Top Ten Overrated Matches

[Guest Black Tiger]

Before I get flamed for this topic I want to make something clear. Because I say the match is overrated doesn't mean I'm saying it's bad. All I'm saying is that it's not worth all the hype and praise it gets. Also instead of my usual review of the match I'll give my reasoning on why I consider this match overrated. Okay, with that out of the way let's begin.

 

10. Rob Van Dam VS Jerry Lynn (Hardcore Heaven '99)

I've never seen the full card of that PPV but if this match was the best match on the show then the show must have stunk! I consider ECW's "good" period to have started when Tommy Dreamer "blinded" the Sandman in October of 1994 and to have ended when Taz won the ECW title. But now I'm ranting. This match which I don't disagree was worked very hard by both wrestlers, the story was terrible. RVD gets the advantage, Jerry fights back and Fonzie helps RVD get it back, Jerry gets a few near falls and falls victim to RVD and Fonzie. That's the whole match in a nutshell. The spots may have been nice (Jerry free falls from the ropes, RVD gets powerbombed through the table) but good spots don't make a good match.

 

09. TLC 2 (Wrestlemania X-Seven)

 

This might have been match of the year for PWI but it was living proof that the ladder match needs a rest. This match is almost an exact copy of TLC 1 with the only exeption of Spike and Rhyno run ins, A spear off the Ladder and Jeff Hardy walking the ladder tops (which he botched anyways). Once again hard work from all 3 teams but hard work, like cool spots doesn't make a good match. In fact when SK gave Edge VS Christian a low rating due to repeated spots I e-mailed him and told him that TLC 2 should have got a lower rating due to being so much like TLC 1.

 

08. Ric Flair VS Hulk Hogan (Halloween Havoc 1994)

 

This was supposed to be WCW's big PPV draw to get a good rating, it bombed. Nobody beleived going into the PPV in the first place that Hogan would lose anyways. Hogan and his backstage garbage messed up this match. It was supposed to be Flair wins due to cheating and the fans ralley to bring Hogan back. But Hogan can't JOB! But I'm ranting again. The match tells such a crappy story it's pathetic. Hogan no sells a bunch of Flair's moves and Flair cheats to get the advantage again. Then Hogan hulks up and a bunch of guys run in and Hogan beats up Scary Sherri and wins. WCW tried to praise this match as being a classic. All I want to know is a classic what?

 

07. Hulk Hogan VS Paul Orndorf (The Big Event)

 

Hogan shows up twice, (and he'll be back again) Hogan VS Orndorf may have been hot in 1986 and put tons of asses in CNE stadium but it's not that great watching it 15 years later. Hogan attacks Orndorf and Heenan cheats for his man, rinse and repeat. The ending was a no brainer. The heat was much better in the opeining of the video (with enhanced cheers) 15 years later anyone watching that match will not care, even a video history of the fued would have helped the viewer understand the importance of it.

 

06. Randy Savage VS Ultimate Warrior (Wrestlemania VII)

 

The big retirement match, this time the viewer gets the history so we know why they hate each other but this match is WAY to damn long. I see the need to keep the fans in suspense for the ending but when it's with Savage (who's getting up there in age even then) and Warrior (who lacks a lot of basic skills) the match is boring. Maybe it was historic but it doesn't hold up very well.

 

05. Raven and Stevie Richards VS The Pit Bulls (Gangstas Paradise)

 

The infamous SK ***** match, I know people thought I was nuts to give Raven VS Gordy the honors as ECW's best match ever but I cannot see this as the only one worth giving *****. The story was nicely told and some spots are still cool to look at today (piledriver through a table) but run ins from the Dudley Boys, Tommy Dreamer, Bill Alfonzo, "Big" Dick Dudley, 911, and Todd Gordon can't possibly make this worth ***** when most matches with one or two run ins, let alone 7 are given lower rating from SK.

 

04. Bret Hart VS Davey Boy Smith (Summerslam 1992)

 

This match may have gotten great reviews then, but now it's long and boring and with a worker as great as Bret, I can't excuse it. If the Bulldog was blown up and a bad worker, then he should have been in better shape and put his working boots on. I can respect Bret for working his ass off to have a great match and make Bulldog look great, but this match is very boring to watch. Like most of the other matches, a match can be great for it's time, but it also has to hold up well in the future.

 

03. Kevin Nash VS Goldberg (Starrcade 1998)

 

The basic reason most people like this match is because it was Goldberg's first loss. Who cares? Goldberg's first loss was after Bam Bam, Disco, and (Alka) Hall all hit the ring. If you want to see  Goldberg lose so badly then get SIN. Luger and Buff may suck but at least it was in a more clean fasion.

 

02. Taz VS Sabu (Barley Legal)

 

After over a year old buildup, this was the payoff? The whole match was Taz trying to prove that he was better and working the neck the whole time, and Sabu doing his usual 1997 stuff, which is taking to the air and using tables. Watching this match reminded me of playing a wrestling video game, where you use the same move on the computer over and over, sure it helps you win but it's fun factor is ZERO, the competition is totaly out the window.

 

and now, what I beleive is the most Overrated Match in wrestling

 

01. Hulk Hogan VS Andre The Giant (Wrestlemania 3)

 

Let the flaming begin! The WWF seems to have brain washed the people to think Hogan was the best wrestler in the world at this point and was the ONLY man capable of beating Andre. Without reading a review, how much of this match do you really remember? All I can recall is Hogan in his face, falling when he tried the slam, a bunch of choking, Hogan tries a pildriver, Andre headbutts the post, Hogan slams him, legdrop, the end. The slam and the may be historic but there's a difference between memorable and classic. A classic from WM III is Steamboat VS Savage.

 

There you have it, I've made my points. I know I've pissed off someone out there and they want to rip me a new asshole. So make your replys and I'll get back to you.

[Guest goodhelmet]

Opinions on your list.

 

10. I agree witth you on the Jerry Lynn-RVD match. There is way too much stalling and a couple of nice spots but not a classic.

 

9. I have made the point several times that TLC2 was a big mess. The first TLC, the WM2000, and TLC3 w/ Benoit and Jericho were all much better matches. My personal fav being the WM2000 ladder match.

 

8. Eh. Hogan-Flair was a dream match for years but when it came to pass, it couldn't deliver. I think the match came ten years too late.

 

7.Hogan-Orndorff- I have no opinion on it but I was bitter that Orndorff was de-pushed as rapidly as he was after Mania.

 

6. I like the Warrior-Savage match but I can't stand seeing the damn people crying in the audience afterwords. Overrated maybe but enjoyable none the less

 

5. Raven/Stevie vs. Pitbulls- I don't think this match is anywhere near *****. It was overbooked and very sloppy. The angles made sense and it was enjoyable but the match out of context is ** tops.

 

4. I disagree with you on SS92 Bret-Bulldog. This match is one of my favs and makes me appreciate Bret Hart that much more. The moves were just crisp and the ending was an upset but made sense. I love this match.

 

3. Kevin Nash-Goldberg. I didn't know anyone even liked this match. In terms of importance, Nash putting himself over Goldberg was a horrible mistake and Goldberg never got the belt back. Truly signalled the end of WCW.

 

2. Taz-Sabu most Sabu matches tend to suck so why would this one be different. Good buildup, bad match

 

1. I don't think anyone thinks this was a good match but it was historically important. Hogan-Andre packed the place and while Steamboat-Savage made the card memorable, this one sold the seats. Noone would argue that the match sucks but it does have importance.

 

Matches I think are overrated:

 

Final Four between Austin-UT-Bret-Vader. this match was friggin boring and it didn't help that it was all for a Sid title reign. Big mistake!!!

 

Canadien Stampede main event: Alot of energy but some subpar wrestling. Bret-Owen-Austin good. Everyone else bad.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Most OVerrated match ever:

 

Rock vs. HHH Iron Man match.

[Guest goodhelmet]

"Most OVerrated match ever:

Rock vs. HHH Iron Man match."

 

I really liked that match. Easily a **** match. They didn't rest nearly as much as HBK-Bret. When they did rest, it meant something (sleeper fall). The action was solid, HBK played the role perfectly adding an extra layer, but the ending ruined it with Taker's return.

 

I compare the ending of that match to the HBK-taker Hell In a Cell. Why ruin a great match with nonsensical interference.

[Guest Army Eye]

Please tell us who is praising the Goldberg/Nash match so we can beat them up  

 

I'd say Goldberg's best loss was to Scott Steiner at Fall Brawl 2000

[Guest goodhelmet]

and even that match was overrated. just two mediocre wrestlers trying harder than usual.

 

As for nash-Goldberg, i don't think anyone considers it a good match. he must have been confused since everyone considers it historically significant.

[Guest DEEP THOUGHT]

I believe that there were three people who praised the Nash/Goldberg match. Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and Mike Tenay. I even think that Heenan called it "better than a Superbowl" at one point.

[Guest goodhelmet]

maybe the Giants-Ravens Superbowl. That one sucked pretty bad.

 

Another match that is overrated is Royal Rumble 92. Historically significant? Absolutely!

Great match? Even Flair couldn't save the match from the amount of suck occupying that ring.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Mankind vs. Undertaker is overrated by the marks, but anyone with half a brain realizes it sucks.

 

One match that I never understood why people thought it was so great was Good Friends, Better Enemies.

[Guest DEEP THOUGHT]

I match that I've always considered to be overrated was the falls count anywhere match between Benoit and Sullivan at Great American Bash '96. I've seen many people (including Scott Keith) give it *****. They brawled a bit, then throught the crowd up the stairs, into the mens room, a few door shots, back down the stairs, superplex off the top assisted by a table, match over. While undeniably entertaining, I felt that if was far to short (lasting barely 10 minutes) and too unspectacular to deserve *****.

 

While Mankind/Undertaker (I'm assuming you're referring to KOTR '98) is overrated, I've always thought that it was just one of those matches that all wrestling fans must see, even thought it sucked just because it's one-of-a-kind and that the bumps seen in that match will (hopefully) never be replicated again by anyone.

[Guest Some Guy]

The HBK/Diesel match at Good Friends, Better Enemies was undoubtably Nash's best match and HBK carrying abilties are unmatched, even by Flair IMO.  Nash came to work and just beat the shit out of Shawn.  I thought it was an easy ****.

 

The Pitbulls v Raven and Richards match is the most over rated on the net, with SK leading the charge.  Very, very sloppy.  I just watched it on the DVD and there were countless blown spots including Pitbull #2 almost killing Raven by superbombing him head first in to the side of a table.  Raven said in an interview that he was not too happy about this, thinking he did it on purpose.

[Guest goodhelmet]

shit, i forgot about Sullivan-Benoit. Benoit has had some great moments but that is not a ***** match. Neither are the CactusJack/Sullivan/Maxx Payne vs. Nastys brawls. They were brutal but way too sloppy to be considered classic.

 

Another overrated spotfest was Misterio-Psychosis from Bash at the Beach 96. Their ECW and JCup exhibition matches blew this away.

[Guest J*ingus]

10. Rob Van Dam VS Jerry Lynn (Hardcore Heaven '99)

Way too much stalling at the beginning, but the second half picked up nicely.  Not a masterpiece, not even the best match of their feud (I'd say the one from Living Dangerously).  

 

09. TLC 2 (Wrestlemania X-Seven)

Spotfest spotfest spotfest.  The kind of thing that Keith usually rails against, yet he constantly gives the WWF ladder matches four or five stars.  Nice to watch, well put together, but not even the best match on the card (the main event was better).  

 

08. Ric Flair VS Hulk Hogan (Halloween Havoc 1994)

Who likes this one?  Hogan no-selling Sherri's jump from the top of the cage pissed me off.  (General rule: never no-sell a move you can't do yourself.)  Their match at Bash at the Beach was much better.  

 

07. Hulk Hogan VS Paul Orndorf (The Big Event)

Haven't seen it.  

 

06. Randy Savage VS Ultimate Warrior (Wrestlemania VII)

Personally, I consider Warrior's best match ever to be the one against Hogan at WMVI, which was sadly the very first Warrior match that I ever saw, so for a while I was confused why he sucked so much in everything else.  But anyway, this match was way too long, and overbooked too (FIVE elbows?!).  Finish sucked also, a shoulderblock?!  

 

05. Raven and Stevie Richards VS The Pit Bulls (Gangstas Paradise)

Haven't seen it.  Can't imagine that anything with Richards or the Pitbulls could be *****.  

 

04. Bret Hart VS Davey Boy Smith (Summerslam 1992)

I liked this one a lot, didn't find it boring at all.  Easily the best match of a good card.  

 

03. Kevin Nash VS Goldberg (Starrcade 1998)

Once again, who likes this one?  It's not quite as bad as the usual Nash or Goldberg crap, they were trying harder, but still not good.  

 

02. Taz VS Sabu (Barley Legal)

This was an odd match.  Not bad, certainly, both guys worked their asses off.  But not nearly as good as it could've been.  The complete lack of crowd heat was especially strange.  The ECW fans had clamored for this match for two years; why did they sit on their hands once they got it?  

 

01. Hulk Hogan VS Andre The Giant (Wrestlemania 3)

The single best example of how having the right people, in the right place, at the right time, with ability to work the crowd expertly, can make any crap match a classic.  For the actual wrestling, however, compare it to the thematically similar Hogan-Nash match at Road Wild '99, which was lightyears worse than Hogan-Andre.  

 

Personally, for most overrated match of all time, I'd say Bret-Austin from WMXIII.  I'd heard SO much about this "brilliant perfect masterpiece" that after I watched it, I'd wondered if I got the wrong tape.  That was it?!  Not a bad match, but not even the third-best match those two had been in (I thought Survivor Series, IYH: Revenge of the Taker, and Canadian Stampede were all better).  It was just an around-the-arena brawl, the kind that ECW had been doing for years, and the kind that Austin went on to do in dozens of PPV main events afterwards.  In fact, same thing goes for Austin-Dude Love at IYH: Over the Edge.  A good match, but wildly overbooked, and just as wildly overpraised.  (And this is coming from a big Austin, Bret, and Foley fan.)

[Guest goodhelmet]

"In fact, same thing goes for Austin-Dude Love at IYH: Over the Edge.  A good match, but wildly overbooked, and just as wildly overpraised.  "

 

I enjoyed the hell out of the match. I think the overbooking fit in with the context of the match (but has been in overkill since) and was a perfect fit in the Austin-Vince feud. I still love this match.