Top 3 title changes

[jma198325]

3.) Mankind winning the title from The Rock on RAW, January 1999. In my mind, this may have been the biggest RAW moment I've seen since I started watching in June 1998.

2.) Goldberg winning the WCW title from Hollywood Hogan, Monday Nitro, July 1998. I don't think anybody had any real doubt at the time Goldberg would win, but it was still sweet.

1.) Stone Cold winning the WWE title from The Rock at Wrestlemania 15. This was his 3rd title, but I think we can all pretty much count his first 2 titles as 1 single run. To me, this one seemed bigger than his first title win over HBK (which I think is huge itself). His WM-17 win over The Rock seemed overshadowed by the fact that he turned heel in the process and aligned himself with Vince. WM-15 had all the great elements that makes a title change special, including the match itself and post-match happenings. The same goes for the other two moments I listed.

Title changes just don't have the "title change" feeling anymore. Sometimes, I just go "eh..."

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Some of you guys are showing your age lol (as in your young).
3.Goldberg defeats Hogan (Nitro) the Peak in WCW and why they were the top company at that time
2.HBK defeats Hitman (mania 12) HBK is the new champ and face of the company in the greatest match ever imo
1.Austin defeats Bret (wrestlemania 14) Attitude Era comes full circle

Austin defeated Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 14 and not Bret Hart. That was significant but I believe Austin was already on a level when he fought against Hart.

 

[TheIconHBK]

3) intercontinental title summerslam 92 Bret Hart - Bulldog insane atmosphere very good match

2) title vs title wrestlemania 6 Hogan - Warrior again one of the most electric atmospheres and arguably the best match either of these two ever had

1) WWF title wrestlemania 12 Bret Hart - Shawn Michaels agreed with the earlier poster by far the best built up storyline wwf/e has done tremendous match both guys put on a show


also liked the wrestlemania 8 flair/savage title match and summerslam 95 ic title return ladder match HBK/Razor Ramon

 

[Southwind]

3. Eddie Guerrero defeats Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship
Watch this match if you don't get goosebumps your not a wrestling fan when Eddie hit that Frog Splash the crowd went insane.

2.Randy Orton defeats Chris Benoit to win the World Heavyweight Championship
This is a personal favorite of mine as I'm a Orton mark not much people thought he would win sure it makes sense now because VKM didn't want Lesnar to be the youngest champion ever. But nobody expected it at the time and Randy Orton became the youngest world champion in WWE history.

1.Rob Van Dam defeats John Cena to win the WWE Championship
The hammerstein ballroom was amazing throughout that match Cena was crucified there and the fans really would have rioted if he retained. Just the pure excitement and reaction for the outcome makes it number one to me.

Honorable Mention
Chris Benoit defeats Triple H and Shawn Michaels to win the World Heavyweight Championship
Eighteen years of amazing wrestling and no world titles until Wrestlemania 20. Where the "Rabid Wolverine" beat two titans of modern wrestling making Triple H tap out with his Crippler Crossface. The best moment of any recent Wrestlemania when he and Eddie embrace in the ring crying great stuff.

 

[Fear Of Drowning]

I only have one new title change to add to the list but here it goes:

3:Kurt Angle vs Stone Cold Steve Austin: Unforgiven 2001. WWF Title.

Angle defeats Austin in his hometwown of Pittsburgh, not only does he walk out with the title but he does the impossible and makes Austin tap out. Though future Raw episodes would make it look like Austin should not have lost I loved this title change all the same.

2:Hulk Hogan vs The Ultimate Warrior: Wrestlemania 6. WWF Title.

A kick in the guts to those that claim that neither man could have a decent match. The crowd seemed pretty much 50/50 but even then there was a genuine sense of shock when Warrior actually wins, and wins clean. The face vs face idea was a big gamble, but it worked. This win should have seen Warrior become a multiple WWF champion and a bona fide wrestling legend. Jim Helwig not only dropped the ball, he plain threw it down the toilet. Still a great title change for me.

1:Bret Hart Vs The British Bulldog: Summerslam Intercontinental Championship match.

An amazing match, an amazing crowd and an amazing finish. A packed out 80,000 at Wembley stadium watch Bret guide Davey Boy Smith to the best match of his career and they use a rare finish to boot. A masterful match in terms of story telling and a classic match that saw both wrestlers emerge stronger and more popular. It is no coincidence that within months Bret Hart would become the WWF champion. One of my favourite matches of all time and my favourite title change.

 

[Coco]

3. Kofi Kingston vs. Chris Jericho (Night of Champions 2008)
With WWE on the ropes and a new crop of young stars needing to be made to ensure WWE's future success, Kofi Kingston was chosen on this night to briefly become the top title holder on WWE's flagship show, Monday Night Raw. Kofi was a surprise last minute addition to the show as the new top contender for Chris Jericho's Intercontinental Championship, a belt Jericho had held for months and defended against the likes of Umaga. In a shocking upset, Kofi (at this point a relative new-comer who had just been drafted from ECW) beat the much more experienced champion Jericho and got a rub from Shawn Michaels who came down to ringside to throw in an assist. If people like shockers in the WWE, look no further for this startling, career-making outing that was only a mere ten minutes in the making.

2. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz (Survivor Series 2001)
After the WWF and WCW tag team titles were unified at SummerSlam when the Undertaker and Kane went over DDP and Kanyon, it was time to do it again. This time, it would be a Winner Take All For Keeps Cage Match. This is the match where the lineage of the WWF and WCW tag titles was joined forever. In the home state of the Hardy Boyz, and amazing effort was put forward by the crowd favorites to bring the belts home to the World Wrestling Federation. However, as the story unfolded, Jeff's living for the moment would cost him and his brother dearly. Rather than climb down the cage and join his brother Matt on the outside, Jeff chose to throw caution to the wind as only he can and attempt a swanton off of the cage and through a Dudley and a table (which had been brought into the cage thanks in part to the lovely back end of The Duchess of Dudleyville Stacey Keibler). In a classic ending, the Dudley Boyz unifed the tag titles, ensuring themselves jobs in the WWF after the Alliance folded later that night.

1. Johnny Nitro vs. CM Punk (Night of Champions 2007)
On a night when CM Punk was set to battle for the ECW Championship in the final match of a three match series, a scheduling conflict left Punk without an opponent. On this night, it was new ECW draftee Johnny Nitro who stepped up to the plate. Nitro had been a multi-time Tag and Intercontinental Champion, but he had never been on such a huge stage nor had he ever had to fight for such a prestigious title (The previous three holders had been WWE Championship contender Bobby Lashley, Sports Entertainment Visionary Vince McMahon, and The Largest Athlete in The World Paul Wright). With the crowd stunned silent, a defiant Nitro shattered Punk's dreams and upset him to become the new ECW Champion.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Ok, there's some dispute on whether this list is supposed to be my favorite title changes or the most important title changes. I am going to show my age here, I am 27 and a bit more old school than you youngins. But the choices thus far have been solid.

That is, any choice OTHER than KB's Spider Lady / Moolah pick. Ridiculous. The fact that you had to educate people on it, myself included, just shows how irrelevant of an event it truly was.

My Favorite 3 Title Changes

3. Randy Savage def. Ric Flair, Wrestlemania 8.

I am SUCH a WM8 mark, it's ridiculous. I've watched it so many times I could probably do the same commentary Gorilla and Heenan did. And this match was the mid-night main event, totally stealing the show from Hogan / Justice, and barely edging out Hart / Piper. It was fantastic. From the build-up and drama, to the intregue, the interference, Heenan's psycho commentary to his reaction to the win, and even the post match interviews. ("This is just a PEICE of what I wanted from you, Ric Flair. You can have ALL of me next time!) One of the greatest post-match interviews ever done.

2. Chris Jericho wins the 1st Ever Undisputed WHC.

I'm a Jerichoholic, no questions asked. As tempted as I was to pick Vader's win over Sting here, I can't. I was elated for WEEKS following Jericho's title win at Vengeance. I have the VHS tape. He's my all time favorite and this win was legendary. His WCW Title win over The Rock was equally huge, as it was his first major title win.

1. Marty Jannetty def. Shawn Michaels on Monday Night Raw.

As a kid, I was two things. A HUGE Jannetty fan and a HUGE anti-Shawn guy. I still bought the whole face / heel thing and I always sided with Marty after his return on Superstars, the attack on Shawn, the Sherri mirror incident, etc. At Royal Rumble, these two put on a clinic, and a few weeks later on Raw, Jannetty showed up out of nowhere and defeated Shawn for the IC Title. It was Marty's first and only IC Title win and I FLIPPED OUT.

3 Most Important

3. Hogan def Iron Sheik.

It's been mentioned. This match launched Hulk-a-Mania and enabled the stage to be set for Wrestlemania to begin.

2. David Arquette def. a few WCW guys.

Spelled the end for WCW, totally devaluing their championship belt.

1. Davey Boy Smith def Bret Hart.

Ushered in the era of classic IC Title matches, signified to fans that the "mid-card" was closer than expected to the main eventers, in the loss it showed that Bret Hart was indeed the future of the WWF with the Hogan exit, and reminded fans that a match didn't have to be for the WWF title to be great. It also showed WWF how solid the international fan market was.

 

[King Patrick Star]

My personal Top Three Title changes are

3. Chris Jericho vs. The Rock – WCW Title – Vengeance 2001

This to me was huge, because I was really expecting Austin vs. Rock for the Undisputed Title. It made me believe that Angle actually had a shot to win this, who at the time was my 3rd choice going in. This right here proved to me, that ANYTHING can happen in the WWF.

2. Hulk Hogan vs. The Iron Shiek – WWF Title – January 23, 1984 / Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels – WWF Title – WrestleMania XIV

Tied for second is the two most important matches in WWE history, the start of Hulkamania and the start of the Attitude Era. Now, they are both not my favorites, but they both delivered the hype, drama and excitement, and the impact these two matches had in history will always be remember as iconic moments in Pro Wrestling / Sports Entertainment. Go ahead and try to deny it.

1. Chris Jericho vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin – WWF and WCW World Titles – Vengeance 2001

This match will always be the biggest match of all time to all Jerichoholics. To think, this was supposed to be Hunter’s spot. I will never forget this night. This was the night I told myself and everyone within 100 yards from me, “I will never watch WWF again!!”. Of course, I just had to see what happened the next night on Raw and then the following Friday on Smackdown. Oh well!!

 

[Tastycles]

Ultimate Warrior vs Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania VI

People talk Savage, but Warrior beat him clean, the Ultimate Warrior was the first person to beat Hogan clean, and this was the end of Hulkamania as we know it. People have talked about Sheik vs. Hogan ushering in the era, but this is more important. Hogan was a gradual phenomenon, over four years, but this defeat crushed his fans in three seconds. As it would transpire, it didn't usher in the era of the Warrior, but it did make Hogan less than invincible.

Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels, Survivor Series 1997

Put it this way, if this hadn't happened, we'd be watching WCW right now. Whether by design or not, this was the platform that ultimately took the WWF from also ran to domination. Without this, the Austin - McMahon feud wouldn't have worked as well, and the WCW wouldn't have resorted to ridiculous storylines to save itself.

Bruno Sammartino vs Buddy Rogers

The final one was more difficult to think of, but I think I've got it, there could have been loads, Race vs Flair, Flair vs Hart, Hogan vs Savage, Undertaker vs Hogan, literally millions. In the end, I've chosen another era defining one.

This was the first title that seriously contended with the NWA one, and marked the beginning of the end for regional wrestling, which is basically what gave us the juggernaights of the 90s. It could have gone to AWA, but it died, so I'm giving it to WWWF. That's just about it really.

 

[jmt225]

Most "important" is too subjective and a pain in the ass to think about, so I'll just list my personal favorites. Also, fuck a top 3, I'm going with top 5.

5. Shane Douglas vs. Bam Bam Bigelow: November to Remember 1997, ECW World Heavyweight Championship - Now, I fully realized that this match was lazy booking, and only happened to re-do the greatness that happened between Ric Flair and Vader at Starcade 1993, but nevertheless... I loved every second of this match. The atmosphere, being in Shane Douglas' hometown of Pittsburgh, was absolutely tremendous and really something special to witness (RVD/Cena from One Night Stand 2006 is the only match I've seen surpass this match as far as the atmosphere in the building is concerned). The match itself wasn't that great, as it was pretty much nothing but Bam Bam beating the living hell out of Douglas, and Douglas selling it like he was dying (The Franchise, in my opinion, is one of the greatest at selling in pro wrestling history). But the last 5 minutes of that match, as I watched it live in my home, all by myself with my Triple Threat shirt on... I will never forget it. When Shane hits that Belly-to-Belly on Bam Bam through the table, I exploded along with the few thousand people in the arena that night. It's something I'll never, ever forget.

4. Homicide vs. Bryan Danielson: Final Battle 2006, ROH World Heavyweight Championship - I had become a huge fan of these guys when I first found ROH in 2004, and even though I absolutely love Danielson and enjoyed the hell out of his run as ROH Champion, there was nothing I wanted to see more then to see Homicide defeat the motherfucker and finally win an ROH Title. And man…. not only did he defeat Danielson at Final Battle, but he did so in a match that was beyond fantastic. I mean, watching the match MONTHS after it happened on DVD, I obviously knew the outcome and I even seen highlights of the match beforehand, but I still found myself thinking that maybe I read the results wrong or something because there were numerous times throughout the match where I thought Danielson was about to retain the title. That’s how great the false finishes in this were. Seriously, if you’re looking to get into ROH and you want to know some of their classic shows or matches… I suggest you start with Final Battle 2006, because you will end up viewing one of the greatest, most exciting matches that has ever taken place in in not only the company's history, but in the history of professional wrestling.

3. Rob Van Dam vs. Bam Bam Bigelow: ECW Hardcore TV, ECW Television Championship - I was a fan of RVD before this match, but this is when he started to rival Sting and Raven as my favorite wrestler in the entire industry. Unfortunately, I didn't see this match until about a month or so after it happened, but nevertheless... I was still blown away by it. RVD was spectacular in this match, and made everyone who watched it instantly become a fan of his. Not many Title changes in history have completely made someone into one of the most love, respected wrestlers in the entire business by the people who were fortunate enough to see it, but this is one case where it certainly did so.

2. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart - Wrestlemania 12, WWE Championship - A lot of people here shit on this match, but not me. I remember I had to spend the weekend at my dad's during Wrestlemania 12, and while I was away, my mom ordered and recorded Wresltmania 12 as a surprise for me. So, when I watched the tape, I had zero idea of any of the outcomes, which made it like watching it while it happened. I've always been a huge Bret Hart fan, and today I prefer him over HBK, but during that period, Michaels was my favorite wrestler in the WWF, and there was nothing more I wanted to see happen then him win the WWF Championship. And when he did... it was awesome. The last 15 minutes or so of that match is some of the greatest, most exciting wrestling to ever take place, in my opinion. People say the first 45 minutes are boring or whatever, but not to me. I just see it as building up to the greatest climax that has ever taken place in perhaps wrestling history, so I didn't care about the match being "slow". And even being "slow", the match still told a wonderful story and had some incredible moments (Bret back-body-dropping HBK to the floor, HBK Super Kicking the ring announcer, etc.). But like I said... the '3rd act', so to put it, was just spectacular and something I never get tired of watching.

1. Rob Van Dam vs. John Cena: One Night Stand 2006, WWE Championship - For the first time watching pro wrestling in my adult life, I felt like a kid again. This match made my heart beat. This match had me "marking out". RVD is in my top three favorite wrestlers of all time, and I've so badly wanted him to finally capture that World title for the longest time now. That plus absolutely having no idea what was going to happen, made watching this live on pay-per-view that much more of an experience. The fans in the place were just nuts, which added to my nervousness because I knew if Cena won... something bad was going to happened, but thankfully, it didn't because RVD defeated Cena, and the crowd went nuts with joy, as did I. It was a great, great moment for RVD, and for all his fans such as myself.

Note: For the record, Sting vs. Hogan from Starcade 1996 should have ended up #1 here since the build to it was the most incredible build to a title match I've ever witnessed, but since Hogan and WCW management fucked it up.... it ends up as one of my least favorite moments in wrestling history.

 

[ThePeoplesChampion]

Wow reading these i thought i had mine but now im torn....

1. Def is Chris Jericho winning the undisputed title...he beat two the biggest names at the time hell of all time in the rock and stone cold

2.Chris Beniot winning at wrestlemania XX.....the end where him and eddie celebrated is amazing these two friends and hard workers accomplished there dreams

3.Stone Cold beating the rock at wrestlemania.....i mean austin teamed wit his biggest enemy vince to beat rock to win the title....huge swerve

 

[Attitude Era Superstar]

Great question!

My top 3 would be as follows:

3. RVD defeating John Cena at One Night Stand 2006 - possibly the best audience participation we've seen in recent times, and the fact that I'm not a Cena fan, it was brilliant to see the crowd really get stuck into him, the chants of 'F**k you Cena', 'you can't wrestle', 'Cena Swall*ws', and 'Same ol' Sh*t' will long be remembered!

2. Austin defeating The Rock at WM 17 - was one of the most shocking turns in WWE/WWF history and showed how great the story lines we're in that era. 67,000 home town fans cheering the Rattlesnake on, the Rock kicking out after numerous chair shots, and the icing on the cake, Mr McMahon coming down to ringside to aid his once arch enemy. WWE/WWF at it's best!

1. HBK defeating Bret at Survivor Series '97 - A major event in WWE/WWF history. Apart from the controversy surrounding the events of that day, this match in my opinion marked the beginning of the Attitude Era and the departure of one of the last of the old school classic Face/Heel characters in wrestling. For more on this match, check out the Hitman's documentary 'Wrestling with Shadows', a brilliant insight into the behind the scenes of wrestling at that time.

 

[TSG]

Okay, here are my top three title changes, and here are the reasons why.

3. Shawn Michaels defeats Bret Hart, Survivor Series 1997 AKA The Montreal Screwjob: This was one of the most monumental outcomes in the history of professional wrestling. Bret was leaving for WCW, and Vince McMahon proved just how low down, dirty, and ruthless he could be, and how sometimes you have to be, in professional wrestling by legit screwing Bret Hart out of his WWE Title in his home country of Canada. This was just one of the outcomes that will always be known about and is so major in wrestling history.

2. Chris Jericho wins the Undisputed Championship, Vengeance 2001:
I know WCW died long before this, but this is the event which really signaled it. By this happening, the WWE really said that there was only one Undisputed Title in Pro Wrestling, one true company let in pro wrestling, and that it is WWE. There was no longer any WCW Title or any WCW, it was all WWE. Plus, this really elevated Chris Jericho, as he will forever be known for the man who defied all odds, beat two of the biggest legends in the business all in one night, and in doing so became the first-ever WWE Undisputed Champion. He may not have been the first Undisputed Champ in all of pro wrestling, and the title may not have been the first Undisputed Title in pro wrestling, but this is the one that signaled to the world, while wrestling was in the mainstream, that what was at one time the biggest company in American Pro Wrestling was dead, and there was nothing else left.

1. Hulk Hogan defeats The Iron Sheik, 1984: This was what ushered in Hulkamania, and professional wrestling as we know it today. As much as I don't like Hogan anymore, he created wrestling and without this win wrestling as we know it today would not exsist.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Everyone is having a fit over this thread, they can get over the fact I'm putting my top title change as Shawn Michaels wining his first WWE title. This would be in the Top 3 for all big Shawn fans, I'm sure. It isn't the most memorable, or most important to the business, but it was the match which made the boyhood dream complete and therefore definitely my favourite.

Surprise for you all - my second favourite involves Shawn winning the WWE title too. What happened at Montreal is still argued about passionately to this day and was the source of A LOT of heat for both Shawn and McMahon. Also arguably a big part of setting up the attitude era.