The Biggest "Soap Opera" Storylines in Wrestling | Wrestling With Wregret

Wrestling has often been called a "male soap opera" ... after watching this countdown, you'll find out why!
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[@PUNKEYE1]

The fact that Kane got his own entry makes me happy. He missed his chance at being a world famous actor but us wrestling fans get the best kept secret that way.

[@iangray1980]

Is this satire?

[@iangray1980]

@@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 why are you stalking me creep

[@John_Stephens43]

He didn't. He went from professional Wrestler to politician, the ultimate actors.

[@chrisjamesr77]

I like how the Kane entry wasn't any particular one storyline, it was "just Kane" lol

[@dannydorko7075]

@@Sky_Blaze Kane is a better actor than Daniel Day Lewis

[@anthonylayton724]

the shot of Arn Anderson's face behind David Flair never ceases to amaze me 😂

[@heisensaul5538]

Arn's face is the best part of whole story line lol

[@Pocalem]

The one day he wasnt glocked up.

[@green49285]

Double A is a true treasure.

[@mrmojomajestic8317]

How is it not a meme ?

[@kandyperez9917]

LMFAO after he just gave David Flair the pointers on how to cheat successfully 😂 he's a whole fool

[@wrestlingbuff87]

It'll never get old for me the "I'm Your Papi" storyline and that it spawned a great shirt.

[@lewisaino]

Remember when Eddie died everybody started to homage him with that quote.

[@Zomburai45]

One of the greatest examples of the pure, beautiful, batshit-fucking-loco insanity of pro wrestling, right up there with Trips marrying a woman that he had knocked unconscious and Mick Foley becoming another person by changing his shirt, on camera, in front of a live audience.

[@jcace13]

And I still have that shirt in my wardrobe.

[@closethockeyfan5284]

It was around that time ringtones really peaked, and my friends and I could not stop laughing at one of the Eddie ringtones: "I'M YOUR PAPIIII! I'M YOUR DADDY, HOLMES! ORALE!" Something like that. I wonder whether it's floating on the internet somewhere.

[@HighHeelKnight]

"Dominick, who would grow up to stand much taller." 😆👏👏👏👏

[@Mrryn]

And also, hilariously and ironically given how he looked as a kid, end up actually looking a lot like his "papi" Latino Heat 😂

[@stingrey1571]

rey mysterio and dominik have the rare distinction of being involved in TWO of the most wrestlecraptastic feuds with the absolute best matches. vs eddie/paternity & vs rollins/eye.

[@Hilversumborn]

That illustrates how great they are for pulling it off.

[@bene233]

I remember Dominik struggling to shake the ladder with Eddie on it now he's bigger than Rey.

[@12345Yeah]

That's what happens when you get older you grow up.

[@jb888888888]

@@12345Yeah So you're saying Rey hasn't gotten any older?

[@Xehanort10]

4:17 Cole randomly shouting "AHHHHHH. HELLLLP" during an Al Wilson promo on Smackdown was funny.

[@Obscusion2]

The best part about Dawn Marie & Al Wilson is when Torrie Wilson got inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 & talked very directly about the storyline, not just admitting that Al had actually only passed away a few months prior, instead of back in 2003, but also looking straight into the camera & telling Dawn Marie "thank you" for helping contribute to some of the most fun her father ever had. It was especially amusing, because WWE did everything it could to outright ignore this entire storyline in Torrie's HoF promo package, similar to how Big Boss Man's family pretty much only talked about his Attitude Era exploits during his induction, when WWE only ever focused on Boss Man's original run in the early 90s for the promo package.

[@meirnissim5927]

Al Wilson actually passed away 2 days before Tori was inducted in the Hall of Fame

[@jomaxgamez3840]

Bruh the video has been out for 2 hours, how did you post a day ago?

[@djpegao]

@@jomaxgamez3840 patreon backer get early video viewing privilege

[@Obscusion2]

@@jomaxgamez3840 I'm a Patreon supporter, so I can see it when it's just an unlisted video, before it goes public. I try not to comment early, so as to prevent this kind of reaction, but the thought came to me right at that moment, and I didn't want to forget to bring it up later.

[@Obscusion2]

@@meirnissim5927 Yep, that was it. Point still stands, though.

[@InfinityEnterprises]

3:09 “causing Eddie to openly inquire as to her whereabouts” had me dying.

[@vlare3636]

If by inquiring , you mean screaming “where the fuck is Vickie “ in the middle of the ring

[@bradcarver8127]

Yes that’s the joke

[@heisensaul5538]

I'm just picturing Eddie being very calm and asking nicely, "Where is Vicki?" when he is openly inquiring about here whereabouts lol

[@vlare3636]

@@bradcarver8127 no shit buddy

[@OcondosZ]

What a distinguish gentleman

[@austinburras2993]

Dominic opened up about the storyline in a recent interview he talked about how when he went to school the teacher asked him if he was okay and so did his friends at school because they believe the whole thing was real

[@stefanradebach2889]

Wrestling is still real to us dammit!

[@elchomper.1063]

By 2005 it was well known the nature of pro wrestling that's complete b.s.

[@danielharper9889]

​@@elchomper.1063 Not bs, theatre.

[@Stopcommentingthesamecomments]

​@@danielharper9889he's saying Dominick is lying which the teacher thing might be a lie or might be she was making sure Dom knew it wasn't real cuz he was a kid however the kids believing it to be real I could totally see didn't matter how many times ppl said it was fake when I was 7 and this storyline was happening I believe it

[@doctorsuave]

@@elchomper.1063famously, a lot of prepubescent children believe a jolly fat man in a red jumpsuit climbs down hundreds of millions of chimneys in a single night, getting from house to house on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, one of which has a brightly lit red nose. Is it really that much of a stretch that they’d also believe wrestling is real? Hint: no.

[@chayden153]

The "I'm your papi" angle is absolutely iconic, I still love it.

[@SteelyDanzig]

Brian Zane and shitting on Rey Mysterio always adjusting his mask, name a more iconic duo

[@LanternSpawn]

Brian Zane shitting on WCW circa 2000.

[@ShinRyojin]

Adam Blampied shitting on R-Truth.

[@SpektakOne]

I’ve forever misremembered “custody papers in a briefcase” as a “Dominic On A Pole” match.

[@CGaboL]

Honorable mention to my grandma's telenovela that she was watching yesterday. It had it all: Kevin Dunn's constant cuts, (un)necessary drama, and a fight outside a church with punches that make look Khali like a million bucks with selling on par with Dolph Ziggler's.

[@rickyrosay33977]

The fight scenes in telenovelas have some of the worst punches selling and takedowns I’ve ever seen 😂

[@singaporesammy]

"Some of wrestling's most memorable storylines feel as thought they were plucked from your grandma's favorite stories." My grandma's favorite stories were wrestling storylines. If the AWA was on TV, she was watching it.

[@cazador918]

Who was her favorite wrestler?

[@singaporesammy]

@@cazador918 Verne Gagne

[@Al7249]

@@singaporesammy the personification of an old school mark. I can respect that

[@singaporesammy]

@@Al7249 Nothing irritated her more than the suggestion that perhaps this whole wrestling sport isn't entirely on the up-and-up.

[@Al7249]

@@singaporesammy lol DEFINITELY a true mark. I like when it's cross generational.

[@homelee665]

The Dawn Marie and Al Wilson thing sounds like it was written by Russo.

[@kevindouglas5333]

Shawn Michaels breaking up with Marty and Marty being a coward and trying to jump thru the window

[@HandlebarOrionX]

13:59 Angelic Diablo sounds like a Sonic OC on DeviantArt whose the secret brother of Shadow

[@blainehancock]

He also shoots energy beams like Goku

[@paulgibbon5991]

@@blainehancock (original character, do not steal)

[@MazeDaGr8]

Announcer: This Week on Very special episode of Wrestling With Wregret, Brian Zane presents One Life To Wrestle

[@dstaple3]

Damnit, you beat me to it

[@thealjohnsonshow2188]

+Frost 757 LOL!

[@Al7249]

OMG! I hate that that would actually sounds like a legitimate wrestling soap opera show.

[@regorllerref]

Nothing kills your angle more than Tazz and Cole laughing in the background. "I had an abortion when I was 18" *Tazz and Cole laughing their ass off*

[@Stroija]

Gotta give props to Brian's evil twin brother for hosting this weeks episode. I'd say he did a pretty good job!

[@djpegao]

The beard is a very easy way to tell the two apart.

[@peterhenn4344]

...or did he????

[@aaronhurst4379]

"Where is Vickie?" Eddie asked, calmly.

[@JDizaster]

Can't believe you covered the Lita-Matt-Edge-Kane angle with nary a mention of Snitsky.

[@BBoy4040]

Holy shit..I forgot Matt really called himself the Angelic Diablo

[@comixproviderftw_02]

When was that a thing?

[@davidmatoushek9111]

I never thought you could make a Passions reference, but you did make a good comparison between it and Kane.

[@lazybacon7520]

Passions was legit one of the most batshit shows I've ever watched. It was almost like a parody of soaps in how ridiculous it was

[@ronburgundyspetfish9039]

Was that the one with little Timmy or something?

[@cftvnetwork]

@@ronburgundyspetfish9039 Yes, Timothy "Timmy the Living Doll" Lennox.

[@jeremywilliams5141]

I would have included the love triangle between Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Kurt Angle. I was also thinking about the love storylines of Otis and Mandy Rose in 2020 along with Chris Jericho and Trish Stratus in 2004 but I think those are more "teen movie" storylines than "soap opera ones".

[@TheCheat420]

I didn't know Al was Torrie's real dad until he passed away and she was inducted I to the hall of fame. You really gotta give that guy props for playing the part so well even though he was t an actor.

[@SeasideDetective2]

Yes, I also always assumed that "Al Wilson" was somebody else. I thought, "They'd never drag real family members into these things! That's crazy!"

[@EnvyDSin]

I can imagine the McMahon-Hemsley feuds of tomorrow: Internal catfights & power-hungry bros., "Girl Power" Daughters VS "Privileged" Sons, Mom(s) & Dads VS Children 2.0... All while Roman & Charlotte's children fight against each other for the Universal title and become the newest top guys.

[@NSUTurtle]

"Kane is more like Passions" Brian you are the man. I'm glad I'm not the only one you saw how whacky "Passions" was.

[@pendafen7405]

Wasn't one character a literal ghost? Or am I thinking of another American daytime soap?

[@TruthWarriorB88]

Just for old times... "I'm your papi!" 🤣🤣😭 #RIPLatinoHeat

[@seand7042]

13 year old me definitely remembers Dawn Vs Torrie Wilson

[@curly-d23]

In the ring, or in Room 357? 😏

[@TheCarpetbagger]

Ha! Passions was amazing!

[@echorebelex3973]

CarpetBagger??? Dude I had no idea you were a wrestling fan.

[@johnnyguevin7888]

@@echorebelex3973 agreed I didn’t either

[@FriscoFlame]

Seriously though, awesome show until the people that killed off on the show started dying in real life

[@kelizabeth3558]

Hey you. 🙂 I didn't know you watched w3

[@JT-Rebel]

@@kelizabeth3558 My cousin was wondering what I was getting all giddy about. I told her, this wrestling KZbinr just said "Passions" right now...We're now currently ranking the Best/Worst Ethan actors (I always say Justin Hartley was the best cause I know my cousins hated him LUL)

[@grammysworld5449]

I died laughing when you put Dawn's face on Eddie

[@chubbycatfish4573]

When I was a kid I hated when people called it a male soap opera... but now I realize just how true that is lol

[@ricardonb6375]

I was expecting for Zane to talk about the mother of all fake pregnancy angles: Beulah McGillicutty pregnant with Tommy Dreamer's child.

[@walcodebruyn2135]

Number 8 already hits me hard i also was a young orphan about the same age as Dominic it's one of they storylines that got me into wrestling and now Dominic is a wrestler himself it's crazy... Thanks for the Nostalgia Trip Brian

[@green49285]

I would have adopted you, bro

[@danieldorsey6768]

I loved that episode of SmackDown when Vince McMahon screamed at Linda and told her that he wanted a divorce. Sending poor Linda to tears, then to a nervous breakdown, and finally to a catatonic state. I still find this storyline hilarious 20 years later😃😂😃

[@SteelyDanzig]

I love the fact that the overwhelming majority of these storylines were between like 2002 and 2006. Truly the dark days of pro wrestling.

[@JM1993951]

I don’t see “soap opera for men” as an insult, even if it’s meant as one. Wrestling storylines are soap operas and when done right they’re some of the best TV you can find.

[@ericshepperd4823]

the "left kneeeee" reference fills my heart with so much joy. love you so much brian

[@IanNewYashaTheFinalAct]

5:40 Torrie Wilson ultimately got the last laugh as Dawn Marie ended up having a role in _Ultimate Death Match 3_

[@comixproviderftw_02]

All part of the plan

[@MovieEggman]

I find it unsurprising when it was revealed that WWE storylines nowadays are being written by people who wrote for soap operas, lmfao.

[@mikecabral2420]

That Dominic storyline is hilarious in hindsight considering Dominic's height and build compared to the rest of his family. He is closer to Eddie's height and build.

[@REDACTED9494]

Eddie was pretty short too tho...

[@AndreWakefield]

Eddie is only 2 inches taller than Rey. Dominik is pretty tall at 6’1.

[@hothotheat3000]

I love that everyone calls soap operas “the stories” now.

[@MinscFromBaldursGate92]

''You kids knock it off. Momma is watching her stories. ''

[@DrZuluGaming]

Another storyline which reminded me of a soap opera is the storyline between Brooke Hogan and Bully Ray. Secret relationship, marriage ending with an assault and a twist in the end where Bully Ray was in cahoots with the villains as a ploy against Hulk Hogan. Also, we should not forget about Kane putting The Undertaker into a co-- I mean vegetative state and him revealing his plan with the melodramatic music in the background.

[@MagnustheMage]

2:43 Eddie's shit-eating grin as he struts up the stage is so amazing to me

[@buckeye631]

I like the intro theme. That pumps me up for work.

[@vciotoli2126]

The Al Wilson saga gave us the golden moment of Michael Cole randomly yelling for help on air.

[@eastsidereviews727]

When done right, batshit crazy wrestling stories can be a lot of fun!

[@TheJrockfreak]

agreed

[@riotd.r.8363]

I don't know, Brian, I always pictured Raven as more of a Nirvana guy.

[@SteelyDanzig]

Ah yes who could forget that Nirvana classic, Evenflow

[@riotd.r.8363]

Just saying, something about his WCW days... oh well, come as you are.

[@JMFabiano]

Trivia: David Otunga made several appearances on General Hospital, and had a fan in a character who was a women's wrestler.

[@bullbologna]

Brian still pointing out Rey's mask adjustments from WM brings me life

[@LuisHGarcia]

Passions.....Now that is a soap I have not heard brought up in a long, long time. And in the case of Kane, I agree with that analogy.

[@wwetnabamafan194]

Yeah! Remember the seemingly neverending battle between Theresa & Gwen for Ethan? My favorite character was cute little Timmy before he passed away.

[@speedwaynutt]

This video would have been so much better if it was about an Opera Singing Wrestler Soap like the Talking Stone Cold Steve Austin Soap.

[@princeofstrongstyle6683]

Watching the Raven/Sandman entry really brought clarity to the fact just a year prior Raven was the Johnny Polo character in the WWF. A YEAR PRIOR! What a transformation. Huh, that should be a future Top 8.

[@pendafen7405]

What's cool about Scott Levy's characters is that all of them, while ostensibly so different, are all just variant flavours of snotty whiny spoiled rich kids who've had too much therapy. Yes, even Scotty Flamingo.

[@thekidfromiowa]

Honorable mentions: The Benoit-Sullivan love triangle. (Real life drama) The Mero-Sable-Jacqueline drama. Pillman-Goldust-Terri angle and aftermath HBK-Diana affair

[@frankf684]

Benoit-Sullivan gave us my favorite piece of wrestling commentary ever.Benoit and Sullivan end up fighting in a bathroom and Dusty Rhodes just yells “there’s a lady,there’s a lady in the men’s room.”

[@CommenjouerFr-gplus]

I remember that Edge / Lita / Matt triangle storyline, a time when I hated Edge's guts for breaking one rule of the Bro Code (What a mark I was). But if there's a soap opera storyline that needs some appreciation....it's with Jimmy Jacobs & Lacey from ROH (that and the love hate relationship between Steen & El Generico).

[@TheJrockfreak]

lol I remember really enjoying the Dawn/Torrie/Al storyline and I miss these wacky storylines in WWE

[@comixproviderftw_02]

4:20 the origin of insipid Taz commentary.

[@testshietchannel]

4:20 is the origin of many a harebrained idea 🤷‍♀️

[@outlawrip-offartist4161]

Jesus Christ Mike Tenay.

[@joehayward4113]

The bossman and big show's daddy's funeral is worth a mention . Just one of those moments when a non-fan comes in the room and you just die of shame as you try to defend it.

[@chapterblaq]

That reference to "Passions" was a deep cut and it put a smile on my face. My mom used to watch it when I was a kid and the shit was bonkers straight up lol.

[@MinscFromBaldursGate92]

That weird soap opera with witches.

[@TheStentar]

Love the vid! One of the more “soap opera” stories I remember was the Kurt/Karen Angle and Jeff Jarrett storyline. The owner of a wrestling company doinking his top starts wife. You can’t make that stuff up.

[@Ian44_92]

Brian constantly talking about Rey Mysterio adjusting his mask gives me a chuckle

[@TheCheat420]

Who was the father! Was it Ric Flair, Buff Bagwell, The 1989 Denver Broncos!?

[@phfrixion]

My honorable mentions: Raven - Tommy Dreamer ECW Kurt Angle - Samoa Joe TNA

[@tonyjackson4078]

Hey what about "Cactus Jack: Lost in Cleveland"? Every soap opera has done an amnesia story!

[@EzraDair]

Mark Henry and Mae Young. Val Venis and Mr. Yamaguchi’s wife and recently Buddy Murphy and Alia’s Mysterio

[@eastsidereviews727]

Also, Passions is my favorite soap because of how nutty that shit got, appreciate the mention of the show!

[@superrobz]

Mae Young: “hold my.. hand”

[@dwaynemalone4026]

"Man we forget how good we had it back then!" - Brian Zane on Terri pregnancy angle Hey I'd rather have that than what we've been getting for the last 20 years!

[@IFCGaming]

This intro gets me every time. Mega-ran freakin killed it! What a tune

[@robchuk4136]

Mike "I probably would have taken a shot" Tenay! WOW lol Great list. Rey, Eddie and Dominick is absolutely one of my all-time favorites. I'm shocked people are calling it cheesy! It was gold, I tells ya. Gold!

[@paulgarcia9682]

Crown Jewel main event:The Tribal Cheif vs The Beast Incarnate in a Custody of Paul Heyman Ladder Match

[@enigmaskull3495]

Maybe the social worker was busy vibing to Eddie’s theme at 2:43 to suspect his intentions.

[@JoshWoodrum]

The Mega Powers angle. It was the biggest angle WWE ever did.

[@candoentertainment9118]

Best long term storyline ever

[@alcheman12]

Hearing Mike Tenay tell Stacey Kiebler "I probably would have taken a shot" is the most priceless thing I've heard in awhile

[@walterclark3198]

Eddie and Ray always have great matches together and against each other.

[@505AG]

Shoutouts to the Edge Vickie storyline from 08. That definitely felt like a soap

[@guillermosierracuellar9812]

Children: mom, dad, how do you fell in love Steph: well, I was going to marry this man named Andrew, at the time of the wedding your father showed up at the wedding and showed us a video in which it showed that he took advantage of me because I was drugged and he made us get married at Las Vegas. Children: what the hell Hhh: but she fell in love after I beat up your grandfather in revenge for kidnapping your mother Children: we need therapy

[@Al7249]

OMG I wanna love long enough to see this get reference by them or their kids

[@grammysworld5449]

I wonder if telling them Vince and Shane orchestrated their mom's kidnapping would be ok.. lol

[@CaptianBastard7]

I loved passions, it was the weirdest soap opera with ghosts and demons, it was days of our lives meets buffy

[@jordanharmon1999]

Paul was removed for supposedly listening in on a raw writing meeting when they picked Benoit to win the rumble

[@WrestlingForever93]

Great Video Z-Man! Good intro too. I believe Vince McMahon himself called pro wrestling theatre/soap opera with athletes. Also , this brought back memories of the Top Rope Theatre shorts that WWE used to do that imitated/parodied soap operas. I enjoy the channel very much and keep up the great work.

[@lenny_guy1268]

Keen for this! Seems like a classic Brian topic lol

[@TheMKUProject]

Question 1: The new theme bangs. When are we going to see a full track release? Question 2. The new theme bangs. Are you going to change it when "8 years in" is no longer applicable? It would be a shame to throw away such a banger of an intro. Mega RAN really knocked it out of the park on this one.

[@maccy4829]

Soap operas are quite different in the UK, way more gritty, better acting (some of the time) and less long lost half brothers turning up to steal inheritance. Although there’s still some of that

[@brentplaysgamesmaberry889]

Hey this is the earliest I've been for one of your videos Brian, your content is great and keep it up!

[@GEM99Show]

4:20 Tazz and Cole corpsing? SEND FOR THE MAN

[@comixproviderftw_02]

Insipid Taz Commentary

[@andresschiffino1262]

Surprised that Cactus Jack's amnesia storyline in WCW wasn't mentioned.

[@pillsburidoughboi]

You gotta keep that Eddie I LIED bit lol Everytime you talk about a storyline and they lied in it you gotta add it

[@maxdecphoenix]

how is it the Big Boss Man/Paul Wight 'bastard' angle never gets brought up in these kind of lists? It's like it's been completely forgotten, when I thought it was the craziest feud ever. How can people so quickly forget BBM going to the ring for a few weeks and announcing that there were '20,000 people in that arena and any one of them could be Paul's daddy'? terrorizing Show's mom? Interrupting a funeral to troll Show? Chaining Show's dad's coffin to his cruiser and towing it away? And then still not getting along even weeks after the blow-off when they both ended up in the Corporate-Ministry? It was crazy television of it's time.

[@seanharris37]

The most soap opera thing about Kane was him becoming a mayor in Tennessee

[@TheAuzzieKid]

What I remember most from the I'm your Papi storyline is the social worker straight up saying to Rey and Eddie, "You're a bunch of crazies!!!!!"

[@G33kCulture]

Thursdays are a tough day for me and Im glad I have your new content to keep me company. Thanks again brother, you do a lot more for people than you realize.

[@jjenk911]

Michael Cole and Taz corpsing over Dawn Marie and Al Wilson storyline? SEND FOR THE MAN!

[@monkeyman5866]

WWE is such a soap opera that they should just change their name to The Braun and The Beautiful. Hey, for a guy who doesn't know soap operas, this was a good pun.

[@13Kooki49]

I might be in the minority or it could be nostalgia but I love the McMahon family drama of the late 90s/early 00s. They just went super camp. Our own Dynasty lol

[@patrickracer43]

8:06 D-Lo should have known something was up when he was forced to buy tampons

[@Bbknuckles]

The show reviews are cool but I really REALLY love these video essays. Years ago it made me fall in love with this channel. I know it takes a lot of work and just want the Z-man to know I appreciate him. Side note: I miss the old rock guitar riff into (the new rap into is good too! Js)

[@brandonyouth5241]

Looking at Dominic now he looks like he's more of Walter's son rather than both Rey and Eddie