SmarKdown's Blog

WWF RAW May 31 1993 Review (Luna Meets Bam Bam)

May 31, 1993
Location: Manhattan, New York, USA (Manhattan Center)
Announced attendance: 750
TV rating: 2.6 (USA Network) [down 3.7% from the previous week’s 2.7]

Hey everyone. Welcome to yet another RAW review here on the blog. With the inaugural King of the Ring PPV just 2 weeks away, and with all the qualifying matches out of the way, Marty Jannetty defends his newly-won Intercontinental Championship against Bam Bam Bigelow. Razor Ramon competes in his first match on RAW since the major upset at the hands of The 1-2-3 Kid two weeks earlier, and more. Let’s get into it!

Here is the list of champions in WWF heading into this RAW:

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WWF Champion: Hulk Hogan [57^th day of his 5^th reign] – previous champion: Yokozuna
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty [14^th day of his 1^st reign] – previous champion: Shawn Michaels
WWF World Tag Team Champions: Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster) [230^th day of their 2^nd reign] – previous champions: The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Typhoon)

Enjoy the review!

Your hosts are Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan & Randy Savage

Hacksaw Jim Duggan opens the show celebrating Memorial Day alongside fans outside the arena. The show’s intro plays and the commentators hype up this week’s episode.

WWF Intercontinental Championship – Marty Jannetty (w/ Sensational Sherri) vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon)

We start off hot with Sherri attacking Luna during the entrances. The bell sounds and Bigelow takes over early on with some power moves. Bam Bam with a series of headbutts and shoulderblocks. Clothesline by Bigelow, but Jannetty blocks a second one and comes off the top rope with a double axehandle for two. Both men exchange blows, with Bigelow getting the better of that. Backdrop by Bigelow, but Marty lands on his feet, only for Bigelow to put him in a bearhug. Bam Bam rams Marty into the corner and places him on the top rope, but Marty kicks Bigelow in the arm and comes off the top with a reverse flying headscissors. He attempts it a second time, but Bam Bam turns it into an electric chair drop!

Commercial break

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We come back with Bam Bam working a chinlock. The new champion continues to be overpowered by Bigelow, who even busts out a dropkick. Running avalanche in the corner gets two, with Jannetty getting his feet on the ropes to break the count. Blind charge by Bigelow only finds Marty’s boots, and a flying clothesline by Jannetty gets two. Bigelow telegraphs a backdrop, which Marty reverses with a faceplant for two. Marty runs wild with a superkick, running clothesline and dropkick for two. Bigelow rakes the eyes to cut him off though, and slams him. A double underhook backbreaker sets up the Diving Headbutt, but Sherri grabs Bam Bam’s ankle and distracts him long enough for Jannetty to dump him. Marty follows it up with a baseball slide before meeting him outside with a dive. Bigelow rams Jannetty into the post and puts him back inside, but gets distracted with Sherri and ends up getting counted out at 9:00. Bam Bam takes out his frustrations on Jannetty afterwards, leaving him laying while Sherri checks on Marty.

Rating: Very exciting title match to kick off RAW, as the Intercontinental Title scene continues to be a highlight of 1993 in the absence of the World Championship. There were some exciting sequences, as both men displayed some great chemistry throughout the match. The finish wasn’t great, but it was somewhat expected and I can live with something like this on a random RAW. Nice hidden gem. ***

Sherri calls out Luna when RAW returns from break. Luna comes out and both women go at it once again. Bigelow eventually returns and helps Luna take her down, until Tatanka runs in and stops the attack.

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Promotional video for Hogan vs. Yoko at KOTR.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) vs. Rich Myers & The Executioner

Rick starts with the masked Executioner, scoring with a takedown and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to start. Steinerline by Rick, and he whips the poor guy into his corner so his partner can get some. Rick picks him up in Dominator position and rams him into the corner. Off to Scott for a release belly to belly suplex, while Vince hypes up the eight-man tag match coming up at KOTR. Rick comes in briefly with a chinlock, but it’s quickly back to Scott for a pumphandle slam. Scott kills the poor guy with the Steiner Screwdriver, and the Steiners add the exclamation point with the Doomsday Bulldog, with Rick getting the win at 4:14.

Rating: Effective squash by The Steiners as usual, although it did go a bit longer than necessary. 3/4*

UP NEXT: Mr. Hughes.

The usual WWF Mania ad featuring Todd Pettengill airs – Vince adds this week’s featured match is El Matador Tito Santana vs. Fatu.

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Mr. Hughes vs. Bert Centeno

Hughes calmly powerslams Bert to start. Hiptoss and a powerbomb, but Hughes breaks his own count at two. Heenan explains Harvey Wippleman is home with the flu, which is why he’s not managing Hughes tonight. Big boot by Hughes, who again refuses to get the victory. Clothesline and a bunch of choking, as apparently this MUST CONTINUE. Vince is literally hyping everything from the upcoming KOTR PPV to USA Network shows, as Hughes walks around slowly beating up the jobber. Then Hughes suddenly ends it with a Bossman Slam at 3:02.

Rating: One of the least effective squashes I’ve ever seen. Not even Vince McMahon gave two sh-ts about Hughes during this match, so that should tell you all you need to know. DUD

King Of The Ring Report w/ Mean Gene

The Report is STILL brought to you by IcoPro. I thought that horse had left the barn by this point already.
The main event is Ghost Hogan’s first WWF Championship defense against Yokozuna.
Gene addresses the KOTR tournament brackets.
Shawn Michaels and Crush will face each other in a bonus match at the PPV, after both men were counted out in a tournament qualifying match.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Mark Thomas

Thomas tries to go after Duggan in the beginning, but of course it ends up going nowhere. Duggan takes him down and drops a knee on Thomas. He calls out Yokozuna while punching Thomas in the corner. Kind of weird considering Yokozuna is firmly in the main event scene now, and about to face HULK HOGAN at the next show. Know your role, Jim! Duggan suplexes Thomas and runs him over with the Three Point Stance at 2:24.

Afterwards, Duggan grabs the mic and recites the Pledge of Allegiance along with the crowd and the announcers.

Rating: Fine win for Duggan on Memorial Day. The match was quick and Duggan was basically there for the post-match moment. It was fine. 1/4*

We hear from The 1-2-3 Kid, who addresses Razor’s 5,000$ offer to get back in the ring with him. Knowing what could potentially happen to him, The Kid refuses.

Main Event

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Razor Ramon vs. Tony Roy

Macho Man leads the crowd in a 1-2-3 chant. Razor gets all worked up, allowing Tony Roy to roll him up from behind for two. Razor takes Tony down with a clothesline immediately, taking control easily. Razor with a fallaway slam, and he follows it up with the arrogant bitchslaps. Savage gets the crowd chanting once more, allowing Tony to roll him up for two yet again. Razor gets back in control with a back elbow smash, and he goes for an abdominal stretch, but releases the hold due to the crowd’s ‘We Want Kid’ chants. Ramon gets Tony up on the top rope for a backdrop superplex. Razor’s Edge at 3:29 guarantees there’s no fluke tonight.

Rating: Very fun squash that the crowd was very much into. They actually wanted to see The Kid, which was nice to see. The story allowed Tony Roy to get a couple of nearfalls, which fans obviously bought due to what happened in Razor’s previous match! *

Meanwhile, Yokozuna & Mr. Fuji show up with the Japanese flag to “ruin” Memorial Day. Yokozuna promises Hulkamania will die at King of the Ring. Despite Vince McMahon’s best attempts to hard sell Hulk Hogan, the crowd boos Hogan’s name and chants ‘Hogan sucks’. OOF. Thankfully, Jim Duggan shows up in the crowd with the American flag which gets them to chant ‘USA’ while Fuji speaks, somewhat saving this segment as RAW goes off the air.

END OF THE SHOW

Final thoughts: Although some of the previous episodes were better, this was a decent RAW. The Intercontinental Championship match was a great way to kick off the show, Razor Ramon’s squash was super fun, and it was nice to see Yokozuna at the end. The worst thing this week was Mr. Hughes’ squash, which was incredibly boring. RAW continues to be a fairly enjoyable and easy watch. 6/10

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POINT SYSTEM

Thank you all for your time, people. Make sure you don’t miss any of my reviews here on the blog, as well as everything else we post. There’s only RAW left to cover before we get to King of the Ring 1993. See you all next time!

Written by:

Tomás Cunha

The Top 15 Intercontinental Championship Matches

Here we are…the finale of my series for the Intercontinental Championship. From the 1980s to the 2010s, we’ve looked at the absolute best wrestlers that personified everything an Intercontinental Champion should be. The glory they brought to this prestigious title, through hard work, breaking records and producing some of the most amazing storylines and rivalries.

We’ve looked at the Top 10 Wrestlers from each decade – as well as the VERY Honorable Mentions! – who made the Intercontinental Championship what it is today…but what about the matches themselves? Which are the greatest bouts that have captured audiences’ imagination for generations? What contests are first & foremost in people’s minds when it comes to the Intercontinental Title?

Thank you so very much for all your support/feedback across this series! I’ve loved writing it so much! And now we conclude with The Top 15 IC Championship Matches of ALL TIME!

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15. The Rock Vs. Triple H – SummerSlam 1998

It was the Attitude Era. The World Wrestling Federation was on fire in 1998, with the company featuring a stacked roster and non-stop action & excitement from top-to-bottom. The mid-card was no exception with The Rock and Triple H. Both had long evolved from their personas of Rocky Maivia and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, respectively, to become leaders of the Nation of Domination and D-Generation X. And Rocky had now truly proven himself as the People’s Intercontinental Champ.

The factions feuded fiercely all throughout the summer of 1998, especially their leaders over the Rock’s Intercontinental Championship, which Triple H was determined to reclaim. A Ladder Match was set in Madison Square Garden for SummerSlam, with Triple H at a psychological and physical disadvantage after the Nation had humiliated Chyna on Raw and the Rock had attacked Triple H’s knee with the Title Belt on Sunday Night Heat.

This Ladder Match was a real war of attrition with the Rock and Hunter determined to one day make the main-event, and here they truly climbed the ladder (pun intended!). Not only showcasing their potential, but also further proving the value of the Intercontinental Title as a stepping stone to the World Championship. In the end, Chyna got her revenge by punching Rocky in the plums and allowing Triple H to bag his second Intercontinental Title.

14. Dean Ambrose Vs. Kevin Owens – Royal Rumble 2016

In the 2010s, the Intercontinental Championship had fallen into a decline with forgettable champions and non-existent rivalries, but things rebounded in 2015 when Kevin Owens picked up his first IC Title and had a great three-month reign with the belt. Then he lost it to the Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose (or Jon Moxley to AEW fans!) at TLC, and their feud kicked into overdrive.

With Ambrose constantly getting under Owens’ skin – and the Prizefighter responding with brutal assaults – a Last Man Standing Match was set for the 2016 Royal Rumble. Simply put, it was utter carnage with champion and challenger using all means at their disposal to try and keep the other down for the 10 count.

After twenty furious, chaotic minutes, Owens tried to finish Ambrose off with a moonsault as he lay helplessly on steel chairs. At the last moment, Ambrose returned to life and pushed the challenger off the top rope; sending him crashing through two tables on the arena floor. Owens couldn’t get back up, and Ambrose retained the Intercontinental Title. It was a feud and match that did a lot to make the Intercontinental Title mean something again.

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13. The Miz Vs. Dolph Ziggler – No Mercy 2016

The renaissance of the Intercontinental Championship continued well into 2016, thanks to the Miz. Since winning the title for a fifth time the night after WrestleMania 32, the Miz had embarked on arguably the greatest run of his career. Reinvented as a Hollywood A-Lister, with his wife Maryse at his side, raising the Intercontinental Belt high like it was the most prestigious title in all wrestling, the Miz had successfully retained the championship over and over again for months.

Dolph Ziggler had repeatedly failed to reclaim the IC Title from the Miz, and after being humiliated by the Miz’s video package highlighting the most embarrassing moments of Ziggler’s career, Dolph was prepared to retire if he couldn’t defeat the Miz for the Intercontinental Championship at No Mercy.

In one of the most emotional, gripping stories in recent memory, Dolph Ziggler overcame interference from Maryse and the Spirit Squad to finally defeat Miz for the belt and save his career. It was another rip-roaring triumph that showcases just how much the Intercontinental Championship means to wrestlers.

12. The Miz Vs. Cesaro Vs. Kevin Owens Vs. Sami Zayn – Extreme Rules 2016

IMG Credit: WWE/Tape Machines Are Rolling

Well into the midst of his amazing run as the Intercontinental Champion, The Miz was under threat from three challengers. Cesaro had been cheated out of the title the previous month at Payback, and Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens’ years-long feud had now spilled over to the IC Title picture. Owens was determined to get the IC title back and rid himself of Zayn simultaneously. Both Cesaro and Sami were determined to claim their first Intercontinental Championship, and the Miz was determined to stay on top at all costs.

The resultant Fatal Four-Way at Extreme Rules 2016 was one of the most thrilling and exciting four-ways of all time and further restored the prestige of the workhorse title. Miz, Cesaro, Zayn, and Owens all gelled together to produce twenty outstanding minutes of action, where any competitor could’ve walked out with the Intercontinental Title. In the end, the Miz managed to escape with the championship again by pinning Cesaro whilst Kevin & Sami continued brawling at ringside.

11. Gunther Vs. Sheamus – Clash At The Castle 2022

Anybody who says that the Intercontinental Championship doesn’t mean anything anymore may not have seen GUNTHER’S work. Under the Triple H regime in 2022, Gunther truly flourished with the Intercontinental Title, defending it prominently on weekly television, bringing strength, brutality, impeccable mat-wrestling, and the traditional workhorse-quality that the belt demands. And in WWE’s first major UK stadium show in thirty years, Gunther was now set to defend the belt against Sheamus; a proud WWE veteran who had accomplished everything in his career…EXCEPT winning the Intercontinental Title.

With Gunther’s Imperium faction and Sheamus’ Brawling Brutes fighting each other from ringside to backstage, champion and challenger were left to battle by themselves. The result was a vicious, brutal wrestling match that restored so much glory to the Intercontinental Title. Many fans & critics regarded it as the Match of 2022, and even Dave Meltzer rated this one five-stars! Gunther retained the belt after an epic twenty minutes, but afterward, Sheamus was cheered, applauded, and thanked by the Cardiff audience. Not just for his amazing performance on this night, but for 13 years of his life devoted to WWE.

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10. Chris Jericho Vs. Rey Mysterio – The Bash 2009

It was one of the best feuds of 2009. Rey Mysterio had proven himself to be one of the best Intercontinental Champs of the 2000s since capturing the belt from JBL at WrestleMania 25. But his title was under threat from the greatest IC Champ of the decade. Jericho had attacked Rey whilst disguised as a fan wearing a Mysterio mask. Rey had retaliated by costing Jericho a match, and then hiding among other Mysterio fans who were wearing masks! (Genius!)

A fantastic series of matches ensued on pay-per-view with each one better than the last. After retaining the belt at Judgment Day, Rey lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jericho at Extreme Rules. Another match was set for The Bash, where Mysterio would be forced to unmask if he lost. In what was one of WWE’s greatest matches of 2009, Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio tore the house down in an outstanding match full of speed, aerial offense, and technical wizardry. In the end, Jericho tore the mask off Rey…only to reveal a SECOND mask underneath!

Bewildered, the champion fell prey to the 619 and a springboard splash! Rey retained his mask and picked up his second Intercontinental Title!

9. Chris Benoit Vs. Chris Jericho

Of course, this feud has been forgotten due to the godawful Benoit Tragedy, but in 2000 (the single-greatest-year for WWE), the Intercontinental Championship was fiercely warred over by Benoit and Jericho. The two-Hart Dungeon graduates traded the IC Title back-and-forth on television and pay-per-view throughout most of 2000 in many stellar encounters, and the rivalry spilled over into 2001, where Benoit had the Intercontinental Title again, and Jericho demanded a title-shot.

Benoit agreed to face Jericho in a ladder match at the Royal Rumble. Benoit had the advantage going in, with three pay-per-view victories over Jericho and injuring the challenger’s shoulder heading into this title defense. The Intercontinental Title has been contested for in many Ladder Matches throughout history, and this was one of the greatest; featuring several amazing (and in hindsight unnecessary) spots like Benoit’s suicide dive through the ropes being foiled by Jericho’s mid-air chair shot to the head.

Benoit ruthlessly targeted Jericho’s shoulder throughout, but the challenger ultimately prevailed to finally prevail over his nemesis and regain the IC Championship.

8. Roddy Piper Vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania 8

After eight years in the WWF without ever holding a title, the late great Rowdy Rowdy Piper finally picked up his first championship at the 1992 Royal Rumble when he defeated the Mountie for the Intercontinental Belt. The fans rejoiced for the formerly villainous Piper, who was now a much-beloved babyface. Hot Rod’s one-and-only reign with the IC title has been regarded as one of the best reigns in the belt’s history, given that it was Roddy’s only major championship run in WWF/E. And it would lead to what many fans & critics regard as the match of his career.

Former IC Champion Bret Hart was coming for Piper, and despite his respect & love for Bret and the Hart Family, Hot Rod was not gonna let anyone take his prize from him. The match itself was a fundamentally sound classic, made all the more intense when Hot Rod actually busted Bret open with a vicious jab. When the ref was down, fans feared that Piper would resort to his devious ways and use the ring bell to clobber a helpless Bret. In a moment of crisis, Roddy ultimately listened to the fans’ pleas and instead tried to use his Sleeper Hold to win.

However, Bret skilfully countered and scored a rare-pinfall over Roddy Piper to win his second Intercontinental Title. Afterward, Piper put the belt around the Hitman’s waist and left the ring with him in a comradeship. It’s a beautiful moment that fans always remember from WrestleMania 8.

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7. Mr. Perfect Vs. Bret Hart – SummerSlam 1991

Madison Square Garden and SummerSlam have both provided many an unforgettable moment for the Intercontinental Championship over the years, and in 1991, one of the greatest came courtesy of Bret Hart and the late, great Curt Hennig. Since The Hart Foundation split-up, the Hitman had climbed up the ranks as a singles-competitor, knowing the Intercontinental Championship was an essential prize. And after chasing Mr. Perfect at house shows for months, Bret finally got his chance at SummerSlam.

Mr. Perfect had long proven himself as one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all-time, but his performance in this match truly cemented his legacy. Hennig had severely injured his back going in to SummerSlam, but you never would’ve known given how perfectly he wrestled here.

This was another masterclass of wrestling, with Bret even kicking out of the Perfect-Plex and ultimately reversing a leg-drop into the Sharpshooter to capture his first Intercontinental Title, much to the delight of his family and Madison Square Garden! The valiant Curt Hennig would eventually return to the ring in Survivor Series 1992, and Bret would go on to be arguably the greatest IC Champ of all time.

6. Gunther Vs. Sheamus Vs. Drew McIntyre – WrestleMania 39 (Night 2)

Heading into WrestleMania 39 with an incredible 297-days as Intercontinental Champion, Gunther had truly dominated the scene with several prominent title defences on SmackDown and a record-setting performance of 71 minutes & 25 seconds in the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble. Now Gunther was forced into defending his Intercontinental Title in a Triple-Threat Match against arch-rival Sheamus AND former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre after interfering in a No. 1 Contender’s Match between the two challengers.

On paper, it was the makings of another hard-hitting match. But like Clash At The Castle 2022, THIS match wildly exceeded all expectations! It was an absolutely vicious, brutal triple-threat bout that the whole SoFi Stadium was into, and all three gladiators were fiercely determined to win! Once again, Sheamus came SO close to finally bagging the IC Championship when he hit a Brogue Kick on Gunther, only for McIntyre to pull Sheamus out of the ring before the three!

In the end, Gunther retained in dominant fashion when he powerbombed Sheamus onto McIntyre, then hit another powerbomb on Drew for the pin! All commentators and fans wildly applauded what was one of the greatest matches ever for the IC Title, at WrestleMania, and in all three men’s careers.

5. Randy Orton Vs. Cactus Jack – Backlash 2004

Since winning the Intercontinental Championship at Armageddon 2003, Randy Orton had established himself as one of the most elite competitors to ever hold the title. Part of Evolution – who now held all gold on the Raw roster – the Legend Killer had a stronghold on his championship. No one could take the belt off him on television…and it was during this time where his feud with Mick Foley intensified. After spitting in the Hardcore Legend’s face, pinning him in a handicap match at WrestleMania 20, Randy arrogantly agreed to face Cactus Jack in a Hardcore Rules match for the Intercontinental Title at Backlash 2004. With Orton’s Evolution teammates banned from ringside.

Simply put, it was the most bloody and violent bout ever waged for the Intercontinental Championship, with Cactus Jack once again proving himself the King of the Deathmatch. But it was also the match that made Orton’s career and cemented his legacy as a truly great Intercontinental Champ. Orton’s skin was ravaged by barbed-wire and a bare-skin landing in thumbtacks! Cactus even delivered a flying-elbow onto Orton right off the stage! And yet, the Legend Killer not only survived all the horrific punishment, he dished it out in kind and conclusively defeated the Hardcore Legend with an RKO onto a barbed-wire baseball bat.

The Legend Killer had retained the IC title all by himself in a match that remains the greatest match of both men’s careers…and Orton was now well on his way to fulfilling his own destiny.

04. Hulk Hogan Vs. The Ultimate Warrior – WrestleMania 6

It was the most epic, high-stakes showdown of all-time. The Ultimate Warrior had truly dominated all before him as the Intercontinental Champion. His popularity, star-power, and invincibility had risen to incredible heights…to the point where he was locked on a collision-course with WWF Champion, the Immortal Hulk Hogan. WWF President Jack Tunney set the main event for WrestleMania 6…the Ultimate Challenge. Where the winner would walk out of Toronto, Canada, with BOTH the WWF World and Intercontinental Championships.

In this historic battle of the titans, Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior wrestled arguably the match of their lives. Everybody in the Skydome was on their feet, providing an electric atmosphere for this legendary battle. Both these invincible champions – these white-hot babyfaces – were so evenly matched, the bout could’ve gone either way. It’s not just one of the greatest WWF/E Championship matches in history. It’s also one of the greatest Intercontinental Title bouts of all time.

In the end, Warrior shockingly avoided the Hogan Leg Drop and nailed a second Warrior Splash to become the only man to hold both the WWF and Intercontinental Titles simultaneously. It was the highest level the Intercontinental Championship ever reached and the crowning moment of the Ultimate Warrior’s career.

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3. Shawn Michaels Vs. Razor Ramon – WrestleMania 10 & SummerSlam 1995

For this spot, it’s two matches in one! In my opinion, both these bouts are part of the same legendary story…and both are just so damn perfect it would be criminal to ignore either of them!

The genesis of the initial build-up was one of the greatest in WWE history. Shawn Michaels had been suspended and forced to vacate the Intercontinental Title. Razor Ramon had won the strap, and then when the Heartbreak Kid returned…he was carrying an exact replica of the title belt he claimed he’d never been beaten for! A ladder match was set for WrestleMania 10 in Madison Square Garden, with the winner being the UNDISPUTED Intercontinental Champion!

As mentioned earlier, the Intercontinental Title has become synonymous with the Ladder Match, but the one at WrestleMania 10 was so pioneering, so groundbreaking, it became the blueprint for Ladder Matches we know today. It remains a timeless, perfect classic with Shawn and Razor proving the lengths that they would go to becoming the Intercontinental Champion.

At WrestleMania 10…after so many breathtaking spots and an incredible performance from both men, Razor retrieved the title belts to prove to the world that he was THE Undisputed IC Champ.

Fifteen months later, the two met again in a ladder match at SummerSlam 1995, with Shawn now the IC Champ. It was another five-star masterpiece, yet also different from the previous epic at WrestleMania 10. Again, both men pulled out all the stops to be the Intercontinental Champion, with Shawn performing many aerial attacks off the ladder and the Bad Guy taking Shawn off the ladder with the Razor’s Edge.

This time round, Shawn was able to prevail with the Intercontinental Title in his possession, and the two rivals shook hands in respect. When people stress just how much both the Ladder Match and the IC Championship mean wrestling, they refer to Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon.

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2. Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart Vs. The British Bulldog – SummerSlam 1992

Ever since winning the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam the previous year, Bret Hart had taken on all challengers, defending it proudly on weekly television, and partaking in some of the greatest matches ever for the championship against Mr. Perfect and Rowdy Rowdy Piper. But at SummerSlam 1992, the Hitman was in for the fight of his life as his brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith (the British Bulldog) was set to challenge him in the main-event at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

The Bulldog had the home field advantage, tensions were rising between champion and challenger, and the Hart family was being torn apart, with members picking sides, and Diana (Davey’s wife and Bret’s sister) caught right in the the middle. It all exploded in the main event, when the brothers-in-law collided in a grueling contest that has been regarded by many as the greatest bout in the history of SummerSlam.

Both Bret and the Bulldog were evenly matched, yet Wembley Stadium were screaming for their hero to win. After twenty-five incredible minutes, the Bulldog was finally able to pin the Hitman to capture the Intercontinental Championship in what was undoubtedly his crowning moment. Ultimately, Bret congratulated Davey on his hard-fought victory, and the family reconciled with a group hug. Another epic moment in wrestling that will be remembered forever.

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1. ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage Vs. Ricky Steamboat – WrestleMania 3

Yup…everyone’s heard of THIS one. Over THIRTY-SIX years later, people STILL love Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat from WrestleMania 3. Many fans regard it as not just the greatest Intercontinental Title match of all time, but also the greatest match in the history of WrestleMania.

The set-up was simple; Intercontinental Champ Randy Savage had attacked Ricky Steamboat by driving the ring bell from the top rope and into his larynx; putting the Dragon out of action for months. Steamboat returned with a vengeance, challenging the Macho Man for the Intercontinental Title. The match itself barely lasted fifteen minutes, but Savage and Steamboat wrestled at such a breakneck pace, attempting as many pins as possible to wear the other out.

With amazing aerial offense, technical ability, and unmatched intensity, the Macho Man and the Dragon fought tooth-and-nail in a display that captivated 93,173 fans in attendance, and millions more around the world.

In the bout’s closing moments, Savage tried to use the ring bell again, but George “The Animal” Steele prevented him from doing so, allowing Steamboat to counter a bodyslam into a pinning-predicament for the win and the title! There have been so many emotional triumphs and legendary moments associated with the Intercontinental Championship, but none more so than the Dragon’s unforgettable victory over the Macho Man.

***

Do you agree with this list? Please discuss with us your favourite Intercontinental Championship matches of all time! Thank you so very much for all your support and feedback on this series! See you all again soon and Happy Easter, everyone!

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Written by:

mrdcwood

WWE Will Finish The Cody Rhodes Story!

WrestleMania 39 will go in the history books as one of the best ‘Manias ever, delivering some of its best matches in many years. However, many chose to focus their attention on the finish of the main event, which came after a 35 minute emotional rollercoaster of incredible storytelling, action, dramatic kick outs and false finishes. Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

The finish had many fans crying foul, leaving them disillusioned feeling that WWE had missed a golden opportunity to finish the Cody redemption story and end the story of the Bloodline saga. The fans’ negative reaction led to some saying that WrestleMania was ruined by its ending, which by extension left many believing that the whole show had been a waste of time.

The feeling filtered through to the famed “RAW After WrestleMania” when Cody was assaulted and destroyed by Brock Lesnar, presumably setting up a program between the two in the coming weeks and months. Immediately fans declared that Cody had been buried out of the main event scene and that WWE had wasted all the great work that they’d done over the last 8 months, and many had finally given up on the product. Some even decided to point the blame on the shoulders on Vince McMahon believing that this was all his doing and that his fingerprints had caused Cody to lose and be “buried” when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Triple H has a clear blueprint on how to build his big shows, he likes to build the story slowly and methodically with heroes having to go through preverbial hell to finally achieve the desired goal. Look at Triple H when he was in charge of NXT in its golden era from 2015-2019, storylines progressed bit by bit with slow steps being taken to further both characters and the story you were watching and it was built over a time of many months, sometimes even years.

The argument will be made that NXT Takeover shows, the big stages for NXT talent, were spread out over months, allowing The Game to slowly progress the big matches to a natural conclusion, but still the fact of the matter is that HHH likes to take his time and flesh the programs out and add more layers to the chapters of the story.

As example, the arc of Johnny Gargano from Tag Team Champion to the loss of his tag team titles, then being betrayed by his tag team partner, losing matches and being in a losing slump, haunted by the betrayal of his former friend, to then seeking redemption against his former partner at the cost of losing his own morality and values that he cared about, all combined with his chase to be NXT Champion took nearly 2 years with slow progression and subtle changes in both the story and in Gargano’s character, giving the story more depth. To quote Johnny Wrestling himself: ‘Sometimes you have to give in to the darkness in hopes of becoming something more’.

I know some will say that WWE itself has never done anything like this and to that the greatest example of the biggest superstar in WWE history, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Everyone remembers the King Of The Ring speech in 1996 and assumed that set him off to the top of the company, but he had to go through at lot more than that.

He slowly worked his way up for the next 6 months before facing Bret Hart in an acclaimed match at Survivor Series 1996. He then won the 1997 Royal Rumble before rematching Hart at WrestleMania 13 in what many say is one of the greatest matches of all time. Then for the next year he came up short in WWF title matches against the likes of the Undertaker and Bret Hart before recovering from a broken neck suffered at SummerSlam 1997, then going on to win the Royal Rumble for a second time which then finally led to his coronation as WWF Champion and face of the company at WrestleMania 14.

So it took the biggest star in the business nearly two years to reach the top (June 1996 to March 1998), and in that time Austin’s character transformed from a cocky trash talking heel slowly morphed into the take no prisoners anti-hero who was the most beloved superstar WWE ever had. That is the situation that Cody is in now.

Since his return to WWE at WrestleMania last year, Cody has only feuded with Seth Rollins for a stretch of three consecutive events before suffering a torn pectoral muscle which sidelined him for six months before his triumphant return at the Royal Rumble in January, which resulted in him becoming embroiled in the Bloodline story in the build to WrestleMania. In other words, Cody’s story has been too straightforward. Whilst it’s accepted that the pectoral injury certainly didn’t help Cody out in this case with him missing so much time, but the only story that had been told was Cody wanting to win the belt to achieve what his late father Dusty Rhodes never managed to achieve in his storied career. But now that he failed at WrestleMania there’s a beast shaped obstacle in his way to the inevitable rematch with Roman that he will need to overcome.

Now here is where the story will either hit a new peak or fizzle out, it all depends on how WWE decides to move Cody back to Roman and the course of events he’ll have to go through to get there. If you want him to eventually conquer the seemingly invincible bad guy, keep the story going until your hero figures out a way out of the pit, and here is where AEW took it’s biggest misstep and where WWE must not repeat that mistake.

In AEW, as you may remember, Cody had a stipulation that he could never again challenge for the World Title. After the initial furore about the situation, as fans contemplated about what Cody’s character would change now that he could no longer chase the new company most prestigious title, the reality was that nothing changed.

Cody simply carried on as normal and seemingly was put in positions that were designed to set him up to fail, and despite Cody’s incredible performances the fans slowly started to resent him with diminishing returns each time. For the rest of his run in AEW, Cody started to fall into the same issue that befell John Cena for many years, in that despite the crowds openly telling him to change his character or to turn heel, Cody would find different ways to say “I’m not turning heel”. And that stubbornness to make his heroic character work had the exact opposite effect that was intended, as the backlash against Rhodes got even louder despite Cody trying everything from infamously going through a flaming table, but despite every attempt from Cody to get the fans reinvested in him, it was ultimately for not.

Wether or not that was the driving force behind Cody leaving AEW to come back to WWE in 2022, it was a clear indicator that fans didn’t but Cody as a person who seemingly was oblivious to everything going on around him. And at this moment WWE need to be alert on how they use Cody. A feud with a heel Brock Lesnar seems like a slam dunk of a success, the heel Beast Incarnate against the lovable babyface hero seems too good to fail, but WWE can’t do the same mistake and just let Cody win and move on. Give him a depth of personality where he had to tap into the dark place in his heart – not only will it make the story believable, it will actually get the fans to support Cody even more than they already do now.

So in conclusion, sometimes you have to fall lower than you’ve ever been to stand taller than you ever could. Whilst witnessing Cody be cut down from his assumed coronation in the shadows of Hollywood has brought the dream to a crashing halt, fear not. That was only the prelude, the real story is about to begin and no story ever truly ends as long as it is told.

Every Edge WrestleMania Match Ranked

Edge is one of the most decorated Wrestlemania performers of all time. The Rated R Superstar has taken part in many important matches at the grandest stage of them all, from action packed ladder matches to hardcore brawls to incredible main events, let’s take a look at which rank among the best and which rank among the worst.

13. Edge Vs. Booker T (Wrestlemania 18)

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Shampoo commercials! Yes, they were literally feuding over a Japanese shampoo commercial. The storyline itself was obviously ridiculous, but it’s not the reason why it ranks as Edge’s worst Wrestlemania bout ever. The match wasn’t bad by any means, but it was a pretty uneventful encounter. They only had 6 minutes to work with, so they were pretty limited. It was Edge’s first Wrestlemania as a singles competitor and Booker was a solid choice for Edge to work with, but unfortunately with the limited time and the ridiculous story behind it, they couldn’t produce anything substancial.

12. Edge Vs. John Cena Vs. Big Show (Wrestlemania 25)

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This match had the unfortunate task of following up on the amazing Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels match, but they did the best they could in the situation they were in and had a solid bout. This unfortunately didn’t have the big feel of a Wrestlemania World Title match, as the World Titles were changing so often in late 2008-early 2009. I would’ve preferred an Edge vs Cena singles match but WWE probably added The Big Show because Edge and Cena had countless singles matches with each other in the past. Cena having Edge and Big Show on his shoulders at the same time is the only noteworthy moment that fans still remember 14 years later, but it’s far from being a bad match.

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11. Edge Vs. Randy Orton (Wrestlemania 36)

There was a lot of hype surrounding this one and rightfully so, as it was Edge’s first one on one match since his unfortunate retirement in 2011, in addition to the extremely amazing build up that this match had. Unfortunately, with the Covid 19 pandemic, this had to take place in front of 0 fans, which already put a huge burden on it. The match dragged so much with it being 36 minutes long. There was nothing wrong with the action itself, but almost the entire match was spent with the two competitors brawling backstage. Obviously, it’s extremely difficult to perform a Last Man Standing match in front of 0 fans, and both men clearly tried hard, but it could’ve been better, and it should’ve been shorter.

10. Edge Vs. Alberto Del Rio (Wrestlemania 27)

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Good match that served as Edge’s last for 9 years before his return in 2020. Somehow, the Royal Rumble winner was in the opener of Wrestlemania, but I’m not here to talk about that. The match had some good psychology with Del Rio targeting Edge’s arm to set up the Cross Arm Breaker. Luckily, the outside interference was kept to a minimum as Christian and Brodus Clay were both present at ringside. Remember when Brodus Clay was buddies with Del Rio? Yeah, me neither. Pretty good match, all things considered, which still don’t rank highly in this list, which speaks volumes on how great Edge’s Wrestlemania matches were.

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9. Edge Vs. Chris Jericho (Wrestlemania 26)

Another good match as expected from 2 Canadian icons. It wasn’t anything near a MOTY contender, though, which probably left some people disappointed. Edge came back from a long Achilles injury in the Royal Rumble match and set his sights on Chris Jericho, his tag team partner, before he got injured. The story was there, as Jericho kept trash-talking Edge while the Rated R Superstar was out injured. Surely this would mean Edge would come back and get a big win on the cocky heel? Yeaaaahhhhhhh no. Jericho retained, which left a sour taste in a lot of people’s mouths. The match itself was really good with some nice counters and nears falls. After the match, Edge hit a vicious Spear on Jericho through the barricade, which kept their feud going.

8. Edge Vs. AJ Styles (Wrestlemania 38)

It was a huge dream match that came to reality, although it wasn’t the classic encounter that some were expecting. Edge had recently turned heel, which impacted the dynamic of this match. I think a heel Styles vs. face Edge would’ve been a better match, but I guess we’ll never know. The match was pretty good, but I think 5 minutes should’ve been cut as some parts kind of dragged. The ending was a bit lame. The match was still enjoyable, even with its flaws.

7. Edge Vs. Mr. Kennedy Vs. Randy Orton Vs. CM Punk Vs. King Booker Vs. Finlay Vs. Jeff Hardy Vs. Matt Hardy

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What a way to open up Wrestlemania. This was stacked with amazing talent from top to bottom so it was bound to be great. Edge’s Spear Rampage, Orton’s RKO to CM Punk off a ladder, Jeff Hardy risking his body just to drive Edge through a ladder and Kennedy’s Rolling Senton to Hornswoggle off the top of a ladder is just a short resume of the amazing action that happened here. Wrestlemania Money In The Bank ladder matches were always special, and this was a great example of why.

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6. Edge Vs. Mick Foley (Wrestlemania 22)

From top to bottom, this match was absolutely incredible to witness. This was Edge’s prime as the evil heel bastard and Foley helped elevate the Rated R Superstar one step further. This match cemented Edge’s spot at the top of the card and truly made him a star. Everyone knew this match was going to be brutal, but this took it one step further. Barbed wire, thumbtacks, and a flaming f*cking table. Foley deserves more respect for putting his body on the line to create legends like The Undertaker, Edge, Triple H, Randy Orton, etc. A proper legend. The flaming table finish made this match memorable for years to come, and to this day, people still talk about it, and rightfully so. Every wrestling fan has to watch this.

5. Edge & Christian Vs. The Dudley Boyz Vs. The Hardy Boyz (Wrestlemania 2000)

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While not on the level of their future TLC matches, this was still amazing in its own right and set a trend for the next 20 years. All 6 men put their bodies on the line to create an outstanding spectacle that would be remembered for years to come. This was promoted as a Ladder Match, but they used some tables to spice things up and take this match to a whole new level, which inspired the iconic TLC stipulation months later. Jeff Hardy’s Swanton to Bubba through a table is one of the many moments that made this match legendary. The action was amazing. All 3 teams were able to shine, and they easily put on the best match at that year’s Wrestlemania.

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4. Edge Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Daniel Bryan (Wrestlemania 37)

Excellent main event match that delivered on every aspect. This was Roman’s first Wrestlemania match as a heel (Non Shield), and both Edge and Bryan helped elevate Roman’s heel status to a whole new level. The match featured some wild moments with insane spots, great drama, and some of the usual interference by Jey Uso. Edge using a piece of the steel chair to apply a Crossface on Roman was a great moment of suspense. The con-chair-to finish was a nice touch, and Roman pinning Edge and Bryan simultaneously made for a really cool visual. One of the best triple threat matches of all time and easily the best match of Wrestlemania 37.

3. Edge Vs. Chris Jericho Vs. Shelton Benjamin Vs. Christian Vs. Chris Benoit Vs. Kane (Wrestlemania 21)

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Historic match that still ranks as the best Money In The Bank ladder match ever, in my opinion. The lineup in this one was truly unique, with every wrestler playing their part to perfection. From Kane having to deal with everyone ganging up on him, to Benoit’s tremendous selling, to Shelton Benjamin’s unorthodox offense in these types of matches, the action simply refused to let up. This was a very important match in Edge’s career as, not only would he become WWE Champion 10 months later, but he would go on to reach new heights as the Rated R Superstar and the evil bastard that made everyone’s life miserable.

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2. Edge Vs. The Undertaker (Wrestlemania 24)

Edge’s best Wrestlemania singles match by a long shot. Edge and The Undertaker had a legendary feud in 2008 in which both men took part in multiple historic battles. Their chemistry was simply elite, as not only did their in ring work flow effortlessly but their characters captivated audiences. The match featured some great counters, near falls, drama, everything you need in a Wrestlemania main event of this magnitude. Edge ended up submitting to the Hell’s Gate but he still looked strong in defeat. An amazing match that comes recommended every day of the week.

1. Edge & Christian Vs. The Dudley Boyz Vs. The Hardy Boyz (Wrestlemania 17)

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Was there any doubt on which match would be ranked at the top of this list? This match should be seen by every wrestling fan. This was the prime of tag team wrestling in WWE. All 3 teams put their bodies on the line for the sake of supremacy of the tag team division. This match was literal perfection with amazing spots, a red hot Texas crowd, and the usual amazing commentary by Jim Ross and Paul Heyman. Edge’s mid-air spear to Jeff Hardy, Bubba Ray and Matt Hardy getting sent through 4 tables, Spike driving Christian through a table… This match is an absolute car wreck and in a good way. Nothing short of tremendous, and without a doubt, it ranks as Edge’s best ever Wrestlemania match.

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And that will be all from me today. I had a blast revisiting all of Edge’s matches at the Showcase of Immortals and I hope you enjoyed the list. Feel free to share your comments down below and until next time!

kayfabezone

WWE WrestleMania 39 Night 2 PPV Review

Brock Lesnar vs. Omos

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Brock Lesnar def. Omos via Pinfall at 4:55

Tanner: This was pretty much what I expected it to be, and I’m very glad they kept the match short and simple. The action, while obviously mediocre, is supported by Brock’s great selling. However, Omos is just terrible. Slow, barely sells, not enough charisma. He’s just there. So once again, I’m glad they kept this short enough from being a disaster. * (Updated to **¼ as of 12/27/23)

Prince: I was a bit scared of this match because Omos’ minor experience could play a role in lowering the quality, but it didn’t happen as both men delivered moves that garnered a high reaction. As a character, Omos is still developing nicely, which is appreciative. I’m glad that Brock won the bout and I hope something better happens for him on the next major show. ***

Ben: Very simple match which protected Omos who actually seemed ok in this, crowd stayed into it, fair kudos to Brock for dragging a decent match out of this, hopefully he moves onto a better program leading into the summer. **½

MrDCWood: This was a sensible choice for opening night 2, and in a lot of ways, it reminded me of how decent HHH/Khali from SummerSlam 2008 was. Brock sold splendidly for the very limited Omos, and when it came to crunch time, Omos finally took the big bumps. Three massive German Suplexes and an impressive F5 on the giant to wrap things up. But Omos could’ve sold Lesnar’s finisher much better. Still, short & relatively sweet. Which is what it needed to be. **½

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Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya & Shotzi vs. Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler

Ronda Rousey def. Shotzi via Submission at 8:23

Tanner: This was, unfortunately, just a mess compared to the men’s match the previous night. Everyone seemed a bit lost in this match, and there was never really a sense of direction all throughout the contest. Complete filler. * (Updated to ½* as of 12/27/23)

Prince: It’s nothing to the levels of last night’s blaster of a match, but all women had ample time to shine and deliver their best. As expected, the former UFC renegades won the bout, making one of their long, weak rivals submit. Otherwise, Morgan & Raquel worked really well as a duo. **½

Ben: Not as good as the men’s one from last night but still a decent filler match, everyone had their points in it, nothing memorable though. **¾

MrDCWood: This wasn’t anywhere near as much fun as the Men’s Showcase from Night 1, but it was better than Lita/Trish/Becky vs. Damage CTRL. Liv Morgan continues to work hard, and there were some nice spots (always love it when Nattie does a double Sharpshooter!), but the crowd wasn’t into this, and there was such an anti-climatic finish. Shayna seemed to have injured herself, and Ronda once again seems completely unmotivated these days (unlike her phenomenal 2018/19 run in WWE). **¼

Gunther(c) vs. Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre | WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

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Gunther def. Drew McIntyre via Pinfall at 16:36 to RETAIN the WWE Intercontinental Championship

Tanner: These three beat the absolute dogsh#t out of each other in a near 17-minute war. I’m particularly proud of this match, considering the title in question was not even on the card last year. Shows a lot of progression, and I’m happy to see it. This match was basically chopamania, with everyone getting the beats on their chests, making for a brutal encounter. I was not expecting Gunther to win, but it’s a pretty welcoming decision as he could become the longest reigning Intercontinental Championship, which I would love to see! ***¾ (Updated to **** as of 12/27/23)

Prince: Damn! Sheamus didn’t get his moment here either?! Nonetheless, that was a war showcasing agony, power, and dominance altogether. Even though it had the usual “two in, one out” trope, they made it work most of the time. The final moments were the ones I thought that it’s about to become the end until WALTER’s soaring interference for the successful defense. Had Sheamus won here, I would’ve felt even happier. No disrespect to WALTER as he’s evolving into one of the true threats for any champion around the field, and he has to have a WrestleMania moment like this, too. ****¾

Ben: My God! That was something else, like all the best triple threats once it started it never stopped, incredible work from all 3, wonderfully hard hitting and smashing all the way, Sheamus agonisingly close again with Drew costing him at one point, Gunther winning was the right call, needs to be 1-on-1 when Sheamus finally does win it, Gunther will be World Champion at WrestleMania next year. *****

MrDCWood: Good God, Almighty! Like the Gunther/Sheamus match at Clash at the Castle 2022, I was expecting a hard-hitting tussle, but once again, I received so much more! All three of these gladiators delivered a bruising chopfest, full of first-class old-school wrestling, psychology, storytelling, and physicality. One of the greatest matches EVER in ALL THREE guys’ careers, for the Intercontinental Title AND at WrestleMania! ANOTHER serious Match of the Year contender for 2023! P.S. I’m really glad Gunther retained! *****

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Bianca Belair(c) vs. Asuka | WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match

Bianca Belair def. Asuka via Pinfall at 15:58 to RETAIN the Raw Women’s Championship

Tanner: Some of the action is pretty great, but in between those moments, this match slogs and isn’t particularly the cleanest contest. The build doesn’t really support it either. This match was kinda just there, and I wasn’t particularly too excited about it. Bianca retaining is questionable as her title reign has gotten undeniably stale, and there doesn’t seem to be much competition left unless Asuka gets a rematch. Oh well. **¾ (Updated to **½ as of 12/27/23)

Prince: It was a herculean task for these women to follow up on the magnificent IC triple threat, but they did it with ease. Asuka showed her dominance from the get-go through her stiff striking and immaculate technicality. At first, Bianca was unsure of evading the onslaught, but once she found the groove, it was fantastic. Her unmatched power was in full display, which is expected, and that led to a thrilling stretch of a finale battle between the KOD & the armbar. It was contested so tight where a few close calls had me. However, I thought a full year was enough for the EST, but it looks like it isn’t. Asuka possesses all the tools & had major momentum in winning here. Let’s see what’s in store for the division after here – probably Bianca becomes a villain & Roxanne is promoted for the new vision of a champion? ****¼

Ben: Fantastic match, not quite as great as Charlotte/Rhea the night before but still excellent with great back and forth near falls at the end had you at the edge of your seat, bit of a surprise that Bianca won, struggling to think who else there is left to face her now but we’ll see. ****

MrDCWood: I don’t envy these ladies having to follow Gunther/Drew/Sheamus. The crowd was clearly spent after the epic we all witnessed. Nevertheless, Bianca and Asuka did a great job with their grueling encounter. It took a while to get the crowd back into things, but it was a very hard-fought match with both ladies showing why they rank among the best to graduate from NXT to the main-roster. Surprised Bianca retained, but she earned it. ****

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Out again come The Miz and Snoop Dogg to announce the second night attendance of 81,395! But Miz and Snoop get into it again causing a second match from the Miz who now faces…

SHANE MCMAHON!!!

….who immediately injured himself about 30 seconds into the match, causing…

The Miz vs. Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg def. The Miz via Pinfall at 2:12

Tanner: Let’s never mention this particular segment ever again. DUD

Prince: no thoughts

Ben: no thoughts

MrDCWood: Okay, I know Shane’s injury forced them to think on the fly here. And i credit Miz and Snoop Dog for trying to salvage things, but unlike the Pat McAfee segment last night, this was a disaster! Miz could afford the loss to Pat last night, but the Shane fiasco and losing to Snoop Dog damn near bankrupted him! Can’t excuse this… DUD

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Edge vs. ‘The Demon’ Finn Balor | Hell In A Cell Match

Edge def. Finn Balor via Pinfall at 18:08

Tanner: This was a pretty interesting match as they don’t particularly do anything all that interesting, but manage to have a pretty well-done match anyway. Some of the demon stuff is a little corny, but you get used to it. Overall, this wasn’t nearly as great as I thought it would be, but I still relatively enjoyed this contest. ***¼

Prince: This was a bloodbath that’s been missing in the recent product of WWE for years. This rivalry deserves to have a gory conclusion like this where the characters were reincarnated to equalize each other without any glimpse of their weaknesses. Brood Edge is fantastic, but The Demon is so special that I rooted for him over the Hall of Famer for this bout. I’m happy with the outcome still since it’s Edge’s final WrestleMania possibly, and Bálor found the perfect person to receive a humongous boost in his career. The bloodshed stoppage for a moment added much to the story of Edge going to the wildest depths to silence his arch nemesis. I hope both stars are doing well after that war, and I pray for both to come back stronger. *****

Ben: No stupid red cell! Brutal match, weapons galore Finn busted hardway, stop interrupting match to check on guys, it’s Hell In A Cell, it’s supposed to be brutal! That aside, I hope Finn’s alright after that, the con-chair-to ending was fitting, Edge winning was again correct. it might be his last Mania match. If so, what a way to end it. ****½

MrDCWood: Storyline-wise, there’s been some intense stuff over the last year. Ergo, the feud merits having Hell in a Cell as the big-pay off. Plus, Edge had a WICKED entrance, and it’s SO GOOD to see the proper Hell in a Cell back! Unfortunately, Edge and Balor have lacked the in-ring chemistry we’d hoped for, and this bout dragged too long. Really liked Balor’s Coup De Grace from the side of the cell, Edge gets his revenge… but I felt it was all a big letdown. **½

Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes | WWE Undisputed Universal Championship Match

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Roman Reigns def. Cody Rhodes via Pinfall at 34:29 to RETAIN the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship

Tanner: I am SHOCKED that Roman retained here as the build had all the keys to Cody winning the big one. I’m not sure what led to this particular decision, but it left a cold sore on what was rather a great main event match. As expected, this was extremely dramatic and had me on my feet for all near 35 minutes. The interferences, the near falls, Cody’s rise to what could’ve been his Title win, but again that finish is stuck in my brain for all the wrong reasons a disappointing way to end a disappointing show. ***½ (Updated to ****¼ as of 12/27/23)

Prince: Let the polarization begin! Even though I was disheartened by the result, the match itself had all the emotions connected so well. Roman’s “big game” formula was still there with interferences & a dusty ending, but he had to alter his in-ring ethic because of Cody’s sheer skill. Solo is christened as the mega force out of this story, and his dominance is yet to start! I don’t see the end of the world despite being a heart-to-heart follower of Cody even before he jumped to AEW & and arrives here to finish the story. I trust the creative, and if this huge heartbreak has been given by them in a night where we thought everything could change, the REAL crumble of The Bloodline will definitely be remembered. Until then, keep your heads high, Cody! We’re still here for you, and that’s all I have to say! ****½

Ben: Wow! Firstly, what a match! Roman is fully the best of this generation, Cody is ultimate babyface, the twists, Solo being sent to the back, the comebacks, the 2.99 kickouts had everyone tearing up inside, KO & Sami helping absolutely had me convinced Cody was winning but Solo ran back out to spike him and Roman spears and wins. Wow. Ending caught I think everyone off guard, seem almost a forgone conclusion that Cody would win, some may turn on Roman winning again but Triple H has earned enough trust in what he’s done so far to make the right call, as he said, it’s just the next chapter, the story never ends. *****

MrDCWood: Like Usos vs. Sami/KO from the previous night, this took time to get going, but once it DID…FANTASTIC! Once the crowd were on their side, Roman & Cody produced one of the best WrestleMania main-events in recent memory. Like all the other Roman Reigns matches since 2020, we were SO convinced that he was going to lose the belt or win again! The near-falls were epic, the Usos, Sami and Kevin’s interference was all epic, and Cody did his father and brother proud here! He belongs in the WrestleMania main-event. As for the ending…THAT is going to be extremely divisive. Cody SHOULD’VE won here. Whilst Cody was protected in the loss (thank you VERY MUCH, Solo!), and Roman is a huge box-office sensation…how much longer can this historic reign continue? Where does Cody go from here? Who else is there left to credibly challenge Roman? I’ll give Triple H the benefit of the doubt, though. ****½

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OVERALLS

Tanner: This was obviously not nearly as a great of a show as night 1, and it showed with the first two matches being bad and also honestly one of the worst segments of all time. Obviously, we have some great matches like the triple threat for the IC belt and the main event, but I was constantly left questioning the decisions made on this particular night. The quality is there, but the feeling was not. Bleh. 5/10

Prince: After a miraculous Saturday night, the second half of WWE’s largest spectacle had a tough task to follow, and it held its fort presenting a great show. The opener was fun, the women’s showcase was fine but not as great as the men’s, WALTER/Sheamus/McIntyre went to a war and almost killed each other, Bianca & Asuka fought a definite clash of diverse styles, the HIAC battle was a sheer bloodbath with vengeance playing the major part and the emotionally wrenched main event. I’m one among the dejected crowd because of the result, but I’m trusting the creative still, and Cody is not going to back down that easy. The main story keeps me interested in what’s about to happen, which leaves the 39th edition of WrestleMania a grand success and possibly one of the best WrestleMania events in a long time. 8/10

Ben: Somehow after the highs of Night 1, WrestleMania Night 2 managed to be equally fantastic for very different reasons, Brock/Omos somehow was decent, the IC Triple Threat was simply incredible, Bianca/Asuka was excellent, Edge/Balor was brutal and Roman/Cody like Night 1 was the emotional rollercoaster of amazing storytelling. Some might detract from the ending, but it was so well done, and it leaves me excited to know what happens next. 8/10

MrDCWood: This was weaker overall than the first night. Miz and Snoop Dogg were great hosts, but the fiasco of Shane’s return was just bad. The women’s tag bout was disappointing, but Lesnar/Omos was a decent opener, Bianca/Asuka was great, Roman/Cody was an excellent main-event let down by the wrong outcome, and we were ALL spoilt rotten by one of the greatest matches EVER in the Triple Threat Intercontinental Title bout between Gunther, Sheamus & Drew. Night One was better, but Night 2 was still a cracker of a show! 8/10

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wrestlingwithviper

WWE WrestleMania 39 Night 1 PPV Review

April 1st, 2023
Inglewood, California
SoFi Stadium

Austin Theory(c) vs. John Cena | WWE United States Championship Match

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Austin Theory def. John Cena via Pinfall at 11:20 to RETAIN the WWE United States Championship

Tanner: This match has some decent action, but it is far too basic and short to really be meaningful. It’s not a bad match, but it’s certainly not a satisfying one either. It’s a bit of a poor way to open the show. ** (Updated to **¾ as of 12/27/23)

Prince: This was bound to happen at this stage during the first United States title reign of Austin itself. The tease was given right there, and it was a long way of tweaking the character of Austin and making him look upfront facing Cena as a brash, overconfident heel like how the 16-time World Champion used to be. It was built really well, which led to a solid expectation by the fans for a great clash. It was a rock-solid tussle still, but there was more room for improvement as well. They could’ve used more time to deliver something great from what was developing. However, Austin needed this victory to solidify his place as one of the top prospects in the game, while Cena could give his momentous rub to whoever he wants during his final stages as an active star. ***½

Ben: Solid and nothing more, Theory just controlled most of it and Cena didn’t really do anything beside the finishing sequence, the ending came too soon before the match ever got into its own, surprise that Cena didn’t even kick out of at least 1 finisher or even hit the AA, finish was very abrupt. **½

Tomás: Unquestionably one of the most highly anticipated matches on the card, with a solid enough long build. Despite that, the match just didn’t click like it should’ve for some strange reason. Technically, it was a decent match. There was just no substance to it. Pretty disappointing opener. **½

MrDCWood: A fine choice for opener. The crowd was really into it, and at 45, Cena’s still got a lot left in the tank. Theory has proven to be one of the best US Champs in years, but he needed this match to cement his position. Quality action, fine work from both, Theory biting Cena to escape the STF and turn the tide was a nice touch. Don’t have a problem with the ref bump, low blow, and A-Town finish. The heel retains over CENA. I’m happy. ***¼

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Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. The Viking Raiders vs. Alpha Academy vs. The Street Profits

Angelo Dawkins def. Ricochet via Pinfall at 8:28

Tanner: I had a really good time watching this with some insane spots and constant moments that kept me interested in the short amount of time they received. This is honestly a good way to apologize to the division for their booking being so sh#t. ***

Prince: A superb sprint of action from four talented teams. Chad Gable never misses to impress the audience, and he did the same on the biggest stage he could possibly step in. Ford & Ricochet were athletic as always, while the others had ample time in the spotlight shining bright. Street Profits was my team to take the win because I could see them as the first challengers for the tag champions post-Mania. ***½

Ben: Fun filler match with plenty of mad spots, everyone got their moments in, Gable suplexing Braun, Strowman hitting a top rope splash, Ricochet floating in mid-air, great ending with Street Profits getting the win, the right pick up for the crowd after the somewhat pedestrian opener, great action. ***¼

Tomás: Filler that lasted a lot longer than it definitely should’ve, especially considering the disappointing opener. I just wanted the show to move on, but they did make the most of their time with highspot after highspot, albeit with no particular reason or purpose. This was just there, was fine for what it was, but was definitely at least a couple minutes longer than necessary. Props to Chad Gable and that impressive suplex, which was the high point of the match. *¾

MrDCWood: I wasn’t expecting anything from this other than filler, but MY GOD this blew me away! Got off to a slow start, but it once it changed into a higher gear, everyone involved delivered a fantastic display! There were some terrific spots, everyone shined, had a great structure and was booked brilliantly. Any team could’ve won and I’ve been happy, but the Street Profits were the most over and seemed best-suited for the next tag title shot. This was simply outstanding! ***½

Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul

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Seth Rollins def. Logan Paul via Pinfall at 16:16

Tanner: Logan displays his impressive athleticism again while delivering a pretty well-done match with Rollins. The KSI appearance was hilarious, and the bump he took was a site to see. Overall, I think this lived up to expectations. ***½

Prince: Whether you love him or hate him, when the atmosphere is as major as WrestleMania, he simply delivers the very best in the ring. It was no different here as he tried the very best to equalize Rollins. But, we know how the creator of “The Heist of the Century” rolls in the grandest stage. He was incredible bell-to-bell, and the bar was raised once KSI was revealed behind the PRIME mascot for a fun finish. ****

Ben: Absolutely fantastic! Logan again shows he’s a natural, Rollins being a great babyface, sold the KO punch as a finish, KSI appeared! Great false finishes galore, exceeded everyone’s expectations there! Brilliant all round. Hope we continue to see Logan pop up for the big shows, he’s never failed to deliver the goods and hoping Seth goes full babyface now. ****

Tomás: One of those matches designed to get them publicity, and it was pretty successful at that, particularly with the frog splash through the table. As a match, it was good, but it had the potential to be a lot more. Rollins didn’t follow up with any armwork after a vicious stomp on the steps, which would’ve taken it to another level. Instead, they went the viral route, which is understandable. It had the potential to be better, but it was a pretty good match. ***¼

MrDCWood: Regardless of my personal dislike for Logan Paul, I will never deny he’s a superb athlete. Furthermore, he’s shown over and over again that he belongs in a wrestling ring. And with such great build-up since the Royal Rumble, this match against Seth was another winner. Like all other Logan Paul matches, it exceeds expectations, is booked perfectly, has some amazing spots, and tells a great story. I was NOT expecting KSI to appear here (another man I can’t stand!), but it played perfectly into the overall match. Seth gets his revenge, Logan gains even more credibility, KSI did great work…this was top notch! ****

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Damage CTRL vs. Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus, & Lita

Becky Lynch def. Bayley via Pinfall at 14:38

Tanner: This match slogs at points, but it had some pretty decent action and tells a nice story. Trish and Lita, I suppose, aren’t too bad for their age, but they were most definitely carried by Becky against these Damage CTRL. I do wonder what’s next for Bayley and co…. **½ (Updated to ** as of 12/27/23)

Prince: Of course, there was more room for improvement considering the involvement of Hall of Famers, but they hung with the youngbloods pretty nice. Dakota & Iyo were amazing as usual while Becky & Bayley took care of the major chunk of the match. I’m happy that the faces won, but how long does Damage CTRL face nothing but damage? ***½

Ben: Decent enough match, looked a bit clunky and out of place at times, people seemed out of position on more than one occasion on the hot tags, went a least 5/7 minutes too long, would’ve been better to cut it shorter. **

Tomás: This match had the potential to be fun had the legends’ hot tag sequences been built up well. Instead, we had people doing moves for no real reason and with no build at all. The hot tags happened out of nowhere to no reaction whatsoever, and they proceeded to just do moves for the remainder of the match. This match is the prime example of how the lack of basics will kill most matches. Extremely disappointing. *

MrDCWood: I felt sorry for the ladies here as the crowd was clearly drained after the Rollins/Paul bout. That hurt this match, as did the match’s length. Cutting five minutes off this would’ve helped. Quite a few botches, It also doesn’t really pick up until the last few moments. Some very good spots at the end, but it could’ve been so much more. Where does Damage CTRL go from here? **¼

Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio

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Rey Mysterio def. Dominik Mysterio via Pinfall at 14:30

Tanner: I’ll say, I’m fairly impressed by Dominik’s performance here. He seems motivated to do his best, especially against his own father, and that’s great to see. The emotion surrounding this one was felt, and the twists and turns didn’t feel overdone. Overall, it’s a really well-done match here. ***½ (Updated to ****¼ as of 12/27/23)

Prince: Even though the action was rock-solid at best, it’s the story that elevated this match to a level where it was enjoyed by all. Dominik getting his well-earned beating from his legendary daddy was a sick moment, and it would’ve been happy for the now Hall of Famer to share the ring with his son again. The personal levels they touched were so deep, which made the interferences by JD, LWO, and Bad Bunny even better. However, Dom got a huge rub as the next “mega villain” in the making, and I hope he stays the same so that we can enjoy more of his work. ****

Ben: Brilliant entrances from both, the Eddie tribute, Dom’s heat was something else, family drama was done amazingly well, maybe a bit over the top with the interference but it doesn’t detract from the match’s story, you could feel everyone screaming for Rey to win, genuine babyface hero, what a legend and Dom certainly stood out, he’s only going to get better. ****¼

Tomás: The story told throughout this match was brilliant. They got me hooked from start to finish, with both men doing a fantastic job from the moment they first made their respective entrances until the very end. They got the crowd emotionally invested in the match, much to their credit, and the interactions with the family were really well done. Dominik is getting a lot better with time, and he doesn’t seem like the same person compared to when he teamed with his father. The only thing I’d change would be the Bad Bunny finish, which really wasn’t necessary, and the story deserved a better ending, but outside of that, this was fantastic. Absolutely awesome match! ****½

MrDCWood: This match is further proof that long-term build-up, amazing segments/interviews, and a killer storyline can produce a wicked pay-off! Dominik is a WHITE-HOT heel (only behind the likes of MJF and Roman), and he truly stepped up his game for this deeply personal father/son clash. There is not a great deal of high-flying action, but the storytelling, psychology, atmosphere, and involvement from the Mysterio family, Judgment Day, and the LWO made for another heated clash. No problems with Bad Bunny getting involved at the end. Hugely emotional bout with a much-deserved win for the legendary Hall of Famer, who still means so much to us. ***¾

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Charlotte Flair(c) vs. Rhea Ripley | WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship Match

Rhea Ripley def. Charlotte Flair via Pinfall at 23:34 to WIN the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship

Tanner: This started out rough, but they quickly recovered with an absolutely brutal back and forth contest that had me questioning if this was REAL. Fantastic match overall, props to both women. ***¾ (Updated to **** as of 12/27/23)

Prince: A mind-blowing showdown from these women that easily toppled their encounter three years ago over the top rope. Despite the not-so-great build, they knew the impact of the stage they are, and that’s what they wanted three years before. I’m super glad that they utilized it to the optimum, and I’m simply proud of these ladies. Charlotte was at an optimistic level like never before, thanks to her wonderful chemistry with The Eradicator. If Rhea hasn’t arrived at the scene before, she is NOW! I am proud of her rise from a mischievous badass in NXT to a ruthless monster that’s about to rule the blue brand hereafter. *****

Ben: Phenomenal match, both worked fantastically together, everything felt impactful and had meaning behind it and a brilliant finish to end it, it had you twisting and turning on who was going to win all the way, even better than their match at WM36 and with the right winner, Charlotte has her working boots on with a brilliant showing reminding how great she actually is in the ring, Rhea winning absolutely the right call, she’s has the run of her career and so deserves to be champion now. ****½

Tomás: Spectacular match, very physical encounter with awesome callbacks to their previous pay-per-view bouts throughout the years. There were several great nearfalls where fans genuinely believed it would be over, for both sides. The finish was great, and it’s wonderful to see Ripley win the championship! ****

MrDCWood: In-ring-wise, bouts between Charlotte & Rhea have never disappointed. These two ladies have SUCH chemistry. And this match was definitely the greatest they’ve ever had together. WHAT A MATCH! Flair and Ripley put on a 23-minute epic that had me on the edge of my seat! Let’s be real, after WrestleMania 36 and Money in the Bank 2021, we all wanted Rhea to finally beat Charlotte cleanly & decisively for the title…and that’s what we got! I liked Charlotte breaking character at the end (she seemed genuinely happy that Rhea got her big moment at last)…Match of the Night. And a worthy Match of the Year candidate. ****½

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The Miz and Snoop Dogg announce a total attendance of 80,497! Miz mentions an open challenge and out comes…

PAT MCAFEE!!

The Miz vs. Pat McAfee

Pat McAfee def. The Miz via Pinfall at 3:35

Tanner: This was so random, but I appreciate it as a cool down. N/R

Prince: I least expected this to happen, but it was a fun WrestleMania moment. I don’t have the heart to rate this as an official match, so here’s my grade of how much I enjoyed this breather before the barnburner of a main event. A-

Ben: A fun interlude before the main event. I’m a big Pat fan, so it’s cool to see him at Mania again. ½*

Tomás: Impromptu match to kill some time before the main event. There was nothing to this one, but it was cool to see Pat McAfee again. ½*

MrDCWood: Really, we needed another breather after Rhea/Charlotte, and it’s always great to see Pat McAfee. This was alright, just an impromptu segment/match to allow the audience to recover in-time for the main event. Miz can easily afford the loss…I’ve seen much worse than this in wrestling. *

The Usos(c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn | WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships Match

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Sami Zayn def. Jey Uso via Pinfall at 24:17

Tanner: The pacing is rather slow, and the superkicks can be a bit much, but overall, this was a very enjoyable and emotional closer to night 1. I’m so proud of Sami for getting where he is now, and seeing him get the pin in a WrestleMania Main Event was so satisfying. A great way to close The Usos’ historic reign. ***½ (Updated to **** as of 12/27/23)

Prince: The Usos took a long time as predicted to take control of the situation in the initial stages, but the fire inside Zayn & Owens as well as the magnanimous storyline propelled this clash to a godly level of adrenaline rush and emotional turmoil. Even The Usos upped the ante with their agonizing acts of offense on both men for their family sake. The ultimate result felt so sweet to witness as the wheels of The Bloodline have officially begun to chip off. ****½

Ben: UNBELIEVABLE! The story was simply incredible, Usos the superior team but Owens and Sami’s heart kept them in it, refusing to give up and keep fighting, the story was Sami and Jey, Jey holding Sami up for the multiple super kicks and then Sami doing the same back to Jey at the end with the Helluva Kicks to win the match, heart wrenching all the way, flawless storytelling the satisfaction of a great long title reign reaching a natural conclusion, what an ending to Night 1. *****

Tomás: Took them a while to get going, but the final few minutes were spectacular. They exchanged countless dramatic nearfalls back and forth until it culminated with Sami pinning Jey in what was the perfect finale. Great way to end the first night of WrestleMania 39 after a great matchup. ***¾

MrDCWood: The long-term build-up to this one was absolutely sublime, and although it took time to get going, this match became another belter which got the audience back into it. A great story that had me on the edge of my seat again, with several great near-falls and character-work. All four men truly deserved to main-event a WrestleMania after all their years of hard work. The Usos cemented their legacy as one of the all-time great tag teams, as their incredible 622-day reign came to an end. Kevin and Sami cemented their legacies by achieving the almighty. Great match! ****½

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Tanner: At points, this show is a mixed bag, but it’s also got a pretty stellar catalog of matches and moments that make it an overall highly enjoyable first night of WrestleMania. Kevin and Sami closing the show holding the belts and shedding tears was an amazing ending as well. 8/10

Prince: One of the highly anticipated events of the whole weekend was a humongous success! This particular night, as usual, set the tone for Night Two on a gargantuan scale. The opener was pretty nice even though it could’ve been better, the men’s showcase bout was an energetic fun ride, Logan out delivered once again hanging in there against one of the greats of this generation in Rollins, the women in the face-off of trios had a fine outing considering the icons involved, a Hall of Fame father delivered a blazing beating to his son’s bastard leveled actions, one of the best women’s matches of the year already & the most hyped main event was contested with all the emotions set right giving a result that had a sky-high reaction from the LA faithful. Had the breathers been tinkered better to remember even deeper, this would have been an all-time classic of a WrestleMania. Nonetheless, it’s just one night! The burden is heavy for the Sunday night fighters, and I’m confident enough that they could deliver the same. 9/10

Ben: Overall an excellent show, Cena/Theory and the 6-Women Tag were a bit disappointing but everything else was brilliant, the showcase match was fun, Seth/Logan was excellent, Rey/Dom was awesome storytelling, Charlotte/Rhea was a wonderfully brutal match, and the main event was so emotionally satisfying 8/10

Tomás: It was a good first night with a couple of terrific matches and a couple more really good matches. It also had its fair amount of low points, including a disappointing opener, the horrible six-women tag and the pointless four-way, but most of them were in the first half of the show and thus this night benefits from the “how you leave ’em” affect. Certainly hoping the second night is (at least) as good as the first, but hopefully, even better! 7/10

MrDCWood: To me, this has been the best WrestleMania since WrestleMania 31. A great atmosphere, some great entrances, great spectacles…most of the matches were bouts you’d expect to watch at a WrestleMania. Usos/KO & Sami and Rhea/Charlotte were both amazing (Rhea/Charlotte is another MOTY candidate for 2023), the four-way tag showcase, Logan/Paul and Rey/Dominik were all truly great, and Cena/Theory was a fine opener. Special Shout-Out to the Miz and Snoop Dogg for being great hosts as well. The six-women tag match may have been disappointing, but overall, this was a great first-night for WrestleMania 39 from top-to-bottom. Hopefully, it will be a good omen for Night Two tomorrow! 9/10

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wrestlingwithviper

10 Forgotten WrestleMania Matches That Are Hidden Gems

Howdy, readers! This is Prince Osborne back with another interesting blog which will cover 10 of the underrated matches that has happened on the grandest stage of the WWE. These matches ranged from good to great despite having better matches on the respective cards. Let’s get right into the list!

Honorable Mentions:

Chris Jericho vs. William Regal – Intercontinental Championship Match: WrestleMania 17

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No one will ever forget WrestleMania X-Seven despite growing up watching the show or going back later after getting to know about its iconic history of incredible matches and wonderful moments. However, the opening contest was completely overshadowed by the hallmark moments of the spectacle.

Here, two of the best athletes in the world squared off to ignite the greatest WrestleMania yet. Despite the egregiously small amount of time, the offence was executed perfectly and flowed effortlessly. While Jericho’s workhorse strategies were unaltered bell to bell, Regal did a pretty good job as the egotistical, self-proclaimed “commissioner” in this match.

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Big E vs. Apollo Crews – Intercontinental Championship Nigerian Drum Fight: WrestleMania 37 (Night Two)

On January 8^th, Crews had a shot at Big E’s Intercontinental Title which he lost much to his misfortune. He turned that around to unleash his rooted instincts as a villain who’s proud of his home tribe, the Nigerian soil. Then, he transformed into a pure Nigerian with the look, the accent and the slight change in moves as well. With this shift, he locked eyes with E once again at Fastlane much to another disheartening loss. After a predominant pinfall win over him on the 26^th of March edition of SmackDown, the third & decisive match was set for WrestleMania where Crews added more pressure to it since it’s a blow-off clash; a Nigerian Drum Fight!

Because of the slow pace of the story’s development, I had low hopes going into this match. Crews’ character transformation was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air, and I had hoped for a tighter-knit, more serious layering of the plot, but it didn’t materialise. Luckily, the action lived up to the anticipation. The odd name seemed to fit the intensity in the beginning, and it turned into a furious street brawl as they executed perilous moves one after the other. The closing scene was cut short, which might have managed better given what they were trying to accomplish, but it was still acceptable for what they were going for. These men could have put on a fight that would have been a guaranteed heater if they had more time.

10. Taka Michinoku vs. Aguila – Light Heavyweight Championship Match: WrestleMania 14

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WrestleMania XIV is remembered for the highly anticipated main event between Austin and Michaels with Mike Tyson’s involvement & the first ever clash between The Brothers of Destruction in The Undertaker & Kane. But the light heavyweight division had an engaging battle between Taka Michinoku & Aguila for the title.

Because to the high-flying skills of both wrestlers, this match felt like a breath of fresh air following a battle royal that went all over the place. Aguila is a highly skilled luchador, but he’s still relatively new to the sport, and I saw some areas that needed improvement. Taka halted for a bit, grasped the strategy Aguila uses, and then counter struck in his way. I thoroughly loved seeing these men outperform one another in a thrilling sprint for about six minutes.

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9. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk – WrestleMania 26

One of CM Punk’s best years was 2010, when he formed a group of people who identified as “straight edge” by refraining from alcohol and living a moral life. His followers joined the Straight Edge Society after getting their heads shaved. The first two “supporters” of the divisive star’s faction were Serena and Luke Gallows, and they singled out a third man in the WWE sensation wearing a mask. After multiple assaults and mind games, things heated up on March 12 as Rey prepared to celebrate the ninth birthday of her daughter Aaliyah. Punk rudely interrupted and embarrassed Rey’s family, which led to a violent fight at the mega-show where it was agreed that if Rey lost, he would have to join the union.

This was the beginning of one of his best rivalries, much like his rivalry with Eddie, but respect must be shown when it is due. Also, this match is deserving of praise because it features two sport innovators competing in a fun, innocuous dash. Six minutes felt enough despite being too short because of how well their action styles blended. Thanks to these pioneers, everything on which this match was based was managed admirably.

8. Victoria vs. Trish Stratus vs. Jazz – Women’s Championship Match: WrestleMania 19

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Victoria won the Women’s Championship from Trish Stratus at Survivor Series leading to a rematch at Armageddon with an added danger in Jazz as the third combatant. Victoria was successful over there too which led to both Stratus and Jazz settling their contendership issues in a match on an episode of Raw. But Victoria handed a double disqualification due to her displeasure on dealing both these women for several weeks. This action ended up in the Armageddon match refought in the grandest event of the promotion.

Thinking back on this battle, I firmly believe that this was the moment when the ladies had a chance to demonstrate that they, too, possess the skills necessary to present a fantastic exhibition. The rivalry between the three women had reached a very high degree, and each of their performances much exceeded expectations. Along with Steven Richards, Victoria’s valet, the focus was evenly distributed. Trish’s victory was partially predictable because it was anyone’s game, yet I would have felt the same way had the outcome gone in any other direction.

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7. Finlay vs. JBL – Belfast Brawl: WrestleMania 24

Finlay and Mr. McMahon were locked in a notable rivalry involving the former’s close ally, Hornswoggle. As the rivalry was set to end inside a steel cage on the February 18^th episode of Raw, JBL entered the fray rubbing more salt to the wounds of the Irish rebel. This resulted in a clash set in the grandest atmosphere of the promotion under the environment of Finlay’s taste – a Belfast Brawl.

As explained, the story sounds so lame to take place at WrestleMania, but the action was chaotic, fast-paced and most importantly entertaining! Both men worked at a breakneck pace surprisingly with most of the moves being almost perfect. Finlay is one of the underappreciated wrestlers of all-time as well as JBL who excelled as a character much better than inside the ring.

6. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero – WrestleMania 21

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The saga between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero is undeniably one of the most intense and memorable rivalries in WWE’s history. The change of character in Eddie was out of nowhere leading to one of his best times as a wrestler showing excellent evolution as a dastardly heel. The matches between the miraculous representatives of lucha libre wrestling are magnificent, but the foundation of this hallmark storyline is a simple friendly fire between the then-tag team champions and the littlest of the fans acknowledge this!

The reason for this match being the underrated one in their series is because of not one, but three different reasons in my opinion: lack of an intense arc, an almost good length and the finish most importantly. Nonetheless, both had the fans’ adrenaline pump up to an all-time high through their exhilarating action that spilled all over the ring. It was wild to see these mavericks of the high-flying genre blast the fireworks for the rest of the night. Even though there were extremely better matches after this, I’m glued to this one as my personal pick for the top three listing.

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5. The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso) vs. The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus) vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev – SmackDown Tag Team Championships Fatal Four Way Match: WrestleMania 35

On the April 2^nd episode of SmackDown, the host of WrestleMania, Alexa Bliss appreciated The Usos’ behaviour in the tag team gauntlet against The New Day. She did, however, mention that their choice had consequences that needed to be dealt with, creating a fatal four-way competition for the tag team titles. The challengers were Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev, Aleister Black & Ricochet, and Sheamus & Cesaro as The Bar.

I was aware that if given the proper stage and amount of time to perform, these four teams would wreck the house. They lost little time in fighting like there was no tomorrow, even though the second aspect was less desirable, and ended up delivering a spectacular sprint. Even though there were two teams in this division with less experience than the other, there was no nonsense, and the game could have been won by either team.

4. Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles – WrestleMania 33

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Shane McMahon, the commissioner of SmackDown, gave AJ Styles several chances to win back the WWE Championship after he failed to successfully defend it at Royal Rumble. At Elimination Chamber, Bray Wyatt won the title, which he successfully defended against John Cena and AJ Styles, two former champions, on the ensuing SmackDown edition. Styles attacked Shane brutally as a result of his repressed rage for failing to reclaim his throne. Because of this, Daniel Bryan, the brand’s general manager, fired him from the programme. Shane didn’t allow this happen and instead demanded a bout at WrestleMania to make things right.

This was a phenomenal (pun intended) surprise from both men as they exceeded all expectations and took the fight to the next level. Styles largely undervalued Shane, which led to frantic back-and-forth action with a ref bump that was expected when Shane was involved. The momentum increased after the bump, laying the groundwork for an amazing final stretch. Despite the storyline being developed on short notice, both men delivered a superb battle with all the emotions flowing smoothly.

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3. Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes – WrestleMania 27

These two men engaged in a match on January 11, 2011, which served as the unintentional beginning of a rivalry. Mysterio attacked Rhodes’ nose more aggressively than anticipated by hitting the 619 on him while leaving his knee exposed. As a result, Rhodes missed several weeks of action and returned wearing a face mask to protect his nose. He immediately pointed the finger at Mysterio for making him miss the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber pay-per-views back-to-back. The masked maverick was destroyed by Cody Rhodes by unmasking him, setting up the inevitable duel for WrestleMania. However, Dusty Rhodes’ intervention to mediate the conflict was only a deception.

I thought the build-up to this match was a fantastic piece of work since it gave both men the chance to show off their greatest wrestling skills and personas. Both men’s careers reached their pinnacle at this point, but Cody’s has been the most successful since he has been able to locate the appropriate shoes to fit in. The “Undashing” character was THE finest creation of his time in the WWE, and I would want to see the current American Nightmare reprise any kind of viciousness. Yet, a fantastic combat with excellently detailed layers supported the strong story arc. The emotional aspect of this competition was greatly enhanced by both guys utilising each other’s protective gear as weapons to exact revenge. Mysterio might have easily won this match, but Cody’s victory enhanced the value of his upbeat attitude, making the continuation of this feud much greater.

2. Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali – Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Finals: WrestleMania 34

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Enzo Amore was fired from WWE and stripped of the Cruiserweight Title following the allegations in January 2018. The purple brand, 205 Live, was without a champion at the moment, and Drake Maverick, the brand’s newest general manager, faced a difficult choice. So he announced a 16-man knockout tournament to determine the next champion. The two contestants who advanced to the finals of the competition were Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali. The finale took place at WrestleMania, the biggest stage in the WWE.

After a highly regarded competition in the Cruiserweight Classic, 205 Live gained the majority of the eyes that enjoyed the international showcase event for cruiserweights. 205 Live first began as one of the entertaining endeavours under the direction of HHH. This particular game put a lot of strain on the fans’ attachment to their product. Thankfully, both men accepted this enormous responsibility on their shoulders, put on an exciting fight, and shown via their committed display and victory that they are some of the most talented individuals available. Although there were other matches from this group that performed even better, but they made a good initial impression on the general public with this one.

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1. Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton – World Heavyweight Championship Match: WrestleMania 22

One of the most impressive performances in the Royal Rumble match was delivered by Rey Mysterio in 2006 thereby clinching a place in the Hollywood edition of WrestleMania facing the mainstream champion of his choice. Kurt Angle was the World Champion of the brand he was on and he took the easy route. But, Randy Orton spoilt the dreams of the masked maverick in a battle for the WrestleMania spot at No Way Out ending in a highway robbery for The Legend Killer. However, the heartfelt motive of Mysterio had Theodore Long make a decision and add him rightfully in the place he earned by outlasting 29 wrestlers.

There has never before been a World Championship match that lasted less than ten minutes in the rich history of WrestleMania. Naturally, there will be 5-minute sprints following this one, but they won’t be as memorable as this legendary confrontation. Lesnar/Goldberg at ‘Mania 33, Lesnar/Rollins at ‘Mania 35, and Lesnar/McIntyre at ‘Mania 36 were preceded by this match. This match, in my opinion, was one of the underestimated World Championship events at WrestleMania because of the fast-paced action, the outstanding competitors, and the promise Rey kept that he would be the winner in the end.

Hope you like this list of the underrated battles that took place at the granddaddy of pro wrestling spectacles, WrestleMania. Chime in your favorites in this category right below in the comments section. I’ll come back with another great cover! Until then, happy reading and happy living!

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Prince Osborne

5 Best (& 5 Worst) WWE WrestleMania Main Events

The Undertaker vs. Edge, Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle, Triple H vs. Roman Reigns, John Cena vs. The Miz

With WrestleMania 39 coming up, let’s take a look at some of the best and worst WrestleMania main events of all time.

WORST:

5. Roman Reigns Vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 32)

This was one of the most predictable WrestleMania main events of all time. After months of getting screwed out of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, it was clear as day that Roman would get the big babyface triumph to close the biggest show of the year. The match was hijacked with chants of “boring” and “NXT”. The match was way too long, clocking in a very boring 27 minutes and the only big pop of the match came when Roman accidentally speared Stephanie. The match wasn’t terrible by any means, but it was incredibly disappointing.

4. The Miz Vs. John Cena (WrestleMania 27)

John Cena and The Miz have had multiple one on one matches against each other and in each encounter they have managed to disappoint, and it was no exception at WrestleMania 27. Not only was this a painfully average bout to close the show of shows, but this served as a setup for Rock vs. Cena at WrestleMania the year after. A WrestleMania main event isn’t supposed to have outside interferences or screwy finishes. If it wasn’t for this match, WrestleMania 27 probably wouldn’t have much of the negative reception it has today, since the show had some solid matches in the undercard and an amazing Undertaker vs. HHH match.

3. The Undertaker Vs. Sycho Sid (WrestleMania 13)

The buildup to WrestleMania 13 suffered a lot of roadblocks due to a certain someone losing his smile. Sid was given a second reign as WWF Champion in February of 1997 but it all felt so unnatural. The match was extremely dull and Bret Hart’s constant interferences clearly didn’t help. It has been rumored that Sid crapped himself by the end of the match, which perfectly describes the state of this match.

2. Hulk Hogan Vs. Sid Justice (WrestleMania 8)

Good ol’ Sid again! This was the typical Hogan match of the time, with the heel working on Hogan throughout the whole match before the Hulkster made his inevitable comeback. This match was bound to be a disaster. First off, a DQ finish in the main event of Wrestlemania is absolutely unforgivable. Sid was an absolutely woeful worker and he and Hogan were never going to produce anything substancial. Papa Shango somehow missed his cue which forced Sid to kick out of the leg drop of doom. The Ultimate Warrior then made his return which kind of saved this from being a total dumpster fire. Avoid at all costs.

1. Hulk Hogan Vs. Yokozuna (WrestleMania 9)

This makes the list simply because of the horrendous booking decision and not the match itself, as it was just a few seconds long. This still goes down in infamy 30 years later and rightfully so, as it was an absolutely absurd decision. The WWF were promoting a new youth movement, so what did they do? They had a wrestler of the past absolutely sh*t on one of the current wrestlers that were on the rise. This buried Bret Hart, this buried Yokozuna. This benefited absolutely no one.

BEST:

5. The Undertaker Vs. Edge (WrestleMania 24)

What a match this was. The Undertaker was on a string of amazing WrestleMania matches around this time, and this was clearly no exception. The match was smartly worked with exciting near falls and great psychology. The counters were incredible, with Edge trying his best to avoid The Undertaker’s patented moves. Edge tapped out to the Hell’s Gate as a way to solidify The Undertaker’s new devastating submission hold. An amazing match to close an amazing WrestleMania.

4. Brock Lesnar Vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 19)

This match almost never happened as Angle was dealing with some neck issues before the event, but THANK GOD it did as we got to witness one of the best WrestleMania main events of all time. The match started off with some magnificent mat wrestling. The German Suplex in which Lesnar landed on his stomach was a sight to see and it’s a spot that’s absolutely unforgettable. The big Shooting Star Press was unfortunately botched and Lesnar landed on his head as Angle was WAAAAAY too far away, but it was still breathtaking to see a guy of Lesnar’s size fly like that. That unfortunate moment luckily didn’t deprive this from being a great match, as Angle and Lesnar had one of the best matches of the year and one of the best matches in WrestleMania history.

3. The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 26)

There’s a lot of debating over which Taker vs. HBK match is better, between WrestleMania 25 and 26, but you can’t deny that the stakes were much higher at WrestleMania 26. In terms of in ring action, WrestleMania 25 takes the cake, but the story of their WrestleMania 26 match makes it unique in its own way. Both men have outstanding chemistry so they were bound to deliver the goods here. They tried out some unique spots to differentiate from their match at the previous WrestleMania, which worked to perfection. The Moonsault through the announcers table was absolutely unreal to witness and the close near falls had everyone on the edge of their seat. A perfect retirement match for ‘Mr. WrestleMania’, which was sadly ruined by a certain tag team match 8 years later.

2. Stone Cold Steve Austin Vs. The Rock (WrestleMania 17)

The second match in the epic Austin vs. Rock WrestleMania trilogy, and the best one by a long shot. For 28 minutes, the action was extremely entertaining. Counters, drama, near falls, this match had everything. The callbacks to WrestleMania 13 with a bloody Austin trapped in the Sharpshooter to Austin resorting to using the Million Dollar Dream to achieve victory were nothing short of tremendous. The Rock’s kickout of the Stone Cold Stunner towards the end of the match still gives me chills to this day. And how could I not mention the amazing commentary by Jim Ross and Paul Heyman?! They helped elevate this match even further with their awesome calls. Austin’s heel turn is very controversial, but it still doesn’t take away the fact that this was one of the best matches in WrestleMania history. What. A. Masterpiece.

1. Chris Benoit Vs. Triple H Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 20)

IMG Credit: WWE & Views from the Hawke’s Nest

Here it is. The best WrestleMania main event of all time. Some might agree, some might disagree, but this is my personal favorite. My favorite Triple Threat match ever and one of my favorite matches of all time. All three men were absolutely amazing workers. This wasn’t the typical WWE Triple Threat match, which made this even more special. The New York crowd was its usual enthusiastic self and all three men had their working boots on. They set up some believable near falls as well as some submissions. The Double Suplex through the announcers table to Benoit was an amazing spot. HBK breaking up Benoit’s Sharpshooter with Sweet Chin Music is a spot that refuses to leave my mind. I simply love this match. The finish with Benoit making HHH tap out to the Crippler Crossface was incredible. 10/10 match, no flaws whatsoever.

And that will be all for today. Thanks for reading and until next time!

Written by:

kayfabezone

WWF RAW May 24 1993 Review (Perfect Vs. Doink)

May 24, 1993 Taped show (on May 17, 1993)
Location: Manhattan, New York, USA (Manhattan Center)
Announced attendance: ca 1 000
TV rating: 2.7 (USA Network) [down 6.9% from the previous week’s 2.9]

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Hello everyone. Welcome to another RAW review here on SmarKDown. This week, Mr. Perfect and Doink battle for the final spot in the King of the Ring tournament, taking place at the upcoming PPV. Additionally, Adam Bomb, Crush and the WWF Tag Team Champions Money Inc. are in action.

Here is the list of champions in the WWF heading into this week:

WWF Champion: Hulk Hogan [50^th day of his 5^th reign] – previous champion: Yokozuna
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Marty Jannetty [7^th day of his 1^st reign] – previous champion: Shawn Michaels
WWF World Tag Team Champions: Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster) [223^rd day of their 2^nd reign] – previous champions: The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Typhoon)

Enjoy the review!

Your hosts are Vince McMahon, Bobby Heenan & Randy Savage

The show starts with the RAW intro.

Doink makes his entrance for his match with Mr. Perfect, but crawls under the ring instead and… then appears simultaneously outside the arena for an interview with Lord Alfred Hayes. Alfred is confused, but Doink says it’s just an illusion and shoots water in his eyes. When we come back to live action, Doink crawls back from under the ring as we get ready for the final KOTR qualifying match.

KOTR Tournament Qualifying – Mr. Perfect vs. Doink the Clown

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The clown blind charges Perfect during his entrance and we’re underway. Doink shoves Perfect by the hair and then steals Perfect’s towel, which he uses to clean himself. Perfect takes the towel back and uses it to attack Doink, before going to work on the clown’s leg. Perfect goes to the outside where he rams Doink’s leg into the ringpost, and we take a break.

Commercial break

We’re back with Perfect dominating Doink over in the corner. Doink kicks Perfect out of the corner though, chops away and dumps Perfect to the floor, where he dumps Perfect face first into the post. Back inside, Doink wrestles Perfect down with a fireman’s carry takeover, but Perfect immediately turns it into a headscissors. Doink makes it to the ropes, however, and stomps Perfect in the face repeatedly to get the advantage. Doink goes for a submission on the arm, but Perfect targets the injured leg to force the break, before snapping the leg back. Perfect with an inverted version of the figure four, which Doink escapes by sticking his fingers in Perfect’s eyes. Into the outside, where Doink whips Perfect shoulder first into the post. He then rams Perfect’s shoulder into the post, before going to work on it with a submission and a stomp. Hammerlock slam punishes the arm some more, and it gets two. And we take a second break in this match.

Commercial break

We return with both men involved in a slapfest. Atomic drop is blocked by Doink, only to charge right into a clothesline from Perfect. Doink grabs Perfect by the singlet and sends him into the buckle, but Perfect comes back with a clothesline that dumps Doink to the outside. Meanwhile, the second Doink comes out to ringside and hides under the ring behind the ref’s back. The clowns pull the switcheroo and the fresh Doink monkey flips Perfect, but Perfect catches him with the Perfectplex to qualify at 15:00.

Both Doinks jump Perfect as soon as the bell rings, leading to Crush running in for the save.

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Rating: Really good match here. This was great stuff between Perfect and Doink, with some pretty good selling from the latter. The finish was your typical mid 90s cartoon WWF gaga, but it did protect Doink if you wanna play devil’s advocate. Doink continues to impress, and Perfect adds another good RAW 1993 match to his list. He didn’t stand out on PPVs in his face run (KOTR match with Bret aside of course), but he’s been very consistent on TV. ***1/2

King of the Ring Report w/ Mean Gene

With all the qualifying complete, the official tournament brackets are announced:
- Bret Hart vs. Razor Ramon
- Mr. Perfect vs. Mr. Hughes
- Jim Duggan vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
- Tatanka vs. Lex Luger
There will be an actual coronation for the winner, Mean Gene adds.
Ghost Hogan comes back from the rock he’s been hiding ever since WM 9 and cuts a promo on Yokozuna alongside Jimmy Hart. Apparently RAW has a great meaning for him because that’s where Jimmy became a Hulkamaniac. Now Jimmy believes in himself, takes his vitamins and says his prayers. Somehow that leads into Yokozuna at KOTR, as Hogan promises to slam him and prove the end of WM 9 wasn’t a fluke.

Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster) vs. Mike Bell & Tony DeVito

But first, DiBiase grabs the mic and offers 100 bucks to someone in the crowd willing to shine their shoes. A teenager accepts it and takes the money… for 30 bucks due to taxes! Hey, life is tough, kid! DiBiase with a shoulderblock and faceplant to start. IRS also dominates Bell, before forcing the tag to DeVito. DiBiase works over DeVito and dumps him with a clothesline. Money Inc take turns stomping DeVito down and DiBiase chokes him on the top rope. Off to IRS, who finishes DeVito with the running clothesline at 3:59.

Rating: Just a squash. The pre-match segment was more memorable. 1/4*

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Crush vs. Bobby Who

Who actually tries a full nelson hold to start, which Crush obviously powers out of. Crush with a delayed vertical suplex and a legdrop, and Bobby Who bails. Crush takes him back in and locks in a bearhug. He breaks the hold about a minute later, hitting him with a belly to belly suplex instead. Gorilla press slam by Crush and the headsqueezing clawhold of doom ends Who at 3:26.

Rating: Another squash that was nothing special. 1/4*

Vince McMahon interviews Razor Ramon

Vince addresses Razor’s shocking loss to The 1-2-3 Kid, who claims he was never defeated. Razor says no one will call him a loser, and he’s willing to offer The 1-2-3 Kid 2500$ for a rematch so he can prove it. However, Razor’s KOTR opponent Bret Hart comes out and says Razor hasn’t done his homework. At KOTR it’s going to be 1-2-3 once more, leaving Razor all worked up in the ring. Quick promo to remind us of last week’s upset as well as to hype the biggest match of the KOTR first round match at the PPV.

After a commercial, Bobby Heenan is shown flipping the channels before the TV stops working. Johnny Polo (the future Raven, and the former Scotty Flamingo in WCW) appears on the screen, leading into an explosion as we go to the final match.

Main Event

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Adam Bomb (w/ Johnny Polo) vs. Phil Apollo

Adam is better known as Bryan Clarke from KroniK, alongside Brian Adams (Crush). Or for having that all-time stinker with Sid Vicious at Clash of the Champions, perhaps. You tell me. Bomb dominates to start as expected, and actually hits a dropkick. Backdrop suplex by Bomb, who then takes Apollo to the outside and whips him into the railing. Back in, Adam Bomb goes up and comes down with a flying clothesline. Powerbomb finishes Phil Apollo at 2:35.

Rating: Slightly more impressive squash than the previous two. 1/2*

Bam Bam Bigelow is ready to take the IC Title from Marty Jannetty next week. Sherri will be in Marty’s corner, and Luna Vachon will be in Bam Bam’s.

END OF THE SHOW

Final thoughts: Stories and characters continue to be developed in yet another solid edition of RAW. Perfect/Doink was a really strong match and was easily the highlight this week. Razor Ramon’s segment was fine albeit extremely short, especially his interaction with Bret Hart which barely lasted a minute. Money Inc’s segment with the young fan was also nice. The squashes weren’t impressive this week, but the show was solid. 6/10

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POINT SYSTEM

Thank you all for reading. Make sure you don’t miss any upcoming RAW review here on the blog. Until next time!

Written by:

Tomás Cunha

Shawn Michaels’ Mr. WrestleMania Moniker, Explained

From the Heartbreak Kid to the Sexy Boy to the Showstopper, Shawn Michaels has had countless notable monikers throughout his illustrious three-decade-long career. However, it was the nickname “Mr. WrestleMania” which sparked his grandeur and brought people memories of why he’s considered one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time.

In this article, we will try to further explore Shawn Michaels’ WrestleMania career and give an answer to why he is nicknamed after the Grandest Stage of Them All itself.

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Early WrestleMania Days As A Rocker

Shawn Michaels’ early days at WrestleMania primarily consisted of him teaming up with Marty Jannetty as part of the exciting, high-flying, fan-favorite duo, The Rockers. The Rockers were usually a bright spot on a mediocre WrestleMania card, with some standout bouts like the hidden gem against Haku & Barbarian in the opener of ‘Mania VII and a fun battle of power versus speed with the Twin Towers at WrestleMania V.

Unfortunately, the tandem eventually collapsed, as Shawn turned on Jannetty during the infamous Barber Shop segment on WWF Wrestling Challenge, shocking the entire wrestling world at that time. And with this heel turn set in the books, Shawn’s singles career had begun on the right note.

The Heartbreak Kid Was Born

Fresh off his pivotal heel turn, Shawn Michaels went on an impressive six-year singles run that ultimately concluded with him dropping the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV. The moniker “Heartbreak Kid” was born here due to Shawn’s flamboyant, arrogant, and over-the-top persona. Shawn switched roles as a face and a heel quite often in this era, but it was the heel role that stayed with him in the first and last moments of this run.

During his time as the face of the WWF’s New Generation Era, Shawn participated in several memorable bouts at the Show of Shows. Some of these examples included an all-time classic Ladder match against Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X, the famous 60 minutes Iron-Man showdown versus Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII, and a friend v. friend affair where he challenged his fellow Kliqster Diesel for the World Championship belt at ‘Mania XI.

The Birth Of Mr. WrestleMania & Career Resurgence

After suffering a career-threatening back injury that was said to force his premature retirement in 1998, Shawn Michaels decided it was finally time to get back into the squared circle again. The Showstopper made his in-ring return at SummerSlam 2002 in a show-stealer against Triple H and went on to capture the World Heavyweight Title at Survivor Series later in the year in the night’s Elimination Chamber main event.

With this emphatic statement made, it was clear as day the Heartbreak Kid was more than ready to step back into the big stage. Shawn’s second career resurgence in the 2000s is regarded by many as one of the greatest runs a wrestler ever had, with his numerous terrific performances at ‘Mania rightfully earning him the moniker “Mr. WrestleMania”.

Even over a decade after his retirement in 2010, Shawn Michaels’ outings at WrestleMania are still a hot topic to discuss amongst various wrestling fans, with classics against the likes of the Undertaker (WM 25 & 26), Chris Jericho (WM 19), Ric Flair (WM 24), and many others being named Match of the Year contenders for that respective year.

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And that will be it for today’s article, everyone. Feel free to share your thoughts down in the comment below if you have any comment. Thanks for tuning in!

Written by:

Runn