Prior to hugging teammates or filling arenas with choruses of "Yes! "I dont think theres anyone who watches professional sports who ever believes its truly the end for a competitor. There was nothing pretty about a match between Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome. The clash between Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page over the WCW World Championship at Halloween Havoc 1998 was far from a mat wrestling classic, but it had the crowd at the edge of their seats all the same. The Rock is one of the greatest feuds in WWE history because it featured one-half of the proverbial "Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling." TOM HERRERA. Triple H's Hell In A Cell match at WrestleMania XVIII may vary. See them all and youre pretty well-covered. It was a cool dynamic to see Sting try to take the fight to Cactus Jack." Daniel Bryan is still my favorite opponent, and I just hope we get to have more matches like that. We definitely did our job that night. We were not about to go out there and have a crash-and-burn Ladder Match under any circumstances, so it benefited us that the [rivalry] didnt call for that. BOBBY MELOK. The animosity between Tully Blanchard and Magnum T.A. Smith's victory blew the roof of the building, but Hart was the real hero here. 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. I didnt know who I wanted to win, but the moment when Razor climbed up and grabbed both titles became such an iconic moment, especially for me as a kid, because I was there. Did we mention the vacated WWE Championship was at stake for the first and only time ever in the Rumble? "I really thought it was going to be the last move I ever did in wrestling," Foley told WWE.com. While he'd still have great matches, this injury ended his legendary 2000-2001 run, when he seemingly couldn't have a bad match. WWE 2K23 ratings: The highest-rated wrestlers. At its best, the Rumble is one cohesive story made up of several smaller stories that not only manages to entertain fans for more than an hour, but also elevate all 30 men involved. Wrestlemania 17 2. Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels in WWE's first-ever televised Ladder Match, becoming the undisputed Intercontinental Champion. Sometimes, the long way is the best. 'Taker and I, when we see each other, we feel like two old war buddies that shared a bunker together and lived through it. They had a great chemistry together, and then you add in the element of them brawling all over the building Sting wasnt known for that. Hart had his work cut out for him. 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). Fox to show up like in "Back To The Future" and say: "I guess you guys aren't ready for that. Maybe that wasnt the right thing to do.' Here now, an A-to-Z guide for both novices and longtime squared-circle diehards alike for what to watch. The match didn't lie to fans Guerrero couldn't beat Lesnar. But the gimmick earned its reputation as "The Devil's Playground" due to what went down in this match (and to be fair, the infamous Undertaker-Mankind match at King of the Ring 1998). 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. "To get to start that match off was awesome. @JOEYSTYLES, In front of more than 70,000 fans in the Georgia Dome, two Superstars who defined an era clashed in an epic No Holds Barred Match. "It was a special night for us both. This month I. It was around that 14-minute mark, but I think, in a way, that allowed people to enjoy it even more, because you could take a casual fan and say, 'You have your doubts about wrestling? However, the debut of The Devil's Favorite Demon, as iconic as it was, shouldn't overshadow one of the most brutal confrontations in either The Phenom's or HBK's legendary careers. Spring Stampedes No Disqualification main event was the perfect marriage of Randy Savage at his unhinged best and DDP at his absolute scrappiest. Simple as that. Heres the deal: Those are my teachers that were in that match Larry Zbyszko, Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton. It wasn't one thing. WWE Iron Man matches dont happen often, especially on weekly TV programming. Alas, while this match does hold up, it is also hampered by its stipulation. When considering the greatest rivals of The Man Called Sting not named Ric Flair, one person comes to mind: Big Van Vader. "Its a masterpiece." Perfectly paced and executed, and it was Warriors best match by a mile. Early on, I was schooled on putting in time, especially working with Flair. JOHN CLAPP, Believe in The Shield or follow the buzzards? KARA MEDALIS, At WrestleMania III, the 15-year undefeated Andre the Giant stepped over the top rope to face WWE Champion Hulk Hogan in front of more than 93,000 members of the WWE Universe. TOM HERRERA. ANTHONY BENIGNO. He was like that anywhere he went, but he stood out like a sore thumb in WCW. "Cactus Jack was awesome in WCW, because he was so different. The bout started with all four men brawling around ringside. . Its not quick or super exciting, but The Rock finally finished off Austin. From within this structural-grade steel hell, World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam and Shawn Michaels battered each other beyond belief. Hart, whose years of experience in the ring dwarfed his challenger, still showed The Kid proper respect. The Rock at WrestleMania X-Seven one of the "biggest" main events in WrestleMania history (right up there with Hogan vs. Andre), but it was also the best WrestleMania main event. Pro wrestling fans chanting "this is awesome!" Trust us, putting this list together was tough, and there are bound to be omissions, but these matches truly are the "best of the best," and belong on any all-time list. With "Dragon Slayer" sewn on his black trunks in plain white block letters, Austin delivered a performance that was anything but plain. This match was iconic before the bell even rang, because on a deeper level it represented two schools of pro wrestling. They should have screamed. The Foundations triumph is palpable no matter with whom you sided in one of Harts finest showdowns with his Texas Rattlesnake rival. "The greatest thing for me was Kurt knew he had the background of an Olympic wrestler and I was the pro wrestler, and he knew we had to merge those two worlds. Anyone who says Foley was just a "gloried stunt guy" needs to watch this match to see what an exceptional storyteller he could be. Watching these two certified WWE Hall of Famers duke it out at Chi-Town Rumble should be near the top of every WWE fans bucket list. For another, he was facing AJ Styles, who was 3-0 against Cena as a singles competitor going back to their first battle seven months earlier. That said, we think it boils down to two all-time greats being in absolute command of their characters, their craft, and the crowd. 3 and bamboozled victory in the closing moments of an unbelievable final four dance with Savage, Sid and The Hulkster, himself. Due to overexposure, "the Devil's playground" became basic. WWE 2K23 is revealing the ratings for each of its wrestlers, and there are definitely some surprises. DAVID SHOEMAKER. I dont think theres ever been a case where a guy reverted back to a character hed been in his pre-WWE career. There, the notorious Roddy Piper went head-to-head with Greg Valentine in an infamous Dog Collar Match. That night, The American Dream became reality. Not only did Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns formally debut by going after the biggest, baddest dog in the yard (thatd be Ryback), but their first match was against that same guy, and the most dominant Tag Team Champions since D-Generation X, in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match in WWEs Brooklyn debut. How he ever got up let alone competed again well never know. What made TLC II so excellent is it is a painstakingly and let's be honest, painful assembly of jaw-dropping moments that coalesce into a single story. Tempered glass from the pods that randomly released Superstars into the Chamber at various intervals was shattered, and bodies littered the canvas. Nowhere was this more true than in Punk's hometown of Chicago, which featured a crowd loud enough to register on the Richter scale. But, by the time the match was over, fans didnt even care about Flair anymore. Yes, you read that right. While both guys could play heel or face perfectly, Naitch was at his best as the bad guy, while Savage was the good guy you loved to root for, especially when he's fighting for the honor of his valet (and real-life wife) Miss Elizabeth. A red-hot angle. MIKE McAVENNIE, Though their 2-out-of-3 Falls "farewell match" later that summer would become the stuff of legend, Malenko and Guerreros time-limit draw in May 1995 was no less mesmerizing. The breathless contest ended in a 45-minute time limit draw, and that enmity defined WCW until its very last match. Its hard to tell where one teams madness began and the others ended in this frankly ludicrous, 10-car pileup of a match that saw Edge & Christian retain their World Tag Team Championship against The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Fans weren't too pleased when Shawn Michaels was shoe-horned into the main event of WrestleMania XX, turning a World Championship bout between Triple H and Chris Benoit into the first triple threat main event in WrestleMania history. He thought it was just a regular match, and all of a sudden he got thrown onto a pay-per-view when he showed up. The two Intercontinental Titles were hanging above the ring, and Razor Ramon was my favorite at the time. " RICKY STEAMBOAT, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. However, the event was stolen by two veteran wrestlers Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle. Okay, so Undertaker and Triple H would lock up again, but this match felt like the culmination of the Attitude Era and the blood feud that bound two of its biggest stars for more than a decade. Perfect with the Intercontinental Title hanging in the balance. While Bryan was the world's best wrestler since Day 1, his character work elevated him to WrestleMania main event-level status, especially his super sticky "Yes!" For example, the most famous spot, when Edge speared a dangling Jeff Hardy from a ladder. This match was so brilliant because it was non-stop, wall-to-wall action that still took time for selling and storytelling. "I love that match because of the unpredictability of it. "Imagine competing at a WrestleMania against your brother. The first Women'sMatch on this list displayed the incredible athleticism, strength and desire of two women with arguably the most impressive pedigrees in WWE. But on that night, only one man could. Yes, it's easy to forget Austin was once one of the world's greatest technical wrestlers, but this match (and his neck injury later that year at SummerSlam) transformed his style and the "WWE style" for the next decade, making this arguably the most influential match ever. DEAN AMBROSE, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, As the old adage goes: "Its not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.". As many expected, the 450-pound Mastodon imposed his will on the two-time WWE Hall of Famer, pummeling Flair around ringside. from the opening bell. MIKE MURPHY. Unquestionably, watching a Peoples Champion on the verge of electrifying millions through other avenues go toe-to-toe with a sports-entertainment legend who had lost his way to the vices of "Hollywood" and a New World Order is appointment viewing. In ranking these moments, its tough to top "Stone Cold" Steve Austin siding with the Devil himself and becoming Mr. McMahons corporate champion at the close of WrestleMania X-Seven. "You cant predict chemistry. But lo and behold, Cena got it done, whittling away at Styles indomitable will to win the WWE Championship and finally tie The Nature Boys record. "The biggest challenge for me was to take the things in my head that seem so vibrant and real and make them happen in the ring. You can guess at it, but until guys get in the ring, you dont know for sure whether they have chemistry together. MICHAEL BURDICK. The Brahma Bull Rock Bottomed him to the canvas for a three-count that was a nanosecond beyond Undertakers disruptive reach. If the match would still be a classic with the sound off, it makes the cut. His back was in terrible condition. In a years-long rivalry that spanned two continents, Tanaka and Awesome took their hostility toward each other to new heights with their ruthless brawl at Heat Wave 1998. Throughout the bout, The Undertaker relished the opportunity to punish the degenerate inside the steel payback for Michaels costing The Deadman the WWE Title at SummerSlam that year. Despite several heart-stopping near-falls, Undertaker's streak continued. Survivor series 2002 5. Thats the tell-tale sign of two guys who know what theyre doing. If you tear the frickin' house down, that'll usually take care of it." Hes so obnoxious and youre able to root against him. This was the biggest match in my career and probably the last time that my heart was completely in being in the ring. With both Brock and Angle coming from standout amateur wrestling backgrounds, it's no surprise these two elite athletes took their battle to the mat at first, before The Anomaly poured on the pure strength to wear down his opponent. "What they do in the ring is so good, it doesn't even matter how their rivalry got started. The celebration, however, would prove short-lived. Good thing both of them had a lot of it. For my money, this is one of the absolute best matches of all time. Following The Rock and Steve Austin's showdown is no easy task, but Angle and Lesnar put on a clinic while constantly pushing each other's competitive hunger to another level. Or should we say, Cactus Jack. They executed it like two veterans do." Flyin' Bryan added altitude to his arsenal that elevated the contest into a truly memorable encounter. Not to mention, the huge crowd in Seattle looked so amazing the whole show and were loud the entire night. The crowd was red hot for this feud. Each one makes sense in the context of the match. The "Hit Man" shook the No. In a display of true grace and sportsmanship, the competitors emotionally embraced after the unforgettable match. 2 title" feel like its most coveted. When youre putting in that much time, the thought process behind it is youve got to have a couple guys who know how to do it. With his longtime friend Shawn Michaels serving as the unpredictable special guest referee, Triple H used every tool in his arsenal including steel chairs, ring steps, his signature sledgehammer and multiple Pedigrees to put The Deadman down for good. Bryan defeated incumbent champion Randy Orton and potential usurper Batista in a bout that and this isnt an exaggeration the WWE Universe willed him to in the first place by way of sheer fan support. Sherri Martel was immaculate, Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were hitting on all cylinders, and the recurring shots of Miss Elizabeth in the audience were perfectly done. I was fortunate to see some tapes of [Rey Mysterio] from Mexico and matches he'd had in Japan with Psychosis and Juventud Guerrera. Thats damn near impossible, unless youve somehow been to every single mat contest since George Hackenschmidt won the World Title in 1905. To a luchador, a mask isnt just part of a costume. This angle got him over, but he was still a sniveling heel of the Edge or Seth Rollins variety, not the cold-blooded killer, a la Jake Roberts, WWE needed as a foe for The Rock. Shawn Michaels is regarded by many as the absolute best wrestler of all time. SHEAMUS, AS TOLD TO JUSTIN LESLIE. When fans needed a new hero atop the NWA, it turned out to be The Nature Boy himself. injury time. Mysterio challenged Dragon for possession of the J-Crown, a collection of unified titles that the reigning champion wore to ringside with relish. Both are the legend of WWE and popular among the fans of WWE family. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. We'll be the first to admit that the ladder match has been done to death in the three decades since WrestleMania X, but that wasn't the case in 1993. It was wild for all the right reasons. Put them together and you get more stars than the Milky Way galaxy. You can watch it as a standalone amazing match and see it unfold. "Chris and I were not big on going into a Ladder Match. ZACK RYDER, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn is like the sports-entertainment equivalent of the Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward boxing rivalry. WWE Day 1, January 1 Cesaro & Ricochet vs. Ridge Holland & Sheamus - 2.5 The Usos (c) vs. New Day (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship) - 4 Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss - 2.75 RK-Bro (c) vs. Street Profits (WWE Raw Tag Team Championship) - 3.25 Edge vs. What more can be said about Bret Hart vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's submission match at Wrestlemania 13? TOM HERRERA. If youre looking for a match that possesses rare, borderline scary intensity, look no further. Speaking of "flesh and blood," a lot of it was spilled in Madison Square Garden, as Triple H and Cactus Jack battled in the greatest Street Fight of all time. By the end, both men were busted open (There is literally nothing better than the overhead camera looking down on that red-stained, baby-blue ring mat) and their exhaustion was tangible and harrowing. and its also the challenge of 'Whats your desire to try?' Yet, just like 18 other brave souls before him, Triple H fell to The Undertaker. "Everything about Bret and Owen Hart was a situation anybody with siblings could identify with. "I dont think Rey knew it was a pay-per-view. The first fall was a regular one-on-one match, the second fall was a Street Fight, and the third fall was a steel cage match. The two collided on the Road To WrestleMania in a match that highlighted not only their "types" (high-flyer vs. power wrestler), but also the little things that made them two of the best ever. It was his big debut in a big American company. "I knew going into Chicago it would be an unpredictable and hostile crowd, and it really was. 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