Despite going to war on-screen, off-screen there are usually some words exchanged following the match and it has become a tradition for stars to also exchange a gift.
Over the years, some of WWE’s biggest stars have recalled exchanging gifts with their rivals following high-profile matches.
The following list looks at just five times superstars have exchanged gifts following matches.
#5. Rey Mysterio gave his opponent a gift following WWE’s 2020 Royal Rumble event - Bad Bunny
Rey Mysterio was one of 30 men to step into the men’s Royal Rumble match last weekend. The former world champion has been part of the business for around three decades and has become aware of certain traditions in that time.
Following the match, he approached fellow competitor Bad Bunny backstage and gave the Grammy award winner his mask. Bunny isn’t a professional wrestler but he has taken to the sport like a duck to water and has proved that he could have a career ahead of him if he wants it.
Inside The Royal Rumble, Bunny stepped up to Brock Lesnar and was eventually eliminated from the match after almost eight minutes by The Beast. Rey Mysterio was out a few slots earlier and was then eliminated by Otis, but was obviously aware of the impact that Bad Bunny made in The Royal Rumble match.
Even though these exchanges are usually kept private, a video was shared following The Royal Rumble which showed Mysterio with a towel over his head handing his match-worn mask over to the rapper in what was a moving gesture.
The Royal Rumble holds fond memories for Mysterio since he was victorious back in 2006, Bad Bunny made his WWE debut at last year’s Rumble, before going on to wrestle for the first time at WrestleMania when he partnered Damian Priest against John Morrison and The Miz.
#4. Shane McMahon exchanged gifts with The Undertaker following their WrestleMania 32 match
Shane McMahon made an explosive return to WWE back in 2016 and was then forced to wrestle The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania 32.
The match had major implications regarding the control of the company riding on it, but McMahon came up short despite a dive off the top of the cell and through the announce table.
After the match, it appears that he earned the respect of The Deadman since McMahon revealed in an editorial for ESPN ahead of The Undertaker’s retirement that the two men exchanged gifts.
McMahon later went on to become the Commissioner of SmackDown despite the loss, whilst The Undertaker announced his retirement at Survivor Series 2020 after a career which spanned over 3 decades.
#3. Lacey Evans gave Natalya a gift following their first-ever Women’s match at WWE Crown Jewel
The two women collided at Crown Jewel and even though Natalya came out on top, the two women embraced in the ring following the match when it was clear that they were feeling the effects of the moment.
After the match, Natalya shared an update on Instagram where she revealed that Lacey Evans had framed the match graphic for the show and she would now find a safe place for it in her dungeon.
The caption read:
WWE’s Queen’s Crown Tournament took place in The Middle East last year, whilst Lita will challenge Becky Lynch for the RAW Women’s Championship as part of this year’s Elimination Chamber event.
#2. Seth Rollins gave Dominik Mysterio a gift following WWE Summerslam
Seth Rollins wrestled Dominik Mysterio in his first-ever WWE match back at SummerSlam in 2020 and it appears that The Visionary wanted to mark the occasion.
At the time, Rollins and Mysterio were intense rivals and locked in a feud where the former world champion had cost his father his eye, a few weeks previous and then attacked him with a kendo stick. Outside of the ring, WWE released The Day of SummerSlam documentary which showed Seth Rollins sending the referee to gift Dominik Mysterio the wrist tape from their match.
This truly touched Rey, since this was Dominik’s first match and now he had something to remember it by.
Dominik has thrived in WWE with his first match coming against someone of Seth Rollins’ caliber. He recently competed in The Royal Rumble match. At just 24 years old, the future continues to look bright for the son of Rey Mysterio.
#1. The Undertaker and AJ Styles exchanged gifts following their match at WrestleMania 36
Former WWE Champion AJ Styles and The Undertaker collided for the first time in a Boneyard match at WrestleMania 36.
It wasn’t known at the time, but this would later become The Undertaker’s final WWE match after The Deadman announced his retirement a few months later in the summer.
The Undertaker was victorious after he was able to bury AJ Styles, but both men shared mutual respect backstage following the match and Styles revealed on the Out of Character podcast that he and The Deadman actually exchanged gifts.
The Undertaker signed a 15-year deal with WWE around the same time as his retirement, which means that even though he’s no longer an active star, he is still a major part of the company.
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