The best 'Mania non-title and Grudge matches

[Guest Daniel]

To mark the coming of the “greatest show on earth”, it seemed like an idea to list/rank and comment on the best matches under separate categories.  These will be categorised as WWF Title, IC Title, Tag Title and non-Title/Grudges/Sundries.

 

We’ll start at the bottom today: Non-Title, Grudges and Gimmicks…and the Undertaker.

 

The best non-title contest to ever occur at Wrestlemania is…a tie.  Due to certain circumstances the following two matches cannot be separated or ranked higher than each other.  Also of note is that these two are probably the two best matches, at least of their kind, that the WWF has ever staged period.

 

Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart, Wrestlemania X.

Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin, Submission Match, Wrestlemania XIII

 

If you haven’t seen these matches yet drop everything and see them now.  

 

Go.  

 

Now!

 

The first is an amazing display of how a pro wrestling match should be.  No gimmicks, no stips, no screwy refs, no ref bumps and a clean finish.  Just wrestling, by two of the finest you will ever see.  Everything is spotless.  The timing, the execution, the psychology and the pacing.    I watch this match in awe at how perfect it all is.  Owen’s tombstone piledriver is textbook and appears to be extremely painful.  Bret’s response, with a standard piledriver a bit later, is equally as devastating.  Also, the right man won, and was elevated in the process. I could watch this match forever.

I’ve seen the Flair/Steamboat benchmark and I think this match is better.  I’m not an expert, but this is the best straight pro-wrestling match I’ve ever seen, and I’ll say the best ever on the basis that they didn’t have any gimmicks et cetera to work with.

If only we got to see more of that today.

 

The second match is an amazing display of what a grudge match should be.  This didn’t settle the dispute, although that’s not a bad thing.  It is also an amazing example of how a double turn should pan out.  It is also an example of what a pro wrestling brawl should be, as this puts all ‘hardcore’ matches to shame.  In fact, this puts most brawls and regular matches to shame.  

 

With the crowd heat turned up to nuclear, these two relentlessly beat the shit out of each other.  Bret nearly rips off Austin’s head with a swinging neckbreaker.  Austin nearly breaks Bret in half with a steel chair.  The brutality was high, much like the emotion.  This was also Ken Shamrock’s first assignment and he did a wonderful job of just doing his job.  In the midst of all the unmitigated brutality and chaos Austin manages to tap an artery and paint the canvas and ringside crimson.  Three words do a good job of describing this match: Oh My God.  I could watch this match forever.

 

In my opinion, as far as Wrestlemania goes, those two matches are untouchable.

 

Three of the four matches listed below belong on a ‘miracle workers’ list.

 

Firstly, the match that was to put one man on the pensioner’s list: Warrior vs. Savage Retirement Match, Wrestlemania VII.

 

Dave Meltzer said that having a four and a half star match with Hellwig was “a hellava task”.  Well, Randy Savage certainly did a hellava job here.  

 

With their careers apparently on the line Warrior and Savage put forth a dramatic performance worthy of what is now, unfortunately, a worthless stipulation.  The action was great and the outcome was up in the air, much like Hellwig’s mind.  Warrior does the impossible by kicking out of five, yes five, of Savage’s flying elbow drops.  Then after contemplating walking out on the match, Warrior wipes out Savage and leaves victorious.  

 

To complete the moment, Elizabeth runs through the crowd and saves Savage from the cranky bitch Sherri, to reunite and turn the crowd into a blubbering, crying mass.

 

It was a good thing for Hellwig that his hands were thinking clearer than his head, wasn’t it?

 

McMahonomania! Wrestlemania XVII

I hate the McMahons on TV.  However this was an OK match with heaps of drama and that all important happy ending pay-off that Wrestlemania needs.  Hell, it’s the reason why homeless people gather around portable TV’s to watch it on the magic PPV signal.  Also, the Van Terminator finish was cool, as well as Trish beating up Steph and watching Mick bash Vince, after a kick in the nuts.

 

Next up is the second Wrestlemania European Title defense, between defending Champion Shane McMahon and challenger X-Pac at Wrestlemania XV.  This was pretty much the equivalent to a celebrity match, as Shane wasn’t, and isn’t, a wrestler, but was still climbing into the ring for a proper match.

 

This was Shaneo’s first PPV match and was a commendable effort from the rookie McMahon.  What was equally commendable was the effort put in by X-Pac to construct such a good match, all things considered.  

 

Shane was accompanied by Test, who more than happy to assist Shane in laying a beat down on X-Pac.  Shane himself was happy enough to take a beating when the tides turned as well.  

 

The result probably had a big part of the downfall of the Euro title, but the match also marked HHH’s heel turn, as it was he who cost X-Pac the match with the Pedigree.  It would be another eight months however, before Hunter truly became The Game.

 

The third miracle on the list occurred at Wrestlemania XI, when BamBam Bigelow took on Lawrence Taylor to settle a dispute that began at the Rumble, when LT found it amusing that Bammer and Tatanka dropped a Tag title match to Bob Holly and the 123 Kid.  Naturally, Bammer took exception.

 

Celebrity matches generally don’t rank very well, as the celebrities either don’t know how to wrestle, aren’t in condition to wrestle, or don’t want to get beat on.  Thankfully in this case, LT was in shape, had been trained and was willing to get beat on.

 

Although his offense consisted mainly of forearms and some wicked Bulldogs, LT put in an amazing performance, as did BamBam himself.  Given what he did for the match and for LT, this should have put BamBam on a path to the top.  It didn’t.  But for the duration of the match that doesn’t matter.  

 

Both men took quite a lot of punishment and BamBam looked to wrap things up until he messed up his knee on a moonsault (I think).  Eventually, LT took the win following what looked to be a bloody painful forearm off the second turnbuckle.  An excellent finish to great spectacle.

 

Special mention to Benoit and Angle last year, who dared to be different, and were awarded with the acclaim and ovation they deserved, after an awesome match.

 

Finally, I’d like to make mention of the Undertaker’s contribution to ‘Mania.  Indeed, none of his matches have been standouts, but he has had an impact and provided some memorable moments.

 

At ‘Mania VII he squashed the Superfly in rapid order.  At the beginning of his face turn he squashed Roberts at Mania VIII and chased off the Giant at ‘Mania IX.  Wrestlemania XI was utterly useless as he took out Bundy, but had his urn stolen in the process.  Wrestlemania XII was probably his best match as he took care of Diesel in a good big man match.  At XIII he won back the WWF Title four and a half years after losing it to Hogan.  This time he won from an even worse wrestler in the form of Psycho Sid.  XIV saw the Dead Man have his first match with Kane in another good big man match, that saw Taker bust out the hands free tope`, before beating Kane  with the third Tombstone.  Finally, XV had the Undertaker participate in the Cell match and lynching angle that the WWF probably doesn’t want you to remember.  XVII could be his best match yet.  

 

Mania 17 probably was his best match.  It wasn’t outstanding, but the action, the crowd and the shocker of a finish gave the impression of a really good contest.  This year he gets The Nature Boy.  Could be another Flair Miracle, but not really a match anyone wants to see (I think).  The build has been damn good, but the political machinations behind the match, as usual, really piss me off.

 

Title matches soon to follow.