What's your favourite build to a singles match in wrestling history?

[Maluco]

I don't mean nWo or Austin/McMahon, or feuds like that against factions or multiple superstars. What I am talking about it your favourite build to a match between two supertars in wrestling? That can be a combination of the angle, the story, the guys involved, anything you want that made it special for you.

I thought of this while watching Royal Rumble 89 the other day. The build to Savage/Hogan was so awesome. It was one year long basically and they made money with the whole Mega Powers angle. Then slowly they hinted at tension. It was proper TV and there were so many subtle things that built and made the situation go back and forth between tense/friendly between the two. Elizabeth was also excellent in her role.

Hogan gave a promo before the Rumble and threw in a line about "Hulkamaniacs knowing who the real Champion was", it was not picked up or anything and I just rememeber thinking how much I missed the subtle, slow builds that told great stories in wrestling.

This built to a moment in the Rumble itself where Hogan threw out a tangled Bad News Brown and Savage and prompted Savage to get back in and explode with rage on Hogan, but they shook hands and it apppeared that they would survive. It was gripping TV.

Then finally, on an episode of Main Event, it all boiled over when Savage was thrown from the ring and flattened Elizebeth. Famously, Hogan carried Liz to the back and left Savage to get a beating. Hogan came back to win the match, but afterwards, Savage attacked him in the locker area and impoded the Mega Powers leading to their match at Mania.

Superb story, brilliantly told, full of subtle tension and gripping moments. Savage is one of my all time favourites and was just amazing every time he wrestled at this stage too. He was a super athlete and was doing things that most others just couldn't do.

Only thing that struck me as odd watching back, was how heelish Hogan's actions seemed on reflection. When I was younger, Hogan was just trying to help, but watching back again, with him sleezing over Liz, throwing Savage from the Rumble, and then leaving him to get a beating on ME, it wasn't that clear cut. If it was intentional, it was lost on me at the time.

But anyway, that is my favourite story/build to a match in wrestling history, what about yours?

[The Condor]

Undertaker v. Kane 97-98. Wild, supernatural stuff, but was so much fun.

[Bad News Gertner]

Sting vs Hogan

[Mercenary]

The Mega Powers Explode

SCSA/UnderTaker Summerslam 98

[Shisen Kopf]

Japanese shampoo commercials is a good way to build a feud. As is spilling coffee. Those are the best ways to start a feud.

[Emperor Smeat]

For recent stuff, Punk vs Cena going into their Money in the Bank 2011 match. Shame the aftermath wasn't as good but going into that match, the WWE did a great job of making it seem like anything could happen.

For older/classic stuff, Goldberg's run going into the Hogan match for the WCW title.

[Nicky Fives]

Undertaker/Kane for sure.....

[Lock Jaw]

Sting/Hogan for sure. Just felt like the biggest clash ever.

[Corndad]

Top 5

Macho/Hogan WM5 (Mega Powers Explode)
Punk/Cena MITB (Punk's Contract Ending)
HBK/Taker WM 25 (Darkness vs the Light)
Andre/Hogan WM3 (Andre Heel Turn/ 15 years Undefeated)
Rock/Austin WM 17 (Who's the Best?)

[Rammsteinmad]

Don't know if I'd say it's my favourite, but the first one that comes to mind is CM Punk/John Cena leading up to Money in the Bank 2011. The angle and it's promos were so fresh and exciting, with Punk dropping pipebombs everywhere and none of us really knowing what was going to happen.

[Fox]

I love the way they built toward Shawn Michaels vs Triple H at Summerslam 2002. The fake-out reunion of DX with Triple H sticking HBK with the Pedigree, and then the backstage attack angle after that, HBK's announcement that the would come out of retirement to fight Triple H. HBK's return to the ring didn't really need anything, it was already going to be a huge moment, but the way they built it up was very well done.

I loved the short angle they did with John Cena and Brock Lesnar before their match at Extreme Rules 2012. First Lesnar showed up and hit Cena with the F5 out of nowhere, then the next week they had the big pull apart brawl where Cena's lip got busted open. The match felt like something important and Lesnar looked like a huge bad ass.

[rob11]

HHH/Orton for WM25 had a great build up. Orton punting Vince, DDT'ing Steph, then HHH/Vince/Shane coming out to attack them. It also had HHH "invading" Orton's house. The match wasn't great but I loved the buildup.

[Lock Jaw]

Chris Jericho/Shawn Michaels also good. Both for their Mania match with the whole "you wanted to be me" thing, and that other time when Jericho punched HBK's wife.

[CSL]

Sting vs Hogan

[CSL]

in terms of "modern" with relatively quick builds

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[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Sting vs Hogan

Yep, should have been the end of the nWo angle at that point. Hogan loses clean at Starrcade and then the nWo is on the line in the re-match. Hogan loses clean and the nWo is banned forever. Sting is the strongest booked champion in history at that point to maybe be fed to Goldberg way later on.

Goldberg becomes the future.

Fuck the nWo scumbags knowing their time was up but refusing to let go.

[Mercenary]

Also gonna add HBK vs Hogan

[Vastardikai]

Sabu vs. Taz

[James Steele]

HBK/HHH SummerSlam 2002

[erickman]

war to settle the score hogan piper befor wrestlemania 1, also the lawler andy kaufman fued

[mike adamle]

Bret Hart/Vince McMahon with a 13 year build up to their No Holds Barred Lumberjack match at WrestleMania XXVI was probably the best ever.

[Razzamajazz]

jericho/goldberg in WCW was great

[JimmyMess]

Austin/Rock WM 17

[Mr. Nerfect]

My mind immediately went to Austin vs. Rock at X-7. John Cena vs. CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011 is also a very good one. Probably no coincidence they are considered two very strong WWE PPVs.

[Helmsphere]

The Raven v. Jeff Jarrett fued from back in 2003 was perhaps one of my favorite builds. As Raven just made it really seem like it was his destiny to overthrow Jarrett in TNA. It just sucked that the match itself wasn't that good, and the ending sorta made Raven look like a fool.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

The Raven v. Jeff Jarrett fued from back in 2003 was perhaps one of my favorite builds. As Raven just made it really seem like it was his destiny to overthrow Jarrett in TNA. It just sucked that the match itself wasn't that good, and the ending sorta made Raven look like a fool.

:|

[Anybody Thrilla]

Jericho/Michaels round 2 was awesome. I feel like Batista v. Triple H heading into Wrestlemania was VERY well done, too. Also a big fan of Steve Austin v. Bret Hart heading into WM13.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Also, did anybody mention Raven v. Jeff Jarrett in TNA in 2003?

[Anybody Thrilla]

Because they probably misunderstood the question if they did.

[Lock Jaw]

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/094/3/1/melina_vs__alicia_fox___really_by_torukun1-d3d9apg.gif

[Mr. Nerfect]

I get what people are saying with Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, but I feel like the entire story was what made it so fantastic. It wasn't just a build to a match -- it was a build to a feud.

[Lock Jaw]

No.

Chris Jericho/Goldberg was a build to a feud.

Chris Jericho/Shawn Michaels was a build to a match because they actually had a match.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They had more than one outstanding match though. I dunno. Don't count it for whatever reason in my mind.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Is the question "singles match" or "single match"?

[Franchise]

Sting v Hogan for Starrcade 1997. Austin v Rock for WM XVII and Hogan v Rock for WM XVIII.

[Nowhere Man]

Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 26.

Yeah, the WM25 match ended up being the better of the two, but the whole build-up of Shawn becoming obsessed with redeeming himself, losing his mind being haunted by his failure, throwing away his entire career just to get one more shot at Taker, was pretty compelling stuff.

[Maluco]

Is the question "singles match" or "single match"?

Meant it as a build too a 1 on 1 match, not tag, triple threat. Just a build to a normal one on one singles match.

Guess I was interested in unique stories and what set those matches apart from so many others down the years

[parkmania]

Lawler vs. Kaufman.

Yes, Kaufman was an actor, but Miz wishes he could channel 0.1% of the heat Andy got by being "from Hollywood."