WWE: Best Iron Man Match

[Bdubbs]

There have been a few Iron Man matches in WWE. My favorite Iron Man match is The Rock vs HHH at Judgment Day 2000.

The challenge with most Iron Man matches is that they don't mean much until approximately the final 10 minutes. Also, most matches feature a ton of rest holds. This match was an absolute war with few rest holds, and it was consistently fast paced. We saw different wrestling styles, and it wasn't finisher heavy like other Iron Man matches.

One of my favorite parts of this match was the ending. I will probably get heat for this because it was a bit sloppy. With the match tied at 5 falls each, a video hits the tron. It happens to be The Undertaker in his first appearance as The American Badass. Undertaker is my favorite wrestler, and although this by far wasn't his best gimmick, the shock value was awesome. He came down and destroyed The McMahon Family and Degeneration X. With about 5 seconds left, Undertaker loads up the tombstone on HHH. Although he hits the tombstone after time expires, Rock gets disqualified and HHH wins the title.

The crowd was great throughout, and it didn't drag like most Iron Man matches. What is your favorite Iron Man match in WWE? Poll forthcoming.

 

[DeathClutch]

My personal fav is the original from Mania 12, Bret and Shawn.
I'm not a fan of iron man matches that have multiple pinfalls/submissions and what not hense why I like Bret & Shawn's match, plus the match was pretty good.

Brock/Angle also falls 2nd, I liked how Brock reinvented the match a little, got himself DQ'd but did enough "damage" with the chair to get 2 pinfalls on Angle to get ahead. (I'm a heel by nature) Shawn/Angle should have been an hour but 30 mins with them was good.

 

[WunNightStan619]

There have been a few Iron Man matches in WWE. My favorite Iron Man match is The Rock vs HHH at Judgment Day 2000.

The challenge with most Iron Man matches is that they don't mean much until approximately the final 10 minutes. Also, most matches feature a ton of rest holds. This match was an absolute war with few rest holds, and it was consistently fast paced. We saw different wrestling styles, and it wasn't finisher heavy like other Iron Man matches.

One of my favorite parts of this match was the ending. I will probably get heat for this because it was a bit sloppy. With the match tied at 5 falls each, a video hits the tron. It happens to be The Undertaker in his first appearance as The American Badass. Undertaker is my favorite wrestler, and although this by far wasn't his best gimmick, the shock value was awesome. He came down and destroyed The McMahon Family and Degeneration X. With about 5 seconds left, Undertaker loads up the tombstone on HHH. Although he hits the tombstone after time expires, Rock gets disqualified and HHH wins the title.

The crowd was great throughout, and it didn't drag like most Iron Man matches. What is your favorite Iron Man match in WWE? Poll forthcoming.

You said it all. This match was the only iron man match that was entertaining from bell to bell. And the ending was great IMO. Taker coming back and kicking everywuns ass. I remember at 10 yrs old almost crying when the rock got DQ'd i thought he got the short end of some bullshit. lolz..b ut yeah this by far is the best wun to me

Wtf HBK and Kurt had an ironman match? lolz #forgettable

 

[ECW Sandman]

Hands down Hart and Micheals Iron Man Match that was the match that IMO launched Shawn's career yeah he had many great matches like the one he had with Razor Ramon at WM X but it was his boyhood dream to be the WWF Heavyweight Champion and he FINALLY reached his goal in that Iron Man Match at WM XII.

 

[Bdubbs]

My personal fav is the original from Mania 12, Bret and Shawn.
I'm not a fan of iron man matches that have multiple pinfalls/submissions and what not hense why I like Bret & Shawn's match, plus the match was pretty good.

HBK and Hart are both phenomenal wrestlers, arguably 2 of the greatest of all time. It was awesome that HBK hit SCM in overtime to win the title. There were two things that ruined this match for me. 1. The amount of rest holds was ridiculously high. This could've been a 20 minute possibly 30 minute match maximum. 2. Bret Hart's selling at points was just awful. HBK would work on his limbs for quite some time, and Bret would be fine a minute later. I think this stems from his legitimate hatred towards HBK.

Brock/Angle also falls 2nd, I liked how Brock reinvented the match a little, got himself DQ'd but did enough "damage" with the chair to get 2 pinfalls on Angle to get ahead. (I'm a heel by nature) Shawn/Angle should have been an hour but 30 mins with them was good.

I agree that Brock using a chair in the beginning to gain an advantage was unique. I like this match better than HBK/Hart at WM 12. We witnessed two technical machines putting on a clinic for sure. The thing I didn't like about this match was that it was on Smackdown, and the commercial breaks ruined its momentum. An Iron Man match on TV just doesn't fit.

The Iron Man match actually rates pretty low on my list of favorable gimmick matches. This gimmick doesn't keep me entertained until the final few minutes. Although WM12 and Angle/Lesnar were good, Rock & HHH kept me captivated and entertained throughout.

 

[CodeBreakingLegend13]

I dont think Orton Cena get enough credit for the iron man match they had. I think they pulled off a clinic and the ending was really dramatic. Although i love that match, Bret vs Shawn was hands down the greatest of all time. I think the coolest thing about this match was it had no decisions the entire 60 minutes. To know they had to settle it in sudden death because no man would refuse to lose is just awesome! I never watched the HHH vs Rock iron man match so i will give it a look and maybe my opinion willl change

 

[Foshinzo]

I do have to vote alongside the WM 12 supporters. With all due respect to the performers, WM 12 was a pretty bad show. Diesel v Taker was an okay match, but it wasn't much for excitement. It's interesting to go back and see SCSA wrestling Savio Vega and being escorted to the ring by Ted DiBiase as, "The Ringmaster," and while SCSA really was good in the match, Savio Vega was never an exciting performer and again you're left with a solid match that was just boring. The Roddy Piper v Goldust fiasco was only good for comedic value, The Ultimate Warrior v HHH match was a disaster, in hindsight, and to this day I still wish that it was Bulldog/Owen instead of Yokozuna who turned face and fought their brother-in-law in a one-on-one match. Basically, WM 12 was a boring, forgettable Wrestlemania, but the Main Event Iron Man Match made it epic.

Now, taking it out of context, I'd say that it's still the best Iron Man Match, right down to Earl Hebner announcing it as the, "Urn Man Match." Simply put, it's two of the best in-ring workers, possibly the two best in-ring workers ever, going for an hour. If anyone ever debates that there is no art or sport in pro wrestling, this is the match that I would use to try and convince them. Sure, it's slow paced, when compared to the newer, faster form pro wrestling has taken in the last decade or so, and that does hold it back, some, but the two knew exactly what they were doing the whole time. There was method to this match. There was psychology to this match. There was real drama to the situation, and you can't teach that; it comes from years of molding your craft. Bret Hart and HBK put on one spectacle of pro wrestling, that night, and I think it's easily the best Iron Man Match, ever, and I'm not putting that lightly. There are a handful of great Iron Man Matches, Hour Limit Draws, etc. that have been great, but HBK v Bret Hart for the title, at Wrestlemania, for a whole hour is unbeatable, to me.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

not even a question in my mind here my favorite iron man match of all-time was Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels! it was 1 of the best matches ever and they worked their asses off and the ending was just perfect with shawn realizing his boyhood dream by becoming the champion its just a shame he didnt celebrate it the right way as at the time he was way into drugs but still an amazing match and the best iron man match ever imo

 

[GameOver]

HBK vs Bret Hart, that was a mat classic and deserves the title of one of the best matches period, but alot of it was just headholds and guys laying down and just felt to long (not that i blame them)

Personally i liked the HHH vs Rock match more, that had alot of variety for two guys who at that point were pretty much punch and kick guys.

My pick goes with HHH vs Rock they paced alot better imo and the fact it was too sluggers going at it and they weren't just punching and kicking.
not to mention they had decisions during the 60mins.

 

[innerdarkness89]

HBK vs Hart. The ending was fantastic. Having them both go for an hour without a single pinfall was a great way to cement it as a classic match. Although I will say, the Orton vs Cena match was severely underrated. The No DQ stipulation added something to the match and transformed a match I didnt really want to see into something I really enjoyed.

 

[harrythem]

can't believe how much love the iron rest-hold match between HBK & Hitman is getting. Considering what those 2 were capable of, that match was a MASSIVE let down.

I picked Angle Vs Lesnar because the story of the match was better, it had better pacing, more action and no screwy "overtime" bollocks like WM12

 

[IHaveRegistered]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say I enjoyed Rock vs HHH @ Judgement Day more than WM12. It was a bit of a clusterfuck but it was pulled off epicly. during the Michaels/Hart match Michaels is working Harts arm for a fuckin' long time and then he just No-sells it. kinda puts a bad taste in my mouth after noticing that (DAMN YOU BOTCHAMANIA!) nothing against the two, I'm just saying I liked the Rock and Triple H match a little better than Michaels and Bret. I agree that Their match was great but mainly cause of the finish. I really just remembering enjoying pretty much all of the Judgement Day match

 

[He Went To Jared]

my vote would have to go to Rock VS HHH, they had an amazing rivalry, and any match they had was pretty much gold. i would also agree that the match was better paced, and the fact that Taker returned made the match all that much better(american badass or not)

 

[RJJ]

HHH vs Rock, hands down. The match was entetaining from start to finish. Great phsycology and a mix of lot of styles(Brawling, technical wrestling, powerhouse) Hell, taker's return at the end is one of the reason why I like te match. He got into the ring and beat the hell outta the mcmahons and DX...can't forget the crowd's reaction. The only problem I have is booking HBK as the special guest ref, I really don't why they did it, there was no major role for him to be involved. Hell, he eve ruined the end of the match.

 

[Awesome_Miz]

HBK and Hart cause of the history.The history these two made was phenomenal they did an ok match.The reason I choice this match cause they still talk about it in the wwe.

 

[Paralyzer Z]

Ive only seen 3 iron man matches ever. kurt vs brock i thought is overrated. bret vs shawn bored me. so the best iron match ever goes to john cena vs randy orton

I love the spots and the use of the arena all througout the match was excellent. the 30 second rest period was a bit boring though. the ending was also very predictable but not bad. my favorite part was when orton was messing with the pryo and cena almost got fried! an outstanding match from to of the best stars in the current WWE.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Hart vs. HBK was a snoozefest. No lie, I actually fell asleep during the middle of it. How that held anyone's attention is beyond me.

HHH vs. Rock was full of excitement and they didn't use their finishing moves over and over again which was the best part. Even though the ending was a bit screwy, seeing the Undertaker return was epic and was a part of one of the best years in the WWE.

 

[Carpathian Florist]

I think for me HHH vs The Rock beats HBK vs Bret by just a few hairs, only because of the ending. I hated the cheap restart ending, especially after I was perfectly satisfied with the 1 hour draw. I will always be a huge Bret Hart mark though, so any screwy ending involving him is gonna annoy me, especially with Shawn involved.

As I loved the original so much, HHH vs Rock didn't do that much for me in the initial booking stage, but once I saw the match I was completely blown away and Undertaker finally returning was a huge moment, I wasn't all that impressed with what it led to, but the redebut was excellent.