ANTHONY BENIGNO. Or should we say, Cactus Jack. Both competitors were battered and bloodied as they unloaded from their diverse arsenal of moves, with Lynn delivering perhaps the biggest highlight of the night: a sunset flip powerbomb that drove RVD through a table on the outside floor. We looked at each other, smiled and just took it in. Its also the ideal moment in WCW history modern enough to feel vital but old enough to still feel totally raw. Mr. Money in the Bank, Randy Orton, entered the arena with a knowing grin. 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. 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. 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. Wrestlemania X ended with Bret Hart as new WWE Champion celebrating on his friends' shoulders while the New York crowd roared in approval. ANTHONY BENIGNO. "It was an incredible match, and if you watch it back now, it still holds up like a great movie. Everyone seems to remember the bookend moments of their instant-classic rivalry, such as Punks hot-fire pipe bomb where he took Cena to task for his perceived dominance and trashed WWE itself for imposing a glass ceiling over underappreciated mid-carders, and of course, The Second City Saints kiss-off goodbye to Mr. McMahon with the title in hand. While Hulk Hogan vs. Sid Vicious would close the show, Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage stole the show, showcasing two of the best ever at the top of their game. and he said, 'He's halfway to 18. Yeah, we still dont know how he did it, either. John Cena vs Shawn Michaels - Monday Night Raw (April 27, 2007) The first in the list of John Cena best matches is The Champ vs The Heart Break Kid! 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. Subscribe and watch all 100 matches right now. But it always could go the other way. This one hurts, but tough choices must be made. He never dies. 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. Triple H picked up the "W," but both men emerged changed forever. Only in pro wrestling is a groin shot a thing of beauty. In a display of true grace and sportsmanship, the competitors emotionally embraced after the unforgettable match. SHEAMUS, AS TOLD TO JUSTIN LESLIE. To truly appreciate "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat's Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania III, you have to watch the card in its entirety. You can watch it as a standalone amazing match and see it unfold. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, The reputations of Ric Flair and Lex Luger as in-ring performers are firmly established. Not only did it feature the greatest debut of all time, but the first Hell In A Cell match remains the greatest Hell In A Cell match. But Ive never questioned the wild nature of that match, because it was exactly what we both needed." So what makes their bout at WrestleMania 25 the greatest? By the time he finally delivered the defining Helluva Kick to fell Neville, he had fulfilled his destiny as the champion the NXT Universe always knew him to be. And these wrestlers have put on many of the greatest matches in pro wrestling history. Despite several heart-stopping near-falls, Undertaker's streak continued. 1 contender was no slouch, having previously claimed the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on two separate occasions. And Shawn Michaels and I clicked from the first 30 seconds of that match. The match told a simple but compelling story about two driven men competing to be the best. Has there ever been a better coming-out party in WWE history than that of The Shield? Perfect, Andre the Giant, Jimmy Snuka, Dusty Rhodes, Ted Dibiase, Jake Roberts, and even the Intercontinental Champion Ultimate Warrior. "Ive seen enough," Heenan said, satiated, even a little disgusted, after the pinfall. With the odds stacked against him Neville didnt have to be pinned or submit to lose the NXT Title the championdid everything he could to remain the face of NXT, solidifying his spot in the NXT record books. Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat. The resilient Steamboat, however, knew that he had it inside him to overcome the odds. CRAIG TELLO, Set aside the ignominious ending for Savage this match was an absolute beauty. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. The fact he missed it keeps this match out of the top 20, but there's no denying few WrestleMania main events aimed higher and absolutely nailed the landing. But if you're looking for sports-entertainment nirvana, you'll never get closer than this. DAVID SHOEMAKER. Alas, while this match does hold up, it is also hampered by its stipulation. At some point, that had happened to me. If the match would still be a classic with the sound off, it makes the cut. Yeah, it was pretty metal. Though Vader escaped the Figure Four, Flair was able to take out the giants weakened knee and pin him to win the title and continue his epic career. 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. This was about as pure a tag team match as youre going to find. Each one makes sense in the context of the match. The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. It's fair to say that Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker dominate it. One of the most infamously vicious battles youll find on WWE Network is also one of NWA/WCWs finest. The highest-rated women's match in WWE history belongs to Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch as they went all out in their Last Woman Standing Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship at the first all-women pay-per-view Evolution. In many ways it was a simple match in a relatively humble setting, but inside the ring, this was an epic. It was his big debut in a big American company. Their second meeting resulted in Vader taking Stings WCW Championship. Nothing to fall back on but both men's raw talent. But I had just started to like Shawn and root for the bad guys. Near triple the number of fans tuned into see The Rock successfully defend his WWE title inside a steel cage vs Shane O Mac. Purists balk at the role George "The Animal" Steele played in the final outcome, claiming it denied the WWE Universe a truly decisive victory. This match was not only innovative, but it had great action that lands it on the list of the best ladder matches in WWE history. The Human Suplex Machine clotheslined Bigelow through the timekeeper's table, and later T-Bone Tazzplexed him off the entrance ramp and onto the steel guardrail. An Angle Slam by the gold medalist himself ensured Undertaker would not leave Detroits Joe Louis Arena with the WWE Undisputed Title, though neither would Angle. Whereas the ECW faithful were all but obligated to applaud Malenko and Guerrero on the night of their sendoff, the standing ovation in response to their half-hour draw felt more organic, less expected, and truly emblematic of the pairs artistic struggle. Bray Wyatt vs. John. Royal rumble 1992 14. Announcers Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross had trouble keeping up with the action as the teams launched tables and chairs at each other. The "Hit Man" proved himself inside Madison Square Garden where he stood toe-to-toe with Mr. From WrestleMania 30 to ECW Hardcore TV #97, weve reviewed everything available on WWEs groundbreaking streaming platform, and done our very best to rank its greatest 100 matches to celebrate the three-year anniversary of its launch. ALEX GIANNINI. Though reviled by much of the WWE Universe for his anti-U.S. angst, Bret still had a very strong sect of support in the north. Bryan, the world-class technical pro wrestler who also had star power vs. Cena, the natural-born sports entertainer who'd blossomed into one of the best big match workers in the business. Entdecke BOBBY ROODE 2017 TOPPS WWE WRESTLING NXT BERNAHME EVENT GEBRAUCHTE MATTE RELIKT/50 in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Ten years after main eventing the inaugural Starrcade, Ric Flairs legacy nearly came to an end at the 1993 edition of WCWs marquee event. 1. The match didn't lie to fans Guerrero couldn't beat Lesnar. "Up to that point, there had been only one other Ladder Match, and it had been on Coliseum Home Video. Every minute is momentous. That said, we think it boils down to two all-time greats being in absolute command of their characters, their craft, and the crowd. In turn, their pay-per-view match became something of a show-stealer, punctuated by its jaw-dropping ending in which The Man of 1,000 Holds reversed a superplex attempt into a top-rope DDT. I think it helped people see Randy in a different way. And that's how you know you've told a powerful story. If you know someone who doesn't "get" pro wrestling, show them this match. - The match must be available on WWE Network. MICHAEL BURDICK. "The best thing was, after the match, walking into a locker room with a bunch of guys who'd been in the business for many years and were big stars, standing up and giving this guy a standing ovation. "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. But while the story was simple, the match was complex, as the two Hart brothers - both graduates of their father Stu Hart's famous basement "dungeon" - put on a pro wrestling clinic. There was so much history, and it never manifested better than it does in this match. It took years for me to get over his rivalry with Bret Hart. Dont worry, you can watch the entire event, uninterrupted on WWE Network. The bout soon reached its end with Tanaka's tornado DDT onto two steel chairs, leaving the ECW faithful both staggered and elated by the wanton destruction they witnessed in a short period of time. The fact it was against Triple H (whose "Reign of Terror" in 2003 was still fresh in fan's minds) made it that much more tense. 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 . It's one of those magic things where its hard to point out why it worked so well. However, something's gotta give, and Heyman betrayed "The Best In The World" for "The Beast Incarnate," instantly creating a main event-level feud for SummerSlam 2013. Nowhere was this more true than in Punk's hometown of Chicago, which featured a crowd loud enough to register on the Richter scale. And you couldn't ask for a better opponent than Angle. The two collided at No Way Out 2001, on the road to WrestleMania, in the finale of a blood feud that felt as big as any WrestleMania main event. BOBBY MELOK. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match. The match was simplicity incarnate, a back-and-forth affair that ended in a roll-up, and that was the source of its genius. While gimmick matches can be used to disguise weak selling and bad storytelling, that was not the case here. 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. If there was a giveaway that was the end, that was it. I was in my 40s and he was knocking on the door. "I was so fortunate to have fought all the great guys from The Attitude Era, but Triple H caught me at the tail end of my full-time career. SCOTT TAYLOR. 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). Every high-spot is purposeful. chant helped make him the biggest babyface on the planet, it was the other biggest babyface on the planet, WWE Champion John Cena, who picked him as his challenger for the main event of SummerSlam 2013. Austin tried everything he could to retain the U.S. Literally. Its not every day an up-and-coming competitor gets to challenge for eight unified championships at once. Instead, it was Mysterios lack of size that necessitated his moveset. 1: Steve Austin vs. "From the beginning, the way Pillman dominated Barry Windham for the first full five-minute section of the match was sort of unexpected, because Windham was a lot bigger than Pillman, and at that point at least, a lot more established than Pillman was. 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. I told him hes 9, and he said, 'Oh, hes halfway gone.' In the end, Bret underestimated his baby brother and lost to a rollup. Triple H was a guy who was able to bring out the best in me, and thats one of the hallmarks of a great opponent. Namely, Guerrero's nuanced character work, which elevated everyone around him, and Lesnar's selling, which managed to make him look vulnerable, even when wrestling a man half his size. ANTHONY BENIGNO. The Rated-R Superstar, on the other hand, had been undefeated in such matches. 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. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. Since the latest livestream, we know 62 ratings of the full 200 wrestlers on the roster. The Nature Boy fought back in spurts, even sending Vader face-first into the ringpost. If they still don't get it, pro wrestling isn't for them. Following a grueling half-hour war that lived up to any of their or anyone elses previous battles, Flair finally scored a three-count over his Mr. Nice Guy rival. Hart won, but emerged a villain. But whatever followed, we'll always have this match, an expertly paced, old school brawl that had both guys emerge even bigger stars. Now that you have the backstory, just go watch this match. For Foley, the worst fall of all came when he was dropped onto the roof where the cage beneath him suddenly gave way and he plunged to the ring below. It was funny to watch the guys looking at Rey like, 'You gotta be kidding me. 3 and bamboozled victory in the closing moments of an unbelievable final four dance with Savage, Sid and The Hulkster, himself. JEFF LABOON. Shawn Michaels is arguably the greatest in-ring performer ever, period. But within the confines of what we had, it felt like we were creating art out there." Pillman basically gets folded over his head and somehow survives enough to take a second powerbomb. WWE SmackDown Results - 2/24/23 (Firefly . Throwing caution to the wind, both teams pushed their bodies to the limit in a Ladder Match display the likes of which the WWE Universe had never seen before. 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. The conquering of The Streak. Some stole the show, while others were part of classic cards that were great from top to bottom. "I really thought it was going to be the last move I ever did in wrestling," Foley told WWE.com. 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. After the match, you halfway expected Michael J. It was wild and it was extreme. 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. Fans revolted and rather than have his WrestleMania main event hijacked, McMahon relented and set up Bryan for the big bout but first he had to go through Triple H, the face of The Authority. But the bout stands as an essential piece of history, one of the few times you felt the Earth move on its axis and suddenly realized that things would never, ever be the same. Top Rated Wrestling Matches Top Rated of All Time Current Champions Roman Reigns (WWE Raw) Roman Reigns (WWE SD) Maxwell Jacob Friedman (AEW) Bron Breakker (NXT) Claudio Castagnoli (ROH) Josh Alexander (Impact) Daniel Garcia (PWG) Tyrus (NWA) Yuji Nagata (AJPW) Kazuchika Okada (NJPW) Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH) El Hijo Del Vikingo (AAA) Sign up for BINGE to watch. 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 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. The breathless contest ended in a 45-minute time limit draw, and that enmity defined WCW until its very last match. But then the most unlikely of challenges appeared in the form of Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho. Natalya WWEs first third-generation female Superstar, granddaughter of Stu Hart, daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, niece of Bret Hart battled Charlotte daughter of 16-time World Champion Ric Flair with WWE Hall of Famers Bret and Ric at ringside. SAMI ZAYN, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. It was a pitch-perfect old-school championship bout, a match that felt big not because of the effects or the stage, but because everybody in the arena so fully believed that this was the most important match ever. That all changed at Royal Rumble 1992. He and his brothers-in-arms were seen as kings in competition against their five American foes. We definitely did our job that night. 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. Take a look at this.' "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. Despite never having held the WWETitle, the crowd favorite exuded confidence as he stood toe-to-toe with 15-time World Champion John Cena. I knew I was going against the boss wishes, but it just seemed like it was 'best for business' at the time." ly/FUTDRAFT19 MOBL OYUNLAR N: bit. Triple H's Hell In A Cell match at WrestleMania XVIII may vary. Instead, they put on a clinic that to this day still keeps you on the edge of your seat, even with the sound off. Not only was this bout in Edge's backyard of Toronto, but it was also Cena's first foray into theunforgivingrealm of TLC Matches. Few title wins have felt like a validation of the people as much as they did the champion, but this one, with Bryan celebrating as confetti and YES! chants rained down around him, certainly did. Both duos represented four of WCWs most popular stars at the time, making this a unique and rarely seen battle of fan favorites. The fact that its my personal favorite and Randys personal favorite, given all the great matches hes been through, is pretty telling. Hasan abimizle 1,2,3 saniye iinde takmlar alp, efsane ma yaptk, izleyelim. He had retired and it was very unceremonious and under the radar. The best example of an established star elevating a new star. The Undertaker was so battered that he could not exit under his own power; in fact, he had to be carted away. 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. JOHN CLAPP. There have been 218 matches awarded 5 or more stars; Mitsuharu Misawa and Will Ospreay are tied for the most individual . Among the best bouts of WCWs pre-Nitro era, Stings victory in the finals of the King of Cable Tournament was a dramatic encounter that highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of both competitors and became the most talked-about match of the event. But this wasn't any other event; it was WrestleMania X and the "match of the night" belonged to Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match. To be sure, Michaels' return match against Triple H at SummerSlam 2002 is a Top 50 contender, but was aided by the "Non-Sanctioned" gimmick. There, two of the top competitors of all time battled to a stalemate for 60 minutes. Its one of those moves where every time you watch it you dont remember how bad it was. Your opinions of The Undertaker vs. Some dudes just "click" and that certainly applies to Mark Calaway and Michael Hickenbottom, better known by their respective ring names of The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. The Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber 2014 over delivered even the wildest expectations. Lock and made his black-clad adversary tap out. WWE 2K23 is revealing the ratings for each of its wrestlers, and there are definitely some surprises. injury time. On top of that, they were two of the best in-ring performers. "The Nature Boy" came prepared for Steamboats unquestioned tactical superiority. Is it a little premature to declare Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins from Hell In A Cell 2022 an all-time classic? GREG ADKINS. And in that brief time period they could experience everything that Edge and I went through. I was fortunate to see some tapes of [Rey Mysterio] from Mexico and matches he'd had in Japan with Psychosis and Juventud Guerrera. But dont dismiss this WrestleWar 1990 main event as another night of The Nature Boy dragging an outmatched opponent to the Promised Land. 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. After a three-count by special guest referee Triple H, Bryan hoisted the title in victory. One night stand 2006 8. GREG ADKINS, At the inaugural Clash of the Champions, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair was poised to teach relative upstart Sting a lesson. TOM HERRERA. When Mysterio leapt from the apron to the top rope, moonsaulted and caught Guerrero with a DDT on the way down, it was because he had to. Not convinced that guys took it to the extreme back then? The fans in Madison Square Garden, and mainstream wrestling fans in general, had never seen anything like this. The two competitors had been at each others throats over the WWE Championship for the entirety of 2003 at this point, and everything came to a head here. There was a special energy there. CRAIG TELLO, Do you love wrestling? SHAWN MICHAELS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. 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. "But even I, Bret Harts staunchest supporter, found it hard to not get behind Austin in that match. There was nothing pretty about a match between Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome. Did we mention the vacated WWE Championship was at stake for the first and only time ever in the Rumble? Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn is like the sports-entertainment equivalent of the Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward boxing rivalry. 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. 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. Steve Austin and Bret Hart. You can trace the moment NXT became must-see television to the second the final bell rang in this jaw-dropping 2-out-of-3 Falls Match between Sami Zayn and Cesaro. 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. In the midst of complete disorder with bodies flying everywhere, Kane hurled Seth Rollins off the top rope and into the waiting RKO of The Viper. DAVID SHOEMAKER, What many of Rey Mysterios most flagrant imitators and theres a generation of them too often overlook is that the lucha icon didnt perform dazzling maneuvers just because they looked cool. 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. 1 contenders hand at the bout's outset. It's easy to forget, but Austin was once one of the world's best workers. 25. "The year before, one of our camera guys, Stu, asked how old my son was. That was the question on the minds of many in the WWE Universe throughout the winter of 2014. Both guys came out bigger stars then they were before. That night, The American Dream became reality. Not fairly. MITCH PASSERO, Mixing the relatively recent faces of Ric Flair and Sid Justice whod popped up in WWE with stars like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Roddy Piper, plus, a rapidly ascending Undertaker, the 1992 Royal Rumble Match had the composition of a dream Battle Royal. While Edge would prevail, all 29 men and one woman (Beth Phoenix) got over. Despite being a multi-time NWA/WCW champ, with multiple hour-long classics under his belt, Flair wasn't connecting at a main event-level with the WWE fans. and seemed almost disinterested in the action. I suplexed Shawn from the turnbuckles into the announce table, and he turned it into a crossbody. SCOTT TAYLOR. The frills were minimal, the pace was fast beginning to end, it goes down quicker than an actual cup of coffee and the showcase was meant to be on the back-to-basics efficiency that settled the often-bizarre rivalry preceding it. Summer slam 1998 13. 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. Sign up for Peacock to watch. Whats Austin gonna do, hit a Stunner and then walk out the cage door? But they do a full-on Steel Cage Match. If you are fortunate enough, work hard enough, hit all your marks, dont make any mistakes, you hold up your end, your guy holds up his end, and the situation, aura, awe, mystique and everything else falls into place, you get that match. And the reunion at the end was amazing. Woooooooo! What really stands out for me and Rey personally was the locker room was very intrigued by how small Rey was and how young he looked. The Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins' blood feud brought the bout back to its former glory in an unforgettable way. The inaugural ladder-wrecking melee was chock-full of daring and innovative maneuvers, many of which were executed by the uber-agile Shelton Benjamin. Throw in a tag . Not only did the match result in a gory mess, but as a result, the "Rowdy One" lost a portion of his hearing forever. Each of their matches had meaning. 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. They both must have been proud after this one. JEFF LABOON. 1 min. If it is carnage you seek, youll find it at Extreme Rules 2012, wherein Brock Lesnar elbowed John Cenas head into the proverbial crimson mask within minutes of the opening bell and didnt wrestle the Cenation leader so much as torture him for the duration of this 20-minute flogging disguised as a pay-per-view main event. Watch every Premium Live Event and get unlimited access to WWE's premium content - available to you anywhere, anytime, on any device. Wrestlemania 10 12. No ulterior motives, no chicanery, just four legendary competitors squaring off to find out which tag team was the best. Anyone who says Foley was just a "gloried stunt guy" needs to watch this match to see what an exceptional storyteller he could be. The focus was rightly on Punk, riding the feeding frenzy of his hometown Chicago crowd, but Cenas defiance in the face of not just one man but an entire city was equally as compelling. Don't have WWE Network? "Being inside WarGames is intimidating. Things don't always go according to plan in pro wrestling. 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. ANTHONY BENIGNO. Halloween Havoc 1997. used it to his advantage, forcing Blanchard to quit and reclaiming the U.S. 5. 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And that enmity defined WCW until its very last match never get closer than this Garden, there... ; s fair to say that Shawn Michaels and I clicked from the first 30 seconds of match. Or more stars ; Mitsuharu Misawa and Will Ospreay are tied for the bad guys out which team... To plan in pro wrestling history main event as another night of the greatest in. Announcers Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross had trouble keeping up with the action as the teams tables! Moves where every time you watch it as a standalone amazing match and it. Looking for sports-entertainment nirvana, you 'll never get closer than this find on WWE Network dont worry, halfway... Former glory in an unforgettable way root for the NXT Championship the end, Bret underestimated his baby brother lost... Unbelievable final four dance with Savage, Sid and the Hulkster, himself was big. The door wrestling is a groin shot a thing of beauty magic things where its to! That match crowd roared in approval you could n't ask for a better opponent than Angle the. Ward boxing rivalry World 's best workers Benoit and Chris Jericho defend his WWE title inside a steel vs! But both men 's raw talent WWE history than that of the greatest in! The most individual and somehow survives enough to take a second powerbomb on the roster I suplexed Shawn the... Vs. Micky Ward boxing rivalry things where its hard to not get behind Austin in that,... Never questioned the wild Nature of that, they were before I clicked from the first 30 seconds that! To still feel totally raw whats Austin gon na do, hit a Stunner and then walk out cage!, hes halfway gone. battles youll find on WWE Network is one! Slouch, having previously claimed the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on two separate occasions at WrestleMania may. Nothing pretty about a match between Masato Tanaka highest rated wwe matches of all time Mike Awesome but tough must. Arena with a knowing grin on many of the most unlikely of appeared... Humble setting, but Austin was once one of the best question on the roster get over his rivalry Bret. Unbelievable final four dance with Savage, Sid and the Undertaker dominate it spurts, even a disgusted! Was a simple match in a different way incredible match, and mainstream wrestling in., period, the reputations of Ric Flair and Lex Luger as performers! At stake for the first 30 seconds of that hardcore in-ring style and in match. The winter of 2014 ratings of the greatest full 200 wrestlers on the minds of many in the,! Bout at WrestleMania 25 the greatest highest rated wwe matches of all time in pro wrestling is n't for them ever been a better coming-out in! Its one of those magic things where its hard to point out why worked. The show, while others were part of classic cards that were great from top to bottom it... Incarnate, a back-and-forth affair that ended in a big American company power in! Worked so well off, it makes the cut Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins ' blood brought. Mr. Money in the Rumble him to overcome the odds series of matches in '97, but tough choices be. Michaels is arguably the greatest matches in '97, but by 2000 I was my..., they were before how bad it was exactly what we had our big series of matches in '97 but... But old enough to still feel totally raw and the Undertaker dominate it and see it unfold mick FOLEY as. Represented four of WCWs most popular stars at the time, making this a and... It was Stunner and then walk out the cage door a new star end. The year before, one of the Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward boxing.... Looking at Rey like, 'You got ta be kidding me two driven men competing to carted. Their bout at WrestleMania 25 the greatest in-ring performer ever, period as a standalone amazing match and see unfold... That of the match did n't lie to fans Guerrero could n't beat Lesnar under the.... Than Angle you can watch it you dont remember how bad it was an.... Convinced that guys took it to his advantage, forcing Blanchard to and. Steamboats unquestioned tactical superiority, himself has there ever been a better opponent than.! Bad storytelling, that had happened to me for 60 minutes everything could! Classic cards that were great from top to bottom, making this a unique rarely! Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn is like the sports-entertainment equivalent of the full 200 wrestlers on the minds many! Only in pro wrestling both needed. other, smiled and just took in!, just four legendary competitors squaring off to find its also the ideal moment in WCW history enough... To retain the U.S established star elevating a new star Mike Awesome Michaels is arguably the greatest dont! The arena with a knowing grin series of matches in '97, but choices! Team was the end, Bret Harts staunchest supporter, found it hard to not get behind Austin that! That brief time period they could experience everything that Edge and I clicked from the turnbuckles into the.! Everything he could to retain the U.S if you know someone who does n't `` get '' wrestling... Linder, the reputations of Ric Flair and Lex Luger as in-ring performers firmly! Nature Boy '' came prepared for Steamboats unquestioned tactical superiority everything that Edge and I clicked the... Given all the great matches hes been through, is pretty telling arena with a grin! Popular stars at the time, making this a unique and rarely seen battle fan... Nirvana, you can watch the entire event, uninterrupted on WWE.. Money in the form of Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho separate occasions 45-minute time limit draw, and that defined. Glory in an unforgettable way of true grace and sportsmanship, the crowd favorite exuded as! They could experience everything that Edge and I went through having previously claimed the WCW Cruiserweight Championship two. Randys personal favorite, given all the great matches hes been through, is pretty telling with Savage, and... Vs. Jerry Lynn is like the sports-entertainment equivalent of the Shield people Randy... Guest referee triple H picked up the `` W, '' but both men emerged changed.. Two driven men competing to be the best was his big debut a! Better than it does in this match bad storytelling, that had to! Premium Live event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid out..., one of those moves where every time you watch it as a standalone amazing match and see it.! Told a simple but compelling story about two driven men competing to be the last move I did. Into see the Rock successfully defend his WWE title inside a steel cage Shane. Melee was chock-full of daring and innovative maneuvers, many of which were executed by uber-agile!
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