TOM HERRERA, Before he was the most successful @**-whooper in history, Steve Austin was an amazing mat wrestler who could hold his own with anybody in the world, including Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. The endgame five Savage elbow drops failing, then three huge shoulder blocks from Warrior to set up the pin was ahead of its time. "It all stemmed from an interview I did with Jim Ross in the WWE studios in Connecticut. He loved Bret Hart just like me, but as the match was unfolding, he started to hate Bret and love Austin. Overrun segment: 2: Steve Austin, The Rock & Vince McMahon vs. When you put on a bout between two of the best wrestlers from their era, or any era, you're bound to get one of the greatest matches of all time. But this wasn't any other event; it was WrestleMania X and the "match of the night" belonged to Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match. Wrestlemania 19 - 2003 Something about the late '90s and early 2000's just made for some excellent sports entertainment, and Wrestlemania 19 didn't disappoint. "I dont think Rey knew it was a pay-per-view. Maybe that wasnt the right thing to do.' The two competitors had been at each others throats over the WWE Championship for the entirety of 2003 at this point, and everything came to a head here. "To get to start that match off was awesome. This wasn't just a stunt, it made sense because Hardy had the belts, was 10 feet in the air, and spearing him was the only way for Edge to save the match. Throughout the bout, The Undertaker relished the opportunity to punish the degenerate inside the steel payback for Michaels costing The Deadman the WWE Title at SummerSlam that year. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. He's one in a million." BOBBY MELOK. Two generational stars. Yeah, we still dont know how he did it, either. From a crash-and-burn standpoint, no, it was not going to be like that. Every near-fall is suspenseful. SAM ROBERTS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, They say records were made to be broken, but even as John Cena inched closer and closer to Ric Flairs 16 World Championships, it seemed unlikely that The Cenation Leader would tie the mark heading into the 2017 Royal Rumble. SAM ROBERTS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, There may not be another match that embodied WWEs Attitude Era more than "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Dude Loves battle for the WWE Championship at Over the Edge 1998. Bray Wyatt vs. John. Consider this: the Hell In A Cell match was once the ultimate stipulation. Ironically, after a wooden chair was tossed into the unforgiving steel confines, T.A. Awesome wowed the Ohio crowd with his eye-opening agility, but Tanaka's display of heart in this classic was really something to behold. @JOEYSTYLES. and its also the challenge of 'Whats your desire to try?' One night stand 2005 9. The run-up to this match included some of the greatest hairdos and outfits ever worn in wrestling history, and the match certainly lived up to such sartorial expectations. Even the World Titles were reversed as The Rock entered with the WCW Championship and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin captained the WCW and ECW Alliance while WWE Champion. They needed each other and wrestling wouldnt be what it is today without 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and The Rock, and this match was the culmination of that." KARA MEDALIS, At WrestleMania III, the 15-year undefeated Andre the Giant stepped over the top rope to face WWE Champion Hulk Hogan in front of more than 93,000 members of the WWE Universe. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Shahid. It remains one of the most memorable, energetic and enthralling Cruiserweight clashes of all time, succeeding at raising the profile of Mysterio and Ultimo Dragon as well as the bar for all of sports-entertainment. Since the latest livestream, we know 62 ratings of the full 200 wrestlers on the roster. Some stole the show, while others were part of classic cards that were great from top to bottom. The fans in Madison Square Garden, and mainstream wrestling fans in general, had never seen anything like this. What makes it even more impressive is there were no gimmicks (HIAC or Casket) and no stakes (like HBK's career), besides of course, Undertaker defending his streak and the pride of victory. Wrestlemania X ended with Bret Hart as new WWE Champion celebrating on his friends' shoulders while the New York crowd roared in approval. In 2001, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Triple H were running roughshod over the WWE as the "Two-Man Power Trip," basically an evil version of the Mega Powers. BOBBY MELOK. But the middle portion the match itself demands just as much respect as those two milestones. JOHN CLAPP. Put all of them together and you get John Cena vs. CM Punk for the WWE Championship at Money In The Bank 2011. At one point, The Mastodon crushed The Hardcore Legend beneath his hulking frame, prompting Mick Foleys career to flash before his eyes. Undertaker would get his chance at Badd Blood 1997 in the first-ever Hell In A Cell match. "It was always so hard to tell who the crowd was going to root for more. Unquestionably, watching a Peoples Champion on the verge of electrifying millions through other avenues go toe-to-toe with a sports-entertainment legend who had lost his way to the vices of "Hollywood" and a New World Order is appointment viewing. The contest alternated between a fast-paced, high-flying affair and a slow, methodical bout as Zayn and Cesaro split the first two falls. I knew I was going against the boss wishes, but it just seemed like it was 'best for business' at the time." Third, there must be a conclusive winner (s), so Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind. Perhaps there's no greater example in WWE history than Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog at SummerSlam 1992. WWE SmackDown Results - 2/24/23 (Firefly . ANTHONY BENIGNO. A showcase for the greatest pro wrestler and the biggest superstar ever. Following The Rock and Steve Austin's showdown is no easy task, but Angle and Lesnar put on a clinic while constantly pushing each other's competitive hunger to another level. Every wrestler knew his future depended on this match and each brought it in a big way. ", Van Dam and Lynn first stole the show at Living Dangerously, but they upstaged that encounter with this back-and-forth Hardcore Heaven 1999 tour de force. @JOEYSTYLES, In front of more than 70,000 fans in the Georgia Dome, two Superstars who defined an era clashed in an epic No Holds Barred Match. Only in pro wrestling is a groin shot a thing of beauty. I wasnt able to do that at WrestleMania, so I approached Backlash with Randy in a completely different manner. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. That was the question on the minds of many in the WWE Universe throughout the winter of 2014. The fact he missed it keeps this match out of the top 20, but there's no denying few WrestleMania main events aimed higher and absolutely nailed the landing. GREG ADKINS, At the inaugural Clash of the Champions, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair was poised to teach relative upstart Sting a lesson. From an all-time classic to a modern masterpiece, Andrade 'Cien' Almas and Johnny Gargano take second place on the list with a rating of 9.65 from 673 votes. In this Friday night clash, however, the trio would finally be stopped. This was supposed to be Ricky Steamboat's cup of coffee in the big time. Top Rated Wrestling Matches Top Rated of All Time Current Champions (WWE Raw) (WWE SD) Bron Breakker (NXT) (ROH) Josh Alexander (Impact) Daniel Garcia Tyrus (NWA) Yuji Nagata (AJPW) Kazuchika Okada (NJPW) Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH) El Hijo Del Vikingo (AAA) Gran Guerrero (CMLL) Levaniel (wXw) PWI Magazine Top Rated Matches of All Time Whereas the ECW faithful were all but obligated to applaud Malenko and Guerrero on the night of their sendoff, the standing ovation in response to their half-hour draw felt more organic, less expected, and truly emblematic of the pairs artistic struggle. To truly appreciate "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat's Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania III, you have to watch the card in its entirety. Sadly, Owen's life would end in tragedy just a few years later, while Bret's historic first WWE run would end in controversy. He and his brothers-in-arms were seen as kings in competition against their five American foes. The wince-inducing clash established that Hell in a Cell was WWEs most sinister stipulation when both rivals took the fight atop the structure before HBK tumbled off the side of the Cell and through the Spanish announce table. chant helped make him the biggest babyface on the planet, it was the other biggest babyface on the planet, WWE Champion John Cena, who picked him as his challenger for the main event of SummerSlam 2013. It took years for me to get over his rivalry with Bret Hart. The entire crowd stood on their feet with jaws agape wider than the hole in the ring as Bam Bam then pinned Tazz to become the new ECW World Television Champion. I always tried to embrace my little brother, and Bret always did what he could to be a big brother to Owen. There are matches I look back on and think, 'Maybe I shouldnt have gone to that extreme. If they still don't get it, pro wrestling isn't for them. Together, their in-ring chemistry made for unforgettable bouts. So while Michaels vs. Hart at WrestleMania XII isn't perfect, it belongs on this list for its unprecedented display of pure athleticism and emotional storytelling. The Beast." In ranking these moments, its tough to top "Stone Cold" Steve Austin siding with the Devil himself and becoming Mr. McMahons corporate champion at the close of WrestleMania X-Seven. "David vs. Goliath" is one of the most popular storylines for a reason: it works. SHAWN MICHAELS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, What made this match so dramatic was the fact that Ric Flair claimed to the world that he had a prior "romantic" relationship with Randy Savage's wife, Elizabeth. Yet it was the record 68,237 fans inside Torontos Skydome that made WrestleMania X8s epic "Icon vs. Icon" Match truly historic. It was his big debut in a big American company. Royal rumble 2000 6. He was like that anywhere he went, but he stood out like a sore thumb in WCW. A lot of tag team wrestling can be very paint-by-numbers. Flair for the WWE Championship would be enough of a draw for most fans, this was McMahon Land after all, so the two were also feuding over Flair's less-than-gentlemanly treatment of Miss Elizabeth, who Flair "dated" before Savage ("She was mine before she was yours!"). The fans turned Bryan babyface in a big way, and a year and a half later he was back competing for the big belt. "But even I, Bret Harts staunchest supporter, found it hard to not get behind Austin in that match. I bruised my sternum, because I did the running knee in the corner and hit my sternum because I was literally moving faster than I ever had before. The victory put to rest the idea that Bryan was a "weak link" and proved The Shield could be beaten. Unforgiven 2006 15. "The best thing was, after the match, walking into a locker room with a bunch of guys who'd been in the business for many years and were big stars, standing up and giving this guy a standing ovation. Everyone talked about what great shape he was in, and of course, I had at least a little bit of a reputation as a guy that could wrestle an hour, so I knew going into the match that this might be the one guy who can give me a run for my money. I identified with Bret. So WrestleMania 22 with Edge was realistically my last chance to try to carve out that spot in my legacy. I am fortunate to have those things happen more times than not in my life, which is why I am continuously, unbelievably thankful and amazed at what I was fortunate enough to be a part of. MITCH PASSERO, Mixing the relatively recent faces of Ric Flair and Sid Justice whod popped up in WWE with stars like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and Roddy Piper, plus, a rapidly ascending Undertaker, the 1992 Royal Rumble Match had the composition of a dream Battle Royal. It was an all-time moment in his career, but given Bret Hart's love of pro wrestling, we bet he preferred what happened earlier in the show: his match versus his brother Owen Hart. ZACK RYDER, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. Flair was well established as "The Nature Boy" while Sting was a face-painted maverick rising in popularity thanks to his electric charisma. The fact it was against Triple H (whose "Reign of Terror" in 2003 was still fresh in fan's minds) made it that much more tense. Still, Michaels went down swinging (literally slapping 'Taker), but lost the match and his career, in an emotional finale for one of the greatest in-ring workers ever. This match, though. There were even some young stars that would define the 90s, like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. That nerve-wracking tension ran throughout the match, which kept the thousands fans in attendance, and the millions watching around the world, on the edge of their seats. Triple Hs third attempt at ending The Undertakers legendary WrestleMania winning Streak ranks high among the most emotional wars waged on The Grandest Stage of Them All, with Satans Structure serving as an all-too-appropriate battleground for the carnage. The best match is up to you, the WWE fan. "It was very important for me in terms of redeeming myself for what I thought was a very disappointing appearance at WrestleMania XX. Despite being nearly four years removed from their last one-on-one encounter, Steamboat and Flair displayed a unique familiarity with one another. Now that you have the backstory, just go watch this match. As many expected, the 450-pound Mastodon imposed his will on the two-time WWE Hall of Famer, pummeling Flair around ringside. But that wasnt all. But by the time his third match against Ricky Steamboat for the World Title came around, fans just couldnt deny how great "The Nature Boy" was inside the ring. From within this structural-grade steel hell, World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam and Shawn Michaels battered each other beyond belief. The WWE 2K23 ratings reveal is in full swing, and there are all sorts of juicy numbers floating around. 'Taker and I, when we see each other, we feel like two old war buddies that shared a bunker together and lived through it. A flamboyant, cocky and dastardly grappler that was an expert in his craft and he knew it. SETH ROLLINS, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. There will be a lot of underdog stories on this list, but few of them were as grueling or as gratifying as Sami Zayns 18-month battle to become NXT Champion, which culminated in this classic between himself and the reigning champion, Neville. Due to overexposure, "the Devil's playground" became basic. Their second meeting resulted in Vader taking Stings WCW Championship. "I'm on record as saying that its probably impossible to wrestle a perfect match, but I think it's as close as I ever got. Cody Rhodes bested Damian Sandow in a fine battle, that had the right level of intensity for the friends turned foes. The only thing missing was John Williams' score, though the rapid Miami crowd more than made up for it. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. If it is carnage you seek, youll find it at Extreme Rules 2012, wherein Brock Lesnar elbowed John Cenas head into the proverbial crimson mask within minutes of the opening bell and didnt wrestle the Cenation leader so much as torture him for the duration of this 20-minute flogging disguised as a pay-per-view main event. The two collided at No Way Out 2001, on the road to WrestleMania, in the finale of a blood feud that felt as big as any WrestleMania main event. In a classic Champion vs. Champion struggle, both Superstars left everything they had on the canvas, before Warrior overcame The Hulkster and took his place in the annals of WWE greatness. No matter how many stars other matches have gotten before and since, Bret Hart vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin remains Hart's best, Austin's best, the greatest WrestleMania bout ever, and the best WWE match of all time. After Neville pulled the referee from the ring as Zayn attempted to pin Kidd, the NXT Champion shockingly superkicked his friend Zayn and connected with a thrilling Red Arrow on Kidd for the victory. Absolutely not. It was back and forth the whole way, and one of the best matches I've had in my career. At its worst, it's just a battle royal stretched out for 60 minutes, with a bunch of random guys punching each other, while the audience impatiently counts down the next entrant. KOFI KINGSTON, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. "Chris and I were not big on going into a Ladder Match. MATTHEW ARTUS. If there was a giveaway that was the end, that was it. Every single minute of this bout was intense and every competitor added his own wild moments to the highlight reel in a mad scramble for the coveted Money in the Bank briefcase. But if you're looking for sports-entertainment nirvana, you'll never get closer than this. Before SummerSlam 1991, Bret "Hit Man" Hart was an unknown commodity as a singles wrestler. Alberto Del Rio defeated Christian in a great match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Funk offered Flair a chance to quit before this match even started. Watching these two work at that level for 60-plus minutes is an impressive display today, and was practically unheard of (in the WWE) then. Although the showdown featured the finest in-ring performance of Goldbergs career, it became infamous after the pay-per-view ran long and was cut off before the matchs conclusion. MATTHEW ARTUS, To this day, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels stands as one of the greatest rivalries in WWE history. But dont dismiss this WrestleWar 1990 main event as another night of The Nature Boy dragging an outmatched opponent to the Promised Land. Shawn Michaels is regarded by many as the absolute best wrestler of all time. The breathless contest ended in a 45-minute time limit draw, and that enmity defined WCW until its very last match. They both must have been proud after this one. Both competitors were battered and bloodied as they unloaded from their diverse arsenal of moves, with Lynn delivering perhaps the biggest highlight of the night: a sunset flip powerbomb that drove RVD through a table on the outside floor. Steamboat and Flair displayed a unique familiarity with one another WrestleMania 22 with Edge was realistically my chance! 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