Todd Weber
5. HULK HOGAN & RANDY SAVAGE vs. ANDRE THE GIANT & TED DIBIASE (1988)
This is one of my favorite WWF memories, and it’s a so-so match. At age 16, I was still pretty much a mark (like Agent Mulder, I wanted to believe) but I was starting to lose the arguments with my dad (“You can’t fake body-slamming Andre the Giant, Dad!”) and my interest was starting to wane. When my football teammate Joey (who had ordered the show) told me Elizabeth took off her skirt to distract the Mega Bucks and help Hogan & Savage to win the match, I now had a whole new reason to enjoy wrestling. It didn’t matter anymore if it was predetermined, it was now my thing. Joey lent me the tape, I watched the show with my brothers, and even my dad enjoyed that main event.
4. CHRIS BENOIT vs. RANDY ORTON for the WWE Championship (2004)
I love and hate this match. This brought Benoit’s run with the title to an end, and though he made Orton look great (feuds with Foley and Edge had given Orton credibility as well), I wish they had put more faith in Benoit (perhaps they could’ve brought in Heyman to talk for him). I hate, hate, hate Benoit’s running dive through the ropes and subsequent crash into the barrier. I hate, hate, hate Benoit’s diving headbutt. Both are moves I’ve seen Daniel Bryan use in his repertoire, and they can lead to concussions and need to be banned. End rant.
However, Orton is put over strongly, and the match is top-notch. While a great moment, the show of respect from Benoit led to the eventual dissolution of Evolution, which brings me sadness as well.
3. THE UNDERTAKER vs. EDGE in a Hell in a Cell match (2008)
This is a fun match and perhaps a forgotten classic. Edge and ‘Taker blow off their feud in the best way possible, and finish an inconsistent SS card with a killer match. Though it had been perhaps tarnished by too many terrible HHH matches, the Cell had not yet outlived its novelty, and Edge bumps around the cage in a manner reminiscent of HBK 11 years earlier. The half-hour match really delivers the brutality (both ways) and though the post-match chokeslam through the mat off the ladder could have been less contrived, it still put the olive in the martini for this one.
I also very much like the box of my DVD featuring Maria on a Jet-Ski.
2. STEVE AUSTIN vs. THE UNDERTAKER for the WWF Championship (1998)
This match nears the top of the heap for several reasons: the confrontation between the Deadman and Austin 3:16 had been well-built up with compelling storylines and character work; the WWF was no longer in financial jeopardy and was clearly building corporate momentum and this gigantic match between two then-faces was a confident, non-panicked response to WCW giving away a Starrcade-level main event for free the previous month on Nitro; the well-booked card and in-ring action had built the stalwart MSG crowd into a frenzy; the smart licensing of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” and the promotional videos featuring the song got the viewers primed for the match (to this day, I can’t detach the song from the main even); and finally, Austin and Undertaker brought it in an Attitude Era classic.
It’s a brawl, but Austin was at the top of his game and gave the people what they wanted. This match (and this card, really) celebrates that the Federation had weathered the storm and knew what they were doing and just where they were going. The right result occurred as well; thankfully the McMahon screws Austin out of the belt shenanigans were put off for awhile. I was one of millions (and millions) who had returned to wrestling after hearing how cool the nWo were, but shows like this helped keep my allegiances up north.
1. BRET HART vs. THE BRITISH BULLDOG for the Intercontinental Championship (1992)
This match is an amazing spectacle just for the 80,000 sets of terrible teeth in the crowd (and that’s just the Hart family. HEY-O!).
Seriously though, this is where Bret’s reputation began to solidify. The Hitman and the Bulldog go long in an historic contest from Wembley Stadium, and I project the majestic strains of Queen’s “We are the Champions” over the mental highlights of this epic contest. Holds, counter-holds, family rivalry and back-and-forth competition of the highest degree all contribute to a match that marks and smarts alike hold up as a high point for the Fed in the early ‘90’s. The result was the right one, though no objective fan could ever state that Bulldog was ever better than Bret at anything other than injecting himself in the ass with Therobolin. Bret Hart was soon onto bigger and better things than the IC title.
I still hate Bulldog’s stupid dreadlocks, though. White men should never, ever rock the dreads, not even the Bo Derek kind.
Jordan Duncan
5. THE NEXUS vs. TEAM WWE in an Elimination Tag match (2010)
Let me start by saying a very notable match is left off my list, and this one takes its place. Why? A few reasons. First, I’m a sucker for big ol’ tag matches. The more guys in it, the more I’m gonna enjoy it. And this match was incredibly enjoyable—even more so if you just turn the match off as Justin Gabriel goes to the top rope for the 450 splash. I like to imagine he hit it, Cena was pinned, and the Nexus went on to be dominant heels. As it is, the stench of Super Cena at its worst brings this down a bit on my list. But even with a bad finish, I can’t help but love Daniel Bryan’s triumphant return, Skip Sheffield dominating and even a limited Bret Hart appearance.
4. HULK HOGAN & RANDY SAVAGE vs. ANDRE THE GIANT & TED DIBIASE (1988)
The first main event may just be on here for nostalgia, but I feel like it holds up as a pretty good match. Like most Internet wrestling fans, I went through my “I hate Hulk Hogan” phase. As a result, I refused to admit he was any sort of entertaining for a long time. Once I came around, I realized something: Hulk Hogan brought the goods during the Hulkamania years. Was he the best wrestler in the world from a match quality standpoint? Certainly not. But could he hold his own and not drag a match down? Absolutely. Factor in that he’s in there with two of the best workers of the 80’s in Savage and DiBiase and you’ve got a pretty fun match.
Was it a match of the year? No. Was it terrible? Not at all. Savage is Savage, and the other guys do well enough. Andre was really slowing down by this point, but not to the point where it actively hurt the match here. But hey, more important than all that is the defining moment of the match: Miss Elizabeth pulling off the most risqué move in the WWF during the late 80’s…REVEALING A BATHING SUIT BOTTOM. Looking back, it’s kind of funny that was able to stun grown men into paralysis like it did with DiBiase and Andre, but it certainly worked well for 9 year old me.
3. CM PUNK vs. JOHN CENA for the WWE Championship (2011)
I’m not a huge John Cena fan. I think his character has the ability (if that’s even the right word here) to derail entertaining programs and angles. I think he’s generally decent in the ring in the right setting, but I wouldn’t rank him at the top of my list of best workers or anything. So it surprised me a bit when I made this list and TWO Cena matches were on here.
This one is a classic. At the time, I wasn’t thrilled about it. I thought Punk came back too quick, I thought Cena was going to win, and I was worried that all the awesome stuff with Punk may be ruined (in hindsight, I think it kind of was, but not by Cena). So you could say I was going into this one with a cynical eye, just WAITING for something to point out wrong with it.
I was more than happy to be wrong. These guys have fantastic chemistry together and always bring the goods, and this was no different. Tons of drama, a nice build and what I thought was a good finish that left it open for a rematch with the foot on the ropes. Really, really loved this one.
Note: I also include the post-match shenanigans with Nash and Del Rio here as part of the match itself.
2. STEVE AUSTIN vs. THE UNDERTAKER for the WWF Championship (1998)
I think you could make the case that this match really, REALLY made Steve Austin. I know that sounds weird since he was already MASSIVELY over, the biggest name in pro wrestling, the WWF Champion, setting things on fire with his feud with Vince, etc.
But look at it this way: He never beat Bret Hart in their feud. He beat Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania, which is the other match I point to as “making” Austin, but after that, he really only faced Mankind and Kane in big matches. The Undertaker was looming as the LEGIT threat the fans wanted to see Austin face. I mean, who beats The Undertaker? The guy had been with the company for 9 years at that point and you could count his clean losses on your hands still. So would they have Austin beat him? If so, how? Clean as a sheet? Screwjob? Cheap finish?
That was the drama for me, and the actual storyline build up was good as well. Taker wasn’t exactly a world beater in the ring at this point; he’d been around a while, he never seemed to have great matches, and he certainly wasn’t the instant-classic maker that he is now. So I was interested in the match, but had a sneaking feeling it may stink.
A developing theme here seems to be that I was wrong again, and again glad to be. A great brawl with real drama and a clever finish that portrayed Austin as not just tough, but smart. Great match.
1. DIESEL vs. KING MABEL for the WWF Championship (1995)
Just kidding.
1. THE ROCK vs. BROCK LESNAR for the Undisputed Championship (2002)
Brock’s coming out party. I’m sure this won’t be #1 on many lists, and yes, I left off Bret-Davey. But let me be clear here: The Rock may be my favorite American wrestler ever and Brock is probably in my top 10 and would be higher if he didn’t leave for so long.
I loved EVERYTHING about this match—well, almost everything. One thing I hated (and it didn’t JUST happen in this match) was the crowd booing Rock so heavily. I never understood that, and still don’t. I get cheering for Brock like a face, that’s fine. But to boo Rock was confusing to me, both here and at WrestleMania where it happened more than once!
Back to what I liked, this match took place as the Attitude Era was coming to an end, and so the build for it was such a great contrast to what we were used to. Nobody cussed anyone out, nobody put anyone through tables, flew off ladders or anything else. Belts weren’t stolen. Divas weren’t involved. This was just two guys who were going to FIGHT, and they needed to be at their best for it. It certainly wouldn’t work for EVERY feud, but it was perfect for this one.
As for the actual match, I am totally fine with the fact that I probably overrate Rock matches. While most love him for his promo and character work (and rightly so), I love his matches too. Brock was absolutely great right from the start as well and they worked together really nicely to produce an all time classic for me. Maybe not for everyone else, but hey, my list, right?
And now, our overall Five Count…
5. CM PUNK vs. JOHN CENA for the WWE Championship (2011)
Another tremendous chapter in one of the great rivalries of the modern era as two guys with great chemistry blow off WWE’s version of the “Summer of Punk.”
4. THE UNDERTAKER vs. EDGE in a Hell in a Cell match (2008)
A five month long feud that stretched over many great matches gets blown off in style as two all-time greats steal the show with a rare classic PG Hell in a Cell and memorable ending.
3. THE ROCK vs. BROCK LESNAR for the Undisputed Championship (2002)
Brock Lesnar gets handed the ball and runs with it as The Rock makes a star with an unselfish and electrifying performance. In terms of pure athleticism and intensity, you won’t find many better.
2. STEVE AUSTIN vs. THE UNDERTAKER for the WWF Championship (1998)
Possible the pinnacle of the early Attitude Era as the two biggest stars in the WWF clashed in a contest built over the course of months and lived up to the epic bill from start to finish. A triumph of character and promotion.
1. BRET HART vs. THE BRITISH BULLDOG for the Intercontinental Championship (1992)
One of the greatest matches in the history of North America wrestling and a major turning point in the history of the WWF as technical contests became en vogue and Bret Hart proved he could hang in the main event. Add in an incredible enthusiastic crowd of 80,000 in England and you’ve got an unforgettable classic.
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