Professional wrestling asks us to believe in larger-than-life characters, unstoppable forces of nature who settle their differences while wearing not much more than glorified underwear. But sometimes, that gear has other plans.
Female wrestlers have had their share of wardrobe mishaps, but today we’re focusing on the men. Because nothing shatters a tough-guy aura faster than a ripped seam at the worst possible moment.
Here are the most memorable male wrestling wardrobe malfunctions that had fans talking for all the wrong reasons.
List of Malfunctions
Brock Lesnar’s Jeans Go Boom (2025)
On September 12, 2025, Brock Lesnar showed up in full Cowboy Brock mode, hat, jeans, and a bad attitude. R-Truth interrupted him with the bizarre claim that he was “Ron Cena” (John Cena’s brother).
Lesnar responded with an F-5, of course. But as he stood up, physics betrayed him. His jeans split wide open at the back, flashing bright blue underwear to millions of fans.
Instead of staying in character, Brock cracked up, bent over to give cameras a clearer shot, and yelled: “Stu, I ripped my pants!” The clip went viral, giving fans a rare glimpse of a playful Beast.
SummerSlam 2023: Same Lesnar, Different Response
Two years earlier, Lesnar had another gear disaster during his SummerSlam clash with Cody Rhodes. His shorts ripped open mid-match in what fans online described as a “dangerously close” situation.
This time, he didn’t break character. Lesnar powered through, never acknowledging the malfunction to keep the drama intact. Same problem, opposite reaction, proof of just how situational wrestling performances really are.
Adam Pearce vs. Pants (2021)
Lesnar’s streak of clothing chaos continued in 2021. After WWE official Adam Pearce suspended him, Brock unleashed two brutal F-5s.
The first F-5 split Pearce’s pants open. As Pearce later admitted: “I knew another one was coming, and the pants were already gone.” Imagine being unconscious, humiliated, and pantless all at once.
AJ Styles Refuses the “Malfunction” Label (2016)
At TLC 2016, AJ Styles defended his WWE Championship against Dean Ambrose in a chaotic ladder match. During the brawl, his tights tore open, flashing part of his backside to the Dallas crowd.
But Styles wasn’t about to let people think it was sloppy gear. He clarified afterward that a sharp chair edge had sliced the fabric, even leaving him with a cut. He reframed it as “battle damage,” protecting both his dignity and his gear-maker’s reputation. That’s championship-level spin control.
Seth Rollins: The Drip God Humbled
Seth Rollins has had more than one run-in with faulty pants. On RAW, fans spotted tears in his leather gear while he climbed barriers.
But the most embarrassing came in August 2025 during a Good Morning Football appearance. Rollins playfully tackled a host, only for the back of his pants to rip wide open on live TV. Thankfully, he was quick to cover up, and everyone laughed it off.
The irony is too perfect: the “Visionary” who calls himself the Drip God, obsessed with high-fashion outfits, was brought down by the simplest piece of clothing.
Daniel Bryan’s Worst Nightmare (2020)
Elimination Chamber 2020 gave us one of wrestling’s most infamous slips. Daniel Bryan faced Drew Gulak in a technical classic, but fans couldn’t focus on the chain wrestling.
His trunks failed at their only job: containing what they were meant to. Multiple times, Bryan’s genitals slipped out, horrifying the live crowd. One fan memorably tweeted: “I just saw Daniel Bryan’s bollock in slow motion.”
Bryan didn’t even realize until after the match, when friends texted him: “Dude, I saw your balls.” Mortifying, but ultimately hilarious, and unforgettable.
Rick Rude Weaponizes His Wardrobe (1988)
Not every wardrobe moment is accidental. “Ravishing” Rick Rude deliberately turned his tights into a weapon during his feud with Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
Rude appeared wearing tights airbrushed with the face of Roberts’ real-life wife. Jake lost it, stormed the ring, and tore the gear off Rude’s body.
It wasn’t a malfunction; it was a masterclass in heel psychology. Rude showed how even clothing could generate nuclear heat.
Why Wardrobe Malfunctions Stick With Us
From Brock’s bright blue underwear to Bryan’s unplanned exposure, these moments remind us that wrestlers are human beings doing an insanely tough job while wearing very little clothing.
In a scripted world where almost everything is rehearsed, wardrobe malfunctions stand out because they’re real. They can’t be predicted, they can’t be written, and once they happen, nobody can ignore them.
That’s what makes them legendary.