Top Ten "Jobs" in Modern Wrestling

[Guest robrabies]

This could be a very contentious list and I am no way married to it, but here she goes (1980's onward):

 

1. Hogan over Andre WM III--The biggest moment for the biggest icon in wrestling history.

2. Hart over Austin, WM XIII--Has anyone ever been put over more with a loss than right here? This match propelled SCSA into the stratosphere.

2. Warrior over Hogan WM VI--A true passing of the torch that established Warrior Warrior as the new *the* guy. Pissed it away.

3. Sting over Flair, Starrcade 89???--Really made Sting a fixture that he is--propelled him to a 20+ year career.

4. Goldberg over Hogan, WCW Nitro--Goldberg's streak was a nice thing, but nothing incredibly special until Hogan laid down for him in the Georgia Dome. Perhaps the most raucous I've ever seen a WCW crowd.

5. Cena over HHH, WM 22--this clearly cemented the Superman push in everyone's eyes. If there was any doubt about Cena being the guy for the next 5-10 years, this pretty much removed it.

6. HHH over Rock, WM XVI--for sheer WTF moment when the star of the promotion laid down to the clear second fiddle. The McMahon push was pretty apparent here, as HHH is still the only heel world champion ever to retain in the ME at Wrestlemania.

7. HHH over Austin, NWO 2001--Showed again that HHH was the beneficiary of nepotism, and was set up to help lead into Austin's business-changing, yet ill-fated heel turn.

8. Hogan over Sheik, MSG 1/23/84--"The Day Hulkamania was Born".

9. Batista over HHH*3--The WM job was expected, the next two dominant performances were shocking, especially coming off the heels of the "Reign of Terror".

10. Steamboat over Flair, 2/20/89--An inspiration for perhaps the greatest trilogy of matches ever.

 

Honorable Mentions:

Lesnar over Rock, SS 2002--Solidified The Next Big Thing as TNBT...too bad he became "The Next Big Bitch".

Undertaker over Mankind--HIAC

Rock over Mankind--RR 1999

Jericho over Austin and Rock 2001

Michaels over Hart--WM XII

 

Obviously, this is WWF/E heavy.

[foleyfanforever88 0]

Shelton over HHH on Shelton's first RAW was shocking to me at the time..too bad it did very little for his career.

[Longdogger_Pete 0]

Jericho over HHH back in... was it 2000? ... would've been huge if the decision hadn't been reversed later in the show. I remember for those few minutes my buddies and I were audibly marking out. Loudly.

[Taker666 0]

I'd add Benoit over Triple H & Shawn Micheals on there.

[Guest robrabies]

I'd add Benoit over Triple H & Shawn Micheals on there.

 

I thought about that one, because it was a great moment, but given how Benoit has been booked since, I was unsure.

[theintensifier 0]

Nice list, where'd you copy it from?

 

I'd add Benoit over Triple H & Shawn Micheals on there.

x2

 

Hurricane over Rock

[Guest robrabies]

Nice list, where'd you copy it from?

 

I'd add Benoit over Triple H & Shawn Micheals on there.

x2

 

Hurricane over Rock

 

My head.

[Ravenbomb 0]

Jericho over HHH back in... was it 2000? ... would've been huge if the decision hadn't been reversed later in the show. I remember for those few minutes my buddies and I were audibly marking out. Loudly.

 

That finish nearly killed me. I got really excited and jumped up onto a chair, but the chair slid and I almost cracked my head open.

[spman 0]

Definitely Jericho and Benoit over Austin and Triple H on RAW. It's really too bad that Triple H got injured during the match, and Benoit shortly after, and just kind of killed the momentum of that feud.

[Corkscrew_Senton 0]

I always thought HHH going over Cactus Jack first at the Royal Rumble then in the Hell in the Cell was huge. The second match was incredible for me, because I remember thinking, "OK, Foley's retiring soon. He'll get this win and his shot at headlining Wrestlemania." I just knew Foley was winning that match. Then when Hunter won, I was stunned.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Mankind beating the Undertaker at King of the Ring, and the Boilerroom Brawl.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

1. Foley's jobs to Triple H at Royal Rumble and No Way Out 2000

2. Hogan over Andre

3. Michaels over Hart

4. Brock over Rock, too bad Brock lacked the charisma or proper booking to draw

5. Sting over Flair at GAB '90

6. Warrior over Hogan at WrestleMania VI

7. Batista over Triple H at WrestleMania XXI

8. Cena over Triple H at WrestleMania XXII, like mentioned, it cemented Cena as the undisputed star of the promotion

9. Eddie over Brock at NWO '04

10. Triple H over Rock at WrestleMania 2000, one of the most unexpected, and dissapointing finishes to a show ever in wrestling

 

I didn't include Benoit over Triple H, because he was merely a placeholder and never pushed as the biggest star on Raw.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

1. Foley's jobs to Triple H at Royal Rumble and No Way Out 2000

2. Hogan over Andre

3. Michaels over Hart

4. Brock over Rock, too bad Brock lacked the charisma or proper booking to draw

5. Sting over Flair at GAB '90

6. Warrior over Hogan at WrestleMania VI

7. Batista over Triple H at WrestleMania XXI

8. Cena over Triple H at WrestleMania XXII, like mentioned, it cemented Cena as the undisputed star of the promotion

9. Eddie over Brock at NWO '04

10. Triple H over Rock at WrestleMania 2000, one of the most unexpected, and dissapointing finishes to a show ever in wrestling

 

I didn't include Benoit over Triple H, because he was merely a placeholder and never pushed as the biggest star on Raw.

 

If you're calling Benoit (who had the belt longer) a placeholder, then you have to call Eddie one too.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

The show revolved around Eddie when he held the title and the original plan was to make him a long-term champion. The show revolved around Triple H & HBK when Benoit was champion and he was never intended to be "the man" on Raw.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Lesnar over Rock, SS 2002--Solidified The Next Big Thing as TNBT...too bad he became "The Next Big Bitch".

 

I thought The Undertaker jobbing to Lesnar in the HIAC match at No Mercy did more for his career.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

Lesnar over Rock, SS 2002--Solidified The Next Big Thing as TNBT...too bad he became "The Next Big Bitch".

 

I thought The Undertaker jobbing to Lesnar in the HIAC match at No Mercy did more for his career.

 

How? Rock is a bigger star than Undertaker and he jobbed 110% clean, in a non-gimmicked match, without a "broken hand", without embarrassing Brock a month earlier at a PPV where he all but destroyed his "monster aura" by dominating their match.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

First of all, original plan or not, Eddie didn't last long as champion.

 

Second of all, because the Rock was a part timer by that point. He had just come back around June (for a week or two), left, then came back to win that belt in a triple threat. He was obviously not going to retain over Brock. Taker on the other hand, lost in a Hell in a Cell match that up to the point he had been undefeated in, pretty cleanly, to Brock. Then Taker stuck around, Rock didn't.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

First of all, original plan or not, Eddie didn't last long as champion.

 

Second of all, because the Rock was a part timer by that point. He had just come back around June (for a week or two), left, then came back to win that belt in a triple threat. He was obviously not going to retain over Brock. Taker on the other hand, lost in a Hell in a Cell match that up to the point he had been undefeated in, pretty cleanly, to Brock. Then Taker stuck around, Rock didn't.

 

No, but the show revolved around Eddie when he was champion, he was the star. Benoit was the third biggest star on the show when he held the title. The length of reign (which was about a one month difference), means nothing.

 

Second of all, how does it matter if Taker stuck around after? The Rock was a bigger star, so beating him meant more. He also wasn't made to look like a bitch by Rock a month before beating him.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I'm not denying beating Rock did a lot for Brock, but the HIAC win over Taker SOLIDIFED Brock as the top guy. The length means everything when you compare the two and call one a placeholder and another not a placeholder. Placeholder champions are champions who are keeping the belt warm for someone else. If Benoit is one (which he is), Eddie has to be one too.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

I'm not denying beating Rock did a lot for Brock, but the HIAC win over Taker SOLIDIFED Brock as the top guy. The length means everything when you compare the two and call one a placeholder and another not a placeholder. Placeholder champions are champions who are keeping the belt warm for someone else. If Benoit is one (which he is), Eddie has to be one too.

 

Eddie WASN'T keeping the belt warm for someone else, Eddie was the top guy on Smackdown and would of stayed there had he not asked to drop the title. Benoit was always intended to keep the belt warm for somebody else. He was never, at any point, treated as the biggest star on Raw.

 

Beating Hogan made Brock a top guy, but beating Rock is what solidified him as one, and it was a lot more clean than beating Taker in a gimmick match, who had a "broken hand", who dominated Brock a month earlier in their match.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

People still weren't sold on Lesnar even after The Rock match, the Undertaker match made him look like an unbeatable beast and put him over more so, because he was one of the few wrestlers to pin Taker cleanly.

[Guest robrabies]

People still weren't sold on Lesnar even after The Rock match, the Undertaker match made him look like an unbeatable beast and put him over more so, because he was one of the few wrestlers to pin Taker cleanly.

 

 

I could honestly take either side of this debate. Both viewpoints have their merits, but I guess the deciding factor (to me) is that Rock jobbed to Lesnar at Summerslam which means a little more than other PPVs. Now, Rock jobbed far more than 'Taker, but he was still a star of much greater magnitude to the average fan, and the rub from beating him due to that, means more, IMO.

[humanoid92 0]

I don't necessarily disagree with either side of the Lesnar vs. Rock/Undertaker debate.

 

But one argument against the victory over the Rock meaning more is the fact that Rock jobbed pretty frequently (for someone in his position) anyway. Not that his selflessness wasn't a good quality, but the fact is he did a ton of jobs. Taker didn't, especially inside Hell in a Cell, so I could see where people would consider that to be the bigger victory.

 

As for Summerslam being on a "bigger stage" than the others, I don't really buy that. PPVs have become so watered-down and there are so many of them that Summerslam might as well be Backlash or No Mercy these days. Before monthly three-hour, non-In Your House PPVs, yes, Summerslam was very special, but now it might as well be just another PPV.

 

This is why it drove me nuts when they had 12-16 PPVs per year and they started doing away with the gimmicks for Survivor Series and the King of the Ring (8 guys down to 4) that actually made them stand out.

 

Of course, that's one of the problems with today's wrestling scene as it is. There's too much over-exposure, too many PPVs, too much TV, and no jobbers. Wins and losses don't matter anymore. There's no such thing as a special match anymore. The top guys constantly wrestle each other on TV week after week after week and month after month on PPV. Because of that, it's not very special when a top guy jobs. Getting new people over is a group effort. Brock got over on a wide variety of factors. Sure, Taker and Rock both played a significant role, but really, the way shows have been booked this decade it makes it really hard for there to be one defining moment that launches a guy. If I was making this list, I don't think I'd have anything that's happened since Foley putting over HHH.

[humanoid92 0]

The criteria for this list needs more definition, but as far as meaningful jobs that come to my mind as far as being designed to really put one guy over strong, they are:

 

Hogan over Andre

Warrior over Hogan

Yoko over Hogan

Owen over Bret

Shawn over Bret

Mankind over Taker

HHH over Foley

 

And those that got over strongly in one way or another by actually doing the job:

 

Austin, by losing to Bret

Bret, by losing to Bulldog

[RonL21 0]

I don't necessarily disagree with either side of the Lesnar vs. Rock/Undertaker debate.

 

But one argument against the victory over the Rock meaning more is the fact that Rock jobbed pretty frequently (for someone in his position) anyway. Not that his selflessness wasn't a good quality, but the fact is he did a ton of jobs. Taker didn't, especially inside Hell in a Cell, so I could see where people would consider that to be the bigger victory.

 

As for Summerslam being on a "bigger stage" than the others, I don't really buy that. PPVs have become so watered-down and there are so many of them that Summerslam might as well be Backlash or No Mercy these days. Before monthly three-hour, non-In Your House PPVs, yes, Summerslam was very special, but now it might as well be just another PPV.

 

This is why it drove me nuts when they had 12-16 PPVs per year and they started doing away with the gimmicks for Survivor Series and the King of the Ring (8 guys down to 4) that actually made them stand out.

 

Of course, that's one of the problems with today's wrestling scene as it is. There's too much over-exposure, too many PPVs, too much TV, and no jobbers. Wins and losses don't matter anymore. There's no such thing as a special match anymore. The top guys constantly wrestle each other on TV week after week after week and month after month on PPV. Because of that, it's not very special when a top guy jobs. Getting new people over is a group effort. Brock got over on a wide variety of factors. Sure, Taker and Rock both played a significant role, but really, the way shows have been booked this decade it makes it really hard for there to be one defining moment that launches a guy. If I was making this list, I don't think I'd have anything that's happened since Foley putting over HHH.

I remember back when there were only 4 PPVs a year and you only got to see Hogan on Those or really Special occasions....

[RonL21 0]

The criteria for this list needs more definition, but as far as meaningful jobs that come to my mind as far as being designed to really put one guy over strong, they are:

 

Hogan over Andre

Warrior over Hogan

Yoko over Hogan

Owen over Bret

Shawn over Bret

Mankind over Taker

HHH over Foley

 

And those that got over strongly in one way or another by actually doing the job:

 

Austin, by losing to Bret

Bret, by losing to Bulldog

The first time...the second time...or both

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Ten big ones. Not a definitive list, but they all qualify IMO. In chronological order...

 

Ivan Koloff over Bruno Sammartino (1/18/71)

Andre the Giant over Chuck Wepner (6/25/76)

Hulk Hogan over the Iron Sheik (1/23/84)

Ultimate Warrior over Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania VI)

Big Van Vader over Sting (Great American Bash '92)

Yokozuna over Hulk Hogan (King of the Ring '93)

The Giant over Ric Flair (4/22/96)

Bill Goldberg over Hulk Hogan (7/06/98)

Triple H over Cactus Jack (No Way Out 2000)

Mike Awesome over Masato Tanaka and Taz (Anarchy Rulz '00)

 

Bruno lost clean to Koloff after not losing for eight years. And this was an era where even heel champions lost controversally. Andre/Wepner established Andre as a national icon. Hogan beating Sheik clean sent a clear message after years of Hogan suffering b.s. finishes against Bockwinkel in the AWA. Warrior/Hogan in turn was Hogan's only clean loss from around 1982-1997. Vader-Sting established Vader as not only a dominant monster heel, but a main-event star. Yoko-Hogan was the one time Hogan not only lost, but got creamed. The Giant beat Flair in under five minutes, breaking the figure-four on brute strength. Goldberg-Hogan, same story. Cactus-HHH is self-explanatory. Taz lost cleanly in the Triple Threat, dropping the title on the way out and leaving Awesome/Tanaka alone for the belt.

[humanoid92 0]

Austin, by losing to Bret

The first time...the second time...or both

 

I was thinking Wrestlemania, but if you wanted to you could add Surivor Series in too. Come to think of it, Mankind over Taker doesn't really belong on the list. Taker definitely put him over huge, but it was the series of matches and jobs that really accomplished that, not one particular match. Even the defining moment in the feud (Summerslam) was more about Paul Bearer turning on Taker than it was about Mankind getting a clean victory.

[humanoid92 0]

Ten big ones. Not a definitive list, but they all qualify IMO. In chronological order...

 

Ivan Koloff over Bruno Sammartino (1/18/71)

Andre the Giant over Chuck Wepner (6/25/76)

Hulk Hogan over the Iron Sheik (1/23/84)

Ultimate Warrior over Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania VI)

Big Van Vader over Sting (Great American Bash '92)

Yokozuna over Hulk Hogan (King of the Ring '93)

The Giant over Ric Flair (4/22/96)

Bill Goldberg over Hulk Hogan (7/06/98)

Triple H over Cactus Jack (No Way Out 2000)

Mike Awesome over Masato Tanaka and Taz (Anarchy Rulz '00)

 

Bruno lost clean to Koloff after not losing for eight years. And this was an era where even heel champions lost controversally. Andre/Wepner established Andre as a national icon. Hogan beating Sheik clean sent a clear message after years of Hogan suffering b.s. finishes against Bockwinkel in the AWA. Warrior/Hogan in turn was Hogan's only clean loss from around 1982-1997. Vader-Sting established Vader as not only a dominant monster heel, but a main-event star. Yoko-Hogan was the one time Hogan not only lost, but got creamed. The Giant beat Flair in under five minutes, breaking the figure-four on brute strength. Goldberg-Hogan, same story. Cactus-HHH is self-explanatory. Taz lost cleanly in the Triple Threat, dropping the title on the way out and leaving Awesome/Tanaka alone for the belt.

 

I stuck to the WWF for my list, and I don't know enough about 70's wrestling (I assumed "modern" wrestling began in 1984), but I'll take your word on some of those. I'm glad to see someone else include Yokozuna over Hogan. They turfed the Hulkster and really put Yoko over huge.

 

I was going to include Hogan vs. Sheik as well, except that whole thing really didn't have much to do with the Sheik's job. It was undoubtedly a historic moment and the beggining of Hulkamania, but it could have been almost anyboy jobbing in that slot and wouldn't have detracted from the moment whatsoever. That match was about a lot of things, but the reason it was so big, in my opinion, wasn't primarily because the Sheik did the job.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I was going to include Hogan vs. Sheik as well, except that whole thing really didn't have much to do with the Sheik's job. It was undoubtedly a historic moment and the beggining of Hulkamania, but it could have been almost anyboy jobbing in that slot and wouldn't have detracted from the moment whatsoever. That match was about a lot of things, but the reason it was so big, in my opinion, wasn't primarily because the Sheik did the job.

 

It wasn't who did the job as much as the manner in which it happened.