In John Cena, you had the larger-than-life, musclebound, clean-cut babyface favored by Vince McMahon and mainstream "sports entertainment" fans; and in CM Punk you had the tattooed, flip off the system, indie wrestler beloved by a large segment of the fans. Randy Savage and DDP go hardcore, Ultimo Dragon and Yuji Nagata light up Las Vegas, Chris Jericho endures a struggle with Gedo and the Nature Boy brawls with Mr. It also pitted the two men most associated with the HIAC match in a final battle within that demonic structure, which even got its own entrance music, "Memory Remains" by Metallica. That was the blessing and the curse of the whole thing. They were so different and so popular, but popular for exactly opposite reasons. ANTHONY BENIGNO. Perfect at ringside, an incensed Savage lived up to his name by beating, battering and bloodying Flair before winning the title. In the end, Bret underestimated his baby brother and lost to a rollup. With a capacity crowd chanting "Yes!," Bryan hit Cena with a running knee 26 minutes, 47 seconds into the bout. Ungraded & graded values for all '22 Panini Chronicles Draft Picks Rise Above Basketball Cards. The storyline went that Michaels was willing to do anything to get his rematch against Undertaker, including eliminating his best friend Triple H from the Royal Rumble and costing Undertaker the title at Elimination Chamber. You might have a brother who always wants to be better. What's even more remarkable is that it was billed as a submission match with one guy who didn't have one (Austin), a recipe for disaster. The Beast from the East answered with plenty of punishment of his own, including the "Oh My God!" No ulterior motives, no chicanery, just four legendary competitors squaring off to find out which tag team was the best. The Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber 2014 over delivered even the wildest expectations. The match has it all from CM Punk's early match domination, to one of Kofi Kingston's most creative survival attempts, to Triple H's shocking elimination by his best friend, Shawn Michaels, to massive amounts of star power (Cena, Batista, Jericho), to a shocking return and subsequent victory that nobody predicted (Edge). Newly arrived to WWE, the ever-serious Malenko was a natural foil for the goofy, bucket-hat-wearing, Worm-performing Scotty 2 Hotty. The entire crowd stood on their feet with jaws agape wider than the hole in the ring as Bam Bam then pinned Tazz to become the new ECW World Television Champion. Steamboat was your prototypical hero a returning favorite who had conquered the evil perennial champ all while showcasing his folksy values and mat expertise. 25. He can do all the pro wrestling stuff you want, but can also do the other stuff, and thats what was so much fun for him and I mixing and matching the two. The match is must-watch just to see the 251-pound Cena break out a hurricanrana. And then, to top it off, Jericho emerged an even bigger heel, hugging Michaels as a ruse to kick him in the junk. This match was so brilliant because it was non-stop, wall-to-wall action that still took time for selling and storytelling. Besides having to call every move and counter as if my voice was being sped up by audio editing, I witnessed firsthand some of the most amazing sequences in history. There had never been another WrestleMania match quite like this and, perhaps, there never will be. KEVIN POWERS. I put enormous pressure on myself to come through, and I thought I had the best all-around performer in the business in Edge to try to do that with. In capturing his seventh World Championship his last for the next decade The Rock left no room for dispute that he was, indeed, The Great One. While these matches come from different eras, they all have one thing in common: They have earned their place in history as the greatest ever. It's chemistry that turns great matches into all-time masterpieces. Is it a little premature to declare Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins from Hell In A Cell 2022 an all-time classic? Top Rated Wrestling Matches of All Time Lyrics Updated December 2018 7* | Sat, Jun 9th 2018 | NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall | Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (2 Out Of 3 Falls) Good thing both of them had a lot of it. Wrestlemania 20 10. Since we are based in Europe, we are forced to bother you with this information. In fact, before this rubber match between Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, the WWE Universe had never seen one on SmackDown or Raw. @JOEYSTYLES, Every Superstar in the locker room is a fan at heart, but Bayley was always a little more outward about it than others. Early on, I was schooled on putting in time, especially working with Flair. Michaels and Hart made their match feel real, as real as any boxing match or MMA fight. Hart had come back from an extended absence to work with who he felt was the WWE's best wrestler, before regaining his title from Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 13 (yeah, so much for that). All of it. DAVID SHOEMAKER. It also featured an ending every bit as iconic as Hogan slamming Andre, with Austin's screaming in pain, his face a bloody mess, yet refusing to submit to Hart's Sharpshooter. At one point, The Mastodon crushed The Hardcore Legend beneath his hulking frame, prompting Mick Foleys career to flash before his eyes. from the opening bell. When you watch the match, you have a feeling that the only people who truly know its the end are Austin and The Rock. When people talk about Randy Orton, it's usually not as a hero, but he was perfect for the kind of opportunistic scoundrel villain that Christian was. MATTHEW ARTUS, Fifteen years before the advent of WWEs Attitude Era, the sports-entertainment world witnessed true mayhem at the National Wrestling Alliances first Starrcade event. The highest-rated NXT match on this list saw Almas and Gargano give absolutely everything they had as they did battle for the NXT Championship. In particular, the TLC match consisting of the Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian is arguably one of the most superb matches in WWE history. I didnt come around to respecting him until 2000 or 2001. I dont think theres ever been a case where a guy reverted back to a character hed been in his pre-WWE career. Then by order of WWE Commissioner Gorilla Monsoon they were forced to take it even further. Add a Hart Family conflicted in support of two universally beloved Superstars and this unparalleled mat classic became an emotional showdown that made WWEs "No. Despite several heart-stopping near-falls, Undertaker's streak continued. Scarier than a ladder, more dangerous than a cage, and more vicious than a street fight, the Hell In A Cell was a match where wrestlers who hated each other could finally settle their score, at risk to their lives. This, just four weeks after Punks most trusted advisor cut him down at the knees right when it appeared he was poised to win the WWE Championship contract at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Most Watched WWE Cable Matches . BRAD "HITMAN" HART vs STONE GOLD STEVE AUSTIN. It took place on April 1, 2001, at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas.It was the first WrestleMania held in the state of Texas.Twelve matches were contested at the event, including one broadcast . While Angle entered the match needing neck surgery, it was Lesnar who left the match injured, following his infamous botched shooting star press. ANTHONY BENIGNO. 2. Thats damn near impossible, unless youve somehow been to every single mat contest since George Hackenschmidt won the World Title in 1905. Lock and made his black-clad adversary tap out. [Announcers] Dusty Rhodes and Jim Ross kept making mention of the fact that 'Flyin'' Brian was by far the smallest guy in the match and still, getting the best of his opponents throughout the match. Overrun segment: 2: Steve Austin, The Rock & Vince McMahon vs. These same fans felt ignored by the WWE for decades and poured their frustrations into CM Punk, who carried their dreams on his shoulders like he was delivering a GTS. Case in point, Daniel Bryan's 18-second World Championship loss as a heel to Sheamus at WrestleMania XXVIII resulted in one of the greatest face runs of all time for Bryan, that is. No, Davey Boy Smith wasn't a broomstick, but he was a power wrestler who was at his best when getting the hot tag, while his tag team partner, "The Dynamite Kid" Tom Billington, did the work. Need a crash course on why a dedicated sect of sports-entertainment fans is still holding out hope for the resurgence of a Cruiserweight Division? Unlike the countless spot-fest ladder matches that followed in its wake, this match stole the show because it wasn't trying to steal the show; it was trying to tell the story of a high-flying prima-donna and a wily brawler being thrown into unfamiliar territory and being forced to improvise in order to win. By 2005, Angle had abandoned his dweeby heel persona for a bloodthirsty, one-man wrecking crew willing to do anything to win. He wasn't napping in the corner either (looking at you, Roman Reigns), but carried the match. And after battling in enough five-star classics, they knew each others moves like the backs of their hands. When considering the greatest rivals of The Man Called Sting not named Ric Flair, one person comes to mind: Big Van Vader. 21 min read Hey everyone! He's tough as hell. In the first-ever meeting of the men who would become WCWs signature rivals, Sting and Flair battled back and forth, displaying uncanny technical prowess and in-ring ability. In a classic Champion vs. Champion struggle, both Superstars left everything they had on the canvas, before Warrior overcame The Hulkster and took his place in the annals of WWE greatness. There will be a lot of underdog stories on this list, but few of them were as grueling or as gratifying as Sami Zayns 18-month battle to become NXT Champion, which culminated in this classic between himself and the reigning champion, Neville. Picking our favorite ladder match involving The Dudley Boys, The Hardy Boyz, and Edge and Christian is like picking the best Beatles album. There was a special energy there. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. 2 title" feel like its most coveted. IMPACT No Surrender Quick Results - 2/24/23 (Title Matches and more!) Wrestlemania X ended with Bret Hart as new WWE Champion celebrating on his friends' shoulders while the New York crowd roared in approval. "The physicality and our different styles have created a great chemistry. GREG ADKINS, At the inaugural Clash of the Champions, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair was poised to teach relative upstart Sting a lesson. "I really thought it was going to be the last move I ever did in wrestling," Foley told WWE.com. All they wanted was to see The Freebirds get their comeuppance. And trust us, feuds don't come much bloodier than this. He knew I'd been Cactus Jack, but had no idea that there was this Dude Love character I'd wanted to be when I was 17 or 18 years old. If every championship match in WWE showed this kind of reverence, no one would ever feel like a loser in the end. Shawn Michaels, before his 1998 injury, was one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time. They both must have been proud after this one. No way out 2001 11. Instead, it defined the enduring legacy of "The Dragon," "Macho Man" Randy Savage, the Intercontinental Championship that passed from the latter to the former, and some would say WrestleMania (if not wrestling) itself. "I thought I would collect on the Lloyd's of London policy that would kick in after a 450-pound man sandwiched me. Plus, theres a barbed-wire 2x4 in the ring. The contest brought fans on an emotional tilt awhirl thanks to a missed spear that left the undefeated Goldberg looking vulnerable for the first time in his career. He seemed to be becoming this main event-caliber guy, which is weird to think about in the perspective of 1991. This wasn't just a mindless gore fest. GREG ADKINS. Still, Michaels went down swinging (literally slapping 'Taker), but lost the match and his career, in an emotional finale for one of the greatest in-ring workers ever. Welp, fans certainly swallowed their words a month later when the three put on one of the greatest WrestleMania main events ever and the best triple threat match of all time. This match was iconic before the bell even rang, because on a deeper level it represented two schools of pro wrestling. Meanwhile, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin had just returned from career-threatening neck surgery and looked to prove to everyone that he was still "The Guy" in WWE. "But even I, Bret Harts staunchest supporter, found it hard to not get behind Austin in that match. SHAWN MICHAELS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, Raw results, Feb. 27, 2023:Becky Lynch and Lita capture WWE Womens Tag Team Titles from Damage CTRL with help from Trish Stratus, SmackDown results, Feb. 24, 2023: Jey Uso looks on as Sami Zayn takes out Jimmy Uso, WWE NXT results, Feb. 28, 2023: Carmelo Hayes beats Tyler Bate in showstopping main event, Roman Reigns conquers The Beast to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion on WrestleMania Sunday, the meme-ified gentleman in the front row, Photos: See the latest WWE action figures from Mattel, Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair rivalry history. The loathed "Nature Boy" earned both the ire and respect (begrudgingly) of WWE fans as he entered the 30-man clash at No. Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat. What really made this match so special was how these rivals tirelessly one-upped each other in a series of viciously creative, momentum-swinging maneuvers before "The Champ" reclaimed his throne by throttling Edge with an Attitude Adjustment off a ladder and through two stacked tables. You could make the case that this was the best of their three WrestleMania matches because they knew each other so well at this point. You can teach pro wrestling moves. Like jazz music or a delicious dish, you can't quite put your finger on it, you just know it. Seriously, the Chi-Town crowd was so hot that Cena and Punk could've slapped each other like King Kong Bundy vs. Hercules Hernandez, circa 1986, and the fans still would've popped. When you put on a bout between two of the best wrestlers from their era, or any era, you're bound to get one of the greatest matches of all time. Was The Rock victorious that momentous March night in 2002? While CM Punk was wrestling some of the best matches of his career, Lesnar was in a bit of a rut, having lost to John Cena at Extreme Rules 2012 (in an awesome match that was this close to making our cut), and going 2-1 in a poorly received feud with part-timer Triple H. The mini-CM Punk feud gave Lesnar his mojo back, even if it spelled the beginning of the end of Punk's WWE run. Yes!," Bryan was long considered a sound ring technician and submission specialist. Mr. Money in the Bank, Randy Orton, entered the arena with a knowing grin. He later requested the match be restarted after the referee missed The Kid's foot on a rope during a pinfall. This was before the internet, so it's likely that many regional fans weren't familiar with Flair. You don't, but The Deadman and The Heartbreak Kid certainly gave it a darn good try at WrestleMania XXVI, resulting in one of the best matches in WWE history. "Ive seen enough," Heenan said, satiated, even a little disgusted, after the pinfall. MIKE McAVENNIE, "The wild-eyed Southern Boys of [Steve] Armstrong & [Tracy] Smothers faced off against the Stan Lane & Bobby Eaton version of The Midnight Express. The Royal Rumble in 2010 is definitely in the latter category. solid block of Midwestern muscle mass that looked like he was summoned to life from Vince McMahon's dreams. "Cactus Jack was awesome in WCW, because he was so different. The match didn't lie to fans Guerrero couldn't beat Lesnar. 1: Steve Austin vs. The Royal Rumble is the easiest match to book, but the hardest match to book well. Chris Jericho would probably agree with that assessment, as Y2J grew up idolizing The Showstopper. 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