In its 40 years of excellence, WWE's WrestleMania has become home to and the setting for some of the most unforgettable surprises in wrestling history.

From Seth Rollins' show-ending Money in the Bank cash-in at 31 to the unforgettable end of The Undertaker's unbeaten streak a year earlier, The Showcase of the Immortals has lived and breathed on the element of surprise.

This year was no different.

What shook wrestling fans to their core in Philadelphia, becoming among the most unforgettable moments of the 2024 show?

Find out with this recap.

5. Snoop Dogg and Bubba Ray Dudley Go Extreme

The Six-Man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight pitting The Final Testament against the team of Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits was a fun, perfectly acceptable gimmick match but the most memorable element of the contest was its special referee, WWE Hall of Famer Bubba Ray Dudley,

The ECW original's surprise appearance generated a big reaction and his involvement in the match was not limited just to officiating as he assisted the babyfaces in silencing the loudmouth Karrion Kross.

On a weekend when the ECW presence was not quite as prevalent on WWE television as one may have imagined, it was a welcome surprise to see one of the greatest tag team competitors, and minds, in wrestling enjoy the WrestleMania spotlight in a city where he was responsible for so many unforgettable fights and moments.

Add Snoop Dogg's appearance, in conjunction with his new collaborative gin and juice brand with Dr. Dre, and you have a one-two punch that any fan can appreciate.

4. Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson Backup Rey Mysterio and Andrade

The moment Jason Kelce was photographed wearing a red and yellow Rey Mysterio mask following brother Travis' victory in the Super Bowl, it felt like it was the perfect time for the future Hall of Fame center of the Philadelphia Eagles to bring his larger-than-life personality to WWE in some form or fashion.

That WrestleMania occurred in the same venue that he played every home game of his career in only heightened expectations that Kelce could be involved in this year's show.

Fast-forward to Saturday's show and the closing moments of the match pitting 2023 Hall of Famer Mysterio and Andrade against Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio.

Under the guise of Rey's iconic mask, Kelce and longtime teammate Lane Johnson appeared, prevented the heels from cheating, and celebrated after the babyfaces went over.

It was a great moment for Kelce, who would seemingly thrive in a business that requires personality and fan engagement above all, and a fun opportunity to bring him back to the field on which so many of his greatest accomplishments occurred.

3. Stephanie McMahon Ushers in Night 2

Stephanie McMahon kicked off Sunday's festivities, ushering in what she officially labeled as the "Paul Levesque Era" about her husband, Triple H.

The surprise was less about the name of the era and more about her appearance, period.

McMahon had not been associated with WWE since her departure from the company last January amid the return of her father, Vince to power. Now that he is no longer affiliated with the company and Levesque is the Chief Content Officer, it will be interesting to see if McMahon becomes more of a presence.

The third-generation McMahon has long been popular among the employees backstage in WWE, with Kevin Owens specifically mentioning his positive relationship and experiences with her.

That she was warmly greeted by fans who appreciate her on-screen contributions maybe even more than what she does behind the scenes only enhanced the positivity of having her on board.

2. The Undertaker and John Cena Appear in the Main Event

Cody Rhodes assembled his Avengers to battle the mighty Bloodline, including John Cena and The Undertaker, two legendary competitors who returned to fight the injustice of unabashed interference by Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, and The Rock.

There had been plenty of speculation that fans may see a special appearance by a returning legend or two, with many believing "Stone Cold" Steve Austin would return to vanquish The Rock and ensure The American Nightmare had a fair chance to dethrone Roman Reigns and take the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

While The Texas Rattlesnake did not appear, a Hall of Famer and the GOAT did, wiping out The Enforcer and The Final Boss and leaving Rhodes to finish his story.

Their involvement was key in executing the story while simultaneously celebrating 40 years of The Showcase of the Immortals, the most important surprise of the night.

But not the best.

1. Damian Priest Cashes In

The biggest surprise of this year's two-night extravaganza was The Judgment Day's Damian Priest cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre and defeating him to become the new world heavyweight champion.

It was the culmination of months of fans asking when The Archer of Infamy would finally utilize the guaranteed contract that came with his Money in the Bank ladder match victory and they got their answer in grand form as he capitalized on an attack by CM Punk on The Scottish Warrior and proceeded to drive him into the mat with South of Heaven.

Three seconds later, the tag team title loss the night before felt like a distant memory.

One of the hardest workers in the company, with a laundry list of matches a year ago, Priest now embarks on a run with the Raw brand that will likely see him confronted by McIntyre and challenged by anyone from The Scottish Warrior to former champion Seth Rollins.

In an era where the Money in the Bank cash-in was beginning to feel less relevant than before, Priest's triumph injected life back into it and made for the biggest, most unforgettable surprise of the entire show.

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