Back to the 90s: Ten Wildest Rumours and Conspiracy Theories of the Decade

Ah, the 1990s. A time when alternative rock music ruled the airwaves, dial-up tones signalled the future, and the biggest scientific marvel was Action shoes with blinking lights on them. But beyond Nintendo and Duck Tales, the decade was alive with some of the most bizarre, hilarious, and downright impossible rumours. These stories weren’t just water-cooler gossip—they were the stuff of legend, debated with the kind of fervour reserved for whether Batman or Superman would come out victorious if they fought each other. So, grab your Walkman, pop in a mix-tape, and join us as we journey back to the rumours that made the 90s the gloriously strange time it was.

1. Marilyn Manson and the Infamous Rib Removal

The Rumour: You couldn’t walk through a high school in the late 90s without hearing someone whisper about it—Marilyn Manson had surgically removed one of his ribs so he could… well, perform oral sex on himself. It was the ultimate in rock star decadence, or so the story went.

The Truth: Sorry to disappoint, but Manson’s rib cage is fully intact. The rumour was as fabricated as the makeup he wore on stage. Manson himself has repeatedly debunked this urban legend, but it’s still one of those bizarre tales that defined the 90s, probably because it was just crazy enough to be believable in the era of shock rock.

2. Sanath Jayasuriya’s “Spring-Loaded Bat”

The Rumour: Cricket fans in the 90s whispered that Sri Lankan powerhouse Sanath Jayasuriya had more than just skill on his side—he had a bat fitted with metal springs to help him smash those record-breaking sixes.

The Truth: The spring-loaded bat was nothing more than the wild imagination of cricket fans who couldn’t believe Jayasuriya’s explosive power. His bat was checked multiple times, and no foul play was ever found. The man was simply a natural-born hitter, and the legend of the spring-loaded bat became just another cricket myth.

3. Courtney Love and the Death of Kurt Cobain

The Rumour: The tragic death of Kurt Cobain in 1994 stunned the world, but some fans weren’t convinced it was a simple suicide. Rumours swirled that Courtney Love, his widow, had arranged for Kurt to be murdered to capitalize on his fame or out of jealousy over his success.

The Truth: Multiple investigations, including one by the Seattle Police Department, confirmed that Cobain’s death was a suicide, tragically brought on by his struggles with depression and addiction. The conspiracy theories were fuelled by grief and the inability to accept that a voice as powerful as Kurt’s could be silenced by his own hand. Courtney Love, despite her controversies, had nothing to do with it.

4. Ronaldo’s Mysterious Absence in the 1998 World Cup Final

The Rumour: When Brazil’s star striker Ronaldo was left off the starting lineup in the 1998 Football World Cup Final against France, the world went into a frenzy. Conspiracy theories ranged from a government cover-up to a secret injury to more outlandish ideas, like he was poisoned or kidnapped.

The Truth: The truth, while still mysterious, is less dramatic. Ronaldo had suffered a convulsive fit just hours before the match, and though he insisted on playing, he was clearly not at his best. It was a decision that remains controversial, but no grand conspiracy was at play—just a bizarre medical incident at the worst possible time.

5. Princess Diana’s Death Was No Accident

The Rumour: When Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, the world mourned—but some couldn’t accept it was just a tragic accident. Rumours spread that the British Crown or other powerful entities orchestrated her death to prevent her from marrying Dodi Fayed or to protect the monarchy.

The Truth: After extensive investigations, including a high-profile inquest in the UK, Diana’s death was ruled an accident caused by the reckless driving of her chauffeur, who was under the influence of alcohol. The conspiracy theories have persisted, largely fuelled by the public’s affection for Diana and distrust of the establishment, but there’s no credible evidence to suggest foul play.

6. Tupac Shakur Is Still Alive

The Rumour: Tupac Shakur’s death in 1996 was supposed to be the end of an era, but for many, it was just the beginning of a mystery. From sightings in Cuba to hidden messages in his lyrics, the rumour mill churned out theories that Pac was still alive, hiding out, and ready to return any day now.

The Truth: Tupac’s murder remains officially unsolved, but the overwhelming evidence points to a tragic end for the rap icon on that fateful night in Las Vegas. The “Tupac is alive” rumours are more about wishful thinking and the refusal to let go of a legend than anything based in reality.

7. The Bermuda Triangle

The Rumour: Ships and planes entering the Bermuda Triangle mysteriously vanish, swallowed by this malevolent stretch of ocean. Theories ranged from alien abductions to wormholes to another dimension.

The Truth: The Bermuda Triangle is real, but its dangers are overhyped. Most of the incidents attributed to the Triangle can be explained by natural causes like bad weather, human error, and heavy traffic in one of the world’s busiest shipping areas. The legend of the Bermuda Triangle was largely a product of sensationalist media and the public’s love for a good mystery.

8. Swallowing Gum Stays in Your Stomach for Seven Years

The Rumour: Every kid in the 90s knew the rule—swallow your gum, and it’ll stay in your stomach for seven years, maybe even longer, gumming up your insides.

The Truth: Swallowed gum doesn’t stick around nearly as long as the rumour suggests. While it’s true that gum doesn’t break down like regular food, it passes through your digestive system relatively quickly, usually in a matter of days. The “seven years” myth was just a scare tactic used by parents and teachers to keep kids from swallowing something they shouldn’t.

9. The Undertaker and the Wild World of WWE Rumours

The Rumour: In the world of professional wrestling, few figures were as mythologized as The Undertaker. From rumours that he was actually dead and only “came to life” for matches, to tales of him being involved in real-life occult practices, The Undertaker was surrounded by as much legend outside the ring as inside it.

The Truth: Mark Calaway, the man behind The Undertaker persona, is very much alive and never dabbled in the dark arts. The wild stories were all part of the show, a testament to the power of "kayfabe"—the blurring of reality and fiction that makes WWE so unique. The 90s wrestling scene thrived on these myths, creating larger-than-life characters that fans still revere today.

10. Y2K: The Millennium Bug That Was Supposed to End Everything

The Rumour: As the clock ticked down to the year 2000, panic set in. The "Y2K bug"—where computers might fail to recognize the new date—was going to cause planes to fall out of the sky, financial systems to collapse, and generally bring about the end of the world as we knew it.

The Truth: Companies did spend billions upgrading their systems, and there were some genuine concerns, but the apocalyptic predictions were wildly overblown. The world transitioned into the new millennium with barely a hiccup, proving that sometimes a bit of preparation can prevent disaster—or at least deflate a good doomsday scenario.

Nostalgia for the 90s is at an all-time high, but as we look back, it’s clear that part of what made the decade so special was the wild, unfounded, and sometimes downright bizarre rumours that we all believed—or at least wanted to believe. Whether it was the fear of Y2K or the hope that Tupac might still be alive, these stories gave us something to talk about, something to debate, and something to remember. So here’s to the 90s—where the truth might have been out there, but the rumours were way more fun.

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