Your Top 10 Matches: NON SPAM VERSION

[Y 2 Jake]

Thinking up your favorite match is pretty easy. But doing a top 10 is considerably harder. It took me quite a while to thik what my top matches from 6-10 were.

#1 HBK vs. Mankind (Mind Games 1996)

I could watch this match over and over again. I think it shows how good this match is, by the fact that the finish doesn't spoil it. Foley is underrated as a wrestler and this proves just how good he could be, and how he was willing to make anybody look good.

#2 Scott Steiner vs. Goldberg (Fall Brawl 2000)

At the time WCW was total garbage. Like TNA is now imo. But there were still classics inside all the terrible, confusing booking. This is great hard hitting match.

#3 Hulk Hogan vs. The Warrior (Halloween Havoc 1998)

I like this purley because it's the most high profile fuck up in wrestling. I'm not a fan of their original match. But I love this. Everything that could have gone wrong did. Brilliant.

#4 Tag Team Survivor Series Match (2nd Annual Survivor Series)

Tag wrestling has always been worthless in WWE. People go on about how they wish the divisions were like they were in the late 80's & 90's. But in the late 90's you pretty much had The Hardyus, Dudleys and Edge & Christain. There were a few others, but thats all that people really cared about. Same with the late 80's. Bulldogs, Demolition, Hart Foundation and maybe a few others. The rest were just filler teams. Admittedly the teams were more intresting. But none other than the teams I mentioned were really ever proper title contenders.

The problem I have is that WWE could have a simialar match to this now if they wished. Remember that WWE has two tag divisions. If they combined them for one S.S. match they could make a match as huge as this.

This is the best 40 minutes of tag wrestling I've ever seen.

#5 Hakushi vs. Bret Hart (In Your House 1)

Tis is Bret Harts best singles match. And it's probably one of his lesser known of his. 1995 was pretty good year for wrestling in my opinion. It's just a shame that nobody remembers much about it.

#6 Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask (New Japan, beginning of August 1982)

I ca't remember the exact date. I think it's the 1st, 2nd or third of August. Most of their matches are classics. But If I had to pick one, I'd select this.

#7 C.M. Punk vs. Samoa Joe (ROH, hour long draw 2004)

This match would silence all those people who say Punk & Joe are overrated.

#8 HBK vs. Davey Boy Smith (One Night Only)

Brilliant heat. I was there and nobody expected Smith to lose. I remeber being scared when he passed out. I really thought there was going to be a riot.

#9 Triple X vs. A.M.W. (Turning Point 2004)

Y'know from when TNA didn't promote cage matches every other week.

10# Tazz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (Heat Wave 1998)

This match probably isn't the best match of each wrestler. But it's on my favorite card. But I still think it's great. Hate the finish though.

 

[RebelWithoutACause]

First, I'd like to thank you for making this thread as I am Bored to tears waiting for the Giants game and can now burn some time doing this

1. HBK v. Undertaker Badd Blood Hell in the Cell, there has never, ever been anything like this battle, not before, and not after. Other HIC matches dont even compare (not eve MK v. UT)

2. Chris Benoit v. Kurt Angle Royal Rumble 2003, simply amazing, just a great great match, no chair shots or anything of the sort just old school wrestling and some of the best we will ever see (Benoit deserves to burn in hell thought)

3. Mankind v. Rock RAW Jan 4. 1999 one of my favoriate moments ever, the crowd was crazy hot too as you can hear the entire arena count the 1-2-3 !!!!!

4. Undertaker V. Kane WM 14 IMO not many matches were built up better then this one, and it was the best giant battle ever!!!!!!!

5. Bret Hart V. Davey Boy Smith Summerslam 92 Im not a fan of either but I cant deny how amazing these 25 minutes were, the best night BOTH of them ever had

6. Cactus Jack V. HHH Street Fight I really wish this was Micks last match, as it was his best ever

7. HBK V. Mankind Mind Games Awesome match just balls to the wall hard hitting 26 minutes, on of my personal favoriates.

8. HBK v. Razor WM10 the vision of HBK giviing Ramon that splash off the top of the ladder is etched in my mind and will leave shawn as my fav....... 4 life

9. Stone Cold V. HBK WM 14 the most amazing preformace ever given the severitiy of his back injury not to mention it was awesome to see SC win the strap with Tyson and the whole spectacle of Maina as the backdrop

10. Powers of Pain, The Rockers, Hart Foundation, British Bulldogs and The Yound Stallions V. Demolition, Rougeau Brothers, Conquistodors, Brain Busters and the Bolshevicks - I had this tape as a kid and watched it until the tape literally wore out, great match, and the double turn was as shocking and well done as Austins almost ten years later!!!!!!! I think its up on youtube for those of you who have not yet seen this one!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Amazing Shawn]

A lot of them may be Shawn matches but it isn't because he is my favorite.

#10. Rey Mysterio &Edge vs. Angle &Benoit

This match at No Mercy 2002 stole the show. I mean I haven't seen such an exciting tag match. There was so many false finishes and so much entertainment that you will be enjoyed.

#9. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels

This match started the beginning of the Austin Era and of the Attitude Era. The match was so fun and both men went out there hurt. A classic match.

#8. Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind

This match proves that Mick Foley is a great wrestler. The match is super entertaining and even the ending cuoldn't hurt this. A truly good match.

#7. Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair

The build up to this match is amazing. The match itself should have been the main event. It was a great match that saw Randy Savage overcome the odds.

#6. Shawn Michaels vs. Razon Ramon

This is the first ever televised Ladder Match. This match went on for almost half an hour and never got boring. It was filled with so many things that we never thought of and revolutionized the sport.

#5. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit

It is so hard to find and pick a favorite out of all of their matches. So in the end I picked the Steel Cage match. It proved how far the men would go to entertain.

#4. Los Guerreros vs. Edge&Mysterio vs. Angle&Benoit

I'm being serious when I say I think this is one of the best tag team matches ever. They went on for 27 minutes and didn't fail to entertain. Tag Team wrestling at its best.

#3. Shawn Michaels vs. Jericho

This is the most underrated match ever. Without a doubt. Everything about it was great. The crowd, the moves, the near falls, the wrestling, the storytelling. Evrerything. The ending was even better.

#2. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

The first ever Hell In A Cell match. There isn't one any better one. This was the first and it didn't fail. It is classic and totally violent. Everything was great.

#1. Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle

An absolutely fucking brilliant match from start to finish. The crowd was amazing. The storytelling was great. The counters, the near falls, everything made this an absolute classic.

 

[rockofhysteria]

I have been waiting so long for someone to start this thread here is my top ten list.

10. Sonjay Dutt vs Black Machismo Jay Lethal (TNA Genesis 2007)

I saw this match for the first time over the weekend and OH MY FREAKING GOD It was one of the greatest matches I've ever seen anyone who baggs on TNA really needs to see this match you will be truly amazed. Lethal and Dutt put on one of the greatest displays of wrestling just wrestling in history (my opinion of course)

9. Rick Rude vs Jake The Snake Roberts(First Round of the Wrestlemania 4 Tournament) This Match to me was the best match of that entire tournament. Both are tremendous talents and it was too bad this match ended a draw I loved this match.

8 Jim The Anvil Neidhart vs The Skinner (Steve Kern)

I saw this match on a old WWF tape called Crunch classic from 1991 Neidhart was doing his New Foundation thing with owen and This match was a classic they fought tooth and nail for Ten Minutes to a draw I came away from it thinking Neidhart would have been a good singles wrestler is WWE had done anything with him.

7. Bret Hart Vs Chris Benoit(Owen Tribute match)
Need I Say More

6.Eddie Guererro vs Rey Mysterio (Smackdown House Show Peoria ILLINOIS 2005) I picked this specific match cause it was the only time i got to see Eddie and Rey wrestle live. Every match in that feud was great but I pick this one specificly since I was actually there for this one.

5.Kurt Angle vs Marty Janetty (Smackdown 2005)
I couldn't believe how great this match was I didn't expect much from Janetty going into the match since he hadnt been in the game for such a long time but He went hold for hold with Kurt Freaking Angle and proved that even at his age was was still a tremendous talent. I loved that match.


4.Rick Martel vs Shawn Michaels (Summerslam 92) This was a dream match for me Rick martel was one of the most underrated wrestlers in history ( In my opinion) and of course Shawn Michaels is Shawn Michaels This was a great match through and through even the Sherri fainting spell was entertaining.

3.Steven Regal vs the Belfast Bruiser(Finlay) (WCW Monday Nitro)
This match was awesome it was great to see these two great great technical wrestler have a out and out brawl it was back and forth and back and forth a true testiment to the great talents that are Regal and Finlay

2. Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels (Wrestlemania 24). I just got back from visiting a friend to watch WM 24 and after this match the first thing I thought was I need to amend my top ten here to include this match this match was so beautiful dramatic and entertaining Shawn (Mr. Wrestlemania) Michaels vs The Nature Boy and in my opinion the greatest of all time Ric Flair. although I knew ahead of time that Flair was going to retire anyways I still found myself cheering him on this match had everything in it that makes a classic match. And the way the match ended I think will become possibly the greatest wrestlemania moment of all time the closeup of HBK before he supkicks Flair he says I'm sorry and I Love you then he hits his world famous and legendary Kick and ends the greatest Career in wrestling history. I consider myself manly and all but I will admit that I cried after the match as Im sure most of the people there did. anyone who hasnt seen this match yet needs to buy the DVD when it comes out. I dont think anything I can say here can describe this tremendous match.

1. Ron Simmons vs Vader (I dont remember the event)
I pick this match as my #1 cause it was truly groundbreaking. Before this match all the promoters had this notion that a Black man couldn't be world champ but one man (Dusty Rhodes) Thought differently He took a great talent in Ron Simmons and made him the first Black man in Professional wrestling History to be a World Champ. This match was also a great match anyways. Back and Forth Simmons and Vader and when Simmons hit that powerslam on vader and got the 3 count the crowd went absolutely nuts I believe without this match there would be no Booker T being a 6 time world champ or Bobby Lashley Being a ECW World Champ or Ron Killings Being a NWA World Champ.

Well folks thats my top ten hope you like it.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

10.Bret Hart VS Roddy Piper Wrestlemania 8
Awesome, Old school, technical match, with bleeding from hart, which was pretty extreme in that day and age. Two huge fan favorites, Using heel tactics, technical wrestling, and brawling throughout, huge stadium, huge crowd heat, great finish with the clean rollup off of the sleeper hold

9. Tazz VS Sabu, extreme death match, Living dangerously 99
Another awesome mix of brawling, technical wrestling, and just incredible intensity throughout. Sabu gutting this one out with a broken jaw was very memorable.

8. Randy Savage VS Ric Flair Wrestlemania 8
A fantastic head to a rivalry here, with some of the realest hatred ive ever seen between two guys in a match. Great back and forth, edge of your seat battle, in which you really couldnt predict who would win til the end, and Savage using heel tactics to finally get the win was perfect. Bobby Heenan is at his absolute hilarious best during this match, and it adds to it.

7. Rey Mysterio VS Dean Malenko, Nitro, June 96
Just an utterly beautiful, hard hitting, great cruiserweight title match. If you want to know as individuals such as myself, and many others look upon the current cruiserweight scene in disgust, watch THIS match, as it is a great one. Malenko powerbombing mysterio over and over and over, and pulling him up time and time again when he could seemingly easily get the pin, then mysterio pulling off the miracle out of nowere pin, is one of my favorite finishes of all time.

6. Demolition VS The Hart Foundation, Best two out of 3 falls, Summerslam 90'
Tag wrestleing at its absolute best here. The foundation persevering through the alternating three members of demolition to somehow come out with a school boy rollup at the end of a grueling battle, to win the tag titles, is amazing. Nothing any current promotion puts on, as far as tag team battles, comes even close to this.

5. Kurt Angle VS Shawn Micheals, WM 21
As has been said before, just a brilliant, brilliant encounter. Back and forth action, every move in the book used, brawling, chain wrestling, all in front of a hot back and forth crowd at the grandaddy of em all. Just a journey from beginning to end, you, as the veiwer, were wore out after watching it. Loved the clean finish for the heel Angle as well.

4. Masato Tanaka VS Mike Awesome, ECW title, ECW weekly TNN show, 12/31/99...Can be found on the ECW extreme rules DVD
Another just beautiful mix, of brawling, technical wrestleing, and story telling. just back and forth HUGE bumps, with neither man willing to bend to the will of the other. Massive chair shots, huge slams through tables, huge Mike awesome flying over, and from, the top rope, alongside great suplexes, slams, and chain wrestling. just ridiculous, utterly amazing stuff here. And the finish was the best part of it all. Ive watched wrestling for 17 years, and never in my life had I seen a powerbomb like the one Awesome gives Tanaka at the end of this one. A great match to me, and if I were one of the huge ECW marks on this forum (which I CERTAINLY AM NOT in any way shape or form...I actually feel ECW as a whole is very overrated by many) I would point to THIS match to naysayers, to show what the best of ECW was all about. This match opened my eyes to what all the people who rabidly foam over the old ECW were talking about, becuase this, pound for pound, is about dead even with my three matches ranked above it. Possibly the best match ive ever seen.

3. Rey Mysterio VS Eddie Guerrero, Cruiserweight Championship VS Mask, Halloween Havoc 98
Just an amazing, emotional, dramatic battle, with HUGE bumps throughout. Another tale of Mysterio surviving massive amounts of punishment, to come back with the out of nowere victory. Just the two pound for pound best wrestlers at the time, at their absolute best.


2.Triple H VS John Cena, WM 22
YEA I SAID IT......anyone who has read many of my posts, knows that I am a huge mark for crown heat, ambience, and atmosphere in a match. And to me, in all ive seen, ive never hear a crowd like this. Not in Rock VS Hogan, not in Warrior VS Hogan, nothing. This was insanity. No other match did the crowd not only react, but ERUPT, after nearly EVERY MOVE. Punches, slams, taunts, anything, elicited a HUGE response, one way or the other. just amazing emotion. You could almost feel true, vehement, REAL hatred towards Cena, it was nearly a mob/riot mentality. Great back and forth action, and the Game brought his game, as did Cena, for sure. Didnt care much for the ending, as I wouldve liked to have see Trips go over on that night, and certainly didnt like seeing him tap to cena.

1. Bret Hart VS Mr. Perfect, Summerslam 91'
If I were to pick one match, to show people who knew nothing about this sport I love, and try to convey to them what its all about, this would be the one. Just great, hard hitting, back and forth technical wrestling, GREAT selling by both guys, two of the best, and in perfects case, most charismatic competitors ever to lace em up. Another one of my favorite finishes of all time, as perfect is pouring on punishment on a seemingly hapless hart, When bret comes out of nowere with the Sharpshooter for the win. Amazing match, and the fact that Perfect was preforming the whole thing with a pretty severe back injury, makes it even better for me.

Honorable Mention to numbers 11 and 12, shawn micheals VS Mankind at Mind Games, and Hulk Hogan VS The Ultimate Warrior at wrestlemania 6, to matches I had to regretfully leave off. Both are amazing showings in their own very sperate ways, and are two of my favorites.

 

[DeadmanInc.]

10. Undertaker vs Kane (Wrestlemania 14) - The main reason this is one of my favourites is because of the awesome build up. In my opinion, this was one of the best build-ups of all time. The match was decent for two giants. I loved how Kane was seemingly unstoppable, yet Undertaker overcame the odds.

09. Hulk Hogan vs The Rock - These two may not be the best of wrestlers (especially Hogan), but they brought it in this match. The crowd was estatic, though it was really weird to hear all the boos for The Rock. Despite the boos, I thought The Rock made Hogan look really good. He sold his moves well, which is what made the match really enjoyable to me.

08. Bret Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (Wrestlemania) - In my opinion, this match is what propelled Stone Cold to super stardom. Awesome wrestling and a controversial finish.

07. Cactus Jack vs Triple H (Royal Rumble) - This was one of Foley's best matches. The thumbtacks at the end was amazing. I got chills when Foley kicked out of the first Pedigree. I'll never forget the barbed wire either, since this was the first time I saw it being used.

06. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker (Hell in a Cell) - The first ever Hell in a Cell match did not disappoint. Although it wasn't as brutal as the Mankind vs Undertaker match, it was still great nonetheless. This was also a defining moment in WWE as it was the debut of Kane and it set the stage for the Montreal Screw Job.

05. Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar (Iron Man Match) - A pay-per-view quality match on TV. It doesn't get much better than 2 accomplished athletes going at it.

04. Mankind vs Undertaker (Hell in a Cell) - This was probably the defining moment in Mick Foley's career. The fact that he took two 16-foot falls and still continued the match deserves nothing but respect. He even allowed himself to be chokeslammed onto thumbtacks. I gotta give props to 'Taker too for not breaking character.

03. Triple H vs The Rock (Iron Man Match) - I love Iron Man Matches, and this one did not disappoint. Awesome wrestling, huge pop for Undertaker, and a controversial finish that kept people talking.

02. Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart (Iron Man Match) - The first ever Iron Man Match between two of the biggest stars in WWE history. The ending was phenomenal and no falls during the time limit shows just how great these two stars are.

01. Owen Hart vs Bret Hart (Wrestlemania) - This was the very first match I ever saw. I was only 4 years old but I was amazed by the show these guys put on. This was a main event quality match, yet it was only the opening match of the show. There was reversal after reversal. King said it best during the match: Owen knows what Bret is going to do even before Bret does.

 

[FlairFan2003]

I've been watching wrestling a lot longer than you many of you so some of you may not remember some of these matches but here goes...

10.) Magnum TA vs Tully Blanchard (US Champion) - Starrcade 85 - Anybody who thinks hardcore was created in the 90's by ECW really missed the boat as the old NWA, back before it became Turner's WCW, was full of bloody, brutal wrestling matches. This was no exception, especially in an era when main event wrestlers almost never lost by submission. Blanchard, the No. 2 heel in the company behind Ric Flair, had beaten TA, the company's up and company young super stud, in a 53 minute classic a few mths earlier. Even though Flair and Dusty Rhodes had the main event this match stole the show, lasting close to 40 minutes inside a Steel Cage with "I Quit" rules. The end came when TA broke a wooden chair on Blanchard's head and drove splintered pieces of wood into his head while he lay bleeding and screaming in the middle of the ring. Seeing the usually clean cut TA act so ruthlessly in a match was surprising. Seeing Blanchard take one for the team was not.

9.) Ric Flair vs Sting - Clash Of Champions 88 - The match that cost Vince McMahon over a million dollars in lost PPV revenue as TBS aired it live opposite WrestleMania IV. Anyone who thought Sting was another muscle bound character learned how wrong they were. Sting moved from brawling to technical wrestling effortlessly and in his prime did amazing high flying moves for a muscled 265 pound wrestler. The match is fairly fast paced, especially the last 20 minutes, and even though he did not win (45 minute time limit draw as Sting has Flair locked in the Scorpion Death Lock in mid ring) this match really put Sting over with fans. WCW had stumbled upon a superstar.

8.) Ric Flair vs Vader - Starrcade 93 - WCW fell into this match by accident, having built their annual super show around a Vader World Title Match with Sid Viscious but Visciuos was fired shortly before the show and the company needed a big buyrate for the PPV after an incredibly down 2yrs of business. The event was in Charlotte, NC, Flair's hometown. Flair was only wrestling part time and was not in the title scene but the company did a great job of buildlng this match as Flair's last stand, he couldn't keep wrestling if he wasn't champion. Vader, who was managed by longtime Flair nemesis Harley Race (Flair beat Race at the first Starrcade 10 yrs earlier, ending his last reign as champion) insisted Flair had to win the belt to keep wrestling, making this Race's chance to end Flair's career as Flair had effectively done to him. The match itself was good, a classic big man/little man match with the added flavor of Flair being a well established "dirtiest player in the game" character who believably could bite, claw, low blow, eye poke, etc an opponent, only here be cheered for it because Vader and Race were mega heels. Flair bleeds, gets his two front teeth knocked out (Vader hit some of his shots pretty hard, prompting Flair to fire some real punches on him during an outside the ring fight sequence). Flair rolls him up from behind seemingly out of nowhere for the pinfall after Race's intereference fails and the crowd erupts. Prior to the match there were great sequences showing Flair with his worried looking wife and children wishing him luck at home, then a stoic Flair taking "one last limo ride" with Gene Okerlund talking about his career and what it will mean if Vader beats him. Afterwards Flair gives his best Rocky speech in the locker room with, bleeding, hissing thru his mouth with his teeth knocked out, as his children stand by his side and old aversaries like Ricky Steamboat and Sting stop by to pay their respects. Great stuff.

7.) Brett Hart vs Shawn Michaels WM Iron Match - Enough has been said about this match, a true classic, but it marked a turning point in WWE as the more flamboyant, character driven Michaels was surpassing Hart as the company's top superstar. The ramifications of this match would be felt for yrs afterwards.

6.) Jimmy Hart (w/ Prescious) vs Ric Flair - 1987 Great American Bash - Before Flair went to the WWE and told the world "she was mine before she was yours" referring to his alleged affair with Randy Savage's manager/wife Elizabeth, he tried to make Garvin's manager/girlfriend Prescious his. Plying her with flowers and gifts to no avail, Flair tried bullying her boyfriend instead. Garvin, a former mega heel with Michael Hayes and The Fabulous Freebirds had only recently turned good but this match may have been his finest moment as a singles wrestler. Garvin beats Flair pillar to post in a bloody, fast paced steel cage match until he leapfrogs an atempted Flair back body drop and lands ackwardly on his knee, setting Flair up for a series of torturous moves on Garvin's knee leading to a painful figure four leg lock. The crowd in Greensboro, NC was so huge in favor of Garvin the noise is deafening, especially with Flair pulling the ropes for added leverage as Ptrescious and brother Ronnie Garvin scream at ringside. Actual fans jump the railing and try to get in the ring, prompting a slightly quicker than anticipated ending. Garvin is pinned and Flair keeps the belt and wins a date with the girl. Things don't go well on the date but that's another story. This was a highly entertaining match, viscious, with a surprising semi clean heel victory.

5.) War Games I - Great American Bash 1987 - Two rings, submission or surrender, no hold barred. This match was 10 times more intense than anything in wrestling circa the late 80's and was the precursor for the Hell In A Cell matches WWE started putting on in the late 90's. The Four Horseman were all great in ring workers (well, Lex Luger was better than avaerage, elevated by those around him) as well as interviews and Dusty Rhodes and The Road Warriors were out of sight. The ending was a little weak (the Horsemen manager, JJ Dillion, clearly the weak link, submits) but the match was intense.

4.) The Rock "N" Roll Express vs Arn & Ole Anderson - Starrcade 86 - Tag team wrestling at it's finest, the R&R were one of the most exciting tag teams in wrestling (and nearly carbon copied by the AWA with the Rockers). Aging Ole Anderson was near the end of his career but still puts on a good show as a brutal rule breaker. The R&R go over in the end. While their feud with The Midnight Express was more memorable (and produced some great matches) this was a fine tag team bout and showed just how red hot R&R really were. It also showed how much Arn Anderson had evolved as in ring performer. He was an incredibly hard working performer who took serious bumps throughout his matches. Underrated is the word that applies to this guy.

3.) Ric Flair vs Terry Funk - 1989 Great American Bash - Everybody raves about the "I Quit" these two did at the end of the year but for my money this was their best televised match. Flair's world title was on the line in a match where he was recovering from serious neck injuries at Funks's hand when he put him head first through a table two months earlier (this was his first match back). It's also the first time in nearly 5 years Flair had wrestled as a fan favorite. There is a lot of brawling, in adition to various neck breakers, suplexes, pile drivers, figure fours, spinning toe holds, small packages, outside intereference from Funk's manager Gary Hart, and multiple use of a branding iron as a weapon. Both guys bleed a lot too. Flair wins clean (well as clean as you can win in a match with so much crazy stuff going on) and then a mega brawl erupts as Funk and Hart's protege Great Muta do a beat down on Flair until Sting makes the save and the four men brawl in the ring, around the ring, up the ramp way, into the fans seats, one of the longest post match brawls you'll ever see. Funk was certifiable as show man and this is one of his most over the top performances but he could carry his own in the ring.

2.) Royal Rumble 1992 - The most star studded rumble of all time with entries on two minute, not one minute intervals, plus the winner would be decalred World Champion. In addition to winner Ric Flair (who lasted over an hour in he match) you had main event stars like Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Roddy Piper, Jake Roberts, Sid Viscious (aka Sid Justice), Ted DiBiase, and several other noteable stars such as Greg Valentine, Rick Martel, Sgt Slaughter, British Bulldog, and in one of his last wrestling matches Kerry Von Erich. Von Erich, Slaughter, Michaels, Hogan, Savage, Taker, Viscious, and Martel were all former/future World Champions (Martel was AWA Champ around 1985). This also may have been the best broadcasting job for the Bobby Heenan/Gorilla Monson team as Heenan nearly has an on air meltdown as his man (Flair) staves off elimination about two dozen times and Monsoon tries to calm him down and focus on the match.

1) Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat - WrestleWar 89 - The most amazing thing about this match is that the two had already done a highly anticipated title switch and a 54 minute two out of three falls match, both of which were televised in the last three months. How much new stuff could the come up with. Surprisingly this match is farly fresh, playing a little on the outcomes of the previous bouts but not duplicating too much of what was done in those encounters. More amazing given that Flair and Steamboat typically did little prep before matches, laying out the finish and little else meaning they went on the fly almost the entire match which lasted over 30 minutes. Flair's win earns him an "official" 6'th world title reign and sets up his feud with Terry Funk, which eventually leads to a feud with Sting that garners him his first World Title. The mach is also noteworthy because it marks one of the first times I can remember where the bad guy (Flair) had considerable support from the fans against an otherwise popular good guy. It happened at Starrcade 87 when Flair defeated Ron Garvin in Chicago but Garvin was rather plain, too southern character who wasn't a great interview and the more entertaining, charismatic Flair and his image played better to the more urban crowd. This is really where fans starting blurring the lines of who they supported based more on the entertainment value of the wrestler and less on their good guy/bad guy appeal

 

[TheOneBigWill]

This is my current Top Ten List. While I have to say the following matches might not be the very best, whenever I think of them, I constantly want to watch them. So I may do more than one list.. especially if I can truly think of my ALL-TIME TOP 10. But this is it for now.

10. Rob Van Dam v. Jerry Lynn - Hardcore Heaven 2000: The return of R.V.D. & Jerry Lynn both. I think that any match involving either of these guys against the other is as close to perfect as you can get, however this match takes it for me. Not only did Lynn pick up the only victory he's (to my knowledge) ever held over Van Dam, but the match just perfectly flowed together well.

9. U.S. Championship: Triple Threat: Diamond Dallas Page v. Raven v. Chris Benoit - Uncensored 1997: I was a huge Raven fan in W.C.W., & this match was one of my favorites for him. I honestly don't like many Triple Threat matches because its hard for all 3 Superstars to be involved at once, however this one seemed to go greatly. I loved how dispite their dislike for each other, Benoit seemingly worked with Raven for most of the match, including throwing D.D.P. through the Uncensored sign. The only part I hated, was the f'ed up finish with the Diamond Cutter being badly done at the end.

8. Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Mysterio v. Billy Kidman - Spring Stampede 1999: I was a Billy Kidman mark the second he joined the Flock. When he broke away, I loved watching him even more, because he somehow just magically turned into one of the best cruiserweights to watch. (that didn't wear a mask) I hated this match because Kidman lost, but loved how it went. I truly wish we could see cruiserweight action like this again.

7. U.S. Championship: Bret "Hitman" Hart v. Sting - Halloween Havoc 1998: Sharpshooter v. Scorpion Death Lock. The entire Halloween Havoc 1998 p.p.v. could easily go down in my books as the best Pay Per View, ever. This match was beautiful. The ending was the only thing that sucked, as apparently W.C.W. didn't think even as a heel, that Hart should be put (cleanly) over Sting.

6. 3 Stages of Hell: Triple H. v. Stone Cold Steve Austin - No Way Out 2001: The finale to their feud. The match somehow ended up in the middle of the p.p.v., & to be honest, I think its because they allowed them to go out & put on a show without time restrictions. I enjoyed how this match went back & forth, especially because Austin really isn't known for being anything decent in the technical aspect of wrestling.

5. Kid Kash v. E.Z. Money - Anarchy Rulz 2000: In my honest opinion, this was the match that made both men. Kash's reversal of the powerbomb into a hurricanrana in mid-air on Money was by far the greatest thing I've EVER seen, even to this day. Any match involving Kid Kash, I'm there.. same could be said about Money, especially from his end of W.C.W. days. (Jason Jett) Both men know how to go out & just hit spot after spot, & keep you entertained the entire way through.

4. World Championship: Street Fight: Triple H. v. Mick Foley - Royal Rumble 2000: I really think this was the hardcore match that put Triple H. over as a legit Champion. I give credit to Mick Foley for making that possible, as to be honest, anyone in a hardcore match with Foley, seems to have instant cred with being "hardcore." (Orton, Flair, Edge)

3. Tag Team Tormoil: A.P.A. v. Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn v. Dudley Boyz v. X-Factor v. Hardy Boyz v. Edge & Christian v. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit - Judgment Day 2001: I love Tag Team Tormoil matches, & if I had to list all of them, I'd put this one at the top of the list. I really, wish Edge & Christian would've won.. but this match truly showed the W.W.F. how strong their Tag Team division seriously was.. & makes me go back in time, watching this match over & over, missing it each time.

2. W.W.E. Championship: Rob Van Dam v. John Cena v. Edge - Raw, July 3rd, 2006: On this night, I truly didn't know what to expect. I had a dream, I had a wish.. & that was what came true, thankfully. I remember watching this match, seriously on the edge (no pun intended) of my seat. I wanted so badly for Edge to win the Championship for the second time, & anything but Cena to regain it.

This match ranks as my 2nd of all time, & is really tied with Edge v. John Cena at New Year's Revolution, when Edge "cashed in" as well all the other Edge World Championship victories. I really find myself becoming a kid again, someone who just loves everything when Edge wins the Heavyweight Championship.. because he's become the one guy I just love to watch do anything. Talk, Wrestle, everything he does, I find myself generally wanting more.

And the only match that will forever be listed as my #1. All Time favorite, above anything else.. is....

1. Grudge Match: Triple H. v. Shawn Michaels - Summerslam 2002: H.B.K. returns to the ring after a 4 plus year layoff. I was so destroyed when I had to read on the internet that Shawn Michaels had basically retired due to his back injuries, & I hated it so much because his "last match" was a loss against Steve Austin of all people.. where noone seemingly ever gave him the rightful amount of credit he deserved for even working that match. (anyways....)

When the time came for Shawn to return to the ring, I was quite possibly one of the happiest people (next to one girl, I'm sure) ever. All week leading up to this p.p.v., I couldn't wait to hear his music, just one more time. I couldn't wait to see him come out like he used to, just one more time. (even though he wasn't exactly the same) And formost, I was completely excited to see him wrestle, even if it would've been.. for just one.. more.. time. This match takes it all for me, because it revived my love & passion for the business.

This match made me happy to be a wrestling fan all over again, because I was being given the opportunity to watch the one guy I idolized growing up. I was being given the chance to see him, perhaps even if for just one more match, go out the way he should've deserved to go out the very first time.

I'll forever love any match that Shawn Michaels is in. He'll always be my favorite, all-time, Superstar.. & I could seriously list off a top ten matches of his without even trying. He deserves this spot, because of everything he is.. & he is, everything he says he is.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Ok, a few people have requested my two cents on this thread, so I figured I would take a moment to indulge. It will, of course, be very 1990's-centric. In no particular order:

Ric Flair vs Randy Savage - Wrestlemania 8

This match was an absolute classic. With all of the banter that goes back and forth on these pages about "ring psychology," this match is MY DEFINITION of it. I say that because these two men made me believe the hatred and the hype - that what I was seeing in the ring was real. First, the ring entrances. It's one of two main events at Wrestlemania 8 - the biggest stage of them all, and it's at a sold out Hoosier Dome (huge place) so one would figure a wrestler may bask in it, right? Not Savage. He is SO FURIOUS with Flair, stemming from the build up involving Ms. Elizabeth, that he runs right to the ring to attack. In classic "Macho Madness" terms, he doesn't even care thathe also has to deal with Mr. Perfect. The match itself was great, with "limb psychology" coming into play with Savage's knee and the comeback he mounts when Elizabeth emerges from the back in tears. The two forgotten elements of this match - 1) Savage won by cheating, pulling Flair's tights, and it felt right to fans everywhere that Flair got what he deserved, and 2) Bobby Heenan in the announcers booth turned in an all-time great performance, with Gorilla Monsoon egging him on.

Vader vs Cactus Jack - Halloween Havoc 1993

A brutal, angry match. Vader basically owned WCW at this time, and his attack on Cactus Jack that left Jack with temporary amnesia led to a "Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal" event at Halloween Havoc, which turned out to be a Texas Death Match. Through all of the brutality, Vader got the win when Harley Race tazered Cactus's knee as he was about to answer the 10-count. Foley saved face, and Vader was still the unstoppable heel.

The Thrillseekers vs The Heavenly Bodies - SMW 1994

I tout this match every chance I get. Jericho and Storm vs Pritchard and Del Ray. Jericho had actually been injured a few days earlier, but still worked a masterful tag team match. False ending saw the ref stop the match because Jericho was busted open so badly, you couldn't recognize his face. Jericho begged the ref to restart the match, which he did, and the Thrillseekers got the win. Incidentally, the match was also cool because the Bodies were about to become (or already were) the WWF Tag Team Champs, and Jericho and Storm were not considered in the Bodies' league. Ha.

Marty Jannetty vs Shawn Michaels - Royal Rumble 1993

The greatest display of near falls ever. The whole story line following the barber shop window incident led to an Intercontinental Title match and the question of where Sherri's loyalty would lie. Shawn Michaels 100% captured me that day, though I still self-identify as a Jannetty mark. It was the first time I saw a wrestler catapulted so high that his head his the ring post, not the turnbuckle, and I thought that was it. It wasn't, Shawn kicks out at 2 and sixteen seventeenths. Match of the Year in 1993.

Steve Austin vs Bret Hart - Wrestlemania 13

The "I Quit Match." The Double Turn. A classic, because both men worked their characters so well as to create palpable heat. I really felt they hated each other, but to hear about how much fun the match was for them and how much respect they had for one another was awesome.

Masato Tanaka vs Mike Awesome - ECW Heatwave 1998

This match was almost a total package for me. It had some technical wrestling, some fun high spots, and some brutality. I was most enamored with how much physical punishment both men took, and how the matchup ceased to be a wrestling match and became a war of attrition. It really was a matter of who wanted it more, and the story was a fun one to watch.

Hardy Boyz vs Edge and Christian - No Mercy 1999

I know, I know, it's a spot monkey match. But the spots were clever, and I felt the pain was well sold by both teams. The reason I liked this one above the others, including the TLC's, was because NOBODY saw this shit coming. It put 4 men on the map who went on to make a HUGE impact. 2 of the 4 have already held major world titles, one gets a shot in 2 weeks. The crowd ate this up, the the next night on Raw when all 4 men shook hands and showed the mutual admiration, the crowd returned the favor.

Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker - Badd Blood

Much like the ladder match above, nobody really saw this match coming either. "Hell in a Cell" originally sounded like a glorified Steel Cage, but these two men made it a battlefield. Michaels played the heel card like a pro. This match, in retrospect, also set so many thing in motion - the advent of HIAC, Taker vs Kane, etc.

Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat - Wrestlemania 3

I call this match "The Benchmark." The story leading up to this match was intense, with Steamboats "crushed larynx." But the match itself was so back and forth, and talk about near falls galore. This match I felt was the 1st to put the Intercontinental Title on the map, as well as Savage getting a major push for the WWF Title. People talk about Bret Hart's arrival at the main even when he lost to Bulldog. Well, Savage did it here, 5 and a half years earlier.

Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit - Super J Cup 1995

Anybody who has ever seen this classic knows what I am talking about. As great as any match these two have had in WWE, the Super J Cup final was a clinic in technical and ariel wrestling. The respect from the Japanese crowd was also awesome. As singles competitors, both men made their marks here and shortly thereafter started big time careers in the US.

 

[bnn52]

1. Barbed Wire Match – Born to be Wired
Sabu vs. Terry Funk
Not much to explain here. The most brutal match I have ever seen with Sabu tearing his bicep. Great match between two hardcore legends

2. Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match - Summerslam 1998
HHH vs. The Rock - Lasted over 25 minutes
A brutal ladder match for the IC Championship. This match definitely stole the show.

3. Hell in a Cell match - King of the Ring 1998
Undertaker vs. Mankind
Everyone will remember this match because it is the one where The Deadman threw Mankind off the top of the Cell. Really shows us all how crazy Foley actually is.

4. Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match - Wrestlemania X
Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels
First ladder match in WWF/WWE history. Not much to say about this revolutionary match, but its a classic.

5. NWA World Tag Team Championship Six Sides of Steel Match - Bound for
Glory 2006
LAX vs. AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels
This was the first TNA Pay-Per-View I ever watched and this match really impressed me. Really got me more interested in TNA programming. These four wrestlers are great talents and are definitely some of the best stars of this professional wrestling era.

6. WWF Title Match - Wrestlemania III
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant
The slam heard round the world in front of the largest crowd in History. The two Most influential stars of the WWF during this time period and maybe in history.

7. WWE Title Match – Last Man Standing – Royal Rumble 2007
John Cena vs. Umaga
I know a lot of people will have something to say about this match, but in my opinion this match was a new classic. It was a brutal match ending with Cena choking outUmaga with the ropes.

8. Street Fight for the World Championship – Royal Rumble 2000
HHH vs. Mick Foley
This was a another great hardcore match for Foley. Like someone stated earlier, really put HHH over and jumpstarted him into the Superstar of the WWE this decade.

9. Summerslam 1992
Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith
Brother in law vs. Brother in law in Davey Boy’s home country @ Wembley Stadium.Such a long, competitive, and emotional match for the two.

10. Wrestlemania III
Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat
A great fast paced match that I believe really put Savage over as a main eventer. Led to him winning the WWF title tournament the following year as a face.

 

[Enigmania]

Not in any order:

10/ Jeff Hardy vs Undertaker - RAW - Ladder Match for the Undisputed Title: The intensity and Jeff's will to win had me on the edge of my seat
9/ Christian vs Chris Jericho - Unforgven - Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Title: Had suspense and the unknown of who would win. Great Match.
8/ AMW vs XXX- Turning Point 2004 - First TNA PPV I watched and by god I will never forget Elix Skipper walking the Cage
7/ John Cena vs Shawn Micheals - Wrestlemania 23 - the way the closing moments flowed together was great.
6/ Mankind vs The Undertaker - King of the Ring 1998 - Amazing Bumps from Mick Foley
5/ The Rock vs Mankind - Royal Rumble 1998 - Those chairshots sent chills down my spine.
4/ The Rock vs Triple H - Judgement Day 2000 - The return of the American Bad Ass was amazing. I never got bored during that hour.
3/ Armeggeddon Hell in a Cell - I hated Rikishi and loved seeing him go off the cell
2/ Cactus Jack vs Triple H - Royal Rumble 2000 - One of my favorite events ever and this street fight was the highlight 2nd to...
1/ Royal Rumble 2000 - Loved the main event. Too Cool and Rikishi dancing...Kientai running in the ring...The Rock winning...awesome

 

[kennywry666]

It might seem like i prefer ladder matches the best, but Its not even my Favorite match. They are just full of action, and thats why alot of my picks involve ladders. You can't argue with most of my top 10 picks.

10. John Cena Vs. Edge - WWE Championship - TLC -Unforgiven 2006
This match had me on the edge of my seat basically the whole time. Not only was this a groundbreaking (singles) TLC match, but it also proved to me that Cena can wrestle, despite what others think. Also, the F-U off ladder kicked ass.

9. Elimination Chamber 1 - Survivor Series 2002
Not only was this the very first EC match, but look at it this way. HHH, HBK, RVD, Kane, Booker T, and Jericho, all confided in a steel structure. Need I Say more?

8. Undertaker Vs Batista - WHC - WM 23
By far one of the greatest matches of all time. The suicide dive by Taker blew me away. Great finish too.

7.Edge & Christian vs. The Hardys - Steel Cage Match - Unforgiven 2000
During the Attitude Era, all we ever really saw in the tag team division was TLC matches. I liked the little change up. Really good overall match. I didnt like that they took Jeff out of the equation early on, but i knew that he would somehow get back involved. Really good match. Kudos.

6. Chris Jericho vs. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit - 2 Falls Triple Threat - Wrestlemania 2000
Loved the concept of the match (1st Fall – Intercontinental Title, 2nd Fall – European Title) Plus i see these 3 wrestlers as all time greats. Poor Kurt lost both titles without ever being pinned. Great Counters, Lots of on-edge activity. An all time WM great.

5. Christian Cage Vs Kaz - Ladder Match - Genisis O7
I really enjoyed this match. Lots of hotspots, great ending. One of my fave TNA matches of all time. plus Christian is the best thing to happen to TNA IMO.

4. Eddie Guererro Vs Brock Lesnar - WWE Title - No Way Out 2004
Never in a Million years, would i have thought they would have taken the strap off of Lesnar just months before WM, but not only did they fool me, but they did it well.This match is the type of one, you would watch over, and over, and over again. Making Eddie WWE champion, was the smartest move ever. Which brings me to...

3. Eddie Guererro Vs Kurt Angle - WWE title - WM20
Another great WM match, with a suprise finish, great match. Hard to describe, but still... It deserves #3 in my books. RIP Eddie.

Fatal 4 Way Ladder Match - Armaggedon 2006
This match is the reason I still watch WWE. I missed the Actual PPV (didnt think the card was that great), but then I bought the encore the next day, and boy, did i ever miss out. This match is probably a tie with number 1. whenever im bored, i actually rewatch this match. I can replay it in my head. This is an example of a match, full of midcarders, that could be a main event. By far one of my favorite matches of all time.

1. Undertaker vs Jeff Hardy - Ladder match (go figure) - Raw
I don't think anybody can disagree with me when i say this deserves to be #1. This match changed the way people think about Jeff Hardy. This match has been my favorite since it happened. It was so full of action, and it redefined the Ladder match. I knew it was going to be an all-time great as soon as Jeff sat on takers bike. Flips, Crashes, Dives, Chairshots, Ladder shots, Chokeslam off Ladder. Enough said. Im really glad WWE started pushing Jeff.

 

[fearthereaper]

10. Flyin' Brian Pillman vs. Jushin Thunder Lyger (Nitro)
This was america's first chance to view Lyger. Two high flyers at their best.

9. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (Badd Blood HIAC)
Innovative and shocking. Along with the Debut of Kane...wow.

8. Cactus Jack vs. Terry Funk (IWGP King of the Death Match Finals)
Lots and Lots of Blood!!!

7. Chris Beniot vs. Kurt Angle (RAW - Steel Cage)
two of the best technical wrestlers of all-time

6. Undertaker vs. Undertaker (Summerslam)
From a wrestling POV, this match sucked...but the build-up behind it was great.

5. Road Warriors vs. Steiner Brothers (Nitro)
Two of my favorite tag teams going at it.

4. Four Horsemen & JJ Dillion vs. LOD, Dusty Rhodes, Nakita Koloff & Paul Ellering (War Games)
This is, by far, my favorite gimmick match ever! A chance to see James J. Dillion blade.

3. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (WM3)
A well-timed passing of the torch

2. Ric Flair w/4 Horsemen vs. Sting w/Dudes with Attitude (Great American Bash)
Sting's first title win to become heavyweight champion. This was actually my favorite match when I was a kid.

1. Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (2 out of 3 falls - ECW Farewell Match)
A very emotional match...just an amazing watch. Anyone wanting to get into the biz should definately study this match!

Honorable Mention: Ravishing Rick Rude vs. Sting (Clash of Champions)
Rude had an unbelievable amount of heat taking on the flagship of the company.