The 1987 WWE fanbase had been conditioned to watching 6'5 giants with outlandish gimmicks take turns punching each other, with the biggest move being a bodyslam. The highest-rated women's match in WWE history belongs to Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch as they went all out in their Last Woman Standing Match for the SmackDown Women's Championship at the first all-women pay-per-view Evolution. The match was a clash of styles, but in a good way. Wrestlemania 10 12. Whenever Sting and Ric Flair are together in any kind of match, they attract eyes, but to me, this entire match was just a story about Brian Pillman. For me, thats always fun to get in the ring with a guy that has a different style than you. By the time Rhyno helped Christian get the titles back for him and his buddy, the WWE Universe was both thrilled to see the champs retain and relieved that the mayhem was finally over. MITCH PASSERO, "I always wanted to be a Paul Heyman Guy. The day that lives in infamy. When Flair came to Texas to put his NWA Title on the line against Kerry Von Erich, the fans hoped they would see their local hero score an upset against the established champ, but what they got was even better a moral victory that spun off into the greatest rivalry in Texas wrestling history: the Von Erichs versus the Freebirds. They were so different and so popular, but popular for exactly opposite reasons. Long story short? They executed it like two veterans do." It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. While the match is a clinic, it's most remembered for Triple H's gut check-performance, finishing the bout as planned despite tearing his quad. And, if the meme-ified gentleman in the front row is any indication, a moment few people thought was happening even as they watched the fateful three-count that snapped The Undertakers unblemished WrestleMania mark and instantly elevated Brock Lesnar to god-level bada** status. 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. The loathed "Nature Boy" earned both the ire and respect (begrudgingly) of WWE fans as he entered the 30-man clash at No. Two rings, covered by a cage, no way out and a lot of hair and blood flying. In the end, Bryan prevailed, defeating Triple H in what one of the best opening matches in WrestleMania history, and Triple H's last great match before retiring in 2022. Both guys were at their peak, both in terms of star power and workrate (yes, Austin's peak as a technical wrestler was in 1997, but as a brawler he was never better than in 2001). The backstory is that Flair was on his way out the door to return to WCW, and so this match was slapped onto Raw without a ton of promotion, but that hardly mattered: These two guys told a complete story in the ring (with the aid of Flairs manager, Bobby Heenan, who was on commentary) that somehow elevated these unusually legitimate stakes. Simple as that. Shawn Michaels, before his 1998 injury, was one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time. 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. "Cactus Jack was awesome in WCW, because he was so different. Did we mention the vacated WWE Championship was at stake for the first and only time ever in the Rumble? 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 that wasnt all. GREG ADKINS, At the inaugural Clash of the Champions, NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair was poised to teach relative upstart Sting a lesson. There was a sudden respect because he had just gone through years of learning in one night. After a trilogy of matches that changed sports-entertainment forever, Flair earned the respect of all that had despised him. In this Friday night clash, however, the trio would finally be stopped. 6. Ricky Steamboat and "Ravishing" Rick Rude showed that at Beach Blast 1992. Not only was Steve Austin vs. Triple H was at his in-ring peak, Austin's heel run revitalized his work (though hurt business), while Jericho and Benoit were hungry to prove they belonged at the top. Welp, fans certainly swallowed their words a month later when the three put on one of the greatest WrestleMania main events ever and the best triple threat match of all time. Cena put Bryan over clean as a sheet, succumbing to the "Yes Kick," kicking off Bryan's short-lived (almost literally three minutes) title reign. You can guess at it, but until guys get in the ring, you dont know for sure whether they have chemistry together. The crowd was red hot for this feud. Never has that saying been more appropriate than the WWE Championship Match between Bret Hart and an up-and-coming competitor named The 1-2-3 Kid. You can trace the moment NXT became must-see television to the second the final bell rang in this jaw-dropping 2-out-of-3 Falls Match between Sami Zayn and Cesaro. 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. WWE 2K23 is revealing the ratings for each of its wrestlers, and there are definitely some surprises. The moment Triple H reacted to Cactus Jack, from that point on Cactus was the go-to, larger-than-life, mythological character who is bigger, better and badder than anyone else Id ever be." Sadly, Owen's life would end in tragedy just a few years later, while Bret's historic first WWE run would end in controversy. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn is like the sports-entertainment equivalent of the Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward boxing rivalry. The match has it all from CM Punk's early match domination, to one of Kofi Kingston's most creative survival attempts, to Triple H's shocking elimination by his best friend, Shawn Michaels, to massive amounts of star power (Cena, Batista, Jericho), to a shocking return and subsequent victory that nobody predicted (Edge). Its somewhat difficult to watch the match back as a weary Undertaker fights like a man possessed to hold off the inevitable. Youd be foolish not to rush to relive it. The 11 minutes of mayhem saw the two future WWE Superstars use everything in their offensive arsenals as well as lots of steel chairs. The highest-ever rating is seven stars, awarded to Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in June 2018. Sometimes, the long way is the best. So when the two decorated Superstars locked up in Seattle at WrestleMania XIX, it was a meeting of similar styles in a bout that became the ace in a stacked deck of a card. When wrestling is bad, dear God, it is terrible. The match worked because it highlighted the characteristics that would shoot the competitors to the main event: Dean Ambrose's chaotic frenzy, Seth Rollins and the late Brodie Lee's (Luke Harper) ring general workrate, and Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns' WrestleMania main event-level starpower. Wrestling was still Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior and the big guys; it was still the land of the giants, so for Brian Pillman to be such a star in this match, WCW was way more ahead of their time than theyve gotten credit for." Royal rumble 1992 14. So he lied, cheated, and stole, with Lesnar succumbing to Goldberg's spear, a belt shot to the head, and a Frog Splash, before finally going down for the 1-2-3. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER, The reputations of Ric Flair and Lex Luger as in-ring performers are firmly established. DAVID SHOEMAKER, What many of Rey Mysterios most flagrant imitators and theres a generation of them too often overlook is that the lucha icon didnt perform dazzling maneuvers just because they looked cool. The Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber 2014 over delivered even the wildest expectations. Just watch him in the very best match of his career against Eddie Guerrero at Halloween Havoc 1997. Both are the legend of WWE and popular among the fans of WWE family. Both men took turns clobbering each other around the arena in a barbaric Texas Death Match, living up to their legendary reputations for being able to inflict and tolerate high amounts of pain. Luger ultimately lost via count-out leaving the ring to save The Stinger from a Horsemen attack but he emerged as both a hero to the people and a legitimate big-time player. 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. When people talk about Randy Orton, it's usually not as a hero, but he was perfect for the kind of opportunistic scoundrel villain that Christian was. After a three-count by special guest referee Triple H, Bryan hoisted the title in victory. Their second meeting resulted in Vader taking Stings WCW Championship. "David vs. Goliath" is one of the most popular storylines for a reason: it works. But he, and we, will always have New Orleans. I was fortunate to see some tapes of [Rey Mysterio] from Mexico and matches he'd had in Japan with Psychosis and Juventud Guerrera. Finally, there are no NXT matches (we can hear you throwing your laptops now). Any "best of" list is bound to stir up opinions; this one is no different. And then themed PPVs happened. SHEAMUS, AS TOLD TO JUSTIN LESLIE. I think this is one of those great cases where the same match benefitted both guys enormously. 25. Two generational stars. Like jazz music or a delicious dish, you can't quite put your finger on it, you just know it. Royal Rumble 1992 is Ric Flair's. And that's how you know you've told a powerful story. One of the most infamously vicious battles youll find on WWE Network is also one of NWA/WCWs finest. That's the case here. [Announcers] Dusty Rhodes and Jim Ross kept making mention of the fact that 'Flyin'' Brian was by far the smallest guy in the match and still, getting the best of his opponents throughout the match. The athletic Charlotte captured the NXT Womens Championship against a ring veteran, giving the WWE Universe a taste of what wasto come in the Women's Division. The Rock is one of the greatest feuds in WWE history because it featured one-half of the proverbial "Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling." Namely, Guerrero's nuanced character work, which elevated everyone around him, and Lesnar's selling, which managed to make him look vulnerable, even when wrestling a man half his size. Whats Austin gonna do, hit a Stunner and then walk out the cage door? But they do a full-on Steel Cage Match. Rude had the bout expertly planned out, as he tried to gain an insurmountable lead, going up 3-1 within the first 10 minutes of the half-hour-long contest. In an era dominated by massive personalities, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and "Macho Man" Randy Savage were not only two of the biggest superstars, they were also two of the best workers in the world. MICK FOLEY, AS TOLD TO ZACH LINDER. The Foundations triumph is palpable no matter with whom you sided in one of Harts finest showdowns with his Texas Rattlesnake rival. 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. In many ways, the opening chapter of the legendary Steamboat-Flair trilogy played out like the first movement of a symphony. It was a defining moment for Michaels, who celebrated his last World Championship in his WWE Hall of Fame career. Its a cool relationship, it really is. After racking up several WWE Tag Team Title reigns, Nitro moved from SmackDown to Raw and immediately became a top contender to the Intercontinental Championship. I said, 'I dont want to miss my kids growing up.' - The list reflects WWE Networks availability asof Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. There, the notorious Roddy Piper went head-to-head with Greg Valentine in an infamous Dog Collar Match. BOBBY MELOK. Thats the tell-tale sign of two guys who know what theyre doing. The most brutal brawl of all. It also featured an ending every bit as iconic as Hogan slamming Andre, with Austin's screaming in pain, his face a bloody mess, yet refusing to submit to Hart's Sharpshooter. Its just one of those things that not a lot needs to be said. Their bouts are the greatest "David vs. Goliath" matches ever, and their feud is the only one that features three matches among WWE's 30 greatest ever. During the discussion, Lee commented on possibly becoming the AEW world champion . The Dead Man is debatably the greatest big man ever. The Miz - 2.75 Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (WWE Raw Women's Championship) - 3.25 Always." BOBBY MELOK. It was, quite literally, the WrestleMania main event that shook the world. Luger was a bronzed god who couldnt wrestle his way out of a paper bag, while Flair was the type of preternatural genius who could have a good match against a paper bag. He thought it was just a regular match, and all of a sudden he got thrown onto a pay-per-view when he showed up. The speedy and technically-gifted Kurt Angle gave Brock Lesnar some of the toughest tests of his career, the most memorable of which was their rivalry-defining classic at WrestleMania XIX. 21 min read Hey everyone! Even in defeat, Jericho stayed strong, as he lost to a simple roll-up, as the wily Michaels capitalized on Jericho's arrogance. "The Nature Boy" came prepared for Steamboats unquestioned tactical superiority. I remembered what Ricky Steamboat taught me about showmanship, what Bobby Eaton taught me about punching, Arn with his general a**kicking and I tried to mimic everything I did after Barry Windham. The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. JAMES WORTMAN. "The thing about both me and Savage was that neither one of us liked to do a lot of talking when it came to settling our differences. There's more, but the fact remains that these three teams managed to turn what in lesser hands would be a "garbage match" into a work of art that would impress even old-school purists. I got a little overwhelmed seeing the magnitude of the occasion, being in the Garden, having The Rock as my tag team partner and a legend like Ric Flair as my opponent. In John Cena, you had the larger-than-life, musclebound, clean-cut babyface favored by Vince McMahon and mainstream "sports entertainment" fans; and in CM Punk you had the tattooed, flip off the system, indie wrestler beloved by a large segment of the fans. 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." Few title wins have felt like a validation of the people as much as they did the champion, but this one, with Bryan celebrating as confetti and YES! chants rained down around him, certainly did. He wasn't aware of the stories behind the characters. Picking our favorite ladder match involving The Dudley Boys, The Hardy Boyz, and Edge and Christian is like picking the best Beatles album. Forget it, dont set aside the ending he didnt go out on top, but this is every bit a worthy Retirement Match. Except fanswere ready for it, like hard rock lovers listening to Nirvana for the first time after a decade of hair metal. Their clash at WrestleMania 21 was inevitable and highly hyped up to be one of the greatest wrestling matches anyone would ever see. I identified with Bret. Im the oldest in my family and have a little brother. Instead, it defined the enduring legacy of "The Dragon," "Macho Man" Randy Savage, the Intercontinental Championship that passed from the latter to the former, and some would say WrestleMania (if not wrestling) itself. Ironically, after a wooden chair was tossed into the unforgiving steel confines, T.A. This is a fair, if disputable, point. 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 He loved Bret Hart just like me, but as the match was unfolding, he started to hate Bret and love Austin. You might have a brother who always wants to be better. Michaels refusing to tap to the Sharpshooter as the clock ticked down is still suspenseful, while his out-of-nowhere Sweet Chin Music and post-match celebration always makes the historical highlight reels. While the idea was to keep both guys in the cage, a cameraman got "injured" and needed treatment, allowing Michaels to escape. ANTHONY BENIGNO. WrestleMania 17 (stylized as WrestleMania X-Seven) was the 17th annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). May 10 th, 1999 - 8.1 The highest rated episode ever of Raw and. "If youre gonna get beat by a guy, you might as well get beat by his best move. The perfect mix of technical mastery and main event-level appeal, Michaels and Jericho traded kip-ups and Superkicks in a fast-paced affair that saw HBK walk away with a big Show of Shows victory. Perfectly paced and executed, and it was Warriors best match by a mile. Wrestling Worst Wrestling Matches of All Time By Craig Donofrio on March 30, 2021 SliceWrestling / Twitter When wrestling is good, it's great. All are masterpieces, but with careful consideration the choice is clear Sgt. Michaels and Hart made their match feel real, as real as any boxing match or MMA fight. The best example of an established star elevating a new star. "I dont think Rey knew it was a pay-per-view. Commentating bouts between The Japanese Buzzsaw and The Insane Luchador was always fun. 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. Theres a moment when they go outside the ring and The Rock wears Austins vest. It was how the future WWE Hall of Famers seemingly turned back the clock by a decade, delivering some of the most jaw-dropping maneuvers and counters weve ever seen out of the two men. What's even more remarkable is that it was billed as a submission match with one guy who didn't have one (Austin), a recipe for disaster. "Kurt came with a reputation. Halloween Havoc 1997. So, the Cincinnati-born competitor tried to employ a ground-and-pound attack against the Japanese titleholder. Maybe the best, in fact. Wrestlemania 17 2. So, to see a Ladder Match live was a big deal. 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. Ring, you just know it match live was a big deal is revealing the ratings each. But this is every bit a worthy Retirement match commentating bouts between the Japanese.. Trilogy played out like the first movement of a symphony the highest-ever rating is seven stars, to... Clear Sgt just know it your finger on it, but this one! 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