It goes without saying that 2020 has been a strange year. Pro wrestling has not been exempt, as promotions had to shut down or run shows with little to no live audience. Although 2020 looked different for pro wrestling, there were still plenty of mark out moments. Let’s run down some top mark out moments in 2020.
IMPACT Wrestling Stars Return at Slammiversary
IMPACT Wrestling had an arguably strong year considering the world climate. One of the biggest events for the promotion, Slammiverary, took place on July 18th. The build-up to the show promised a night of surprises and returns. The event delivered with the return of the Motor City Machine Guns, the debut of Heath, the in-ring return of Rich Swann, and the return of Eric Young to IMPACT Wrestling! Just as the show went off the air, a vignette aired of the returning EC3. The return of many past IMPACT stars paved the way for the rest of the year. The surprise returns and debuts made a fun night full of mark out moments.
IMPACT And AEW Strike Crossover
At the end of the AEW Winter is Coming event, Kenny Omega defeated Jon Moxley to become the AEW World Champion. After the match, Kenny Omega and Don Callis announced that Omega would appear on IMPACT Wrestling the following Tuesday night. Omega appeared on the next two episodes, setting up a match at Hard to Kill with Omega teaming up with the Good Brothers to take on the Motor City Machine Guns and Rich Swann. The two promotions teaming up may lead to some interesting dream matches. Hearing Don Callis announce that Kenny Omega would appear on IMPACT was unexpected. The unexpectedness of the announcement itself was a mark out moment, along with the potential dream matches and positive implications that may lead to many more mark out moments next year.
Sting Makes AEW Debut
AEW promised to give fans surprises in the final part of 2020. The promotion delivered during the Winter is Coming event on December 2nd. During a beatdown of Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin courtesy of Team Taz, the lights went out, and an entrance video began to roll. The video finished with the name Sting appearing on the video board. The Icon himself made his way towards the ring as Team Taz fled. The moment felt poetic as Tony Schiavone was on the call with his signature “It’s Sting!” catchphrase. Both men played a pivotal role in WCW which also aired on TNT in the ’90s and early ’00s. The nostalgia of both Sting and Schiavone on TNT was a mark out moment for many fans.
Ember Moon and Toni Storm Return
Toni Storm and Ember Moon have both had sizable contributions to the NXT Women’s Division. Their absence on the brand was felt in the early part of 2020; that was until NXT Takeover 31. At the end of NXT Women’s Championship match between champion Io Shirai and challenger Candice LeRae, Toni Storm appeared on the video screen to announce that she was returning to NXT. This was not the only return for the night, however. NXT had been teasing the return of a wrestler for weeks. This wrestler road into the building on a motorcycle and would reveal herself to be Ember Moon! The return of both superstars was a mark out moment for NXT fans and added even more depth to the NXT women’s roster.
Edge Returns
On the April 11th, 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw, Edge announced he had to medically retire from professional wrestling. The announcement sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world, as he had just wrestled two weeks prior at Wrestlemania 27. Prior to Wrestlemania 28, Edge was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by good friend and fellow wrestler Christian. Fast forward to 2020 and the Royal Rumble when the buzzer rang for entrant 21. Fans were greeted by the familiar “You Think You Know Me” phrase followed by the Alter Bridge theme Metalingus. The crowd marked out at the return of Edge to the Royal Rumble and WWE. Although he did not win the match, he would go on to feud with Randy Orton leading to a match Wrestlemania 36.
2020 was a tough year for everyone and the wrestling industry was not immune from 2020’s many challenges. Even though we watched wrestling with very little to no live audience, it didn’t stop promotions from giving fans mark out moments in 2020. Let’s hope in 2021 we can have more mark out moment, with more fans safely in attendance to enjoy them.
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