WWE’s Most Unforgettable Promo Segments

Pro wrestling is just as much about the storylines and drama as physical athleticism. Promos, whether in-ring or backstage segments in which wrestlers speak directly to the audience, their opponents, or each other, are the crux of making up stories that grab fans and move the action along. Over the years, WWE has made a myriad of memorable promos that have left a lasting imprint on the industry. This article goes deep into some of the most memorable segments, discussing the background of the given segment, its impact, and its legacy.

“Austin 3:16″—Steve Austin’s King of the Ring Promo, 1996

Context
The 1996 King of the Rings tournament was one of the hottest times in WWE’s history. Steve Austin had shocked Jake “The Snake” Roberts as the victor of the finals, and what he laid down for a promo would take his career to the stratosphere.

The Promo
After defeating Roberts, Austin did something that he often did: stand in front of a microphone and rip on Roberts, then play a born-again Christian character. Taking a shot at Roberts’ overt religiosity, Austin crafted his “Austin 3:16” catchphrase by simply saying, “Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!” The line was satirically learned from John 3:16 of the New Testament and connected with the crowd instantly.

Impact
This promo not only established Austin’s top-star status. Still, it was also attributed to fanning the flames for the “Attitude Era,” a period entirely of edgy, adult-oriented content. “Austin 3:16” became one of the most popular wrestling slogans that millions of t-shirts carried. It was that defining moment when Stone Cold became a cultural phenomenon and one of the most influential people in wrestling.

“Hard Times” by Dusty Rhodes (1985)

Context
Dusty Rhodes was, still is, and will forever be “The American Dream” of professional wrestling. In 1985, he cut a promo on Ric Flair that would go down in history as one of the greatest.

The Promo
During the promo, Rhodes would resonate emotionally and passionately directly with the working-class fan base of the WWE by pleading with them about their woes and hardships. He famously argued, “Hard times are when a man has worked at a job for thirty years—thirty years—and they give him a watch, kick him in the butt, and say, ‘Hey, a computer took your place, daddy!’.” The great asset is that promoter Rhodes connected with his audience as an everyman, lending the promo its powerful emotional content.

Impact
It should be stated that “Hard Times” often hits some of the best lists regarding promotions in wrestling history. Through it, Dusty Rhodes gave ostentation and connived authentic passion from the audience. He solidified himself more as a man of the people and one of the legends in business. And he’s finally been the benchmark for wrestlers when learning the art of the promo.

“The Pipe Bomb” by CM Punk (2011)

Context
Last summer, in 2011, CM Punk engaged in a storyline whereby he should sign a new contract that made him a free agent. On the June 27 episode of Raw, Punk delivered a promo that blurred the lines between fiction and reality.

The Promo
Seated cross-legged on the stage, Punk unleashed his feelings towards WWE management and, more specifically, then-Chairman Vince McMahon. He lashed out against the company’s direction, against all the top stars, and most of all, feeling neglected despite being one of their most, if not the most, proficient talents. The promo is recalled with his microphone being cut off at the end to once again sell it as accurate.

Impact
This promo is famously known as “The Pipe Bomb” and, after listening to it, ignited significant mainstream attention for WWE’s product and gained Punk an army of folk heroes of fans who couldn’t agree more on how creatively stagnant the company was, particularly in the ring.
It brought heat down upon Punk and laid the groundwork for his eventual WWE Championship victory the following year at Money in the Bank 2011. To this day, the “Pipe Bomb” is still a timestamp—evidence that the Berkeley ethos, the belief that actual life frustrations can be turned into compelling storytelling in professional wrestling, has been proven correct.

“The Miz’s Rant” on Talking Smack, 2016

Context
Talking Smack, shown each week after SmackDown, presented unscripted, candid narratives. The Miz’s diatribe on August 23, 2016, might have been one of the biggest talked-about segments of the year.

The Promo:
Perhaps the most famous example of a WWE promo that felt real because it was real is The Miz. He once blew up on his color commentator, Daniel Bryan, who had been critical of The Miz’s work in a very professional way. He exploded in a passionate justification, not only about the work ethic and longevity applied by him but also about dedication and how Bryan left the fans by burning out early in his career. This is why, in hearing The Miz, it sounded natural, his voice exuding passion—the natural, unmatched anger and raw intensity.

Impact
Everyone raved over The Miz’s promo on Talking Smack, as it was genuine and raw. It did not just reinvent him; it made him one of the top talkers in the business. This further proves that with unscripted promos comes the chance at great television, which gets the interest on Talking Smack even more as to what is next for the Miz.
“Y2J’s Countdown to the Millennium”: The Dawn of Chris Jericho in WWE (1999)

Context
Leading into the year 2000, WWE ran a variety of enigmatic vignettes that were counting down to something. It would be an awful year until the payoff finally landed with a bang—on August 9, 1999, when Chris Jericho made his WWF debut on Monday Night Raw.

The Promotion
Cut in the middle of a promo by The Rock, the pulsating entrance music of Chris Jericho played while flames shot up, announcing his presence and overconfident, enigmatic appeal. He introduced himself with a perfectly mixed blend of arrogance and charisma, declaring that WWE had never—”E-E-E-EVER!”—not laid its eyes upon someone like him.

Impact
Historically, Jericho’s debut promo is regarded as one of the best for WWE. It almost immediately positioned him in a larger-than-life manner and signified the excellent microphone skills and bigger-than-reality persona that Jericho would demonstrate. That very segment set a very successful WWE career for Jericho as one of the most entertaining and decorated performers in the history of the company.

“Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth”Reunite”—WrestleMania VII (1991)

Context
The story of Randy “Macho Man” Savage and Miss Elizabeth is one of the longest-lasting, most heartstring-pulling storylines in WWE history. Their reunion at WrestleMania VII was quite the tearjerker.

Promo
After losing the retirement match against the Ultimate Warrior, Savage was beaten by his then-manager, Sensational Sherri. Miss Elizabeth, who has been watching the game from the audience’s view, charged her way into the ring for salvation. The reunion between the two after that, especially the tearful embrace, topped it off, and most within the audience were brought to tears.

Impact
This was an excellent example of narration; it was wrestling. The Aftermath—Savage’s reunion with Elizabeth most probably touched so many lives down at an emotional level, and that’s why it is considered one of the most sentimental moments in WWE’s history. It proclaimed to folks worldwide that wrestling could offer emotions and bring beautiful moments that shall continue long after the wrestlers are outside the ring plying their trade. 

This Is Your Life: The Rock and Mankind, 1999

Context
On the episode of Raw on September 27, 1999, Mankind (Mick Foley) hosted his “This Is Your Life” segment, which was hosted for The Rock, which celebrates his life and career.

The Promotion
That 20-minute segment included Mankind bringing on people formerly in The Rock’s life, such as his high school girlfriend and an old coach. It was all entertaining TV because The Rock would ridicule the people; sometimes he would respond somewhat forcibly to them.

Impact
“This Is Your Life” was among the highest-rated Raw segments ever. That is not only important because it was longer than most promo segments, but it was proof positive that excellent character-driven material could sway eyes, draw an audience, and rivet fans if appropriately done and presented in the appropriate context. Most broadly, it impelled The Rock and Mankind in their comedy tandem, quite possibly as the greatest of professional wrestling history.

“The Festival of Friendship”—Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens, 2017

Context
Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens had been very odd bedfellows all through 2016. They became quite a tag team that worked through their oddball alliance. All was set until the nightmare of the “Festival of Friendship” on February 13, 2017.

The Promotion
Quite the over-the-top celebration for the arrival of Owens by Jericho, with lavish gifts, a magician, castles, a choir of children singing his theme, and even a painting. However, things would not stay so rosy after what seemed to be a great time of friendship. Owens then presented Jericho with a new “List,” which was the “List of KO.” Their contractual friendship had come to a highly violent end, with Owens getting the best of Jericho.

Impact
The “Festival of Friendship” made for great praise in its mixture of dark humor and drama. It let Jericho turn the funny bone to the maximum and showcased Owens coming face-to-face with his ruthless side in a memorable, emotionally charged manner. And it was set up for one heck of a rivalry between the two that started right after this episode of WrestleMania 33. The segment is remembered as one of the best examples of WWE’s ability to mix entertainment with storytelling. “The Birth of the”nWo”—Bash at the Beach (1996) Meaning Although a segment not under the direct jurisdiction of WWE, the creation of the New World Order on WCW’s Bash at the Beach in 1996 rocked the wrestling world, which did impact the WWE. 

The Promo 
This was a promo he initiated after he had turned heel by throwing in Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, whom he joined to beat Randy Savage. In his speech, he was putting down the fans and announcing to the world the formation of the nWo by stating the following words: “Cause this is the new world order of wrestling, brother!” Impact Hogan’s heel turn and the formation of the nWo worked out perfectly, changing the aspects of professional wrestling forever and giving rise to the Clique Wars on Monday nights of WWE versus WCW. It was during this period that WWE was forced to raise its level and, in turn, evolve Joel, finally becoming the Attitude Era. Vivid in so many people’s minds as the moment everything changed in professional wrestling, Hogan’s promo. 

“Ric Flair’s Farewell”—Raw ( (2008)

Context
After losing a retirement match to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24, Ric Flair delivered an emotional farewell address on the following night’s Raw.

The Promo 
In front of all his family, friends, and colleagues, Flair spoke to the universe of the WWE very gratefully. He just paid great respect to his torrid career and to the fans who backed his ingress. Impact Ric Flair’s farewell promo was one of the most touching moments in the history of the WWE. It was celebrating the entire career of one of the most outstanding performers in wrestling history and putting a bow on it, to some degree, in terms of in-ring activity or competition. Most of all, though, this demonstrated how deeply bonded the level of wrestling becomes with the fan base. Wrestling is as much about the people and their stories as it is about the matches. 

Conclusion 
Those wrestling promos are the lifeblood of the business—a chance for wrestlers to get closer to the audience, a place where they can define who they are as characters and push a story forward. Innumerable unforgettable promo segments have emanated from the WWE and left their mark not only on the industry but also on everyone who follows it—becoming part of the cultural lexicon, from “Austin 3:16” to “The Pipe Bomb,” transcend the ring and turn into a mere definition of mastery in the art of storytelling that is professional wrestling. The promo will remain one of the firmest foundations for storytelling in WWE, which will only help solidify the magic of professional wrestling in people’s eyes, something worth caringly saving and sharing with generations to come.