In this list you’re going to see a lot of wrestlers that could be considered icons. It’s a long road to the top and in order to get there you have to have a lot of heart, determination, talent and a whole bunch of luck. Before you can make it to the top though you have to start somewhere. This list is going to give you a glimpse at the humble beginnings of some of today’s most popular wrestlers.
#9 – Randy Orton Vs John Cena – OVW
The rivalry that everyone on the planet would grow to get sick of wasn’t always redundant like it is now. John Cena and Randy Orton were both fresh faces in OVW at one point but neither one of them looked all that similar to what they would go on to become in WWE. These two would go on to become stars and they owe a lot of their success to each other.
#8 – Batista Vs Brock Lesnar OVW
Brock Lesnar and Batista had to get started somewhere and OVW was just the place. These are two of the biggest men to ever step foot into the WWE ring and they’re not that seasoned here so don’t expect much.
#7 – Shawn Michaels Vs Ted DiBiase – MSW
Shawn Michaels has a laundry list of accomplishments when it comes to the wrestling business but back in 1985 he was just a young kid hoping to beat Ted DiBiase. Shawn may be retired now but his time in the ring in between this match and his last had a huge impact on the industry.
#6 – Terror Risin’ Vs Keith Cole – WCW
Triple H may be terrifying now but at one point he was just downright scary as Terror Risin’. Hey you’ve got to get your foot in the door right? Triple H most likely thought this name was just as terrible as we do but when you’re a nobody trying to get your shot at the big time you need to do whatever it takes.
#5 – CM Punk Vs Samoa Joe – TWC
CM Punk and Samoa Joe were far from household names at this point but they managed to get people talking about them thanks to matches like this. These two would both go on to have impressive careers in their own right, Joe in TNA, Punk in WWE but you can see so much of what makes them both stars in this match.
#4 – Surge (Matt Hardy) Vs Willow The Wisp (Jeff Hardy)
Jeff Hardy recently debuted his character Willow The Wisp in TNA but it’s something he’s done quite a few times before. Here you will see case of sibling rivalry as Matt Hardy takes on Jeff Hardy.
#3 – Steve Austin Vs Sting – WCW
Steve Austin ended up doing alright for himself in WCW considering the circumstances but he was far from a household name at this point. Before being fired by Eric Bischoff Steve was “Stunning” Steve Austin in WCW. Here he rubs shoulders with Sting but no one could have ever guessed that he would go on to become one of the most well known and beloved wrestlers of all time.
#2 – Mean Mark Callous (The Undertaker) Vs Robbie Idol
The Undertaker is one of the most intimidating characters of all time but what you may not know is that Mean Mark Callous is just as intimidating. How do you not get scared of a man wearing a mullet like that? Seriously, that thing is mean (no pun intended).
You might recognize his manager as well.
#1 – John Cena Vs Daniel Bryan – Velocity
At one point Daniel Bryan and John Cena were both at the absolute bottom of the ladder in WWE. John would go on to headline several WrestleManias and win many world titles while Daniel Bryan’s story would be a whole lot different. Bryan would travel and wrestle all over the world while Cena made a name for himself in WWE. Six years later Daniel Bryan finally secured a contract with the company only to be fired and then brought back due to popular demand by the fans. Here we are 11 years after this match and these two are arguably the biggest stars in the industry right now.
