Forgotten Gems

[PsychoBlack]

I have changed the title to account for the fact that nobody has actually read what the original poster has said, in future try to keep on topic.

I am starting a new series of threads talking about matches that i do not feel get the credit that they deserve. The first match I would like to discuss is Shawn Michaels vs Mankind at In Your House: Mind Games.

This match for some reason is never given the credit it is due as a classic, and i just cant figure out why. Everything about this match was done correctly, the psychology, the constant change of control, the aggression and even the controversial ending(I'll discuss later).

I've never particularly been a fan of either of these men inside of the ring but this match was off the charts. The two of them had no real feud going on at the time but Foley was able to go 28 minutes with an athlete the caliber of Shawn at such an incredible pace, and that impressed me quite a bit. If you were to watch the match without knowing what was going on then you might think that the ending ruined it, however that is not the case at all. Shawn was about to win the match so Vader running in attacking him didn't set up some crazy title change that would have completely threw Shawn out of contention. After Vader's run in Shawn beat his ass like the champion that he was and made himself look even stronger. After an attack from Paul Bearer and Foley Shawn was about to be rolled into a casket when none other the the Dead man popped out of it. After Taker runs off Foley and Bearer Shawn celebrates in the ring. I know that sounds like a lot but it's what happened and their was actually a reason for the run ins which we dont see to much of anymore in wrestling.

Now that I have given my thoughts on the match, I would like for you guys to explain to me if you think that it's a classic match and why it is so often forgotten.

 

[Alliance316]

I think if you look back through the history of the wwe ...some of the greatest matches that have been forgotten or lost in the catalogue ....90 percent of them are DQ or bullshit finishes ! ...fans just don't remember dq finshes from PPV's ....I can include matches like

Stone Cold vs Shawn Michaels - KOTR 97
Undertaker vs Bret Hart - SS 97
HHH vs Scott Steiner - RR 2003 (joke!)

I think the most underated match in WWE history has to be Stone Cold vs Kurt Angle Summerslam 2001

Stone cold was the crazy psychotic leader of the alliance an in my opinion was the greatest heel of all time ...the match was out of this world with austin an angle simply beating the hell out of each in a match the fans were going apeshit for ! ...until the ending

 

[The Crazman]

It is a brilliant match, one of the best from that period of wrestling. Foley himself has said that it was his favourite match, though I think he now says its his match from Backlash against Orton.

I think it might not be remembered as such a classic for a few reasons. First of all there isn't a huge amount of build to it and it doesn't lead to a storyline between the two. If I remember correctly Mankind was still feuding with 'taker at that point. Without much of a story to it matches can be forgotten.

Secondly it's a match with Mankind that isn't hardcore. When people remember Mankind they see him falling from the cell or being chokeslammed onto thumbtacks, they don't think of him having a well paced 28 minute match. Also, as pointed out, the finish seems complicated and taken out of context may not make sense. As such its not so easy to recall it as an all time classic match.

 

[theHeadliner]

Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon- RAW 8/94
Bret Hart vs 123 Kid- RAW 1994
Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog-KOTR 1996, RAW 1995
Shawn Michaels vs Jeff Jarrett
Bret Hart vs British Bulldog- IYH 12/95

All these matches had great work rate and psychology. Some classics.

 

[nbrew2119]

Ive seen a lot of good choices, but, my favorite match that may be forgotten was the 6 man Hell in a Cell match, where Undertaker threw Rikishi off the top of the cell.

This match ended 3 feuds all in one shot, and put on one hell of a match, but, when, they have Hell in a Cell matches now, for whatever the reason, this one isnt mentioned.

They have had plenty of Hell in the Cell matches that wasnt as good as this one, and those ones are mentioned as some of the best (HHH/Batista, Undertaker/Orton are two examples off the top of my head)

 

[akrassikauda]

One of the worse WWE PPVs ever, Vengeance 2003.

This PPV sucked except for one match Cena vs Undertaker. Cena was the rapper and Taker was the ABA. They're feud was the only thing going for Smackdown at that time, and in one of Cena's raps he said their match was going to be the main event and the match was and also an early match. I think because the PPV sucked that match doesn't get mentioned. The sad fact is Cena and Taker haven't had a 1 on 1 match since.

 

[Showstopper530]

Nice topic!

I have a bunch of great matches I consider underrated. One that I just so happened to watch recently was Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle from Smackdown 03. It was right after SummerSlam 03 when Angle regained the title from Lesnar.

Someone previously mentioned no one remembers DQ finishes. This may be the case here. Everyone talks about Taker/Angle from No Way Out 06, but I think this match is superior. They go back and forth to a very hot crowd, Angle pulls out some insane counters, kicks out of multiple Last Rides & Choke slams, and just keeps coming back.

The end of the match saw Lesnar run in with a steel chair and annihalate both of them for a double DQ, but the 20 minute bout was absolutely perfect up to that point and 1 of my all time favorite matches. Especially free tv matches...

 

[sabinhatingmonkey]

Hey akrassikauda, Vengeance 2003 This PPV suck balls you are right about that but I also have to say I thought there were three great matches on this PPV Cena vs. Undertaker, the finals of the US title tourney Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit and the WWE Tag Team Title match The World's Greatest Tag Team vs. Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio.

another lost gem is Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog for Monday Night Raw from 3/3/97 the match to crown the 1st WWF European Champion. This match is my favorite match of all times.

 

[jr2231]

Mine would have to be the main event of in your house Canadian Stampede. Owen, Bulldog, Anvil, Bret and Pillman, vs Austin, Goldust, L.O.D and Shamrock.

This has always been one of my fav matches, not sure why. I guess just the atmosphere and I liked the entire heart foundation team. When I finally saw the match was available on dvd I had to get the dvd set it was on just for the match.

 

[The Codebreaker]

A couple of matches off the top of my head are Chris Benoit vs Brock Lesnar on a televised match in 2003 (also the match Benoit had with Cena on the same night), and The Undertaker vs Booker T at Judgement Day 2005. The latter had me on the edge of my seat as I was a huge Taker mark at the time, and was terrified thinking Mordecai was gonna do a run-in and screw him over at any given moment.

 

[The Brain]

Obviously only one person who replied to this thread is capable of reading. This thread is asking specifically about Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind. The OP does not ask you to list off any other matches. Come on people.

I liked HBK vs. Mankind a lot. The match kind of came out of nowhere which added a bit of intrigue for me. Mankind had been built up very strong since his debut by getting the better of The Undertaker for several months. I didn’t expect him to challenge for the title so quickly and it made me look a Mankind in a new light. A better build would have probably made this more memorable but I don’t think this match needed it. Mankind had dominated one of WWF’s biggest stars and by doing so earned a title match. Simple as that.

I thought the match itself was very good. It brought out a more aggressive side of HBK and a more athletic side of Mankind. They played off each other nicely. I think the finish does hurt the match. A DQ finish was certainly nothing new, but a better finish would have made this match more memorable. Another reason it is not as remembered as it should be is because there was no rematch. Usually a DQ finish leads to a rematch which makes the feud, and therefore the matches more memorable. Being a one and done the match just kind of gets lost in history.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

William Regal vs Fit Finlay WCW Uncensored 1996, straight up stiff and BRUUTAL. Especially for mainstream US wrestling March 1996.

I donno about HBK vs Foley being a forgotten gem. Maybe by the mainstream loop of fans, but hardcore fans pretty much universally praise this match. It was fun watching Shawn look legitimately uncomfortable working such a brawling style match.