They do stuff in that match thats never been replicated. And that's how you know you've told a powerful story. TOM HERRERA. SCOTT TAYLOR, Once upon a time, a small organization based in northeast Japan so perfected its intricate and high-flying take on the three-on-three match format that it birthed a genre unto itself called the Michinoku Pro Six-Man Tag. In 1989, Flair was Kanye 15 years before "The College Dropout" hit shelves. And it was only fitting that The Ultimate Opportunist himself, Edge, wound up seizing the briefcase in the end by utilizing a steel chair as the decisive equalizer. I was in denial, but couldnt help but agree with those feelings. And Shawn Michaels? There was so much history, and it never manifested better than it does in this match. Prior to hugging teammates or filling arenas with choruses of "Yes! His bout with Jericho was "just" a match. Spring Stampedes No Disqualification main event was the perfect marriage of Randy Savage at his unhinged best and DDP at his absolute scrappiest. They were so different and so popular, but popular for exactly opposite reasons. Im the oldest in my family and have a little brother. In 2002, Id discussed with my wife that I wasn't gonna do this forever. This match was so brilliant because it was non-stop, wall-to-wall action that still took time for selling and storytelling. Luger ultimately lost via count-out leaving the ring to save The Stinger from a Horsemen attack but he emerged as both a hero to the people and a legitimate big-time player. The double-cross that led to "The Nature Boy's" victory was bound to leave the Dallas crowd unhappy. That's the case here. So I trained like nobodys business. So many of the greatest matches are two top-tier performers going toe-to-toe in the ring thats what wrestlings built on. The match didn't lie to fans Guerrero couldn't beat Lesnar. "I really thought it was going to be the last move I ever did in wrestling," Foley told WWE.com. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Put them together and you get more stars than the Milky Way galaxy. The fans turned Bryan babyface in a big way, and a year and a half later he was back competing for the big belt. Lock and made his black-clad adversary tap out. The challenger ruled the day, but the methods making that result possible set the bar for all of the Cruiserweight competitors who would follow in the footsteps of these larger-than-life fighters. 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. But while WWE became the most dominant name in sports entertainment based on cartoonish storylines and characters think yellow bandana wearing "Real Americans" battling bodybuilders in face paint from "Parts Unknown" the promotion has also been home to the best pro wrestlers on the planet. ANTHONY BENIGNO. Watching at a young age, I was creeped out and weirded out by him. So he lied, cheated, and stole, with Lesnar succumbing to Goldberg's spear, a belt shot to the head, and a Frog Splash, before finally going down for the 1-2-3. I remembered what Ricky Steamboat taught me about showmanship, what Bobby Eaton taught me about punching, Arn with his general a**kicking and I tried to mimic everything I did after Barry Windham. HIGHEST RATED WWF/WWE MATCHES ON CABLE TV. Swanton Bombs and Spears off ladders are what everybody remembers; what they forget is that Rhyno, Spike Dudley and Lita all got involved, too, essentially making the match a 9-way affair. Kevin Nash and Scott Hall made a big deal out of it, and they had just started with the company. "The thing about both me and Savage was that neither one of us liked to do a lot of talking when it came to settling our differences. 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. But by the time his third match against Ricky Steamboat for the World Title came around, fans just couldnt deny how great "The Nature Boy" was inside the ring. But within a few minutes of the bell ringing, Smith was blown up, so Bret basically had to wrestle himself. See them all and youre pretty well-covered. Youd be foolish not to rush to relive it. The wince-inducing clash established that Hell in a Cell was WWEs most sinister stipulation when both rivals took the fight atop the structure before HBK tumbled off the side of the Cell and through the Spanish announce table. 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. Cody Rhodes bested Damian Sandow in a fine battle, that had the right level of intensity for the friends turned foes. If youre a fan of tag team wrestling then you must watch The Steiner Brothers World Tag Team Championship Match against Sting & Lex Luger at SuperBrawl I. 25. Michaels refusing to tap to the Sharpshooter as the clock ticked down is still suspenseful, while his out-of-nowhere Sweet Chin Music and post-match celebration always makes the historical highlight reels. "The year before, one of our camera guys, Stu, asked how old my son was. MICHAEL BURDICK. Thats the expression, 'Take them on a roller coaster ride.' What makes it even more impressive is there were no gimmicks (HIAC or Casket) and no stakes (like HBK's career), besides of course, Undertaker defending his streak and the pride of victory. The crowd was red hot for this feud. So while Hogan vs. Andre gave WrestleMania III its spectacle, it was Savage vs. Steamboat that made it special. Always." Kurt Angle was actually able to stop The Showstopper, forcing Shawn to tap out to the Ankle Lock. Not convinced that guys took it to the extreme back then? That night, The American Dream became reality. The Beast from the East answered with plenty of punishment of his own, including the "Oh My God!" And in that brief time period they could experience everything that Edge and I went through. From Triple H holding Michaels' hand to keep him from tapping to Benoit's crossface, to the former DX best friends turned bitter enemies teaming up to take down Benoit so they could settle theirown issues. There is no greater test of a wrestler's stamina than an Iron Man Match. The best example of an established star elevating a new star. Good thing both of them had a lot of it. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. JOHN CLAPP, Believe in The Shield or follow the buzzards? So, when Stu said that, that was the point where I started thinking about retiring. There was this kid I grew up with who came over to watch WrestleMania 13. There was nothing pretty about a match between Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome. 49. 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). 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. ANTHONY BENIGNO. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. It's brief, but the actions and decisions really hit the right notes for . Ultimately, the match ended the only way it could with Michaels' final defeat following two Tombstones. Their rivalry culminated in a Ladder Match on the Nov. 20, 2006, edition of Raw. The bout started with all four men brawling around ringside. The Undertaker was so battered that he could not exit under his own power; in fact, he had to be carted away. ANTHONY BENIGNO. If youre looking for a match that possesses rare, borderline scary intensity, look no further. There was a sudden respect because he had just gone through years of learning in one night. But, in a twist nobody saw coming, The Eighth Wonder of the World ultimately found himself on the receiving end of a slam that instantly cemented the match in WWE history. GREG ADKINS. Pinfalls, submissions and even disqualifications played a hand in the final result, which was highlighted by Angle fighting desperately and futilely for a comeback in the final 15 minutes. He seemed to be becoming this main event-caliber guy, which is weird to think about in the perspective of 1991. It was the main event of the second-biggest PPV of 1992 in front of more than 80,000 of Smith's fellow Brits at Wembley Stadium. SHAWN MICHAELS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, Sports-entertainment fans can be a jaded bunch. They fought in WrestleMania 13 Submission Match in which blood was tipping out in the face of Stone Gold. - The list reflects WWE Networks availability asof Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Royal rumble 1992 14. 'Taker's on record saying the same thing. 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!" Both men knew it would, as they threw their best at one another in this grueling 60-minute contest. This match featured the WWE Champion Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, Roddy Piper, Ravishing Rick Rude, Mr. Number nine of the best Wrestlemania matches is the first to involve Shawn Michaels as a competitor, but nowhere near his last. "The greatest thing about that rivalry is that each week it changed, because there was no destination in sight, and one of the things that got added to it as the rivalry was progressing was Chris getting white-hot and winning the World Championship. After racking up several WWE Tag Team Title reigns, Nitro moved from SmackDown to Raw and immediately became a top contender to the Intercontinental Championship. 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. Few competitors enamored her the way Sasha Banks did, which is why nobody knew if Bayley could finally put aside childish things to defeat her for the NXT Womens Title at the very first TakeOver: Brooklyn. The insane match between Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka was one of the craziest pro-wrestling displays ever recorded, but in reality, the entire card was stupendous. 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? "Best-case scenario for a match is when everybody benefits. Matches don't come much more epic than this, and for that reason it is one of the best WWE matches ever. The gimmick matched the storyline, as WWE put a roof on the cage so that Michaels couldn't escape. ", If you like watching two men beat the tar out of one another, this is just the match for you. Some 30 minutes later, it was clear they didnt want Malenko vs. Guerrero to end. But this match was more than a jumping off point. Consider this: the Hell In A Cell match was once the ultimate stipulation. Of course, the No. While their feud had no shortage of great moments, their undisputed masterpiece was the main event at WrestleMania X-Seven. I submitted, and everybody looks at it and goes, 'Dang, what a match!' For example, the most famous spot, when Edge speared a dangling Jeff Hardy from a ladder. Halloween Havoc 1997. If the match would still be a classic with the sound off, it makes the cut. Yeah, it was pretty metal. It was a game-changer for the industry. Don't have WWE Network? "Believe me, even as the referee was making the three-count, even as I was surrounded by the potpourri of burnt hair, charred flesh and blood, as I was losing, I realized I was having that defining WrestleMania moment." 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. It was a 20 minute masterpiece of mayhem, telling a story about how Triple H had to reach new levels of evil in order to defeat the Hardcore Legend. "Its something that happens naturally in the ring. MICHAEL BURDICK. Shawn Michaels is regarded by many as the absolute best wrestler of all time. It wasn't one thing. With chants of This is awesome! raining down, the two carried out several outstanding sequences until Bryan, the United States Champion, finally snapped the LeBell Lock onto his opponent, forced the irate Intercontinental Champion to tap out, and cemented both of their well-earned reputations. Dont worry, you can watch the entire event, uninterrupted on WWE Network. The perfect mix of technical mastery and main event-level appeal, Michaels and Jericho traded kip-ups and Superkicks in a fast-paced affair that saw HBK walk away with a big Show of Shows victory. TOM HERRERA. "It was a really good action-adventure story, but as much as I love that match, its the one match that leaves me with that what if feeling. Eddie Guerrero was the industry veteran who was in the midst of one of the greatest comebacks in pro wrestling history, after conquering his personal demons and the perception he was "just a cruiserweight." MICHAEL BURDICK. Unforgiven 2006 15. Commentating bouts between The Japanese Buzzsaw and The Insane Luchador was always fun. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. 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. You can teach pro wrestling moves. There's no doubt that part of the match's power is cringe-watching Rhodes wrestle with a completely torn pectoral muscle, his solid purple chest ultimate proof of just how much he wanted to defeat Rollins. But it always could go the other way. I wanted to end on a high note. The Rated-R Superstar, on the other hand, had been undefeated in such matches. Fans were rabid for this match, creating an absolutely electric environment. In his first Wrestlemania match back after returning from injury, he took on young Canadian star Chris Jericho in the highest rated match on the card that year. Dont blink. The Foundations triumph is palpable no matter with whom you sided in one of Harts finest showdowns with his Texas Rattlesnake rival. Since we are based in Europe, we are forced to bother you with this information. Royal rumble 2000 6. Of course, when a challenger like Rey Mysterio gets afforded that kind of rare opportunity, he seems obligated to make the most of it, right? Which do you think is best? Every wrestler knew his future depended on this match and each brought it in a big way. Everyone talked about what great shape he was in, and of course, I had at least a little bit of a reputation as a guy that could wrestle an hour, so I knew going into the match that this might be the one guy who can give me a run for my money. MATTHEW ARTUS, To this day, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels stands as one of the greatest rivalries in WWE history. Very proud of it. The most harrowing moment came near the end, when Jerry Sags tested the durability of the human spine by shoving Cactus Jack back-first off a ramp onto the floor. The run-up to this match included some of the greatest hairdos and outfits ever worn in wrestling history, and the match certainly lived up to such sartorial expectations. Although it was Jeff and Matt Hardy who claimed victory, all four Superstars received a standing ovation the next night on Raw. All are masterpieces, but with careful consideration the choice is clear Sgt. Undertaker would get his chance at Badd Blood 1997 in the first-ever Hell In A Cell match. A deafening crowd. Ric Flair might not have been a good guy, but the fans loved him for it. from the opening bell. And each showed up ready for the fight of their lives. It was wild for all the right reasons. When they finally set the match in place, I almost couldnt believe it. Wrestling Worst Wrestling Matches of All Time By Craig Donofrio on March 30, 2021 SliceWrestling / Twitter When wrestling is good, it's great. "Up to that point, there had been only one other Ladder Match, and it had been on Coliseum Home Video. They needed each other and wrestling wouldnt be what it is today without 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and The Rock, and this match was the culmination of that." Only in pro wrestling is a groin shot a thing of beauty. But you can't teach chemistry; you either have it or don't. 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. Or at least, his WWE masterpiece. Yes!," Bryan was long considered a sound ring technician and submission specialist. Physically, his body was completely worn out and The Rock was no longer a regular WWE Superstar, so to have this incredibly meaningful match was special. 2K has been revealing ratings a few at a time on Twitter over the past week, and a load of . But on that night, only one man could. 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. Smackdown - 4 Matches Most frequent ratings: 4.5 Stars - 88 Matches 4.75 Stars - 23 Matches 5 Stars - 8 Matches Highest Rated Years: 1987: 1 Match 1992: 2 Matches 1993: 1 Match 1994: 5 Matches 1995: 3 Matches 1996: 3 Matches 1997: 3 Matches 1998: 2 Matches 1999: 1 Match 2000: 5 Matches 2001: 9 Matches 2002: 6 Matches 2003: 1 Match 2004: 3 Matches "Ive seen enough," Heenan said, satiated, even a little disgusted, after the pinfall. And the reunion at the end was amazing. Triple H was at his in-ring peak, Austin's heel run revitalized his work (though hurt business), while Jericho and Benoit were hungry to prove they belonged at the top. It's one of those magic things where its hard to point out why it worked so well. Despite several heart-stopping near-falls, Undertaker's streak continued. MITCH PASSERO, The WWE Light Heavyweight Championship never garnered the same praise as the WCW Cruiserweight Title, but that doesnt mean the division didn't have its moments of brilliance, such as Backlash 2000. 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. That said, we think it boils down to two all-time greats being in absolute command of their characters, their craft, and the crowd. Whats Austin gonna do, hit a Stunner and then walk out the cage door? But they do a full-on Steel Cage Match. This was one of those perfect storms of pro wrestling a Loser Leaves Town Match between two top-level wrestlers on a stray episode of Raw one night in January. Every high-spot is purposeful. The gimmick was clever, a Three Stages of Hell match, a modified 2 out of 3 Falls match. It was perfect. We had our big series of matches in '97, but by 2000 I was really feeling the effects of that hardcore in-ring style. Triple H gets the win, but you dont have a second to catch your breath as a viewer, because you just saw this crazy Street Fight and youre like, These guys have taken everything they can out of each other, and then the cage starts lowering and youre going What?! A flamboyant, cocky and dastardly grappler that was an expert in his craft and he knew it. They had toppled The Brothers of Destruction, Undertaker and Kane, to win the tag team championship and appeared unstoppable. It was an all-time moment in his career, but given Bret Hart's love of pro wrestling, we bet he preferred what happened earlier in the show: his match versus his brother Owen Hart. Dave Meltzer may give these matches all the stars, but we're looking for matches that stand the test of time. One of the reasons was his match at WrestleMania XIX against another G.O.A.T. 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