World Wrestling Entertainment is among the biggest and most popularly viewed sports in the world, with the bouts between some of the biggest wrestlers in the game garnering fans all across the globe.
World Wrestling Entertainment is among the biggest and most popularly viewed sports in the world, with the bouts between some of the biggest wrestlers in the game garnering fans all across the globe. Over the long 70-year history of the competition, there have been multiple matches which are sure to live in the memory of fans. Here, we look at 12 such matches in the history of the WWE.
Buddy Rogers vs Bruno Sammartino: May 17, 1963
Back when it was called the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), 'Nature Boy' Buddy Rogers faced Bruno Sammartino for the Championship on May 17, 1963, at Madison Square Garden. The latter beat an ailing Rogers, who was reportedly forced off the hospital bed after suffering a heart attack, in 48 seconds to win his first world championship. It kicked off the massive dominance of Bruno's eight-year reign, a record yet to be equalled.
Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff - WrestleMania
With 'Hulkamania' gripping the country, the night Wrestlemania was introduced to the world is considered the biggest in the world. Hogan teamed up with Mr T against 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr Wonderful' Paul Orndorff to establish Wrestlemania and WWE as pro wrestling's undisputed leader.
Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant - WrestleMania III
The third edition of WrestleMania had many big names, but owner Vince McMahon managed to rope in the famous Andre the Giant to face WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. Andre broke hearts when he tore the cross from Hogan's neck and gave it to his archenemy, Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan. This remains the greatest WrestleMania moment of all time.
Razor Ramon vs Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania X
Returning to Madison Square Garden for the 10th edition, WrestleMania introduced 'New Generation' wrestlers into their midst. Razor Roman took on Shawn Michaels in a battle to become undisputed Intercontinental Champion in a ladder match. This bout established Ramon as the true Intercontinental Champion, Michaels as 'Mr. WrestleMania,' and the ladder match as the go-to bout for the next twenty-five years and more.
Bret Hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania 13
Despite WrestleMania 13 setting the lowest WrestleMania buyrate ever at the time, this match made a mega-star out of the biggest draw in WWE history, Stone Cold Steve Austin. It introduced Attitude Era-style — chair shots, low blows, lots of blood, fighting around the arena, etc, as Austin passed out from the pain instead of quitting, becoming a hero in the process.
Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels - Survivor Series 1997
The competition's owner Vince McMahon wanted Shawn Michael to win and Hart to lose but Hart was not having any of that. During the match, Michaels put Hart in his own Sharpshooter, referee Earl Hebner called for the bell to ring despite Hart not submitting, and Michaels was declared the winner, as Hart lost out on the title creating one of the biggest controversies of the competition.
Shawn Michaels vs Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania XIV
Austin defeating Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship at WrestleMania XIV on March 29, 1998, effectively launched the Attitude Era's most profitable period. setting the stage for WWE to finally overtake WCW. The Austin vs. McMahon feud that followed –- established him as one of the biggest pro wrestling stars of all time.
The Undertaker vs Mankind - King of the Ring 1998
The moment The Undertaker threw Mankind off the cage in the competition 'Hell in a Cell', at King of the Ring, on June 28, 1998, is a moment that pro wrestling fans will never forget. This match has gone on to define pro wrestling up to the present day.
The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz vs Edge & Christian - WrestleMania 2000
Introducing the triangle ladder match upped the WWE's fan quotient massively. It started with a match between the Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz, and Edge & Christian at WrestleMania 2000. As soon as one guy went down, another took his place, turning the ladder match -– and gimmick matches in general -– into glorified stunt shows.
The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania X-7
Bringing an end to the Attitude Era were two big names — The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The Rock vs. Austin wrestled for the WWE Championship in the Houston Astrodome at WrestleMania X-7, establishing WrestleMania as a stadium show. The Rock lost, but only after Austin aligned with his arch-nemesis, Mr McMahon, bringing a stunning end to one of pro wrestling's greatest feuds.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho - Vengeance 2001
After WWE bought WCW, Chris Jericho was the first guy to hold the WWE and WCW World Championships at the same time. In a mini-tournament between Jericho and The Rock for the World title and Austin and Kurt Angle for the WWE title, Jericho won after much chicanery, not only becoming the first Undisputed Champion but beating The Rock and Austin on the same night.
John Cena vs. Triple H - WrestleMania 22
Not many fans were happy with 'goody two face' John Cena. When he took on Triple H at WrestleMania 22, many expected WWE would abandon the Cena babyface experiment and put the belt back on Vince's safety blanket. Instead, Cena made The Game tap out in front of 17,000 shocked fans.
