What match meant the most to you, personally?
 

Yeah so what match brought a tear to your eye, put your heart in your throat, what match did you get so personally and emotionally involved it?

For me -

HBK V HHH Summerslam 2002

Just unbelievable.

HBK is my all-time favourite. The guy can do very little wrong in my eyes.

When he retired I was devastated. Every now and again he came back on TV and it wasn't the same.

When I heard he was going to be in the main event at Summerslam... wrestling. I was extatic.

I watched the match with my Dad who is not a wrestling fan. Apart from the fact that he loves Austin and HHH. Anyway I didn't sit down for the entire match. I was on my feet and biting my nails. Because I knew deep down that if he could get this one win it would reconcile all the disappointment with his early retirement.

I wasn't disappointed. What a match. I was in a way scared for his health, but also determined that he should push himself further and further and give us the best match possible.

Everything that happened after the pinfall was a daze. What a feeling to see Shawn win. I don't usually get this involved emotionally in a wrestling match, but this was too much. Brilliant.

There are very few wrestlers who could come back from a 4 year absence and in their first match give a MOTYC. Brilliant.

Anywho, what are your's?

Ric Flair vs. Sting - Final Nitro

I will admit I was never a huge WCW fan, however with WCW came the almost tied in history of the NWA, and despite years of terrible booking and mockable storylines, WCW did still represent an era onto itself. The entire Monday Night Wars was something that as a wrestling fan living through it all I knew it would never be the same again after it was over. And even though I knew McMahon had bought WCW, the Flair promo from the opening of the night coupled with the fact that he was facing Sting one last time was almost too much for me to bare. I won't lie, I shed a tear or two that night. It was the end of one of the most exciting and certainly most memorable series of events in wrestling history. Flair and Sting were going out there as the icons and representation of non-WWF programming and one last time giving all they could. And while it wasn't a classic or even above average match for either of them, the feel of the night made me overwhelmed. I thought for sure it would be the last time I saw Flair wrestle. And while that ended up not being true, it at the moment made me feel so proud to have been a Ric Flair fanatic almost all of my life. I don't know that any other match will ever be able to capture that feeling like everything that WCW ever did, a decade of work, all lead up to that, the final match. It was for me priceless.

Wow, definately man. What a moment. I think we all felt some sense of uneasiness and a sense of impending doom that night.

Rock vs Austin - Wrestlemania 17.

Not only was the build-up relentless, albeit with a stupid managers role for Debra, but this was my first Wrestlemania, with possibly the biggest match of all time. I went to Houston from the UK with my then-girlfriend, who rooted for Rock. I, along with most male/Texan spectators were pulling for Austin. I expected the show to be a long drawn-out build-up to the main event, but it proved otherwise. Then hearing the announcement of the match by The Fink, my hairs stood on end. Little old me from England present during the biggest match of all-time.

The ending wasn't quite as well done as it could of been, but the shock on just about everyones face around me when Vince & Austin shook hands capped it all off.

Don't think I could top that at any wrestling event.

You were at Mania X-Seven too? Where were you?

(By the way, this may be personal bias, but IMO X-Seven is the best wrestling event ever. Period.)

Yes I agree.

I had floor seats, cost a bomb as got them from some American Ticket website, the only real thing I remember about where I sat was a drunk guy with a cowboy hat constantly standing up and shouting randomly a few rows in front of me. He was later ejected after a incident with some tacos.

LOL

I would like to here more about this "incident" addy

If you watch the video (or DVD) and see some guy holding up a yellow sign that says "Mike" with an arrow pointing down, I'm right behind that fucker.

From what I recall (was 6 years ago! How time flies and your life goes down the tubes), the guy was drunk out of his face when he arrived. He then, during the 'sit down' parts of the matches was just standing up and ignoring the stewards orders to sit down.

It got to the Angle/Benoit match and he wandered off and reappeared with some nachos (not tacos) which were flooded with cheese. He staggered about a bit, fell into his chair and the nachos were deposited over someone in the row behind him. Cue much shock from the victim, much laughing from just about everyone else, and stewards (and the bigger ones with the headsets) reappear and march him off after much dispute and counter-argument (mixed with spit).

Got a round of applause as he left too.

Whereabouts? As the camera's looking at the ring?

Chris Benoit VS Triple H VS Shawn Michaels from Wrestlemania 20.

Do I need to explain myself?

Yeah the standard camera side (right of the enterence, left of the announcer booth). Fairly center, I think it was 12th row. He also held up a "Scott Steiner Big Poppa Pump" sign which I thought was stupid seeing as how Steiner was sitting out his Turner contract.

This one or Rock/ Hogan. I was live there for both and they wre both awsome.

-Goldberg vs. Kevin Nash - WCW Starcade 1999 -

Maybe I should have just let it go by now. It's been 7 years already. But for some reason that I just can't explain, I have still never been able to live down the utter hype and insanity that I felt prior to Nash/Goldberg for the WCW Championship. Not only did the match mean huge things to me prior to the event, but the reverberations from what happened that night effected not only me, but the entire wrestling landscape.

I will never forgive WCW for jobbing Goldberg in that match.


-Jeff Hardy vs. The Undertaker - Ladder Match - RAW -

I really thought he was going to do it. I knew Undertaker was one of the biggest guys in the WWE locker room, with one of the biggest followings and one of the greatest legends. It was that thought that made me believe Jeff Hardy could do it even more. For him to climb that ladder (proverbial, not literal) and reach the pinnacle of WWE stardom, even if only for one week, it would have meant the world to me. Even though he lost that night, Jeff Hardy cemented himself in WWE history and earned my respect as one of the hardest working individuals in wrestling. I'm very glad to see he's back on his feet in the WWE.


-Rob Van Dam vs. John Cena - One Night Stand II -

As one of the biggest RVD fans around, I had been waiting for this moment for years. Not only was RVD getting a main event WWE Championship match, but he was getting one in his own arena: Hammerstein Ballroom filled with ECW fans. How could it get any better? Despite the lazy, run-in ending, the match was pretty good, and just watching RVD end the show holding both the ECW Championship and WWE Championship was enough for me.

Then he went and fucked it up.

Two matches come to mind.

Macho Man Randy Savage vs The Million Dollar Man at WMIV
A little before my time, I know. When I was younger I rented wrestling VHS all the time. Wrestlemanis IV was by far my favorite.
That match is still great. Great build up, nice wrestling, everything was perfect for that match.

Bret Hart vs Steve Austin, WM XIII
For a while when Hulkamania was running wild Earthquake was a heel. I hated to say that I really liked Earthquake. Ya gotta consider that this is back when it was still real to me (damnit). Steve Austin made me realize that it was okay to like heels (albeit he turned face in that match). This match made realize that it's okay to cheer for the heel.

| Bret Hart vs Chris Benoit [WCW Monday Nitro 1999] |
Tribute to Owen Hart with Harley Race introducing the two. Nothing else comes to mind at the moment.

Outside of matches, finding out that The Rock had actually kept and didn't throw away Mick Foley's book brought a tear to my eye.

I was so into this match that I was shaking as I was watching it

Another one that comes to mind was when Mick Foley won the WWF title for the first time, not that the match was that great, but that moment after the match was the most amazing thing I have seen in wrestling

Two great choices there.

Bret/Benoit was just brilliant. Sometimes when I watch Bret's old matches with Hennig they bring a tear to my eye and it just kills me. Hennig could've been just huge.

The Foley/Rock thing was brilliant. If there was ever two guys who could draw emotion out of you, it was them.

HBK vs. Triple H from RAW a few years ago. The one where HBK pinned Triple H, then Eric Bischoff reversed the decision.

Its special to me because I was seeing a classic unfold right in front of my eyes. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

To be honest. None.

Wrestling isn't something I have the same emotional attachment to as I might with soccer or rugby. It isn't a competitive sport and for some reason inside, I can't relate on that sort of emotional level with it.

Sting/Hogan
Rock/Hogan
HHH/Undertaker WM X-7
Rock/Austin WM X-7
HBK/HHH SS 02
RVD/Cena ONS 2

No Way Out 2001 - 3 Stages Of Hell: Triple H vs. Steve Austin

The Rock vs. Austin; X7

Rick Rude vs. Len Wagner

This match could've went either way.

TBH I don't get very involved with matches very often. Guess it takes a lot for me to mark out. Anyways there are 3 matches that rwally resonated with me.

As mentioned before

Rock v Hogan -- WrestleMania X8

This one rook me by surprise. I was never the biggest Hogan fan. I got into wrestling towards the end of his first WWF run. I was more into Bret Hart, Tatanka and a few others. Add this to the fact that knowing how much he used politics during his WCW days it's suffice to say that I wasn't the biggest Hogan fan.

The same can be said for THe Rock. I enjoyed his work. His in-ring stuff was decent, his mic skills were unparralelled at the time. However, I did tend to bore of him. His overuse of catchprases annoyed me soooooooooo much. My favourite Rock was "Hollywood" Rock, which hadn't quite started yet. So suffice to say I wasn't the biggest Rock fan.

Yet this match was special. I remember watching it at Danny Electric's house (remember him??). I sat up to take notice as the two men stood opposite each other. Once the again the match wasn't a technical masterpiece but the emotional tale of it had me marking out like an 13-year-old girl at a Cena appearance.

Magic


Number two has also been mentioned here.

Chris Benoit v HBK v HHH -- WrestleMania XX.

This was one PPV that I watched surrounded by people. Usually I'm at home on my own, at a mate's house or, whilst at uni, sat in the common room with 2-4 extra people. I guess more people turn up for WM cos the room was rammed.

In the run up to this match there was a lot of speculation that Benoit would indeed grab "The Big One". Obviously this lead to a lot of excitement. Then there were the rumours that they were gonna hold off til Backlash as it was his "home turf". This lead to a sense of will they/won't they give him the title.

Unlike the Hogan/Rock match this was a decent match. Although it was a WWE Triple Threat match (as in there's hardly ever 3 men in the ring at the same time) they pulled out an extrodinary match.

When Benoit had HHH in the crossface I was stood up shouting "TAP! TAP!". I think it was the fact that one of the most technically talented and underated guys in wrestling history was a bout to beat a guy that we all knew had more than a little stroke backstage. Benoit was going to win the title at WrestleMania and he was going to make HHH tap to do it.

I marked out like I'd won the title that night.

My third and final choice (and probably the one that got me going the most) is another WrestleMania matup.


Kurt Angle v Shawn Michaels -- WrestleMania 21

Two of the greatest wrestlers of the last two decades facing off for the first time in what was rumoured to be Angle's last match. A technical masterclass. Both men equal to each other. Both men dedicated to stealing the show. Once again I found myself stood up in a room full of people that were quite firmly seated and I was once agin screaming "TAP! TAP!" and of course HBK eventually did.

What a match. Of course it wasn't Angle's last match but if it had have been it would have been the greatest sendoff imaginable.



An honoury mention goes to Lesnar v Angle at WM19. That was emotional due to fear rather than excitement though. Just sat there shit scared that Angle would end up crippled. Stranger was the fact that I watched 2 or 3 days after the event took place! I don't think I had checked results or anything so I was none the wiser.

Benoit vs Angle Royal Rumble 2003

Benoit vs Austin SD! June 2001 (match which debuted the 10 german suplexes)

Both excellent matches and had you think that Benoit could finally win the big one. The Royal Rumble match I would rate as being both Angle and Benoit's best match in the WWE.

Agreed

Benoit vs HHH vs HBK at Mania 20.

I barely sat still during the whole match, and when Benoit locked in the Crossface, I actually got up off my seat and from about 6 inches from the tv screen I was shouting "TAP, TAP TAP TAP TAAAAAAAAAAP" :$

2001 Royal Rumble Match
This was the match that cemented me as a wrestling fan. Kane was my favourite wrestler at the time (and still is), but even as an uneducated wrestling fan, I still realised The Undertaker, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and even Rikishi had a better chance at winning the Rumble.

Seeing Kane eliminate more people than anyone else in Rumble history, eventually going on to be runner-up, was magical for me. It truly was a great moment for me as a wrestling fan.

The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania X-7
Most iconic match ever. Yes, even greater than Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant. Everyone wanted to see this match. I remember talking to my dad on the phone, still excited about the outcome. I was always more of an Austin fan, and him winning made me happy, and him siding with Vince McMahon surprised me. Great booking. If only The Rock had stuck around to continue the program, and if only the WWE didn't have an Invasion to butcher.

Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit for the WWE Championship at the 2003 Royal Rumble
Chris Benoit is arguably the greatest Royal Rumble competitor of all-time. His Ladder Match in 2001 against Chris Jericho, his Rumble win in 2004 (more on that later), and this match. This match didn't amaze me as much then as it does now, but when it happened, I remember being warmed by the standing ovation Benoit got from the crowd. This is a pivotal match in Chris Benoit's career.

2004 Royal Rumble Match
The match was great, and the ending really moved me. I'm not the world's largest Chris Benoit mark, but seeing the little guy muscle Big Show over the top rope after enterting #1? Fan-fucking-tastic. I loved the way that he won the match from the #1 position, which only Shawn Michaels had done previously, and was in the match longer than Ric Flair. It was the greatest Rumble performance in history.

This truly built Benoit up as a star, and it is a shame the WWE has him wandering around aimlessly, winning mid-card Titles most of the time. They also kind of tarnished this with having Rey Mysterio win the Rumble from #2, and lasting even longer this past year. Stupid WWE, Mysterio was screaming for an Austin-like win.

Paul London vs. Billy Kidman at No Mercy 2004
Don't ask my why, this match just really got me. London was betrayed by his tag team partner, who was going through a tough time. Kidman had injured Chavo Guerrero with a Shooting Star Press gone awry, and he just couldn't find it in himself to pull off the move.

In a match with Rene Dupree and Kenzo Suzuki for the WWE Tag Team Championship, a match which London and Kidman surely could have won, if they were on their game, Kidman walked out on his partner, and London, not being one to utilise a Champion's advantage, stayed to fight, and lost. This lead to Theodore Long making the match between the two men, and if Kidman refused to fight London, he would be fired.

Everything about this match worked. London was aggressive, Kidman was cowardly. The match eventually had Kidman working over the ribs, and the two implemented brilliant psychology into their match. London did a quebrada from inside the ring to the outside, and even pulled off the London Calling, which is so much more impressive than Kidman's 7 Year Itch, it isn't funny. London lost the match, and Kidman hit London with one or two extra Shooting Star Presses, just to be an asshole.

The feud kind of dribbled off after that, but it would have been perfect if the WWE hadn't fucked it up. This is proof London has got what it takes to be a star, and Kidman is one of the most underrated workers of all-time.

There are some other matches, but I won't go overboard with it.

No particular order-

Angle vs. HBK- WM21

RVD vs. Cena- ONS2 (I was there!)

Foley vs. UT- KOTR98 (made me a mark again)

Bret Hart vs. Benoit- Nitro (Owen tribute match)

HHH vs. Rock- Summerslam98

Bret Hart vs. Benoit- WCW Mayhem (Bret wins tourny)

Goldberg vs. Nash- Starrcade98

Mysterio vs. Matt Hardy- Smackdown (main event match of the night in Rey's hometown where he won)

Orton vs. Benoit- Summerslam2004

HBK vs. HHH- Summerslam2002

HHH vs. Cactus Jack- Royal Rumble streetfight

Hardys vs Dudleys vs. E&C- TLC (your pick of any of the matches)

Angle vs Marty Jennety- Smackdown (huge mark out moment)

I forgot a couple actually.

Jericho vs Austin at Vengeance 2001. As someone stated about Benoit, I was jumping off my seat when the ref was counting after Bookers interference. Shouting with joy afterwards. I half-expected the match to be restarted. To see Y2J, my all-time favourite wrestler become the first Undisputed Champion when it was completely inconceivable that he would considering the others in the matches, was fantastic.

And Eddie vs Lesnar at No Way Out 2004, like with Jericho, I felt it inconcievable that Eddie would win that match. What with Lesnar going towards a Goldberg match at Mania (before we knew that they were both leaving). To see Eddie win with the frog splash was simply great. Last time I got really emotional about a wrestling match.

Undertaker vs Spike Dudley for the WWF Hardcore Championsihp.

This match perfectly illustrates the concept of the underdog going into a huge match with the upmost confidence. Spike Dudley was at the top of his league and the build up to this match was phenominal. When Spike Dudley's music hit I was marking out like a 12 year old girl at a Backstreet Boys Concert in 1998. As Spike Dudley threw all kind of shit in the ring to fight Undertaker with, I had tears in my eyes. I was screaming for Dudley to win the title at the top of my lungs, and it still bugs me to this day that he lost. :(

What the hell go-go

Crusierweight Battle Royal at Slamboree 98.

Edge vs John Cena at New Years Revolution

I marked out like a schoolgirl when Edge came out and when he won

but you are a schoolgirl

lol you're so gay:lol: :kiss:

Hogan/Rock

Was there live. Most awesome, indescribable feeling ever.