Guest Retro Rob Report post Posted July 23, 2003 It seems like there are three matches that people generally consider the MOTY, so let's see which one is looked at as the best by the majority. 1. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - WM 13 2. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddy Guerrero - Halloween Havoc 3. Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker - Badd Blodd Feel free to add any to the list that I forgot. Personally, I would go with the Hart-Austin match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted July 23, 2003 The Hart-Austin match was the most important of the year and it was real good. I vote for Rey vs. Eddy though. Just a phenomenal match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dangerous A Report post Posted July 23, 2003 Hart/Austin is monumental from a storytelling standpoint as well as landmark because of the double turn. Rey/Eddy is better from a technical standpoint as the match was damn near flawless which is hard to accomplish with these guys pulling off such high spots that are customary with the cruiser/junior style. Depends on how I'm feeling at a point in time when it comes to this stuff. For now, I'd take Hart/Austin. If we were to expand out MOTY candidates to matches from around the world, I'd include Misawa vs Kobashi from 1/20/97 and 10/26/97 as well as Misawa vs Kawada 6/6/97. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BAR Report post Posted July 23, 2003 1. Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio Jr - WCW Halloween Havoc '97 2. Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart - WWF WrestleMania XIII 3. Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa - AJPW (20/1/97) 4. Hart Foundation vs. Team U.S.A. - WWF In Your House 16 5. Six Man Tag - ECW Barely Legal '97 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Retro Rob Report post Posted July 23, 2003 I first thought of the topic because I just watched the Rey-Eddy match. I thought the match was awesome, but when it comes down to it I wouldn't put it over Austin-Hart any day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest shlidgn90 Report post Posted July 23, 2003 i think it should be an tie for: mysterio/eddy and misawa/kobashi 01/97 eddy/rey was one hell of a match that i haven't seen copied since. rey did an dragonrana tope. kobashi/misawa was the most emotional match i have ever seen. the best ending of a match i have ever seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChick Report post Posted July 23, 2003 While the Rey/Eddy and Bret/Austin matches were better, the HIAC was still damn good. It is, bar none, the best match I have ever seen the Undertaker in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HartFan86 Report post Posted July 23, 2003 My personal MOTY is the Canadian Stampede 10 Man Tag. The most fun I've ever had watching a match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest papacita Report post Posted July 23, 2003 I've never seen Eddie/Rey and I think HIAC was very overrated. So I'll say Austin/Hart Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Aero Report post Posted July 24, 2003 While Mysterio vs. Eddie was an amazing match, both Austin vs. Bret and HIAC had more impact. Between the latter two, I'd say Austin vs. Bret because it was basically the beginning of the Attitude Era. IMO, HIAC isn't too far behind. HBK-Undertaker is one of my personal favorite feuds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ray Report post Posted July 24, 2003 I've not seen much non-US wrestling, so I'll stick to North American matches. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - Wrestlemania 13 without a doubt. Personally, I feel the Michaels/Undertaker HIAC is *vastly* overrated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Askewniverse Report post Posted July 24, 2003 A match from 1997 that's often overlooked is Bulldog vs. Owen in the finals of the European title tournament. In my opinion, it's the best non-PPV match from that year, as well as one of the best matches ever on Raw. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HartFan86 Report post Posted July 24, 2003 Yes...Bulldog/Owen needs more love, and should of won best match of all-time on Raw for Raw X...even if it was out of tribute for both guys. At the MINIMUM. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Fook_Hing_Ho Report post Posted July 24, 2003 Austin/Bret WM 13 Owen/Bulldog was a great match, but IMO it wasn't the best match of the year. Hell, it wasn't even the best tv match of the year. That honour goes to Owen/Bulldog vs. HBK/Austin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Betty Houle 0 Report post Posted July 24, 2003 Personally, I feel the Michaels/Undertaker HIAC is *vastly* overrated. Oh no! I just watched this again last night and it is sooooo very awesome! Maybe not the "MOTY" but still... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted July 24, 2003 My personal MOTY is the Canadian Stampede 10 Man Tag. The most fun I've ever had watching a match. Speaking of overrated... This match is **3/4 on a good day. LOD, Shamrock, Neidhart, and Pillman did nothing but fill space. That's half the participants..Goldust didn't do much of consequence either.. Most of the brawling was sloppy, the actual wrestling didn't lead to much (or a finish), it's just a loud crowd. The Bret/Austin parts rocked the house, the Owen/Austin parts rocked the house...everything else was ranging from mediocre-crapola. Shamrock was completely lost in there, and didn't adapt at ALL to being heelish. 3 good workers does not make a 10 man tag good. The ten man on Raw in 2000 completely blows this match out of the pond. As for my 97 MOTY...Misawa/Kobashi 1/20, then Rey/Eddy second. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Austin3164life Report post Posted July 24, 2003 Austin vs. Bret is probably the greatest North American match of all time, so it easily gets my vote for 97 MOTY. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted July 24, 2003 My personal MOTY is the Canadian Stampede 10 Man Tag. The most fun I've ever had watching a match. Speaking of overrated... This match is **3/4 on a good day. LOD, Shamrock, Neidhart, and Pillman did nothing but fill space. That's half the participants..Goldust didn't do much of consequence either.. Most of the brawling was sloppy, the actual wrestling didn't lead to much (or a finish), it's just a loud crowd. The Bret/Austin parts rocked the house, the Owen/Austin parts rocked the house...everything else was ranging from mediocre-crapola. Shamrock was completely lost in there, and didn't adapt at ALL to being heelish. 3 good workers does not make a 10 man tag good. The ten man on Raw in 2000 completely blows this match out of the pond. As for my 97 MOTY...Misawa/Kobashi 1/20, then Rey/Eddy second. No body ever said the match was a WRESTLING classic... It's right up there with with Hogan/Rock for being memorable if only for the intense heat. As for me I still think Survivor Series 1996 was more sound match but WM had more emotional attachment and history. I don't watch Puro much and if I do...I don't remember dates or who they were. Mysterio/Rey was just a Fun incredible match but it never had meaning but that really doesn't hurt the match...I was just saying it didn't change things like The Mania match or the HIAC match. The Raw Match with Owen/Bulldog was great but since it's rare it can't get that luv. The Owen/Bulldog Vs Shawn/Austin match is over rated but it was still good. Another overlooked match is HBK/Austin at KOTR. But in the end... Austin-Hart was MOTY for 1997 on every possible level. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest eiker_ir Report post Posted July 24, 2003 i love Austin vs. Bret so it gets my vote, it's in my top 5 matches ever Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted July 24, 2003 No body ever said the match was a WRESTLING classic... People absolutely have done so. If the wrestling in the wrestling match on the wrestling show with the wrestlers is bad...then how is the match great? It's right up there with with Hogan/Rock for being memorable if only for the intense heat. Hogan/Rock wasn't ***** either. Memorable, I guess, but the match was pure shit. The silverdome was likely rumbling during Hercules and Billy Jack Haynes..but that match isn't regarded so highly..my point, Loud doesn't equal good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted July 24, 2003 5. Six Man Tag - ECW Barely Legal '97 I definately agree with this one, but if you are going to put this one on here I would imagine that you would put on the Michinoku Pro match that was a week or so before Barely Legal that was on an ECW card. Not sure of the date, but I remember it was on their TV show and also Scott Taylor (Scottie 2 Hottie) faught TAZ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HartFan86 Report post Posted July 24, 2003 I said my PERSONAL MOTY. Just because it wasn't a wrestling clinic doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the hell out of it. And did I say it was a wrestling classic? Nope. As far as Austin/Hart goes, I don't care for it that much because I like Austin/Hart from SS 96 that much better. Sure, not really the fairest way to judge a match, but it's how I feel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EL DANDY~! 0 Report post Posted July 24, 2003 From a booking and heat standpoint...there are not many greater than Bret/Austin. From a technical standpoint, Rey/Eddy fucks you up with the greatness. I give the nod to the Rey/Eddy match, simply because I've analyzed that match over and over and found it to be more entertaining. But yeah, if you wanna go international, 1/20/97, Kobashi/Misawa by a landslide for the sheer neck-breaking and psychological greatness. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BionicRedneck Report post Posted July 25, 2003 (edited) Misawa/Kobashi had two great matches in 97. Oh, and nobody better say Shawn/Taker! coz if they do... EDIT: I just remembered, Ohtani and Liger had a superb match in 97 too. Edited July 25, 2003 by BionicRedneck Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Nathan_Avara Report post Posted July 25, 2003 WWF/E - Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold (Wrestlemania) WCW - Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Eddie Guerrero ECW - Sabu vs. Taz (Barely Legal) Japan - Kobashi vs. Misawa (Most of their matches were **** - *****) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChris Report post Posted July 26, 2003 Oh, and nobody better say Shawn/Taker! coz if they do... You'd better find everyone that voted in the RSPW awards, then, because that WAS the match of the year. Even though I personally considered Austin/Hart to be a bit better, and voted for that. Here were the top 5: 1) Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (October 5th, Hell in a cell match) 2) Bret Hart vs Steve Austin (March 23rd, Submission match) 3) Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Misterio Jr. (October 26th) 4) Triple H vs Cactus Jack (September 22nd, Falls count anywhere match) 5) Owen Hart vs Davey Boy Smith (February 22nd) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted July 26, 2003 Was that when they were still splitting up the NA and Foreign material? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted July 26, 2003 Actually...the HIAC was more deserving of the Award at the time because it was so damn groundbreaking while The I Quit Match was in essance a brawl...It's the historics of that match is why it ranks so well these days because of the match tremendous impact. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChris Report post Posted July 26, 2003 Was that when they were still splitting up the NA and Foreign material? No, they recombined it that year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BionicRedneck Report post Posted July 26, 2003 HITC I is the most overrated match of the year, no doubt. It was nowhere near what it is hyped to be. Basically, Michaels takes a sickening beating, ridiculously oversells every move, Taker sells nothing (not even the superkick) and the finish is absurd. It's a fun match at times, but it is basically a 30 minute squash. Seriously, if that match is 5* then god knows what Austin/Hart would be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
