Top 10 Greatest Wrestling Matches by Jacob N
Submitted by Jacob N
1) The Undertaker vs Mankind – Hell in the Cell match, King of the Ring (1998): The match between The Undertaker and Mankind is without a doubt one of the most famous matches in wrestling history. What made this match so memorable was the punishment that Mankind took in the match, especially when he was thrown off the top of the hell in the cell cage through the announcers table and than later choke slammed on the cell and sent crashing through the roof to the ring canvas below. Both wrestlers would receive a standing ovation and go on to have successful careers while the match itself would set the bar for future Hell in the Cell matches to live up too.
2) Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs Macho Man Randy Savage – WWF Intercontinental Championship match, WrestleMania III (1987): Considered by fans and critics alike as one of the greatest WWE matches in history, The intercontinental championship match between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat became an instant classic and stole the show at WrestleMania III. Both wrestlers were at the top of their game and performed an incredible roller coaster-like match that kept everyone at the edge of their seats until the end where Steamboat won the title. This match has inspired wrestlers for generations and inspired mid-card wrestlers to try create the same kind of match that Steamboat and Savage made.
3) Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon – Ladder match for the Undisputed WWF Intercontinental Championship, WrestleMania X (1994): The ladder match between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels was an incredible groundbreaking match that would make ladder matches famous. Both wrestlers gave it everything they had in a brutal and inspirational match, fueled by their shared desire to become the true Intercontinental Champion. The highlight of the match was when Michaels performed a splash onto Ramon from the top of the ladder.
4) Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant – WWF Championship match, WrestleMania III (1987): This match has been called the biggest main event in professional wrestling history as it featured two of the greatest wrestling legends all of time. It was an incredible wrestling style of David vs Goliath and was the poster match for the 1980’s Wrestling Boom. The main highlight of the match and perhaps what made it so memorable was towards the end of the match when Hulk Hogan picked up the over 500 lb wrestler and bodyslammed him in the center of the ring, which would become known as “the bodyslam heard around the world”.
5) Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Bret Hart – Submission match, WrestleMania 13 (1997): One of the greatest wrestling matches of all time, the submission match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin not only started the Attitude Era, but also launched Austin’s rise to stardom. Although their match was a submission match, it didn’t stop Hart or Austin from fighting all over the arena and using anything they could get their hands on as weapons, Austin receiving the worst of the beating when his face started bleeding all over after being hit with the timekeeper’s table. The match was also known for the double turn that took place as Bret Hart became a villain after viciously attacking Austin and turning his back on the fans while Austin became a fan favorite with his fighting spirit and refusing to tap out and passed out from blood loss.
6) The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin – No Disqualification match for the WWF Championship, WrestleMania X-Seven (2001): This was not the first time that these two faced each other, but it was the biggest match of their career. Two of the top wrestlers of the Attitude Era, their match was not only the championship, but to determine who would be the bigger name in wrestling. The match exceeded all expectations from the two brawling all throughout the arena, using any weapon they could get their hands on including the ring bell, both of them using the other’s finisher to even the surprising end of the match where Vince McMahon helps his longtime nemesis win the match.
7) Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada – No time limit 2 out of 3 falls match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall (2018): All true wrestling fans know who Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega are, two of the biggest names outside of WWE who have raised the standard in both drama and athleticism for professional wrestling. Both wrestlers always bring out the best in each other, putting on out-of-this-world matches that always leave the crowd wanting more as well as managing to top their previous match each time. What was perhaps their greatest match was the one at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall where Omega defeated Okada in a 2 out of 3 falls match to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and ending Okada record breaking reign.
8) Rey Misterio Jr. vs Eddie Guerrero – Mask vs Title match for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, Halloween Havoc (1997): In an era where everyone was caught up in hardcore wrestling, WCW got fans attention by dedicating an hour of their programming to Cruiserweight wrestling, allowing their incredibly talented high risk wrestlers to shine and show fans what they could do. Perhaps one of the greatest cruiserweight matches at the time was the mask vs title match between Rey Misterio Jr and Eddie Guerrero, two of the greatest cruiserweight wrestlers in history. In what was an epic classic and a clash of style between two of the top high flyers in the world, Guerrero did everything he could to try to unmask Misterio, but he would overcome the odds and win the Cruiserweight title.
9) Cactus Jack vs Triple H – Street Fight for the WWF Championship, Royal Rumble (2000): The street fight between Triple H and Cactus Jack (one of Mick Foley’s faces) was an instant classic that had both hardcore action and incredible storytelling. Each wrestler had powerful motivations heading into this match, Triple H wanting to prove why he deserved to be a main event player while Mick Foley wanted to show the world that he still had what it took to hang with the big dogs. The match was flawless in every way and would not only cement Mick Foley legacy as one of the greatest wrestlers but would also propel Triple H’s rise as one of the top villains in the business.
10) Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels – 60 minute Iron Man match for WWF Championship, WrestleMania XII (1996): Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels are without a doubt two of the best wrestlers in history as well as having had one of the most bitter rivalries in wrestling, both in and outside of the ring. Although most people remember their rivalry from the Montreal Screwjob, their greatest match happened at WrestleMania XII where Hart defended his WWF Championship against Michaels in a 60 minutes Iron Man match. Hart and Michaels put on an amazing and entertaining match for over an hour, revolutionizing wrestling main event matches and showing how much endurance wrestlers can have.
– Jacob N
