Wrestling is a tricky form of entertainment. People either really enjoy it or just completely shun it altogether. There really doesn’t seem to be a middle ground. People who talk trash about wrestling just don’t seem to understand what it really is. Wrestling is an art form, it’s a clash between a hero and villain, it’s a story, it’s a blockbuster movie.
If you yourself are a wrestling fan you’ve probably heard quite a few negative comments about wrestling over the years.
If you know someone who just doesn’t seem to understand what it’s all about, here are 8 matches that might help them figure it out.
#8 – Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant: WrestleMania III
If professional wrestling had a high school history class this match would without a doubt be in the text book. WrestleMania III set an attendance record in the once glorious Pontiac Silverdome and this was the match that drew a large portion of the crowd. Hulk Hogan’s bodyslam to Andre the Giant is now legendary and something that just about everyone on the planet, wrestling fan or not, has heard referenced at one time or another.
This match could be easy to sell to a non wrestling fan due to the attendance record, the names involved and the big bodyslam moment.
#7 – Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton vs Batista: WrestleMania XXX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnOw9nLl0Hg
It’s hard to tell the entire story of the Daniel Bryan saga in one match but this match came pretty close. Daniel Bryan’s ascension to the top of the WWE was without a doubt one of the most emotional storylines in recent years. But you don’t need to know the whole story to get swept up in the emotion of the match.
Right away the stage is set as the crowd erupts for Daniel Bryan, and Batista along with Randy Orton clearly establish themselves as the villains. The stakes get even higher when Bryan is carried out of the match on a stretcher only to return and win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Daniel Bryan’s emotional celebration as the crowd cheers him on after winning the match is a sight that would no doubt grab the attention of anyone, wrestling fan or not.
#6 – Steve Austin vs The Rock: WrestleMania X7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ-WydBv65U
Back when WrestleMania X7 took place WWE had arguably hit its peak in terms of popularity and much of their success could be attributed to the work of Steve Austin and The Rock. It took many people working together to make the WWE what it was during this time period but Austin and The Rock were without a doubt the most recognizable names at the time. Steve Austin and The Rock were both at the top of their game as over 67,000 people packed into the Astrodome to see these two collide in the main event.
This match tells a great story about two men being obsessed with wanting to be the best in the business. The match is pure action from start to finish and Steve Austin aligning himself with Vince McMahon at the end of it is something people are still talking about to this day.
#5 – The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels: WrestleMania 25
This match is highly regarded by many wrestling fans as the greatest match of all time. Two legendary performers clashed on the biggest stage wrestling has to offer and they definitely delivered. From the entrances to the in ring action this match is a pure spectacle.
A non wrestling fan might not understand the importance of The Undertaker’s streak going into the match. But Shawn Michaels does such a great job at convincing you he has to end it that it’s easy to get sucked into the emotion. Without a doubt this match is a classic in every sense of the word. It has great action, larger than life characters and it tells a complete story by the time its through.
If you want to sell a non wrestling fan on why wrestling is cool, this match might just do the trick.
#4 – The Rock vs Hulk Hogan: WrestleMania X8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89oGkBaz6z8
When it comes to WrestleMania matches it doesn’t get much bigger than this one. Two top names from separate eras came together for this unforgettable match and you can still feel the electricity flowing through the screen when you watch it today. The crowd is on fire from bell to bell and their emotion along with the star power in the match is enough to suck anyone in.
The match isn’t a technical classic by any means, but both performers told a story and gave the world a moment in time that will always be remembered. The stare down at the beginning is enough to sell anyone on this match hook, line and sinker.
#3 – Cm Punk vs John Cena: Money in the Bank 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oU9KGPn3ho
The rowdy Chicago crowd is enough to sell anyone on this match before CM Punk’s music even hits. To the crowd in attendance CM Punk winning this match was a matter of life or death and you can feel their emotion with every second that passes.
You really don’t need to know anything about this match beforehand because both performers do such a great job at telling the story as they go. CM Punk and John Cena knew how to bring out the best in each other and by the time you get to the end of this match you feel like you’ve just watched a blockbuster movie.
Non wrestling fans might not know who CM Punk is or even John Cena for that matter, but you can bet that if they took the time to watch this match they would never forget the names.
#2 – The Dudley Boyz vs Edge & Christian vs The Hardy Boyz – TLC 2: WrestleMania X7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZl6C29BF9I
This match is pure carnage from start to finish and in this case that ended up being a good thing. This match really pushed the envelope at the time and still to this day it’s revolutionary. The match is like one giant car crash that you just can’t look away from.
It’s hard not to appreciate what these men put their bodies through in this match for the sake of entertainment. The action starts and it never stops. Present this match to a non wrestling fan and chances are very high that it will hold their attention from bell to bell.
#1 – The Undertaker vs Mankind – Hell in a Cell: King of the Ring 1998
This match will forever live in infamy thanks to the extreme risks that Mick Foley took during this contest. Right away this match grabs your attention and it never lets go. Both men start this battle on top of the cage and things only become more intense from there.
The fact that Mick Foley even survived this match is a true testament to how tough the man is. The match was meant to tell a story about Mankind facing off against The Undertaker but in the end it told a story about Mick Foley’s sheer desire to be the best performer he could be.
Even if this match doesn’t turn a non wrestling fan into a fan, they will definitely find themselves with a new respect for wrestling when it’s all said and done.
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