Putting a Superstar on the Map

[The Show Off]

Just name a wrestler and say what you think was the match that put them on the map, as in made him/her a star in the business or at least made the wrestling viewers take notice. You could say what put the star on the map in your mind or what you think put him/her on the map in the eyes of the public. I’ll post mine later.

[Splaya]

Brock Lesnar: Title match with The Rock. Most people will say but why, but here's why. Brock was still not established. With him winning this title, he was put on the map. He beat one of the best in the business and was very young at the time when he did it. And he won clean.

[The Show Off]

Booker T
It wasn’t just one match but the match that put Booker T on the map for me had to have been his best of 7 series against Chris Benoit back in the WCW. Before that I barley cared about Booker T, after the first 3 matches I liked Booker T, and by the seventh I was sick of seeing he and Benoit wrestle. I think it was for the TV title I think it put him on the map.

Christian
Hardyz vs. Edge & Christian Ladder match made all 4 of these men superstars over night.

Goldberg
Sure Goldberg had his streak of wins, but I think the win that finally put him over the top had to have been against Raven for the United States, personally I think was the best match that Goldberg was ever a part of, basically because Goldberg was in it.

[John la Rock]

The Rock and Triple H-Summerslam 1998

Both men were at the top of the mid card of the WWF. The Rock was the Intercontinental Champion and the Leader of the Nation. Triple H was the leader of D-Generation-X and one of the most popular faces in the company. Both superstars stole the show that night in one of the best Ladder matches of all time. Triple H won the match and the Intercontinental but both men proved that they could be great main event players.

As the months passed Rock become the youngest WWF Champion (at the time) and Triple H would go on to dump DX and become one of the best heels in the history of the business

[Kristanna Vola]

The Rock and Triple H-Summerslam 1998

Both men were at the top of the mid card of the WWF. The Rock was the Intercontinental Champion and the Leader of the Nation. Triple H was the leader of D-Generation-X and one of the most popular faces in the company. Both superstars stole the show that night in one of the best Ladder matches of all time. Triple H won the match and the Intercontinental but both men proved that they could be great main event players.

As the months passed Rock become the youngest WWF Champion (at the time) and Triple H would go on to dump DX and become one of the best heels in the history of the business

I agree with you on The Rock, but it wasn't that match that did it for me.

The Rock and Mankind-I Quit Match-Royal Rumble 1999. At least from the 'heel' side of The Rock I looked at him more as simply a guy who was full of himself. It was the first time I saw an actual 'believable' mean streak from The Rock. He lit Foley up with some of those chair shots while he had those cuffs on. The Rock and Mankind feud is what I believe put him on the Map.

Honorable mention for his early feud with HHH though :y:

[Rock Bottom]

Steve Austin/Jake The Snake

"Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass."

[Splaya]

The Rock and Triple H-Summerslam 1998

Both men were at the top of the mid card of the WWF. The Rock was the Intercontinental Champion and the Leader of the Nation. Triple H was the leader of D-Generation-X and one of the most popular faces in the company. Both superstars stole the show that night in one of the best Ladder matches of all time. Triple H won the match and the Intercontinental but both men proved that they could be great main event players.

As the months passed Rock become the youngest WWF Champion (at the time) and Triple H would go on to dump DX and become one of the best heels in the history of the business

I agree with the ladder match no doubt. I remember from start to finish being on the edge of my seat. The Big Thing in this match: There were very little (and i mean like 1 or 2) high flying moves.

[Rock Bottom]

Rock totally put himself on the map IMO, but I could be biased

Oops, my post got cut off. But anyway it was a gradual process, just never seen someone so hated by fans turn around THAT much and become what he is today.

But in the eyes of the public, I think what put him on the map was the Deadly Game tournament. That was huge.

[Splaya]

So if the rock would have just done promo's, not led the nation, in his early years, he would have turned out this good?




Probably not.

[Kristanna Vola]

You bias RB? No not you :lol:

[Rock Bottom]

Yeah splaya, I think The Rock would be The Rock even if he weren't in the nation.

[Splaya]

I'd like to get the Main event posters to get an opinion on that one.

[Rock Bottom]

Eh, I'm not saying The Rock was immediately ready for the main event, I'm saying the Nation hardly put The Rock on the map. The Rock put The Rock on the map.

[Stickman]

Brock Lesnar: Title match with The Rock. Most people will say but why, but here's why. Brock was still not established. With him winning this title, he was put on the map. He beat one of the best in the business and was very young at the time when he did it. And he won clean.

I respect your opinion on this one, however, I honestly don't think Lesner has made it big in the eyes of the fans yet......or at least in my eyes. He is talented but I don't care about him, I never have. he hasn't entertained me yet. I also don't think he'll ever be a huge draw. Casual fans won't buy PPV's to watch him, maybe his match because of the opponent, but not because of him. Maybe I'm just sick of wrestlers being called "monsters", or because he's lacking natural charisma. I just don't see it...

[Corkscrewed]

I dunno, I think most fans do buy him. When he made his face turn, he was being massively cheered. Now, he's being booed pretty well. Most of the fans have accepted that he's a main eventer, and that he's sorta the Triple H of SD (for better or worse).

[Mr. Nerfect]

I definately think that Jericho paved his way to the success he had in the WWE with two matches. The first was his Ladder Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship with Benoit at the 2001 Royal Rumble. Both guys looked good and put up one of the best matches in recent WWE history. It was then that I think people started to really see these guys as major superstars, not just upper-midcard. Then there was that match Jericho & Benoit had with Triple H & Stone Cold for the World Tag Team Championship (which was also the match Triple H was injured). Benoit & Jericho were the technically better wrestlers, yet underdogs, while Triple H & Austin were the top two guys at that moment. Benoit & Jericho won launching what I think will be looked on as a bigger part of wrestling history than what people make it. There was also the Vengeance Undsputed Championthing with Jericho, but the previous matches really baked him for that moment.

[Mikey]

RVD-Great TV Title run put him on the map

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>AJ Styles and Low Ki: 4-Way X-Division Title Double Elimination Match, Styles won. It also involved the already established Psychosis and Jerry Lynn.</font>

[Dave Youell]

Bret Vs Mr Perfect. Summerslam.

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet

[Eunos]

John Cena - The Rap star gimmick.

[Head]

Steve Austin/Jake The Snake

"Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass."I dunno, I really started caring about Austin a lot more after his I Quit match with Bret at Wrestlemania 13.

To add another one, I really started caring about Brutus Beefcake, Davey Boy Smith, and the Dynamite Kid more after their match at Wrestlemania 2. Great forgotten match.

[blake639raw]

I dunno, I really started caring about Austin a lot more after his I Quit match with Bret at Wrestlemania 13.

:y: I was about to post that. That match MADE Austin.

[Evolution]

Ditto.

Also, RVD vs Jeff Hardy at InVasion for the Hardcore Title put RVD on the map in my eyes. I'd heard of RVD before then, but didn't know what the big deal was. I'll always remember WrestleMania XIV, there was about 20 RVD signs and about 20 ECW signs. I saw them and thought "WTF? some local wrestling federation of Boston?"

[MVP]

British Bulldog: Summerslam '92, defeated Bret Hart to win the IC title.

Razor Ramon: Wrestlemania X, defeated Shawn Michaels in a ladder match to win the IC title.

Owen Hart: Wrestlemania X, defeated Bret Hart.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I respect your opinion on this one, however, I honestly don't think Lesner has made it big in the eyes of the fans yet......or at least in my eyes. He is talented but I don't care about him, I never have. he hasn't entertained me yet. I also don't think he'll ever be a huge draw. Casual fans won't buy PPV's to watch him, maybe his match because of the opponent, but not because of him. Maybe I'm just sick of wrestlers being called "monsters", or because he's lacking natural charisma. I just don't see it...

I respect THAT, but for the sake of the thread, let's say for a moment that he HAS made it. The match that got him there, I say, would have to be his match with Kurt Angle at last year's Wrestlemania. That match was just absolutely delicious.

[ColdwaVer]

Bret Vs Mr Perfect. Summerslam.

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet

Actually I think that that year (Summerslam 91-Summerslam 92) really put Bret on the map; his IC title run (briefly interrupted by the Mountie and Roddy piper of course) was a true showcase of his singles ability.