’ll never forget missing AJ Styles in a house match in Santiago, Chile because of this substitution. The match was great and HHH came to replace AJ, which was awesome, but still 😢

[@davidwaters8902]

Who was the opponent?

[@RF81]

0:52 So that’s what Vince would look like if he ever let the beard win.

[@IamErik31]

Looks like Triple H's beard lol.

[@thatinfamousbooster6681]

One of the greatest wrestling channels ive seen Keep up the good work!

[@jacoblangevin4241]

I love Kofi man! I was so happy when he won the title, I remember watching him debut in ecw, go on a win streak. He was a guy from Jamaica with an accent and all, and than I remember him breaking character out of nowhere on raw one night lmao. I hope he can get another run with the title, the dudes talented.

[@geminiseason6901]

11:03 You can say it turned out to be Too sweet.

[@Aman--Wangnao77]

Or it turned out to be ...phenomenal

[@migi8840]

i reckon the bryan vs lesnar match would have been a pretty good entry too since i think it managed to go way above and beyond the styles vs lesnar match that happened the year prior

[@migi8840]

actually, both bryan vs lesnar and styles vs lesnar were pretty good swerves

[@robstuart8474]

Just gonna watch this list until he says, "Edge inserts himself into the Elimination Chamber." Still waiting...

[@stevencisneros9306]

If it weren’t for Mustafa Ali’s injury, Kofimania wouldn’t have happen at all, *and* if it weren’t for the viral infection that Bray Wyatt endured, we wouldn’t had the amazing dream match between Styles and Balor!!

[@farqueue001]

This comment isn’t looking so good now. Rip Windham. If it weren’t for that maybe same viral infection he would still be here 😢

[@stevencisneros9306]

@@farqueue001 i agree 🪦🙏

[@fletcherraymond4498]

I literally just finished watching Balor AJ like 5 minutes ago 😂

[@G.MONEY.]

8:46 "...after being mowed down by the Sultan." LOL dude, i really spit my drink while laughing. Too funny.

[@watthell]

Making Big Show champion was incredibly weird. He wasn't champion for long and they basically turned it into a midcard title by having him still wrestle Boss Man.

[@joekoe97]

A lot of it was his weight and he wasn't wrestling up to par, which is why they sent him to OVW to relearn how to wrestle. They saw a lot in him, which is why they sent him down to work, instead of future endeavoring him.

[@a.j.st.]

The amount of times Pacitti said Honky got me good 😂😂

[@warmachine1919]

I was waiting for y'all to do this list!

[@bristolmclean8772]

You’ve seriously gotta wonder how Morrison feels about his first major main event push kinda was started because of the Benoit tragedy?

[@NoPulseGames]

It probably was going to happen regardless, as WWECW had next to no stars on the roster, so they easily could've turned Morrison just after NoC and set up a feud with Benoit.

[@goozygo102]

He did not feel great about it. There's a video mentioning his feelings on it. It's titled "Johnny Nitro's transformation into John Morrison"

[@kyartick8502]

9:38 .... holy shit. That was when i started watching wwe. The cm punk vs johnny nitro . In the almost 14 years i had no idea that match had Morrison because benoit killed his family

[@D4NOMAUS]

Honky tonk man was one of my personal favourites from that era, I found him really funny

[@skullsociety3514]

Wazzzup Brother been watch yall since your first video and keep up the good work

[@danielgertler5976]

WWE in 1995: I wonder why we're losing to the WCW in ratings so badly? Also WWE in 1995: lol we made him an evil dentist.

[@markscruggs8346]

Bro what about Gargano vs. Cole 1?? That only happened because of Ciampa's neck injury and surgery. The plan was to finally have Jonny overcome Ciampa to win the NXT Championship, a feel good ending for one of the best rivalries in wrestling history. Instead, we got the highest star rated match ever and an undisputed classic.

[@jfthereaper927]

Damn RIP Butch Reed..

[@franklingoodwin]

THAT Sister Abigail is something Bray Wyatt can never come back from 🤣

[@Jerry_Freestyle]

Could you imagine what would’ve happened if that match went on? It would’ve ruined the whole show

[@TheIndustrialRevolution.]

GILLBERG SHOULD'VE BEEN IN THAT BATTLE ROYAL!

[@michaelmarriott9761]

i agree im bitching about it.

[@sayandeb1258]

I liked this video before it even started

[@joshkujo8046]

Next you know 10 worst wwe wrestler substitution

[@animefanaiden3319]

Can't believe I wasn't subscribed

[@MINI_JasperJunior]

Savio Vega from No Way Out 98 is a shoo-in for number 1. 🥳

[@reno419rockstar]

Thanks

[@kingabe07]

Savage for Perfect at Survivor Series 93.

[@jerransperarman9411]

good video

[@jordanbray9449]

Keeping it up with the lovely lists lads.

[@shayphn6045]

Lads? Your American wyd

[@aewsucks]

AEW Sucks

[@jordanbray9449]

@@shayphn6045 Australia but close

[@jordanbray9449]

@@shayphn6045 australian sorry

[@tms268]

I wish captions were available. I’m at work watching this

[@rrrob19]

I knew AJ Styles would be on here but I figured it would be for Jinder Mahal just before Survivor Series 2017.

[@stonecoldku4161]

Bob Ross-McMahon will now haunt my nightmares. Thanks Cultaholic! Beats the dickens out of his brush as he says "This is such good sh1t!"

[@maxminervini5894]

Balor and styles coulda put on a better match, not that it was bad but like that coulda been an all time classic

[@alexmcgowan2106]

True you have to remember it was a last minute switch, no build up or anything, still one of the better matches of that year

[@connorkinsman3164]

I reckon they did they best they could without the build. That all timer you're picturing probably doesn't mechanically look that different from the match we got. It just needed the heat.

[@alphachad872]

If you think about it sister abagail could’ve became today’s fiend

[@Christiantheforestdweller]

Got an idea. How about a top ten WWE Christmas moments

[@vassa1972]

Loved wwf during the 1980's God I'm old I'll be 50 on July 15. Be safe everyone

[@Lucario_Amiibo]

The Curtain call is possibly the reason that Stone Cold is a legend (or as big as he is)

[@Commentarianist]

Wheres my boi kurt angle with the shield

[@DCLK]

I still want to see Sister Abigail wrestle a match

[@connorkinsman3164]

How the hell did you miss "their own Bob Ross masterpiece *THROUGH THEIR OWN HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS*". You're better than this guys ;)

[@brotherdeimos]

The Morrison one is not a really happy one though...

[@jvictor3104]

I was I'm ninth grade that awful night. I bought survivor series 99 only for Stone Cold not big slow . I also got beat up at the park that week 😑😑survivor series was supposed to be a perk me up 😔

[@Sizzlinpapaya1014]

i find myself genuinely wondering wtf they had planned for the sister abigail thing. I'm glad it didn't happen but I kinda wish it did.

[@KidCthulhu82]

It should have been Kane instead of Big Show at SS 99.

[@StageRight123]

"... the rest is history!" Until Brock Lesnor squashes you in 8 seconds.

[@HasnainM1K]

nitro for error 404 at vengeance 2007

[@TurboFlamingo10]

I was like what’s Vincent Kompany got to do with this 0:52

[@handleunavailable]

If Kofi hadn't been #1 I would've lost it lol

[@lukenorton6488]

Love you adam you are the best

[@turtletcp1598]

Angle for Roman was cool

[@KatarHero72]

Even though it was Kayfabe, I'm surprised you didn't include Becky Lynch for Lana.

[@obadiahvondeath8048]

I would've put the Survivors Series 1990 at number 1! I was supposed to be Bad News Brown, but we actually got some guy in black called the Undertaker! Need I say more ?

[@starfox386]

100% Facts

[@IR055IVI4C96]

I thought he said Vincent kompany instead of Vincent and company

[@nicholasterrett1401]

Early to the party

[@andycain4351]

Ah Butch Reed, he invented Netflix you know........

[@SteRDLK]

Heidenreich substituting for Hawk in the Legion of Doom?

[@phatboi12700]

I WAS ALWAYS THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR WHEN I PLAYED WRESTLING WIT MY BROTHERS

[@Chacaron520]

No sister Abigail turned out best since it was a bad idea using Wyatt as the incarnation. Plus, we wouldn't get The Fiend if it happened

[@m.s.s.official4560]

Me looking at the pattern wondering how the likes of mr.perfect and the ultimate warrior going to pass down to the fiend and fin balor

[@benjaminquan3247]

I always thought Butch Reed looked funny with the blonde hair, keep in mind I was 6 years old back then

[@Kingbossdon]

You didn't miss not once on this list

[@ems6706]

It's weird Syd was kinda over everywhere he went cause of his look. Not like Michael's was over then but like I get why he had the job. All that money was good for funding his softball endeavors.

[@Minerva9398]

am i the only one who thinks they use the random pieces with unknown people a little too much? really kills it for me sometimes.

[@MrOuest]

He just kept calling him 'honky'.

[@VeemonKing]

Still waiting on the fiend vs the demon

[@aonsayss]

11:09 it’s MUSTAFA ALI

[@donaldellis8952]

So this coming Sunday TLC who will substitute for Lana

[@MrGuggisberg]

I would've kept heel Daniel Bryan over Kofimania any day of the week.

[@ibushi5467]

Oh you're asking about gillberg not appearing in the battle royal? We are disappointed.

[@sakuragi_X]

Austin is #1 here in my opinion.

[@timthomas6067]

Monday Night Smackdown.

[@Ripley9425]

Lets swim to the moooon lets climb through the tiiiide

[@sigmundjohnson7271]

Sasha Banks for Bayley at Summerslam

[@marwanabdo425]

style for mahal!!!!

[@Windwalker88]

Wait wat, Gorilla Monsoon? ReallyM

[@therealSamG]

@1:30

[@enriquepenanieto334]

Number 0 would be... Johnny Nitro????

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

Interesting. You didn't actually rank this list at all- it was just chronological. Unless, coincidentally, the order of the top 10 is also exactly chronological too...

[@airfixx_8952]

Reid literally no-showed his title shot..... WWF didn't sour on the idea.

[@RaccoonRevolution]

I still believe in Kofimania

[@marwanabdo425]

bryan for mania 30 instead of orton and dave

[@perfectprince8062]

Kofimania was a miracle.

[@infiniteaditya]

Cultaholic and their stock videos.

[@adityakhan5557]

Becky Lynch for Lana...

[@bow-wow31]

I got 100

[@eLite-Tiss91]

Yeah but let be honest finn vs bray was nothing more than bray repeating himself and finn in cringeworth positions.

[@user-vy8sp7nc4p]

Hello there

[@maxp2299]

I thought "cultholic" said "clithole"

[@ajtp1349]

Clearly Goldberg over fiend. That was the best thing they coulda happened ever.

[@BWoodTTV]

Um no, and that wasn’t a substitution

[@ajtp1349]

@@BWoodTTV kinda was. It was slated to be reigns vs fiend at mania and they switched the match to be Roman v Goldberg. Then Roman was substituted with strowman. It was basically a double substitution. Also that joke went over your head

[@gamingparadise3565]

I'll never forget the day the Bray was supposed to be sister Abigail... Follow my IG:@neytownswag

[@deadkatasumi]

My only problem(s) with your content is 1 most your videos are rehashing of one another, for example the Montreal screw job is brought up way too often and it's not even just your guy's videos but it seems like that for basically every wrestling youtubers in general. 2 you guys still do list videos, its good you branch off to make videos like what happened to that wrestler but the list era of youtube is dead. 3 you guys are too much like whatculture and put out similar lists I thought maybe when you guys left you would do your own thing you guys have your own identity dont get me wrong but the style of the videos, and the editing is just too much like your older channel. These gripes aren't meant to put your channel or content down as I actually really like your videos, I'm just suggesting a bit of a change maybe?

[@sexygirl5784]

" OMG 😍💋 💝💖❤️ "

[@dix1717]

First 🥴

[@sexygirl6258]

" I need boyfriend 💋💋💋💋💋💞💞💞💞"

[@bobbybaxter3818]

Look online idk

[@exe2517]

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