The Top 10 Most Historically Significant Matches Of All-Time

[Kcorthe]

This thread's purpose is to find out what the most impornat, signifcant, and historically imapctful matches of all-time are. Keep in mind that this is not a threat about the BEST or the GREATEST match of all-time...but only and simply for which matches ahve had the biggest impact on the sport of professional wrestling, which matches have shaped what wrestling is today, and what matches have defined an entire era or pro wrestling as a whole. Which matches would the world of wrestling NOT be the same without? Which matches are historically important and significant, for whatever reason?

List your Top 10. You can do it in order of significance, or you can do it with no order and just a random top 10. Up to you.

Here are mine (Number 1 being the top match on my list):

10. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T vs. Paul Orndorff & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - WrestleMania 1
- This was the main event of the very first WrestleMania, as I trust all of us already know. This match is historically significant due to the fact that its really the match that the first WrestleMania was built around, and it delivered in one of the best matches of 1985. This match was the reason the first WrestleMania was a success, and led to 22 others, and onward.

9. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 14
- This match is historically significant for several reasons. First of all, it was Shawn Michaels' last match for over 4 years, and believed at the time to be his last match ever. Secondly, this was the beginning of a new era for the WWF. Stone Cold Steve Austin was taking over Shawn Michaels' position as the top man in the WWF, as the WWF Champion, and Austin would go on to become arguably the most popular and successful wrestler of all-time, and if not of all-time, his only challenger would be, of course, Hulk Hogan. This Championship Match that headlined the 14th WrestleMania was the end of one era and the beginning of the next era, and this match is still widely known and talked about even today, 10 years later.

8. Undertaker vs. Mankind - Hell in a Cell - King of the Ring 1998
- This match was important to professional wrestling because, though not anywhere near a technical masterpiece, it is one of the most famous matches in wrestling history. This match is really the main thing that Mick Foley will ever be remembered for, and while that fact may be a bit sad, it still means that this Hell in a Cell Match was historically significant due to that fact. This match is still talked about to this day, and the two big falls that Foley took will never ever be forgotten. And for those reasons, this match will live forever...even if it isn't truly that good.

7/ Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania 12
- The first-ever 60-Minute Ironman match that headlined WrestleMania 12, with the WWF Title on the line, between two of the sport's greatest in-ring wrestlers ever. "The Hitman" and "The Heartbreak Kid" laid it all on the line for over 60 minutes in one of the greatest in-ring matches of all-time. This match is significant noy only for its technical greatness, but also for what would come after it. This match is really what started the bad blood between HBK and Bret Hart, and would eventually lead to another match that will appear later on this very list..........

6. Hulk Hogan vs. The Iron Sheik - 1984
- This match, though not as famous as some others, is important because this was the birth of Hulkamania. And as any wrestling fan knows, Hulkamania was probably the most successful campaign in professional wrestling's history. Hulk Hogan is probably the biggest star ever in this sport, and this match against The Iron Sheik is what started it all. Hogan won the WWF Title for the first time on this night, and would hold onto it for another 4 years in one of the longest reigns in this title's illustrious history.

5 Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania 13
- This match wasn't about titles...it was about hatred. This was one of the most anticipated matches in history, and it beat the hype. This match is probably in the top 5 most famous and talked about matches in the history of pro wrestling, and for good reason. This match is very popular, and one main reason is about Bret Hart turned heel and Stone Cold turned face in the same match on the same night. This match is really what led to Steve Austin's run at the top for the next few years, and this match solified him as a tough son of a bitch. This macth will never be forgotten either, and both men regard it as one of their finest matches of their famed careers.

4. The Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan - Wrestlemania 6
- This match was another match that was one of the sport's most anticipated ever. Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior were the two top faces in the WWF in 1990, and they faced ecah other one-on-one, champion vs. champion, in the main event of the sixth WrestleMania. No one was sure who was going to win this match going in, and the crowd that night was really the most amazing part of the match. In the end, The Ultimate Warrior defeated "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan, and Warrior left with both the World Heavyweight AND Intercontinental Championships.

3. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, & Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage, Lex Luger, and Sting - Bash at the Beach 1996
- This is a night that changed wrestling forever. Hulk Hogan had been the ultimate babyface for over a decade, in the two top wrestling companies in the entire world...and WCW shocked us all as Hulk Hogan turned heel, and he joined the nWo. This match was the beginning of professionla wrestling's shift to mainstream, and the WCW's dominance over the WWF for (almost) the next two years. This match and its events shocked everyone, and it changed the course of wrestling; pro wrestling would not be anything like it is today if not for this match, and Hogan's shocking heel turn.

2. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant - WrestleMania 3
- Everybody knows about this match. Everybody knows about the record-setting 93,000 in attendance in 1987 to see "The Immovable Object" vs. "The Unstoppable Force." Hulk Hogan was in the middle of his first reign as WWF Champion, and he was on the top of the world. Then suddenly...Andre the Giant turned on him, instantly turning Andre heel and setting up the match of the decade. Hogan and Andre clashed in the main event of the third annual WrestleMania, and what happened that night was pure magic. Hulk Hogan bodyslammed the 600-pound Andre the Giant and pinned him for the clean win, in one of the memorable and electric matches anyone has ever witnessed.

1. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - Survivor Series 1997
- This is the match that I am expecting to see on most people's list who replies to this, or at least near the top. This single match effected professional wrestling in so many different ways. The bad blood between Michaels and Hart had been brewing for years, and Hart did not wnat to drop the title in his hometown against a man he had no respect for; therefore, the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" took place. This was Bret Hart's last match and live appearance for the WWF, and this was Shawn Michaels' 3rd WWF Title reign, which would lead to his last match (for over 4 years) in March the next year at WrestleMania XIV. This match and its controversial events also led to the birth of one of the biggets heels of all-time, Vince McMahon, and in my opinion, this match also led to the WWF's eventual victory over WCW. This match changed the course of wrestling, and every wrestling fan knows about this match. Everyone has their sides, but no matter who was truly right or wrong, this match changed EVERYTHING. This match, in my view, is the most historiccally impactful match in wrestling's history. Bar none.


So now, what is everyone's list?

 

[IrishCanadian25]

kcorthe, I almost 100% systematically agree with your list of 10. Fantastic job with both the list and the explanations. I would like to add a few, however.

Royal Rumble 1992. This was the first year the Royal Rumble MEANT something, and paved the way for the annual tradition we know now. Ric Flair, fresh off his move from WCW with the "Real World's Championship Belt," won the Rumble in a shocking upset, lasting almost an hour (coming in at the #3 spot) and winning the WWF Title, which had been vacated following the Undertaker / Hogan fiasco. Several major events took place here. Randy Savage, in an effort to go after Jake Roberts, leapt the top rope, eliminating himself. WWF covered that up, hitting the "reset" button, and negating the elimination. Hulk Hogan, the favorite to win, was turned on by Sid Justice, whom he then eliminated with the help of Ric Flair. The ending set up Flair vs Savage and Hogan vs Justice in Wrestlemania 8's Double Main Event. Roddy Piper, hours after winning his first ever WWF Gold, lasted almost 35 minutes to become a top contender for the WWF Title.

Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels. No, not the screwjob match. No, not the ironman match. I am talking about July 21st, 1992. At a house show taped for Colisseum Video, these two locked horns for Bret's Intercontinental Championship in the first ever WWF Ladder Match. There have been 38 ladder matches in WWF history, and this one paved the way. It should be noted that the first Ladder Match in recorded wrestling history was in 1972 at Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion, and the only females to compete in a ladder match were Katie "I love my brother" Lea and Beth Phoenix in OVW circa 2006. Also of note, Bret Hart suggested the ladder match idea to Vince, who gave it a trial run at the aforementioned House Show. Vince, well, ran with it, and Hart's mortal enemy was long known as the King of the Ladder Match.

Razor Ramon vs the 1-2-3 Kid. May 17th, 1993. In a shock moment on Raw, a jobber changing names each week finally comes out as "The Kid." Well, after dodging Razor's turnbuckle charge and hitting a moonsault into a pinfall, "The Kid" became "The 1-2-3 Kid" and served to advance the claims of announcers who said "Anything can happen on Monday Night Raw." The match legitimized the surprise nature of the show and also created a new star in Sean Waltman, as well as paving the way for Razor's face turn.

Ron Simmons vs Big Van Vader. Despite Y2Jake's claims that to lend creedence to Simmon's win as significant is just to declare oneself a bigot, this makes my list. Simmons, a powerhouse forner tag team champion, upset the seemingly unstoppable future Wrestlezone Tournament Champion Big Van Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship - the first time an African American won this major title.

Ric Flair vs Antonio Inoki. 1995, at a pro wrestling peace rally in Pyongyang, North Korea, this two day festival drawing 150,000 and 190,000 fans each day respectively was headlined by Inoki vs Flair, the only time it would EVER happen. The king of the NWA vs the Founder of New Japan Pro. Inoki came out on top in thrilling fashion.

I will add more later, but here's a start to my list!

 

[Slyfox696]

This thread's purpose is to find out what the most impornat, signifcant, and historically imapctful matches of all-time are. Keep in mind that this is not a threat about the BEST or the GREATEST match of all-time...but only and simply for which matches ahve had the biggest impact on the sport of professional wrestling, which matches have shaped what wrestling is today, and what matches have defined an entire era or pro wrestling as a whole. Which matches would the world of wrestling NOT be the same without? Which matches are historically important and significant, for whatever reason?

List your Top 10. You can do it in order of significance, or you can do it with no order and just a random top 10. Up to you.

Here are mine (Number 1 being the top match on my list):

10. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T vs. Paul Orndorff & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper - WrestleMania 1
- This was the main event of the very first WrestleMania, as I trust all of us already know. This match is historically significant due to the fact that its really the match that the first WrestleMania was built around, and it delivered in one of the best matches of 1985. This match was the reason the first WrestleMania was a success, and led to 22 others, and onward.

9. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 14
- This match is historically significant for several reasons. First of all, it was Shawn Michaels' last match for over 4 years, and believed at the time to be his last match ever. Secondly, this was the beginning of a new era for the WWF. Stone Cold Steve Austin was taking over Shawn Michaels' position as the top man in the WWF, as the WWF Champion, and Austin would go on to become arguably the most popular and successful wrestler of all-time, and if not of all-time, his only challenger would be, of course, Hulk Hogan. This Championship Match that headlined the 14th WrestleMania was the end of one era and the beginning of the next era, and this match is still widely known and talked about even today, 10 years later.

8. Undertaker vs. Mankind - Hell in a Cell - King of the Ring 1998
- This match was important to professional wrestling because, though not anywhere near a technical masterpiece, it is one of the most famous matches in wrestling history. This match is really the main thing that Mick Foley will ever be remembered for, and while that fact may be a bit sad, it still means that this Hell in a Cell Match was historically significant due to that fact. This match is still talked about to this day, and the two big falls that Foley took will never ever be forgotten. And for those reasons, this match will live forever...even if it isn't truly that good.

7/ Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania 12
- The first-ever 60-Minute Ironman match that headlined WrestleMania 12, with the WWF Title on the line, between two of the sport's greatest in-ring wrestlers ever. "The Hitman" and "The Heartbreak Kid" laid it all on the line for over 60 minutes in one of the greatest in-ring matches of all-time. This match is significant noy only for its technical greatness, but also for what would come after it. This match is really what started the bad blood between HBK and Bret Hart, and would eventually lead to another match that will appear later on this very list..........

6. Hulk Hogan vs. The Iron Sheik - 1984
- This match, though not as famous as some others, is important because this was the birth of Hulkamania. And as any wrestling fan knows, Hulkamania was probably the most successful campaign in professional wrestling's history. Hulk Hogan is probably the biggest star ever in this sport, and this match against The Iron Sheik is what started it all. Hogan won the WWF Title for the first time on this night, and would hold onto it for another 4 years in one of the longest reigns in this title's illustrious history.

5 Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania 13
- This match wasn't about titles...it was about hatred. This was one of the most anticipated matches in history, and it beat the hype. This match is probably in the top 5 most famous and talked about matches in the history of pro wrestling, and for good reason. This match is very popular, and one main reason is about Bret Hart turned heel and Stone Cold turned face in the same match on the same night. This match is really what led to Steve Austin's run at the top for the next few years, and this match solified him as a tough son of a bitch. This macth will never be forgotten either, and both men regard it as one of their finest matches of their famed careers.

4. The Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan - Wrestlemania 6
- This match was another match that was one of the sport's most anticipated ever. Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior were the two top faces in the WWF in 1990, and they faced ecah other one-on-one, champion vs. champion, in the main event of the sixth WrestleMania. No one was sure who was going to win this match going in, and the crowd that night was really the most amazing part of the match. In the end, The Ultimate Warrior defeated "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan, and Warrior left with both the World Heavyweight AND Intercontinental Championships.

3. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, & Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage, Lex Luger, and Sting - Bash at the Beach 1996
- This is a night that changed wrestling forever. Hulk Hogan had been the ultimate babyface for over a decade, in the two top wrestling companies in the entire world...and WCW shocked us all as Hulk Hogan turned heel, and he joined the nWo. This match was the beginning of professionla wrestling's shift to mainstream, and the WCW's dominance over the WWF for (almost) the next two years. This match and its events shocked everyone, and it changed the course of wrestling; pro wrestling would not be anything like it is today if not for this match, and Hogan's shocking heel turn.

2. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant - WrestleMania 3
- Everybody knows about this match. Everybody knows about the record-setting 93,000 in attendance in 1987 to see "The Immovable Object" vs. "The Unstoppable Force." Hulk Hogan was in the middle of his first reign as WWF Champion, and he was on the top of the world. Then suddenly...Andre the Giant turned on him, instantly turning Andre heel and setting up the match of the decade. Hogan and Andre clashed in the main event of the third annual WrestleMania, and what happened that night was pure magic. Hulk Hogan bodyslammed the 600-pound Andre the Giant and pinned him for the clean win, in one of the memorable and electric matches anyone has ever witnessed.

1. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - Survivor Series 1997
- This is the match that I am expecting to see on most people's list who replies to this, or at least near the top. This single match effected professional wrestling in so many different ways. The bad blood between Michaels and Hart had been brewing for years, and Hart did not wnat to drop the title in his hometown against a man he had no respect for; therefore, the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" took place. This was Bret Hart's last match and live appearance for the WWF, and this was Shawn Michaels' 3rd WWF Title reign, which would lead to his last match (for over 4 years) in March the next year at WrestleMania XIV. This match and its controversial events also led to the birth of one of the biggets heels of all-time, Vince McMahon, and in my opinion, this match also led to the WWF's eventual victory over WCW. This match changed the course of wrestling, and every wrestling fan knows about this match. Everyone has their sides, but no matter who was truly right or wrong, this match changed EVERYTHING. This match, in my view, is the most historiccally impactful match in wrestling's history. Bar none.


So now, what is everyone's list?

I agree with many of your matches, not all, and not the order. Here's my list.

10. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon, Wrestlemania 10- Popularized not only the ladder match, but gimmick matches outside of a cage match in general for the WWE.

9. Hollywood Hogan vs. Sting, Starrcade 1997 - The beginning of the end for WCW. This was a yearlong feud, built up fantastically, and then, through a series of botches and poor booking, this match put a sour end on possibly the greatest feud in history. Instead of just a clean Sting victory, finally vanquishing the nWo once and for all, Eric Bischoff decides that he wants to ruin a years worth of booking, and misuses Bret Hart all at the same time. Then, with poor timing on the part of Nick Patrick and Bret Hart, the ending just makes little sense. Beginning of the end. Instead of riding the incredibly wave of momentum that should have been gained from this great feud, WCW shot itself in the foot.

8. Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan, Wrestlemania 6 - For reasons already stated.

7. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart, Survivor Series 1997 - For reasons already stated.

6. Hulk Hogan vs. Iron Shiek, January 23, Madison Square Garden - The birth of Hulkamania. Enough said.

5. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels - The beginning of Stone Cold Steve Austin's mega run. Enough said.

4. Hall, Nash, and Hogan vs. Sting, Luger, and Savage, Bash at the Beach 1996 - For reasons already stated.

3. Kevin Nash vs. Hulk Hogan, January 4th 1999 Nitro - If Sting vs. Hogan was the beginning of WCW's downfall, then the Fingerpoke of Doom was it's death.

2. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre, Wrestlemania 3 - Do I really need to explain this one?

1. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper. The birth of Wrestlemania,and the beginning of the WWF's dominance in the professional wrestling world. This match was the draw to the card, and to the event that is now recognized as the biggest wrestling show of the year to fans in North America.

Matches that will move up in importance as the years go by.

3. Batista vs. Triple H, Wrestlemania 21 - One of the biggest superstars in wrestling today, and one of the mega draws in wrestling today started with this match back in 2005. After a hot feud, Batista overcame Triple H, the previous king of the WWE, to become the new World Champion, and begin his many years of main-event in the WWE.

2. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels, Raw (Wrestlemania rematch) - The match which made anyone with an objective view of wrestling increase their respect of John Cena's wrestling ability. I have yet to meet a single objective wrestling fan who has said their respect for John Cena did not increase after this match. In 15 years, when people look back at John Cena's career, I believe this will be the match many will claim as the turning point for them on Cena.

1. John Cena vs. John Bradshaw Layfield, Wrestlemania 21 - Like him or hate him, there is absolutely no doubt that John Cena is the biggest thing going. And there seems to be nothing that will stop Cena from being a major draw, and a main-event player in the WWE for years to come. And it all started here, with his victory over JBL, making John Cena the new WWE Champion. When people reflect over Cena's Hall of Fame career, they'll look back at this match as the moment where it all started.

 

[Davi323]

I mostly agree with the Original poster's choices, however I would swap his #1 and #2. His description of Hogan/Andre would be my reason to list it as number one: EVERYBODY knows about this match. I am convinced that March 29, 1987 was the most important day of business in the entire history of professional wrestling, as it exists now. It proved that Vince McMahon's idea of taking a regional product, and turning it into a national and then global product could work. Wrestlemanias I and II laid the groundwork, certainly...but, it was Wrestlemania III, and the global hype surrounding Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant that really put Vince McMahon on the map. Hogan/Andre was the biggest, most important (not the best wrestled) main event match in wrestling history.

While HBK/Hart was important to today's scene, it didn't quite change the face of wrestling as much as Hogan/Andre did at Wrestlemania III.

 

[BrooklynBuc]

My opinion:

10. Wrestlemania 21 - Ric Flair vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Edge vs. Christian vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane, Money in the Bank Ladder Match - A new match that spelled the beginning of several careers. The match provides the winner with a free title shot at anytime and anywhere. Edge has benefited most out of Money in the Bank, cashing in two to defeat John Cena for the WWE title and The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title, both after bloody and vicious matches. Rob Van Dam also used Money in the Bank to win his first World championship, beating Cena at One Night Stand 2006. The Chris Jericho concept is now a staple of Wrestlemania, and highly anticipated for who will be next to hold the briefcase and go on to become a World champion.

9. Survivor Series 1990 - Dusty Rhodes, Koko B. Ware and The Hart Foundation vs. Ted Dibiase, Rhythm n' Blues, and mystery partner: Vince McMahon's greatest debut in my opinion; no debut has ever been bigger than the introduction of The Undertaker. He came in as a surprise and the biggest member of the team, eliminated Koko and Rhodes with relative ease, and then was counted out while beating Rhodes back to the locker room, leaving an audience shocked and weaving a path of destruction that led to victories over both the Ultimate Warrior AND Hulk Hogan in just one year. 17+ years later, he still has the impression he left in that match: dominance.

8. Wrestlemania 6 - Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior, WWF title vs. Intercontinental title: The ultimate face vs. face match that was unrivaled until Hogan vs. Rock, and that match began with Hogan as a heel. One of the few title vs. title matches that saw Hogan pass the torch to a younger Warrior, and one of the few times Hogan would lose clean. Plus, it inspired a young Adam Copeland into wrestling, now know today as Edge.

7. Wrestlemania 10 - Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels, Ladder Match for the Intercontinental title: Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels had the first ladder match in the WWF, but it was under relative obscurity. At Wrestlemania 10, with a perfect storyline of opposing Intercontinental champions, both belts hung from Madison Square Garden with the winner becoming the undisputed Intercontinental champion. This match not only launched Michaels into a new level, but it was the height of the IC title and ushered in a new match for a new generation.

6. Monday Nitro, January 4, 1999 - Hulk Hogan vs. Kevin Nash, WCW World Heavyweight title: The first main event of 1999 would spell the end of WCW by ruining storylines of over a year. A one minute joke of a match that resulted in the famed "Fingerpoke of Doom" that gave Hogan back the WCW title after barely wrestling, killed off any sense of the nWo Wolfpac storyline, and baiting the fans with a match that had never happened before and could have a major draw, only to give the proverbial finger to alienate the fanbase.

5. Wrestlemania 13 - Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart, Submission match: The fans had spoken. They loved Steve Austin and no-nonsense overly aggressive style. They hated Bret Hart's nice guy do-the-right-thing style. The WWF listened to the fans and flipped their roles. This would spell the beginning of the end of Bret Hart's career in a way, and the beginning of Austin's.

4. Bash at the Beach 1996 - Sting, Lex Luger, and Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and mystery partner: The beginning of the nWo and the beginning of WCW's rise to fame. Hulk Hogan's first major heel run in over 15 years. A change to Hulkamania and probably the most expanded storyline in wrestling history. The WCW did a great job keeping the secret and playing the mystery that led to this epic match.

3. Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker, Hell in a Cell: The first of what would become one of the most vicious of matches. Hell in a Cell replaced the Steel Cage as the match used when two enemies had the biggest of grudges. It was a cage with a top making escape impossible and the brutality heightened. Interestingly, this match, used to show just how vicious the feud between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, the winner of whom would face Bret Hart for the WWF title, was also the debut of Kane, whose entrance is linked forever with ripping off the steel door and costing his "brother" the match. With all due respect though, this Hell in a Cell was trumped by...

2. King of the Ring 1998 - The Undertaker vs. Mankind, Hell in a Cell: A match STILL talked about as one of the greatest matches ever. A match that showed the Undertaker's darkside and Mankind's insanity. A match that people remember watching the first time. Mick Foley's craziest WWE match that saw him thrown off the cage into a table, choke-slammed through the top of the cage, and slammed and pile-driven into thumbtacks. The images from that matches still stick in my head: Foley's demented smile, Taker standing on top of the cage looking over Foley crashed through the table, Foley getting off the gurney to come back to fight; not many matches have that impact after 10 years. This would make Hell in a Cell the most dangerous of matches, and a match only used for the bitterest of enemies.

1. Survivor Series 1997 - Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, WWF title - The Montreal Screwjob. Vince McMahon trying to keep his prized possession, the WWE title, out of the hands of Eric Bischoff. Bret Hart trying to keep his dignity by not losing his title in Canada to Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels trying to get what he wants. Whoever is at fault, this match was the beginning of the Attitude Era, the end of Bret Hart in the WWF, the opening of wrestling's truest and deepest secrets, and the creation of several legendary characters: Austin as the top face, D-Generation-X as the new breed of heels and the ruthless boss Mr. McMahon.

Honorable mention - Survivor Series 2002 - Shawn Michaels vs. HHH vs. Booker T vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane, Elimination Chamber for the World Heavyweight title

Wrestlemania 3 - Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant, WWF title

 

[klunderbunker]

Definately agree with most of if not all of the matches so far. Here's my list though, and the order of importance is very subjective.

10. Austin vs. The Rock- Wrestlemania 17. This match was the epitome of the main event. For nearly a year before the match, it was fairly obvious that it would be Austin against either HHH or Rock in the main event. The build up was amazing, with the knowledge that someone would turn being almost a fact. Austin shaking hands with McMahon was absolutely shocking, and signaled the end of the Attitude Era.

9. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat- Wrestlemania 3. This match showed that WWF could have a great match that had people on the edge of their seats the whole match without a huge storyline involved. It also elevated Savage to main event caliber level, and more or less was the beginning of the end for Steamboat as he rarely reached this high a level again. A great match that stole the show on the biggest card of all time.

8. Sting vs. Ric Flair- Clash of the Champions 1. This match was one of the first times that WCW and WWF went head to head. WWF had Wrestlemania 4, and Turner countered with this ppv caliber match, and for a short while, the free match won the ratings battle. It showed the WCW wasn't going to be pushed around, as well as sent Sting straight to the top of WCW. A great match that started one of the best rivalries in the history of the company.

7. The Mauler vs. Steve Doll- Nitro 1996. While the names are beyond forgettable, this match is historic due to what happened in the crowd. It was during this awful match that Scott Hall, at the time only known as Razor Ramon appeared for the first tiem. This at the time was an important moment, but no one knew what it would bring with it. It led to the monday night wars, the rise of WCW, the downfall of WCW, and WWE's current dominance. Oh and if you're interested, Mauler won.

6. Hogan vs. Andre- Wrestlemania 3. What can be said about this match that hasn't already been said? Actually i think this match was the beginning of the end of Hogan's dominance. After this match, there were no more legitimate challengers for him. It was the peak of wrestling in the 80s, and showed what we already knew: that Hulk Hogan was the king of wrestling, and that no one was left to challenge him. But still, 93000+ people? That's just insane.

5. Sting vs. Hogan- Starrcade 1997. To me, WCW was mortally wounded right here. The fingerpoke of doom killed it, but this was what ended their dominance. A match that had been built for over a year ends with a controversy, and allowed the NWO to stick around long enough to finish off the company. It should have ended with Sting going over cleanly, but the screwed up finish caused so many fans, myself included to not care about nitro for the first time in years and turn on Raw and watch it from beginning to end, and I don't think I ever watched a full nitro again.

4. Austin vs. Hart- Wrestlemania 13. As was said already, not about titles, just two guys that couldn't stand each other. Match itself was absolutely brutal, with that image of Austin in the sharpshooter screaming with blood going between his teeth is one of the most famous images ever. The double turn set the stage for the next year of storylines, including the Canada USA feud and the montreal screwjob. Also I always thought it locked in Austin for the main event for the following Wrestlemania, and ended Hart's stay on top.

3. Austin vs. Jake Roberts- KOTR 1996. This match allowed the birth of the greatest catchphrase ever. Without this, we might still be watching Nitro every week, as Austin never would have risen to the top of the wrestling world like he did.

2. NWO formation- BATB 1996. Does this really need an explanation? Hogan turning was completely unpredictable, and showed that the era before it was dead. The NWO was formed, and the rest is history.

1. Hulk Hogan vs. The Iron Sheik- January 24, 1984. Gorilla said is perfectly: Hulkamania is here.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Im going to add a few more. Just because of the historical significance of the Time. Combining two of the the biggest draws of the time together in the center of Wrestling Madison Square Garden.

"Superstar" Billy Graham Vs. "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes: This series of matches set the bar for big name dream matches at the time. Try name another one of these type of matches until Hogan Vs. Andre at WM3. It also set a bar for brutality in the WWF at the time.

The Great Muta Vs. Hiroshi Hase: Very few matches tell the story that this one did as it showed the thing of whether Muta would defeat this guy and he Was bleeding so profusely that he was desperate to win that he keeps using the same move over and over again. And the main reason the Muta Scale was invented.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

1. Hogan vs Andre, was really the first mega huge match in wrestling history.
2. Rikidozan vs Lou Thesz, Rikidozan is the father of puroresu, without this match, there would be no Japanese wrestling, which means there would be no AJ Styles, Low Ki, Samoa Joe, Benoit, etc.
3. Hogan vs Sting Starrcade '97, if Hogan hadn't let his ego get the best of him and had agreed to a clean finish, the whole 2 year angle wouldn't have been fucked, and WCW might still be around, but if you look at their downfall, it started right here.
4. Misawa vs Kawada 6/3/94, regarded by many as the best match ever, was the epitome of 90's All Japan, which was at the time, the hottest promotion in the world.
5. Hart vs Michaels Iron Man match, because it was an hour long match in the days of 7-13 minute TV sprint matches.
6. Hardys vs E&C Ladder match No Mercy '99, rejuvinated the idea of a ladder match being a spectacle and not a boring drawn out contest of guys slowly climbing the ladder like it had become. Plus, without this match, where do you think the TLCs and MITB ladder matches would be?
7. Austin vs HBK-the beginning of Stone Cold as you know it, the beginning of the WWF/E as you know it.
8. Bash at the Beach 6 man tag-started the decline of WWF and WCWs emergence as the best in America, started the nWo, which in term, started a wrestling boom.
9. Rey Mysterio vs Dean Malenko Halloween Havoc '96, this match really showed the american audience what the cruisers were about, the crowd was into the match, it wasn't just a novelty like it had been done before, and you're drunk if you really think Paul Heyman, running shows in front of 800 people, introduced cruisers to the masses.
10. Royal Rumble '92, Flair won this, meaning that the WWF recognized him as their champion, Hogan did not win, and this was the most star studded RR up to that point. Still a favorite by many, Flair's performance meant that the WWF was started to realize that they're not the only wrestling show in town.

 

[Audioslave]

I really couldn't begin to make a list with how many matches that're out there.

However, I must disagree with you on the placement of some of them on your list. The Warrior/Hogan thing never had any sort of significant impact on anything at all, however the Austin/Hart match is much, much more relevant in that it's the match that made Stone Cold Steve Austin and moreso than the HBK/Austin match.

Hogan putting Warrior over didn't create a new superstar that drew in a new boom period, but Austin was made as the tough-as-nails, never gonna quit SOB that he went on to own in the coming years. I don't see how you have Austin being as over as he is without Hart as his foil. Austin/HBK wouldn't of had the same effect, because people didn't give Michaels the cred that they did with Bret. There's also the thing about Bret being the perfect foil, worker and character to be put opposite of Steve Austin in order to get him and his persona over.

 

[jericho3150]

however the Austin/Hart match is much, much more relevant in that it's the match that made Stone Cold Steve Austin and moreso than the HBK/Austin match.

I feel that the Austin vs Bret match was very relevent in getting Austin to the next level.... BUT.. to downplay the importance Austin/HBK match seems like a Hart fan that looks for reasons to not give HBK his due... Bret and Austins match was great but nobody really saw it at the time.. WM 13 remains to this day the least watched wrestlemania of all time at a .77 buyrate. The Austin/HBK/Tyson fued brought Steve Austin to the mainstream and it had real media attention and created a big buzz around wrestlemania which drew 2.3 which is 3X what Mania did the year before.

In short WM13 made wrestling fans love Austin... WM14 made wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans love austin and made him a household name. And soon after that WWF Skyrocketed in the ratings...

Hogan putting Warrior over didn't create a new superstar that drew in a new boom period, but Austin was made as the tough-as-nails, never gonna quit SOB that he went on to own in the coming years. I don't see how you have Austin being as over as he is without Hart as his foil. Austin/HBK wouldn't of had the same effect, because people didn't give Michaels the cred that they did with Bret. There's also the thing about Bret being the perfect foil, worker and character to be put opposite of Steve Austin in order to get him and his persona over.

Again.. we get it.. u like Bret. Whats funny is that you can't just argue for your guy.. to make your point you try to cut other people down.. Ever hear the saying "Don't cut off my legs to try to make yourself look taller" Make your point but don't try to undermine Hogan and Warrior and HBK to do it.

 

[Audioslave]

I feel that the Austin vs Bret match was very relevent in getting Austin to the next level.... BUT.. to downplay the importance Austin/HBK match seems like a Hart fan that looks for reasons to not give HBK his due... Bret and Austins match was great but nobody really saw it at the time.. WM 13 remains to this day the least watched wrestlemania of all time at a .77 buyrate. The Austin/HBK/Tyson fued brought Steve Austin to the mainstream and it had real media attention and created a big buzz around wrestlemania which drew 2.3 which is 3X what Mania did the year before.

In short WM13 made wrestling fans love Austin... WM14 made wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans love austin and made him a household name. And soon after that WWF Skyrocketed in the ratings...

Again.. we get it.. u like Bret. Whats funny is that you can't just argue for your guy.. to make your point you try to cut other people down.. Ever hear the saying "Don't cut off my legs to try to make yourself look taller" Make your point but don't try to undermine Hogan and Warrior and HBK to do it.

What the hell are you talking about? Yeah. Go ahead and marginalize my argument by insinuating that I'm making my judgment based on favoritism for one of the guys over the other. Typical internet bullshit.

I'm just as much a fan of HBK as I am of Bret. I'm not trying to cut neither of them down, but that whole Austin/Bret feud provided Austin with a really good foil for his character to get over with. And to be perfectly honest I think that the whole Austin/Hart/Michaels feud is probably one of the most important stories that WWE had, because it tied up the New Generation and launched them into Attitude. I just tend to think Hart had a lot more significance in getting Austin over at large than the one with HBK did and I think his match with Bret was much, much more important in the grand scheme of things.

And Hogan/Warrior wasn't THAT important. It was one of those dream matches that was really huge at the time, but it didn't lead to much of anything.

Hart/Austin's set of matches, with the Wrestlemania being far and above the most important match of Austin's career, provided the backdrop and storytelling necessary to get over Austin's character. It was basically his defining moment. They ALWAYS showed video of him bleeding in the Sharpshooter and never quitting.

 

[BrooklynBuc]

I actually agree, though, that the the Bret Hart\Steve Austin match was much more important than Shawn Michaels\Steve Austin match. (And for the record, I was a fan of both but not a hardcore fan of both) I agree that Shawn Michaels is an awesome performer in the ring, and his days as the D-X heel really kicked off the WWF in a great new direction, but both men do have Bret Hart to thank for it. Austin switching roles with Hart as top face and top heel, then the Montreal Screwjob establishing Shawn as the top heel, those two matches combined made the Wrestlemania 14 match. Plus, the WM 13 match was more for the fans. The fans chose Steve Austin to be a face. No matter what dirty tactics he used, he was always cheered. If the fans hadn't reacted the way they did, it could have easily been Austin vs. Michaels without D-Generation-X, and Michaels as the face and Austin as the heel. (Not saying it WOULD have happened, but it COULD have happened.) I think when the fans' response change the direction of a character, it's a very significant match. The Wrestlemania 14 match truly established Austin as the top face to go against McMahon fighting the WWF title, and it was Michaels' last match for years, but in terms of Mike Tyson and mainstream media, I think the WWF did that for nearly every Wrestlemania, using mainstream stars to promote it. Hell, didn't Bill Clinton go to Wrestlemania 10?

 

[jericho3150]

And Hogan/Warrior wasn't THAT important. It was one of those dream matches that was really huge at the time, but it didn't lead to much of anything.

OK.. I 'll agree with u on that one It was kind of an unsuccesful passing of the torch and in the grand scheme of things it was a grand spectical but didn't change things..

Hart/Austin's set of matches, with the Wrestlemania being far and above the most important match of Austin's career, provided the backdrop and storytelling necessary to get over Austin's character. It was basically his defining moment. They ALWAYS showed video of him bleeding in the Sharpshooter and never quitting.

I agree with all you said here.. Bret/Austin at Mania was the thing that took Austin from a guy who was a popular midcarder to a guy people would believe being in the main event. It layed some of the groundwork for Steves character and I think it was more significant than HBK/Austin/Tyson but not by much.. once again the WM14 match put mainstream spotlight on Austin.. All the news outlets and ESPN were reporting about the mainevent at mania his popularity and WWF's popularity exploded and it showed in the ratings and buyrates..

If i were making a list of most significant matches I would probably go with

10. Foley vs Taker HIAC
9. Savage vs Steamboat
8. Royal Rumble 92
7. HBK vs Austin
6. Hogan heel turn bash at beach
5. Bret vs HBK Iron man match
4. HBK vs Razor Laddermatch
3. Bret vs Austin WM13
2. Hogan vs Andre
1. HBK vs Bret SS97