#22

Bret Hart vs Owen Hart (WrestleMania X, 3/20/94)

22 is pretty high. Still probably too low for many. One of the all time great upsets.

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#21

Sting, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat and Nikita Koloff vs Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Steve Austin, Larry Zbyszko and Rick Rude (WarGames Match, WCW WrestleWar, 5/17/92)

Sting, Steamboat an Rhodes were three of my favorite wrestlers at the time and with no Flair for the match this year, the company delivered with an all-star lineup on the other side. One of the funnest matches in WCW history. I miss these matches. :(

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#20

Bret Hart vs Mr. Perfect (WWF Intercontinental Title Match, SummerSlam, 8/26/91)

The first match I remember watching on a continuous loop for months later. Bret's coming out party couldn't have been more fitting against one of the greatest ever.

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="360" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x2ya2c"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ya2c_wwf-summerslam-1991-bret-hart-vs-mr_sport" target="_blank">WWF Summerslam 1991 - Bret Hart Vs Mr Perfect...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/LA_Park" target="_blank">LA_Park</a></i>

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="360" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x2ya4a"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ya4a_wwf-summerslam-1991-bret-hart-vs-mr_sport" target="_blank">WWF Summerslam 1991 - Bret Hart Vs Mr Perfect...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/LA_Park" target="_blank">LA_Park</a></i>

#19

Ric Flair vs Terry Funk (I Quit Match, Clash of the Champions IX, 11/15/89)

Overshadowed a little now by that more infamous feud Flair had a little earlier. Funk and Flair's styles exploded together in the greatest pure, technical I Quit match ever.

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#18

Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XXI, 4/3/05)

THE two best wrestlers in the company at the time getting a match on the big stage. HBK tapping out left a bad taste in my mouth which prevents it from being higher but I guess it was appropriate.

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#17

Bret Hart vs The British Bulldog (WWF Intercontinental Title Match, SummerSlam, 8/29/92)

One of the best atmospheres of all time... for a second tier title match, no less. A classic match and you can never go wrong with the "shot of the torn family member" thing.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D2ICv1Ohm8o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#16

Hulk Hogan vs The Ultimate Warrior (WWF Intercontinental and WWF Title Match, WrestleMania VI, 4/1/90)

This is all nostalgia. I don't know many people who watched wrestling back in the day who don't jump to this match as one of their fondest memories. It's legendary and, above all that, somehow a really good wrestling match between two guys who are not exactly know for in ring prowess.

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#15

Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig (AWA Title Match, AWA TV, 11/15/86)

You can find this match on the Mr. Perfect DVD WWE released years ago. I know there's a lot of AWA haters on here but in my mind, this is Hennig at his absolute best. The selling, the ups and downs, the intensity kicking up randomly throughout and then like a fire in the last 10 minutes or so. Brilliant match.

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I told you guys that we were gonna get a marathon on Thanksgiving.

Totally didn't plan it that way.

#14

The Rockers vs The Orient Express (WWF Royal Rumble, 1/19/91)

The forgotten opening match of the 91 Royal Rumble is possibly the greatest tag team match in wrestling history and in my mind, the best opener in PPV history. In a time where WCW was dominant when it came to great tag matches, WWF came out with their own classic. A fast paced match with one of my favorite pure wrestling endings ever.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c3058HGQxqw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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#13

Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair (NWA World Title Match, Chi-Town Rumble, 2/20/89)

More fast paced and shorter than their other matches, this was just the beginning of an insane few months for these two and a perfect start to the tri-fecta as the next two would be much more "feel the opponent out". Amazing story-telling through a series of matches all starting with this gem.

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#12

The Steiner Brothers vs The Miracle Violence Connection (WCW World Tag Team Title Match, WCW Beach Blast, 6/20/92)

This one has personal value as I grew up a HUGE Steiner Brothers fan and Gordy and Williams were a perfect match for them. You genuinely got the feeling that the unbeatable, beloved Steiners just might not be as good as these two and it made for such intense, unpredictable matches. This was THE tag feud for me as a kid.

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GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE.

And after careful calculations... I have found that the rankings for most appearances:

1) Shawn Michaels - 13
2) Bret Hart - 12
3) Ric Flair - 11 (I counted the '92 Royal Rumble as a Flair match, didn't count it for anyone else)
4) Steve Austin - 11
5) Kurt Angle - 9

How will this change in the top 10?! Or will a new challenger appear?!

#11

Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (Submission Match, WrestleMania 13, 3/23/97)

Could have gone without the guest referee distraction, but still. That image of Austin in the sharpshooter with blood running down his face is the most iconic image of wrestling's greatest era. That coupled with the most famous double turn of all time and a great wrestling match on the biggest stage of all makes an all time classic.

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#10

Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle (WWE Vengeance, 6/26/05)

SWERVE! I think it might be a toss-up over which one is better. I prefer the ending to this one obviously... Also, this one managed to still have a big fight atmosphere even with the lack of the WrestleMania stage and a somewhat obvious outcome. But like these two were so good at doing, even the obvious outcome was in doubt at times during the match. More great storytelling from these two.

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#9

Ric Flair vs Sting (NWA World Title Match, Clash of the Champions I, 3/27/88)

It seemed like these two were never NOT feuding but for the years of matches that followed, they never quite matched this one. The match that made Sting by him going move for move with the best in the world. Another match I remember being mesmerized by as a kid. (For some reason, only the first part is embeddable. Feel free to navigate for parts 2-5)

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#8

Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair (WrestleMania XXIV, 3/30/08)

"I'm sorry... I love you." COME ON! Build considered, I don't think I've ever seen such an amazing ending to a match. Flair past his prime and HBK somehow not past his prime at that age, these two put on a great match followed by one of the most engaging moments in a wrestling match ever. Beautiful.

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#7

Randy Savage vs Ricky Steamboat (WWF Intercontinental Title Match, WrestleMania III, 3/29/87)

The greatest IC Title match of all time and also quite possibly the most acclaimed match in wrestling history comes in at 7... and I still feel like some will find it too low. It had everything going for it with a great build, and two of the best ever on the biggest stage in wrestling history and it didn't disappoint a bit. The typical dastardly heel spots with the face finding a way to eek out a win but they did it so beautifully. Almost like it was choreographed move by move before-hand. Hmm...

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#6

Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (WWF Title Iron Man Match, WrestleMania XII, 3/31/96)

I know a lot of people consider this one of the more overrated matches ever but while I may not look at it the same as I did as a 12 year old Shawn Michaels mark, it's still an incredible showcase of what these two were capable of. The pacing was odd at moments but it never bored me and it holds a special place for me still as HBK's crowning moment.

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#5

Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair (NWA World Title 2 out of 3 Falls Match, Clash of the Champions VI, 4/2/89)

Almost an hour of awesome technical wrestling, reverses and the perfect follow up to their first match. Shifty ending aside, this was enthralling from beginning to end.

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#4

Magnum T.A. vs Tully Blanchard (NWA United States Title "I Quit" Match, NWA Starrcade 11/28/85)

One of the most oddly realistic, cringe-worthy matches of all time. No pandering to the crowd or anything, just two guys beating the shit out of each other. It's almost surreal to watch how brutal it all ends up. Not to mention, a prime example of how huge Magnum T.A. could have been.

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="360" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x32jse"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x32jse_magnum-ta-vs-tully-blanchard-steel_sport" target="_blank">Magnum TA vs. Tully Blanchard - Steel Cage I...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/WordLife19" target="_blank">WordLife19</a></i>

#3

Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania XXV, 4/5/09)

The false finishes, the ridiculous atmosphere, Jim Ross with some great commentary. This might be the greatest match in WrestleMania history. Another example of how no matter how sure you were of the outcome going in, everything you expected went out the window as HBK was so good at doing. Not to mention Taker's expression after HBK kicked out was so out of character and just made for more of a "holy shit" feel to the whole thing.

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#2

Shawn Michaels vs Triple H (Street Fight, SummerSlam, 8/25/02)

HBK's return after 4 years out had a little of everything. A great build and a match that featured awesome brawling, some great athleticism as HBK showed he's still got it and an awesome sequence at the end. HBK telling the crowd that he loved them before jumping from the ladder as if it could have been the last move he ever performed was more genius from one of the best in-ring story tellers of all time.

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="323" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xkiawf"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xkiawf_wwe-summerslam-2002-triple-h-vs-shawn-michaels-non-sanctioned-match-full_sport" target="_blank">WWE SummerSlam 2002 - Triple H vs Shawn Michaels...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/WWEPROUPLOADER1" target="_blank">WWEPROUPLOADER1</a></i>

HONORABLE MENTION:

Since it just missed the cut due to the list being made after it. But it would have made the top 100 somewhere (Sorry Shelton vs HHH)

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xl0dy6"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl0dy6_cm-punk-vs-john-cena-wwe-championship-money-in-the-bank-2011_sport" target="_blank">CM Punk vs John Cena - WWE Championship - Money...</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/Geylow" target="_blank">Geylow</a></i>

AND NUMBER ONE... FINALLY... IS... ... ...

#1

Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair (NWA World Title Match, WrestleWar '89, 5/7/89)

I could have gone for some shock value of some sort but predictable or not, if I'm being honest, this takes it. The two out of three falls match is the better, more well-rounded match but still for this match to be so remarkable on it's own AND be the blowoff of the greatest pure wrestling feud of all time is just perfect. Maybe there's a little "let's reward this one for it all, Return of the King" bias but... it's my list... so... yeah. :)

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I'll show you! You'll see!

Amazed at #1-ww_-fan's tenacity to stick with this thing through to the end. :y:

Most appearances on his list:

1) Shawn Michaels - 18
2) Ric Flair - 15
3) Bret Hart - 14
4) Steve Austin - 11
5) Kurt Angle - 10

Not as amazed as I am. Sheesh

I actually started giving guys points based on rankings and see what that list looked like. Like... giving 100 pts for the #1 match, 99 for #2, etc. and adding up and making a little top 20 or so list. I might finish that up and post it. Might be interesting even for me to see how it turns out.

It's a great list.

I'm surprised that Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit from the Royal Rumble 2003 didn't make the top 100 though.

I stand corrected. Kudos.

Also, it's a great list. Mine would be very different because I haven't seen a lot of the older stuff (perhaps this thread could change that).

I think I might start making my way through this list during some free time I have as I've not seen some of the older matches and can't even fully remember most of the matches I have seen because I very rarely rewatch a match.

I was never as big of a Benoit fan as most people. I really enjoyed his tag matches with other guys I really liked for some reason Just never found myself too interested in the outcome of his matches. One exception being the match with Austin for the title because that was just genius. He worked for me on some levels when he played the scrappy, Steamboat-esque face but for the most part I didn't find him terribly likable. The whole murder-suicide stuff didn't exactly help that.

Was the WM20 triple threat in there? I can't remember and am too lazy to look back over the whopping six pages of this thread.

Just look on page 1 then.

It was not.

If you had to give a number to the John Cena/CM Punk MitB match, where would it be on the list?

I'm thinking like #20

The beginning vignette to the Punk/Cena match is gold

:(

bump for a great thread