The top 20 "Most Memorable Moments"...

[Guest Downhome]

In all of your opinions, what would you say are the top 20 "Most Memorable Moments" in Pro. Wrestling history. I am not talking only matches here, I am simply talking about the moments in it's history that you feel are the moments that define the sport. The moments that will forever be etched in your mind. Such moments as Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III to the death of Owen Hart to Vince McMahon buying WCW. So...

 

...in your mind, what are those 20 moments? To make this that much more interesting, let's discuss not only just what they are, but WHY we mention the moments, and why they are on your lists.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[Guest undisputedjericho]

Moments that I have personally seen since becoming a fan....

 

20) Bob Holly & Al Snow fighting in the Mississippi River

19) Kurt Angle winning the WCW Title

18) Steve Austin winning the 2001 Royal Rumble

17) Kane turning on Taker at the 1998 Royal Rumble

16) Jericho and Benoit winning the tag team titles

15) Austin beating Taker in a first blood match

14) Taker's chair hitting Austin's at the '98 KOTR

13) Raw/Nitro Simolcast

12) Steve Austin stunning Angle at Invasion

11) Austin filling McMahon's 'Vette with cement

10) Shane McMahon being thrown through glass

9) Jericho's debut in Chicago

8) "Ladies and gentlemen, Owen Hart has died."

7) DX spoofing the Nation

6) Austin driving to the ring in a zambone

5) Austin winning the title from HBK

4) Kurt Angle winning the WWF Title from Rock

3) HHH grabbing the Intercontinental belt in a ladder match

2) Steve Austin not tapping to Bret

1) Mick Foley's two bumps in Hell in a Cell

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

This is friggin hard.

 

let see...

 

 

1. Austin passing out to the Sharpshooter (THAT is how you change the entire direction of a company in one match)

 

Everything else is tied for second...hey...I'm lazy

[Guest M Nyland]

20. Mankind's debut - the first person to really destroy the Undertaker until Kane came along and then Taker became more human

 

19. Kane's debut - same as above reason really...a monster was born at Badd Blood

 

18. Austin 3:16 promo - the moment we realized that Steve Austin was going to be HUGE

 

17. Cactus Jack's first return - for sheer mark out value this was great

 

16. Tazz gives Angle first loss - now one is a commentator and the other is a superstar. It was good for the ECW mark out factor and looking back it seems Tazz got shafted might quick

 

15. HBK vs. Razor WMX - the ladder match to define the ladder match

 

14. Austin vs. McMahon (the first time) - it was something that had never really been done and was FRESH to the viewers

 

13. Triple H's quad injury - it will always be remembered as the main reason many people HHHate now

 

12. Chris Jericho WWF debut - Jericho was immediately put on a level equal to the Rock and deserved to stay there

 

11. Fingerpoke of Doom - showed the world how stupid wrestling could be and was the standard until...

 

10. David Arquette WCW Champion - worse than both Vince's combined...the true low point of pro wrestling.

 

9. nWo comes to the WWF - i never thought i'd see that and now that it has happened I wish it never would have.

 

8. Owen Hart's death - I cried till I felt like I couldn't move.

 

7. ECW rebirth - overshadowed only by the dumb Steph involvement and...

 

6. WCW/WWF simulcast - began the storyline that made all our dreams (and subsequent nightmares) come true

 

5. nWo is born in WCW - a moment that can never be forgotten

 

4. Austin does not tap to Sharpshooter - a great way to end the match and made both guys look incredibly good

 

3. Hogan slams Andre - this was the moment that the WWE wants to have happen again

 

2. Foley/Taker HIAC - although a subpar match...it will never be forgotten...

 

1. the TRUE Death of WCW - When Triple H was handed the NEW Undisputed Championship Belt...WCW was truly dead and buried forever. It will be remembered by smarks (though marks would probably remember the "death" at Survivor Series...which was nothing memorabe at all

[Guest y2jailbait]

Wellllll, lemme see what i can add to this survey here................

 

20) The Rock Vs. HHH at Summerslam 98'; The beginning of The Rock's rise to fame.

19) Kurt Angle wins the WWF title; By god the biggest heel pop ive ever heard!

18) Ric Flair leaves NWA/WCW with their title belt; was disaster for NWA/WCW and really ruined a great run in the late 80's for NWA

17) NWO splits apart; The REAL end of the angle that made WCW a powerhouse

16) Mick Foley wins the WWF title; The Ultimate feel good moment of all pro wrestling

15) Bret Hart signs with WCW; The one determining factor in the new movement of the WWF

14) Macho Man defeats Million Dollar Man at Wrestlemania 4; In my view, a big upset that lead to the making of a huge star

13) Lex Luger wins the WCW title on Nitro; why is this one on here, well my friend, its one here because it showed that WCW could provide stellar main events without a crap finish and renewed some hope that WCW was on an upswing, but it was only momentary. Also, a mark out moment for Luger fans, how wierd is that?

12) Steve austin wins King of The Ring/ Bret Hart wins WWF title from Ric Flair-Tie.; Both of which ushered in a new blood of pro wrestling and these moments alone kinda carried both wrestlers to there main event fame.

11) Rowdy Roddy Piper bashes Jimmy Superfly snuka with a coconut; ya know, no real historic value, just pure entertainment and provided the WWF with much needed shock value and humor in a way.

10) Vince McMahon Jr. takes over power within the WWF; The man changed the game, and this was the beginning

9) Ric Flair breaks his back; This was a while before Flair won such titles as NWA world and WWF world, but its signifigance is that it truly shows the will and desire of the greatest world champion of alls time!

8) Pro wrestlings deaths ( British Bulldog, Bobby Duncum Jr., Lou Thez, Yokozuna, Renegade, Big Dick Dudley, among others); what this did for me was showing that these great athletes that i so looked up to, were not invincable, they werent unstoppable and really added a human element to the sport that a young man such as myself was to naive and blind to realize.

7) Hulk Hogan wins WWF title; The Beginning of Hulkamania

6) Wrestlemania 3; Highest Gate, greatest card, dont tell me different, the action was non stop and unforgettable

5) Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn all leave WCW on the same day; The Future of WCW left that day, thus beginning the slow decent into the dead lands for WCW

4) Y2J Debuts!!!!!; Still sends shivers up my spine, will never ever be duplicated, no matter who it is.

3) The Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan; WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!! No doubt, one of the matches that you watch for the first time and just tear up cause thats what wrestling is supposed to be, not technically or entertainment wise, NO! Emotionally, that whats wrestling is supposed to do.

2) Steve Austin Vs. Bret Hart; Changing of the guard, whether any of them knew or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) Wrestlemania 1; The event that established wrestling as a national source of entertainment, bar none!

 

Man, i wish i had more picks!!!!

[Guest Crippler15]

I don't know about 20 moments but I think number 1 is when Hogan slammed Andre at WM3. To me that is the peak moment for pro wrestling

[Guest endgame722]

I think this is all in chronological order:

 

1) Hogan wins WWF Title

2) Andre turns heel on Hogan on Piper's Pit

3) Hogan slams Andre at WM III match

4) Hogan loses WWF Title to Andre

5) Savage wins WWF Title

6) Savage turns on Hogan to set up WM V match

7) Hogan vs. Warrior at WM VI

I watched very little wrestling after this for a number of years...

8) Celebration after Bret Hart wins Title at WM X

9) Shawn Michaels entrance at WM XII

I started to once again watch WWF wrestling in Jan/Feb of '97...

10) Austin / Pilman gun angle

11) Austin vs. Hart at WM XIII

12) Austin breaks his neck in match with Owen at SS '97

13) Montreal screwjob

14) Rocky's turn where he mentions 'Rocky Sucks' and 'Die, Rocky, Die'

14) Austin / Mike Tyson brawl before WM XIV

15) Austin wins WWF Title at WM XIV

16) Mankind thrown from top of Hell in a Cell at KotR '98

17) Mankind wins WWF Title on RAW

18) Death of Owen Hart

19) Y2J debut

20) Shane shows up on Nitro

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

No one has listed Hogan turning heel @ BATB? That's gotta be high on any list. Not only did it add *years* to his career, it kick-started WCW's domination of WWF in the ratings, leading to the advent of WWF's "Attitude" era.

 

Certainly more memorable, not to mention influential, than many things that have been already listed.

[Guest y2jailbait]

If i had a 21st pick, that would be it, i just wish i had more picks, as ive already said.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

Bobby-Duncum.Jr-passed-away?

Damn.I-never-heard-about-that.

[Guest chirs3]

I'm terrible at these, so I'll just name some of my most memorable. It won't reach 20, and it won't be ranked. Sorry.

 

1) Mick Foley winning the WWF Title on Raw - HUUUUGE Markout moment.

2) Bret Hart losing to Owen, then winning the title.

3) Chris Jericho's debut.

4) Owen Hart's death.

5) Foley/Taker HIAC.

6) Ramon/Michaels ladder match.

7) Jericho WINNING THE WWF TITLE FROM TRIPLE H! HE DID WIN IT! I SWEAR!

8) The Hogan heel turn.

 

That's all for now.

[Guest y2jailbait]

Yep, pretty tragic indeed. Is anyone gonna post there 20 top memorable momets, id really like to compare lists. I do cherish my lil list and i see it as my best post ever on this board, im beggin ya!!!!!

[Guest godthedog]

i'm just going off the top of my head, so no real order here...

 

1) montreal screwjob

 

2) ric flair shows up on wwf television with the wcw title

 

3) savage/steamboat, WM3

 

4) hogan slams andre

 

5) austin 3:16 at king of the ring

 

6) the radicals jump to wwf while benoit is still champion

 

7) hogan turns heel & the new world order is born at bash at the beach

 

8) eric bischoff is powerbombed through a table

 

9) goldberg wins the wcw title from hogan on nitro

 

10) austin passes out in the sharpshooter

 

11) austin stuns vince mcmahon on raw

 

12) mankind takes the botched chokeslam at hell in a cell

 

13) the first wrestlemania

 

14) nwa becomes wcw

 

15) austin walks out before raw

 

16) the ladder match at WM10

 

17) diesel wins the wwf title in 6 seconds

 

18) shane mcmahon on nitro

 

19) flair's famous emotional promo toward eric bischoff (around '97 i think)

 

20) ultimate warrior cleanly pins hogan for the wwf title

[Guest Downhome]

That is cool, godthedog, a few of your "moments" are in my list also. Here are twenty real quick, in no true order...

 

1) Goldberg pins Hulk Hogan clean on Nitro. (I was there, live, on the sixth row. Damn, loudest pop ever on TV or live, one hell of a time the entire show.)

 

2) Ric Flairs WCW return and confrontation with Eric Bishoff in Greenville, SC and reformation of The Four Horsemen. (Once again, I was there live and in person. I am not saying this just because I was there, but it was the second or third loudest pop I've ever heard. I can't begin to express to you the emotion in that building that night!)

 

3) Terry Funk returns after a long absense from wrestling and attacks Ric Flair and piledrives him on the judges table after Flair defeats Ricky Steamboat.)

 

4) Hulk Hogan turns heel and joins the nWo.

 

5) Hulk Hogan defeats Ric Flair at BATB '94.

 

6) Hulk Hogan slams Andre the Giant at WMIII.

 

7) The Randy Savage Vs. The Ultimate Warrior retirement match and all that happened after the match with Elizibeth.

 

8) The Iron Sheik defeats Bob Backlund for the World Championship.

 

9) Steve Austin wins the KOTR thus Austin 3:16 being born.

 

10) The Bret Hart/Steve Austin "double turn".

 

11) The Montreal Screwjob of Bret Hart.

 

12) Vince McMahon purchases WCW.

 

13) Steve Austin refuses to show up for WWE RAW.

 

14) Ultimate Warrior pins Hogan clean for the World Title.

 

15) Mick Foley in The Cell and all that happened in the match.

 

16) Owen Hart's death.

 

17) Rowdy Roddy Piper hits Snuka with a coconut.

 

18) Shawn Michels throws Marty Janetty through the glass window.

 

19) Jimmy Snuka "fly's" off the top of the cage.

 

20) Misawa and many of the top stars of AJPW departs and creates NOAH. (Yes, it isn't in the US but it STILL is one of the most memorable moments in Pro. Wrestling. I mean, really, it would be like Austin, Taker, Rocky, HHH and many of the undercard and other top guys just leaving WWE and starting THEIR own group.)

 

21) Hogan Vs. Rocky at WMX8.

 

...that is just a VERY small ammount. Also, I didn't put many "old school" moments, as I know many here wouldn't know what I'm talking about, and also, I wasn't around pre-80.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[Guest godthedog]

something else i should've added...

 

wwf changes name to wwe

[Guest alfdogg]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Randy & Liz from WM7. I mean, it may not have had any long term or even short-term impact on the sport, but to me, it's one of those moments you just never forget.

[Guest dreamer420]

these aren't in any particular order:

 

1. bret hart gets screwed at the survivor series in montreal.

2. ric flair appears on wwf tv with the "real world" title.

3. mankind flies from the hell in the cell 98, 00.

4. bret hart beats ric flair to win his first world title.

5. ric flair appears on raw following the 2001 survivor series as co-owner of the wwf.

6. the wwf is forced to change its name to the wwe.

7. wcw is bought by the wwf, with an invasion of wcw wrestlers starting weeks later.

8. vince mcmahon opens up the final episode of nitro live from raw.

9. wrestlemania 1

10. hogan beats andre the giant at wrestlemania 3.

11. the 4 horsemen are reborn in greenville, sc as flair returns to the wcw.

12. eric bischoff appears on wwe raw as the general manager.

13. hulk hogan pins the iron sheik to win the wwf title for the first time.

14. hogan, hall, and nash bring the nWo back to the wwf at no way out 2002.

15. owen hart dies from a tragic fall live on pay per view.

16. mankind wins the wwf title on raw in december of 1998 for the first time.

17. steve austin's post match interview form king of the ring 1996.

18. david arquette wins the wcw title.

19. wwf wrestler tazz returns to ecw to defeat wcw wrestler mike awesome for their world title.

20. vince russo and eric bischoff take control of the creative department of wcw on april 10, 2000 creating the new blood to battle the millionaires club.

21. tommy dreamer and rob van dam run through the crowd and in the ring on July 9, starting the rebirth of ecw.

[Guest NoSelfWorth]

A lot of fine choices people.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

1. Montreal. The most memorable match ever, and the turning point of the Monday Night Wars.

 

2. Steve Austin passes out in Sharpshooter at Wrestlemania XIII. The creation of the Stone Cold monster. Without Austin, the WWF would be dead by now. Montreal brought the fans in, but they stayed for Austin.

 

3. Hulk Hogan joins NWO. The Outsiders got it started, but Hogan's turn made the angle.

 

4. Mick Foley jobs to HHH at No Way Out 2000. Moved me more than perhaps any other moment. Foley, ever the professional, makes HHH on his way to retirement. That walk to the back, with the fans giving him a standing ovation, and no music playing, is one of the best things I have ever seen in wrestling.

 

5. Ricky Steamboat defeats Randy Savage to win IC Title. A fantastic end to one of the greatest feuds of all time.

 

6. Ultimate Warrior pins Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania VI. Warrior flopped as a champ, but this is still remembered as a passing of the torch moment. Ranked higher than #6 only because it took place in Toronto, and thus is remembered more up here.

 

7. Hulk Hogan slams Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III. The height of professional wrestling in North America.

 

8. Scott Hall shows up on Nitro, May 1996. The beginning of WCW's lone bright spot.

 

9. Ric Flair returns to Nitro, September 1998. Handled properly, it could have saved WCW.

 

10. Ricky Steamboat defeats Ric Flair to win his only World Championship. No one deserved it more.

 

11. Undertaker debuts at Survivor Series 1990. From the moment the fans laid their eyes on him, they were in awe.

 

12. Owen Hart defeats Bret Hart at Wrestlemania X. Perhaps the biggest upset that I have ever seen, and the biggest moment of Owen's career. It made him a star.

 

13. Ric Flair wins his first WWF Title, becoming the first person to win both the NWA and WWF World Titles (Buddy Rogers didn't win his WWF title in a match). The aftermath is important too, as it is the first serious backlash against Hogan by the fans.

 

14. Chris Benoit shows up on RAW, two weeks after winning WCW World Championship. I am still convinced that before letting the Radicalz go, WCW could have survived. They had no hope after this.

 

15. Ted Dibiase draws #1 in the 1990 Royal Rumble, one year after buying #30. One of the best examples of a heel getting his just desserts. And on top of that, he gave the best Rumble performance in history up to that point.

 

16. Barry Windham joins Four Horsemen after turning on Lex Luger. One of the biggest shock turns ever.

 

17. Randy Savage wins WWF Title at Wrestlemania IV. The first real champion (Andre doesn't really count) after Hogan's legendary four year run. Savage went in as a midcarder, and came out as the second biggest star in the promotion.

 

18. Arn Anderson vs. Ric Flair, Fall Brawl 1995. It is almost surreal seeing these two fight.

 

19. Jimmy Snuka flies of the cage against Don Muraco. Simply unheard of at the time.

 

20. Davey Boy Smith wins the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam 1992. Just a fantastic moment to witness.

[Guest CanadianChris]

In no particular order...

 

Hogan slams Andre (WrestleMania III, 1987). THE definiteve markout moment of my youth.

 

The Montreal incident (Survivor Series 97). I was actually supposed to be at this event, but circumstances intervened. I will NEVER forget this, as it actually marks the only time I ever stopped watching WWF programming.

 

nWo formed (Bash at the Beach 96). The final piece of the puzzle for WCW. This was totally shocking.

 

Owen Hart's death (1998).

 

Bobby Heenan coming out with Ric Flair's NWA belt on Superstars (1991). No one's mentioned this, but this was the moment when the line between reality and kayfabe started to break down. Not to mention the fact that it signalled Flair was coming.

 

Steve Austin's "Austin 3:16" interview (King of the Ring 96). The birth of an era.

 

Randy Savage and Elizabeth reunite (WrestleMania VII, 1991). One of my favourite moments...how can anyone not get at least a little choked up over this? Plus, it followed a terrific match, Ultimate Warrior's best ever.

 

ECW wrestlers reunite on RAW (2001). Oh, the unrealized possibilities...

 

Undertaker debuts (Survivor Series 90). I was in absolute awe of this guy, as was everyone else.

 

nWo interrupt Nitro, Kevin Nash javelins Rey Misterio into a wall (1996). The high water mark for the nWo. This was the night when everyone started to realize what WCW might have on their hands.

 

Hall & Nash powerbomb Eric Bischoff through a table (Great American Bash 96). Sitting in my living room, I actually yelled out, "WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?"

 

Foley/Undertaker, Hell in a Cell (King of the Ring 98). Sick. Just sick. May we never see its like again.

 

Horsemen reunion, Flair returns (1998). What a moment. Too bad WCW had to ruin it shorty thereafter, but that's what WCW existed to do.

 

Flair/Steamboat III, Terry Funk piledrives Flair on a table (1989). When I watched this for the first time on tape, I was blown away by the match, and stunned by the extra-curriculars. I can only imagine the impact live.

 

Jake Roberts makes a fool of himself on Heroes of Wrestling (1999). Hey, I'LL never forget it, and believe me, I've tried...the night where we all realized just how far Jake had sunk.

 

Mick Foley loses retirement match to HHH (2000). Watched it on the big screen, and the entire theatre gave Mick a standing ovation. The ceiling bump was scary watching live.

 

Randy Savage wins WrestleMania IV tournament for first world title (1988). Hey, I'm a Savage mark.

 

Mick Foley wins first WWF title (1999). Hey, I'm a Foley mark, too. I made sure to watch this after reading the spoilers, and even knowing the outcome, I still marked out.

 

Ric Flair beats Vader, wins title, saves WCW, all in one night (Starrcade 93). Phenomenal match that wasn't even supposed to take place.

 

Hart Foundation victorious in 10-man tag at Canadian stampede (1997). The very last truly happy moment for everyone on the winning team.

 

And a bonus one...

 

- Ric Flair is a sixty minute man, and he's all night long -- goes an hour to win WWF title (Royal Rumble 92). The beginning of the end for Hogan's first WWF run, as well.

[Guest AM The Kid]

1. Hogan slamming Andre

2. Owen Hart dying

3. Montreal

4. Wrestlemania I

5. Austin refusing to tap

6. The birth of Austin 3:16

7. Scott Hall invading WCW the first time

8. Snuka flying off the cage

9. The formation of the Hart Foundation #2

10. Shawn Micheals winning the title at WM12

11. Skaland tossing in the towel for Backlund

12. The formation of the NWO

13. Austin vs. Mcmahon

14. Savage lifting Elizabeth onto his shoulder at WM7

15. Mick tossed off the cage

16. Owen rolling up Bret at WM10

17. Mick winning the WWF title on RAW

18. Bret wins the IC title from Piper

19. Piper breaks the coconut over Snukas head

20. The original DX skits

[Guest raptor]

No particular order (I also tried to be creative and keep repeats of other posts to a minimum):

 

1. Lance Storm superkicks Perry Saturn: the beginning of what should have been the biggest angle ever.

2. nWo is born: WCW takes it’s place on top of the wrestling heap

3. The death of Owen Hart

4. Goldust debuts: unofficial beginning of WWF: Attitude

5. Rock/Hogan: Bad match, but the ultimate passing of the torch

6. King of the Ring “Austin 3:16” interview: The media juggernaut is born

7. Chris Jericho unifies the World Titles: My hero finally wins the biggest of them all

8. Edge and Christian win the first of seven tag titles in first TLC: Arguably the greatest tag team ever.

9. Lex Luger shows up on first Nitro: The monday night wars begin with a shocker.

10. Rob Van Dam/Tommy Dreamer vs. The Hardy Boyz: I might get a lot of heat for this, but this was the match that made Vince push RVD.

11. Rocky Maivia joins the Nation of Domination, begins refering to himself in the third person: Who thought this guy would be the biggest star of them all?

12. Nash tazers Goldberg, ends streak: This is the point where you could have begun shovelling dirt on WCW’s carcass.

13. Sting injures leg on cage: Sting might have been mentioned in the same breath as Flair and Sammartino if not for this freak accident.

14. Shane Douglas throws down NWA Title: The revolution begins here

15. Michaels vs. Hart in Montreal: most infamous match of the modern era.

16. Konnan brings the stars of AAA to WCW: The crusierweight division doesn’t get as much credit for WCW’s rise as it should.

17. Tough Enough: the idea of “paying dues” dies.

18. Kurt Angle wins WWF Title: Capped of the greatest rookie season ever.

19. David Arquette WCW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: If Nash ending the streak was the begining of the end, this was the last nail in the coffin.

20. Hulk Hogan pins The Iron Sheik: Hulkamania begins with one legdrop.

[Guest I Fear Hogans Air Guitair]

1. Foley Of the HIAC

2. RVD Debute i swear i have never marked out that much since

3. Jericho's debut