It wasn't your typical 2-out-of-3 Falls Match. TOM HERRERA. Cena put Bryan over clean as a sheet, succumbing to the "Yes Kick," kicking off Bryan's short-lived (almost literally three minutes) title reign. He later requested the match be restarted after the referee missed The Kid's foot on a rope during a pinfall. Even the Cena Sucks crowd had to give it up for him at that point, and if that isnt the ultimate sign of respect, well, we dont know what is. Title. "Imagine competing at a WrestleMania against your brother. You can't overpower The Beast Incarnate, you can only hope to outwrestle him. "I knew going into Chicago it would be an unpredictable and hostile crowd, and it really was. Purists balk at the role George "The Animal" Steele played in the final outcome, claiming it denied the WWE Universe a truly decisive victory. A flamboyant, cocky and dastardly grappler that was an expert in his craft and he knew it. 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. Anyone who says Foley was just a "gloried stunt guy" needs to watch this match to see what an exceptional storyteller he could be. Ultimately, the match ended the only way it could with Michaels' final defeat following two Tombstones. 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. Top Rated Wrestling Matches Top Rated of All Time Current Champions (WWE Raw) (WWE SD) Bron Breakker (NXT) (ROH) Josh Alexander (Impact) Daniel Garcia Tyrus (NWA) Yuji Nagata (AJPW) Kazuchika Okada (NJPW) Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH) El Hijo Del Vikingo (AAA) Gran Guerrero (CMLL) Levaniel (wXw) PWI Magazine Top Rated Matches of All Time Namely, each man's willingness to do anything to win. The match was simplicity incarnate, a back-and-forth affair that ended in a roll-up, and that was the source of its genius. Interestingly, it was an incredibly uncharacteristic Shooting Star Press that nearly doomed Lesnar, yet The Beast Incarnate recovered and ravaged Angle with an F-5 for the win. Some 30 minutes later, it was clear they didnt want Malenko vs. Guerrero to end. Heres the deal: Those are my teachers that were in that match Larry Zbyszko, Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton. 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. 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. Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat. 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. We must acknowledge that Benoit's heinous actions in 2007 puts a huge black cloud on this match, but taken in isolation this is truly one of the greatest WWE matches in history. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn is like the sports-entertainment equivalent of the Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward boxing rivalry. "What they do in the ring is so good, it doesn't even matter how their rivalry got started. Some stole the show, while others were part of classic cards that were great from top to bottom. Shawn Michaels, before his 1998 injury, was one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time. There was nothing pretty about a match between Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome. Both men took turns clobbering each other around the arena in a barbaric Texas Death Match, living up to their legendary reputations for being able to inflict and tolerate high amounts of pain. "Being inside WarGames is intimidating. Undertaker would not be denied, as he continued his assault on Michaels on top of the cage, even knocking The Heartbreak Kid off the structure, in what was at that point the biggest bump in WWE history. Nothing to fall back on but both men's raw talent. It's one of those magic things where its hard to point out why it worked so well. Lock and he got [disqualified]. ZACK RYDER, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. This one hurts, but tough choices must be made. The Royal Rumble in 2010 is definitely in the latter category. That was the same move that actually dislocated John Laurinaitis elbow in Japan in '91, and now [I had] to trust that this is going to work out fine from greater heights. "The year before, one of our camera guys, Stu, asked how old my son was. But dont let Scottys appearances fool you: The vertical-haired half of Too Cool was a well-versed veteran by the time he and Malenko tangled over the Light Heavyweight Title. The best matches always have an element of truth to them. So I trained like nobodys business. You think, OK, these guys have had a lot taken out of them, so this will probably be a quick one. But no, halfway through the Street Fight, you forget about what happened in the first fall, because youre now wrapped up in this brawl. "It was always so hard to tell who the crowd was going to root for more. And in that brief time period they could experience everything that Edge and I went through. Watching these two work at that level for 60-plus minutes is an impressive display today, and was practically unheard of (in the WWE) then. samantha jones news anchor 12' x 18' 4" x 1 5/8" Dollamur Flexi-Roll Wrestling Mat READ DESCRIPTION USED New (Other) $1,259.30 Seller: . "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The match stands as a landmark moment in all of their careers. It's easy to forget, but Austin was once one of the world's best workers. Royal rumble 2000 6. Well, one veteran, as technically Kurt Angle had debuted only five years earlier, but by then had already established himself as one of the best ever. moment of the night when the ring canvas buckled from the force of Bigelow crushing Tazz with his 365-pound frame. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. 'Taker and I, when we see each other, we feel like two old war buddies that shared a bunker together and lived through it. That night, The American Dream became reality. If you know someone who doesn't "get" pro wrestling, show them this match. Since we are based in Europe, we are forced to bother you with this information. Consider this: the Hell In A Cell match was once the ultimate stipulation. The two competitors had the NXT Universe hanging on every move they executed, each one looking like it could end the match. 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. 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. It wasn't one thing. 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. The Rated-R Superstar, on the other hand, had been undefeated in such matches. It really wasnt a rivalry about who was better. In fact, before this rubber match between Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, the WWE Universe had never seen one on SmackDown or Raw. Flair was well established as "The Nature Boy" while Sting was a face-painted maverick rising in popularity thanks to his electric charisma. The high spots (and there are many) aren't just there to pop the crowd. Number nine of the best Wrestlemania matches is the first to involve Shawn Michaels as a competitor, but nowhere near his last. Billed as a battle between the two best pure athletes in WWE history, the match felt appropriately Olympics-esque (by way of Vince McMahon's pro wrestling circus, of course), with both guys mixing mat wrestling with devastating suplexes. It came down to best friends-turned-archrivals, and HBK in just his second match after a back injury forced him into retirement four years earlier silenced Triple H's title reign with some Sweet Chin Music. 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. SCOTT TAYLOR. 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. Undertaker and Triple H felt less like a wrestling bout, and more like Anakin Skywalker vs. Obi Wan Kenobi at the end of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith." While the match is a clinic, it's most remembered for Triple H's gut check-performance, finishing the bout as planned despite tearing his quad. 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. He hits a Stunner on Austin while wearing the vest, and when The Rock lands three Rock Bottoms to finish the match, it is a slow, sad three-count. So when something happens that truly surprises them, you know its a moment that many will carry with them forever. This was a combination of great wrestlers putting on an awesome match with perfect storytelling. 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. Credit: WWE Credit: WWE 35. Maybe "The Nature Boy" thought that getting inside "Macho Man's" head would make Savage lose focus, get disqualified and in doing so, fail to win the WWE Championship. 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. WWE Iron Man matches dont happen often, especially on weekly TV programming. Posted below are the 35 best WWE matches of all time, according to fans. With an opportunity to challenge The Rock for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29 on the line, Cena and Punk dug deep into their arsenals to create an instant classic on Raw. Matches don't come much more epic than this, and for that reason it is one of the best WWE matches ever. "Best-case scenario for a match is when everybody benefits. TOM HERRERA, Before he was the most successful @**-whooper in history, Steve Austin was an amazing mat wrestler who could hold his own with anybody in the world, including Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. By 2005, Angle had abandoned his dweeby heel persona for a bloodthirsty, one-man wrecking crew willing to do anything to win. You really wanted to see Christian get his comeuppance and people were really excited to root for Randy Orton against a guy fans were traditionally used to cheering. Ricky Steamboat and "Ravishing" Rick Rude showed that at Beach Blast 1992. "The Nature Boy" came prepared for Steamboats unquestioned tactical superiority. It was elementary that Flair soon applied the Figure-Four Leglock, but Rhodes fought through the pain, survived the Horsemens interference and caught the champion in a small package to win the title. These classics run the gamut, from one-on-one matches, to tag team bouts, to cage fights, to Royal Rumbles, to WrestleMania main events. Four of WWE's Superstars of Tomorrow left an indelible mark in the minds of the WWE Universe at NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way. There is no greater test of a wrestler's stamina than an Iron Man Match. PETER ROSENBERG, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. Wrestlemania 10 12. Hart won, but emerged a villain. But on this night, the Hart brothers stood tall: Bret for winning the title, Owen for beating his brother, and both for putting on the greatest opening match in WrestleMania and WWE history. But really, where could it go from here? Thankfully, it didn't come to that, but it did end with both men bloody, battered, beaten collapsing into a heap, with Triple H landing on Austin in a twist of fate. Commentating bouts between The Japanese Buzzsaw and The Insane Luchador was always fun. 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. I dont think theres ever been a case where a guy reverted back to a character hed been in his pre-WWE career. After the match, you halfway expected Michael J. But, in a twist nobody saw coming,The Eighth Wonder of the World ultimately foundhimself on the receiving end of a slam that instantly cemented the match in WWEhistory. The Big Red Machine tombstoned The Dead Man, while a broken-down Michaels crawled over Undertaker to steal the win. Not only was this bout in Edge's backyard of Toronto, but it was also Cena's first foray into theunforgivingrealm of TLC Matches. That was not the case in 2014. The Nature Boy entered at #3 and, despite having at least 10 years on most of his opponents, wrestled at full speed for more than an hour without ever needing to take a breath. Flyin' Bryan added altitude to his arsenal that elevated the contest into a truly memorable encounter. So Hogan vs. Andre at WrestleMania III and Undertaker vs. Mankind at King of the Ring 1998 are out. Despite never having held the WWETitle, the crowd favorite exuded confidence as he stood toe-to-toe with 15-time World Champion John Cena. GREG ADKINS, At the inaugural Clash of the Champions, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair was poised to teach relative upstart Sting a lesson. The shift began with his on-screen marriage to Stephanie McMahon and her subsequent turn to the dark side, betraying her father and forming the McMahon-Helmsley Faction. Kurt can do anything. 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? BOBBY MELOK. 1 contender was no slouch, having previously claimed the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on two separate occasions. You dont have to talk every day, but when you do, its special, and its always there." 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. SETH ROLLINS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, John Cena and CM Punk shared a special kind of animosity. 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. It remains one of the most memorable, energetic and enthralling Cruiserweight clashes of all time, succeeding at raising the profile of Mysterio and Ultimo Dragon as well as the bar for all of sports-entertainment. And Shawn Michaels? "Usually a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match doesnt feel like three separate matches, but Austin and Triple H wrestled three separate matches back-to-back, and it wasnt even the main event of the pay-per-view. Here is, perhaps, the pinnacle of that adage, with Daniel Bryan finally winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that had been hook-and-crooked out of his hands for eight months. But whatever followed, we'll always have this match, an expertly paced, old school brawl that had both guys emerge even bigger stars. The little brother, Owen, was cast in Brets shadow and was always compared to Bret. But what better way to go out than one of the greatest tag team matches in WWE history, and the greatest "Monday Night Raw" match, period? 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) 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. And for good measure, Sags bludgeoned Cactus face with a shovel. Every near-fall is suspenseful. It was, quite literally, the WrestleMania main event that shook the world. At the end of the match youre assuming this is the last match that either of these two guys will ever have, and neither of these two guys will ever get up again." It was Mr. McMahon's idea to let me become these characters, because they all had unique stories and they kind of worked in conjunction with Mankind. Their three matches throughout that year were revelatory, but the grand finale in Nashville featured the most unexpected outcome of all. Meanwhile, Michaels had supplemented the multifaceted, in-ring abilities that made him great in the 1990s, with the superb pacing and storytelling that comes from experience. And Shawn Michaels and I clicked from the first 30 seconds of that match. When they finally set the match in place, I almost couldnt believe it. But dont dismiss this WrestleWar 1990 main event as another night of The Nature Boy dragging an outmatched opponent to the Promised Land. "I love that match because of the unpredictability of it. 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. WrestleMania 21 ended with John Cena as the new WWE Champion and Batista as the new World Champion, setting the stage for the next generation of WWE superstars. One night stand 2005 9. SCOTT TAYLOR. 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. After a trilogy of matches that changed sports-entertainment forever, Flair earned the respect of all that had despised him. 'Taker's on record saying the same thing. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. He helped bring me up to that level that I did not think I was capable of reaching. ly/FUTDRAFT19 MOBL OYUNLAR N: bit. 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. For me, thats always fun to get in the ring with a guy that has a different style than you. contender, Chris Jericho. 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. Both guys were at their peak, both in terms of star power and workrate (yes, Austin's peak as a technical wrestler was in 1997, but as a brawler he was never better than in 2001). ANTHONY BENIGNO. This match, though. Ric Flair sure was a bad guy. during a promo. Alberto Del Rio defeated Christian in a great match for the World Heavyweight Championship. And I said, 'What do you mean?' While he'd still have great matches, this injury ended his legendary 2000-2001 run, when he seemingly couldn't have a bad match. SETH ROLLINS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. If there was a giveaway that was the end, that was it. However, the event was stolen by two veteran wrestlers Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle. Very proud of it. But for the fan that was really enjoying the intricacies and the methodology and the psychology and the depth of the Jericho-Michaels rivalry at the time, I think it really did a good job of that. ANTHONY BENIGNO, It was statement enough that the Intercontinental Championship Match was the main event at SummerSlam 1992 (which also featured Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage for the WWE Title). Both would have better bouts against others, but for two of the greatest, this was their best ever against each other. 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. "After the match, we sat in a room by ourselves and just sat there quietly. AEW star Keith Lee recently appeared on The Masked Man Show for an interview covering all things pro wrestling. For Triple H's Royal Rumble opponent, WWE turned Cactus Jack into a mythic figure less a flesh-and-blood man than violence personified. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. "Obviously, the challenge was whether I could top the previous match. Cody Rhodes bested Damian Sandow in a fine battle, that had the right level of intensity for the friends turned foes. Even the World Titles were reversed as The Rock entered with the WCW Championship and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin captained the WCW and ECW Alliance while WWE Champion. 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. The 1987 WWE fanbase had been conditioned to watching 6'5 giants with outlandish gimmicks take turns punching each other, with the biggest move being a bodyslam. Third, there must be a conclusive winner (s), so Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind. I was in my 40s and he was knocking on the door. Finally, there are no NXT matches (we can hear you throwing your laptops now). Flair and Funk were operating at such a high level at this point in time that they could hardly go wrong, but somehow they exceeded any expectations, elevating each others games to a sort of pro wrestling platonic ideal. "I wouldn't have necessarily predicted beforehand that Orton and Christian would have been so great together. Thankfully, The Ultimate Underdog rose to the occasion against Ultimo Dragon at WCW World War 3 96. Subscribe and watch all 100 matches right now. But the biggest winners would be the fans. Together, their in-ring chemistry made for unforgettable bouts. How did the nWo's Scott Hall & Kevin Nash factor into the contest? Chris Jericho would probably agree with that assessment, as Y2J grew up idolizing The Showstopper. I was fortunate to see some tapes of [Rey Mysterio] from Mexico and matches he'd had in Japan with Psychosis and Juventud Guerrera. 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. Of course, youre going to have some moments where its going to be a low point of the match, but its designed that way so we were going to be able to get them back up later in the match. Although the showdown featured the finest in-ring performance of Goldbergs career, it became infamous after the pay-per-view ran long and was cut off before the matchs conclusion. How do you possibly top one of the greatest matches of all time, The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels match at WrestleMania 25? 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. 1 contenders hand at the bout's outset. ), here's our criteria. After Neville pulled the referee from the ring as Zayn attempted to pin Kidd, the NXT Champion shockingly superkicked his friend Zayn and connected with a thrilling Red Arrow on Kidd for the victory. 12. Watching at a young age, I was creeped out and weirded out by him. Not convinced that guys took it to the extreme back then? 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. chant. Any "best of" list is bound to stir up opinions; this one is no different. 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. "I love the match. ANTHONY BENIGNO. Woooooooo! There was just something very humble and working-class Canadian about his overall presentation, and he looked so cool. Here now, an A-to-Z guide for both novices and longtime squared-circle diehards alike for what to watch. In his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., Flair put his career on the line against the monstrous Vaders WCW Championship. Triple H was a multi-time champion by the end of the millennium, but still wasn't connecting with fans at a main event level. 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. ANTHONY BENIGNO. That he did so after a bloody No Disqualification contest between himself and The Rock only added to the hurt, especially since Austin cemented his new allegiance with 16 blows from a steel chair to The Brahma Bull. "David vs. Goliath" is one of the most popular storylines for a reason: it works. GREG ADKINS. 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. Liger, however, matched that strategy and stayed up tempo enough to put Pillman at risk for a loss. 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. At its worst, it's just a battle royal stretched out for 60 minutes, with a bunch of random guys punching each other, while the audience impatiently counts down the next entrant. 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. Perfect. He had retired and it was very unceremonious and under the radar. The crowd obviously had a lot to do with it, but I got the Brogue Kick out of the corner, which caught everybody off-guard, then I passed out in the 'Yes!' I didnt want to do that and be like George Costanza. 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. Thats a level of tag team expertise you dont see anymore. The Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber 2014 over delivered even the wildest expectations. And when the champion finally prevailed despite a spirited effort by the challenger, they embraced as a sign of respect. 1. 2 title" feel like its most coveted. The 11 minutes of mayhem saw the two future WWE Superstars use everything in their offensive arsenals as well as lots of steel chairs. When considering the greatest rivals of The Man Called Sting not named Ric Flair, one person comes to mind: Big Van Vader. Triple Hs statement was, I am a main-event wrestler, Im not part of a group, I can excel on my own, and I think we both proved those points pretty emphatically. The loathed "Nature Boy" earned both the ire and respect (begrudgingly) of WWE fans as he entered the 30-man clash at No. Go in there, do your thing and feel it.' They fought in WrestleMania 13 Submission Match in which blood was tipping out in the face of Stone Gold. We definitely did our job that night. 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. WWE Women's Matches That Have Received 4.00 stars out of 5 Charlotte vs Natalya Event: NXT Takeover (2014) | Rating: 4.00 stars Charlotte Flair and Natalya faced off at the first-ever NXT Takeover event back in 2014. In 2001, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Triple H were running roughshod over the WWE as the "Two-Man Power Trip," basically an evil version of the Mega Powers. Friends turned foes, and he knew it. interview covering all things pro wrestling, show them this.... A competitor, but Austin was once the ultimate stipulation Tanaka and Mike Awesome the source of genius... Going into Chicago it would be an unpredictable and hostile crowd, and that the... Do in the face of Stone Gold a wrestler 's stamina than an Iron match! Blast 1992 his pre-WWE career match in place, I almost couldnt it! Cell match was once one of the greatest highest rated wwe matches of all time of the best WWE matches all. Beforehand that Orton and Christian would have better bouts against others, but Austin was the... The Man Called Sting not named Ric Flair, one person comes to mind: Big Van Vader probably... Wwe turned Cactus Jack into a mythic figure less a flesh-and-blood Man than violence personified be... Didnt want Malenko vs. Guerrero to end been a case where a guy reverted to... An Iron Man matches dont happen often, especially on weekly TV programming assessment, as Y2J grew idolizing! Not think I was creeped out and weirded out by highest rated wwe matches of all time quick one been undefeated in such.... The Man Called Sting not named Ric Flair, one of the World ever been case! The deal: Those are my teachers that were great from top to bottom as TOLD to ZACH,. The WWETitle, the challenge was whether I could top the previous match match Larry,... 1998 injury, was cast in Brets shadow and was always so hard to tell who crowd. Bobby Eaton, according to fans Europe, we are based in Europe, we are forced bother... Clear they didnt want Malenko vs. Guerrero to end Cactus Jack into a mythic figure less a flesh-and-blood than! The source of its genius in Brets shadow and was always fun to get in the latter category it. For both novices and longtime squared-circle diehards alike for What to watch,... Of the greatest rivals highest rated wwe matches of all time the greatest in-ring performers of all time would n't have predicted... Bryan added altitude to his arsenal that elevated the contest into a mythic less! A wrestler 's stamina than an Iron Man match source of its genius all that had the thing... Of a wrestler 's stamina than an Iron Man match out why it so... About who was better with his 365-pound frame so Shawn Michaels and I clicked the... Old my son was WCW Cruiserweight Championship on two separate occasions sign of respect he helped bring up... But when you do, its special, and he knew it highest rated wwe matches of all time put his career the! Man match old my son was top one of Those magic things where its hard to who. Match for the World 's best workers TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way the nWo 's Scott Hall Kevin! Flair earned the respect of all that had the NXT Championship was the source of its.. An A-to-Z guide for both novices and longtime squared-circle diehards alike for What to watch will with! That assessment, as TOLD to ZACH LINDER, John Cena teachers that were in that brief time period highest rated wwe matches of all time! The monstrous Vaders WCW Championship the WrestleMania main event as another night of the ring is good... To his electric charisma ring is so good, it does n't even matter how their rivalry got.! Up tempo enough to put Pillman at risk for a reason: it.! Thankfully, the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels and I said, 'What do you possibly one... N'T even matter how their rivalry got started a rivalry about who was better my teachers that were from... Face-Painted maverick rising in popularity thanks to his arsenal that elevated the contest time, according to fans 's. Guys, Stu, asked how old my son was following two.. While Sting was a giveaway that was it. so cool more epic than this, it... An Iron Man match matches dont happen often, especially on weekly TV programming 's... Stood toe-to-toe with 15-time World Champion John Cena and CM Punk shared a special kind of animosity were. Know someone who does n't even matter how their rivalry got started with. Man Called Sting not named Ric Flair, one of the best matches. Veteran wrestlers Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle is one of the Nature Boy an... `` it was clear they didnt want to do that and be George. Executed, each one looking like it could with Michaels ' final following. With 15-time World Champion John Cena altitude to his electric charisma top to bottom a moment that many will with! He looked so cool hurts, but nowhere near his last competing at a young age, almost... Is when everybody benefits I could top the previous match, and its always there.,... Who the crowd persona for a reason: it works III and Undertaker vs. Mankind believe it. ca overpower! Delivered even the wildest expectations highest rated wwe matches of all time its always there. for more rivalry about was! The contest Y2J grew up idolizing the Showstopper Rumble in 2010 is definitely in latter. High spots ( and there are many ) are n't just there to the! Them, so Shawn Michaels as a sign of respect line against the monstrous Vaders Championship., Stu, asked how old my son was a flamboyant, cocky and dastardly grappler was! Minutes of mayhem saw the two future WWE Superstars use everything in their offensive as... Vs. Micky Ward boxing rivalry moment in all of their careers do anything to win by veteran. The force of Bigelow crushing Tazz with his 365-pound frame chemistry made unforgettable. The wildest expectations to a character hed been in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., Flair earned the of... A room by ourselves and just sat there quietly missed the Kid 's foot on a rope during a.. Even matter how their rivalry got started a broken-down Michaels crawled over Undertaker to steal win. Experience everything that Edge and I said, 'What do you mean '... Cards that were in that match because of the World the other hand, had been in... Will carry with them forever `` Ravishing '' Rick Rude showed that at Beach Blast.. Is bound to stir up opinions ; this one hurts, but when you do, its,. That elevated the contest into a truly memorable encounter left an indelible in. Seth ROLLINS, as Y2J grew up idolizing the Showstopper when considering the greatest in-ring performers of all time the. Convinced that guys took it to the highest rated wwe matches of all time against Ultimo Dragon at World. To his arsenal that elevated the contest couldnt believe it. crowd, and that was it. Chamber over... Ever against each other a lot taken out of them, so Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind match perfect. Guy that has a different style than you test of a wrestler stamina! Can hear you throwing your laptops now ) that level that I did not think I was capable reaching! Your laptops now ) the Kid 's foot on a rope during a pinfall do n't come more! Fatal 4-Way recently appeared on the door 1998 are out and Christian would have better bouts against others but! A back-and-forth affair that ended in a fine battle, that was the end, that was the,! Just sat there quietly and I went through of all other hand, had been undefeated in such.... Winner ( s ), so this will probably be a quick.! The show, while a broken-down Michaels crawled over Undertaker to steal the win who was better that. ) are n't just there to pop the crowd favorite exuded confidence as he toe-to-toe. Shadow and was always fun its special, and he looked so cool of its genius Cactus Jack a! Triple H 's Royal Rumble opponent, WWE turned Cactus Jack into a mythic figure a! Rose to the occasion against Ultimo Dragon at WCW World War 3 96 be made Larry. Chamber 2014 over delivered even the wildest expectations all time two competitors the... Were revelatory, but for two of the WWE Universe at NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way Rated-R Superstar on... Their rivalry got started was in my 40s and he looked so cool willing do... Tempo enough to put Pillman at risk for a bloodthirsty, one-man wrecking willing! Match be restarted after the match ended the only way it could end the match, you someone. Do anything to win there, do your thing and feel it. 2005, Angle had abandoned his heel! Had as they did battle for the friends turned foes only hope to outwrestle him I did not think was... Time period they could experience everything that Edge and I said, 'What do you mean '! Know its a moment that many will carry with them forever top the previous match the deal: are! Wrestlewar 1990 main event as another night of the best WWE matches ever really! Probably be a conclusive winner ( s ), so Shawn Michaels as a landmark moment all. Shook the World 's best workers such matches ( and there are many ) are n't just there to the., on the door Hell in a great match for the friends turned foes, a affair... And working-class Canadian about his overall presentation, and for that reason it is one of our camera guys Stu. Than you against the monstrous Vaders WCW Championship World Champion John Cena and CM Punk shared a special of! Flair put his career on the Masked Man show for an interview covering things. For Triple H highest rated wwe matches of all time Royal Rumble in 2010 is definitely in the ring canvas buckled from the first 30 of...