Good matches with bad finishes

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Draws, count-outs, DQs mainly apply:

 

- Ric Flair vs. Sting (Clash of Champions)

 

- The Rock vs. Mankind (Last Man Standing, St.Valentine's Day Massacre 1999)

 

- Kurt Angle Vs. The Undertaker (SD, July 2, 2002)

 

- Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker (Unforgiven 2002)

 

- Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (RAW, December 2003 / Last Man Standing, Royal Rumble 2004)

 

- The Undertaker vs. Batista (Last Man Standing, Backlash 2007 / Steel Cage Match on SD May 2007)

[alfdogg 0]

First one that came to mind was Rock-Jericho from No Mercy 2001.

[Guest]

The false finish during Benoit/Rock at Fully Loaded 2000 was terrible.

[Jingus 0]

- Ric Flair vs. Sting (Clash of Champions)

 

- The Rock vs. Mankind (Last Man Standing, St.Valentine's Day Massacre 1999)

 

- Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (RAW, December 2003 / Last Man Standing, Royal Rumble 2004)

 

- The Undertaker vs. Batista (Last Man Standing, Backlash 2007 / Steel Cage Match on SD May 2007)

So, you just hate any match that goes to a draw?

 

 

For this topic, two matches that immediately come to mind:

 

-Austin vs. Angle, Summerslam 2001. I understand why they ended the match the way they did, because they had to keep the feud going and Rock was going over in the main event to send the people home happy, but the screwjob/heel ref/DQ ending was pretty flat for such a hot match.

 

-Cactus Jack vs. Terry Funk, King of the Death Match finals. These guys were so beaten up by the end of the tournament that they could hardly walk, but they still managed to put on a halfway decent finale. That is, until the "exploding ring" bit where the pyrotechnics looked slightly less impressive than your average bottle rocket. Then it all just fell apart from there, especially the confusing ending where Funk knocks Foley off a ladder, and then... Foley just randomly crawls over and pins Funk to win the tournament.

[Guest]

I forgot something regarding the Sting/Flair at Clash I match...if you think that had a shitty finish, you know nothing about wrestling. It made no sense for either guy to do the job, and a disqualification wasn't going to put Sting over the way that a draw did.

[eiker_ir 0]

First one that came to mind was Rock-Jericho from No Mercy 2001.

 

 

x2, i love that match but the finish aways pisses me off. It should have ended a minute earlier when Jericho applied the Walls on the Rock, that woud have been the perfect ending right there.

[JaMarcus Russell's #1 Caucasian Fan 0]

Even though I loved this match, Austin v. Rock at Wrestlemania X-7 was the one of most disappointing finishes ever. Trying to turn Austin heel in Texas was an exercise in futility. What I didn't like was how the Rock was totally jobbed out that night and on Raw the next night. Its a shame such a dumb finish put a damper on such an awesome PPV.

 

Also Triple H retaining the WWF championship at Wrestlemania 2000 was disappointing even though it was obvious they wanted a huge buyrate for Backlash that year .

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Cactus Jack vs. Terry Funk, King of the Death Match finals. These guys were so beaten up by the end of the tournament that they could hardly walk, but they still managed to put on a halfway decent finale. That is, until the "exploding ring" bit where the pyrotechnics looked slightly less impressive than your average bottle rocket. Then it all just fell apart from there, especially the confusing ending where Funk knocks Foley off a ladder, and then... Foley just randomly crawls over and pins Funk to win the tournament.

 

Terry Funk at that point just could flat out not continue.

 

Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind, Mind Games. Not so much for the DQ. It took Vader so long to get to the ring that Michaels had to stall before covering, the ref stalled before counting, and Michaels left a sure three count to hit Vader when he reached the apron.

 

 

[AntiLeaf33 0]

The false finish during Benoit/Rock at Fully Loaded 2000 was terrible.

 

That was the first one that came to mind.

[Guest Smues]

Any last man standing match that ends in a draw.

[Jingus 0]

Why? (Although it does seem like "both men down" draws tend to happen more often in LMS than in other kinds of matches.)

Even though I loved this match, Austin v. Rock at Wrestlemania X-7 was the one of most disappointing finishes ever. Trying to turn Austin heel in Texas was an exercise in futility. What I didn't like was how the Rock was totally jobbed out that night and on Raw the next night. Its a shame such a dumb finish put a damper on such an awesome PPV.

I thought that one was great. Austin just plain didn't feel like he could beat Rock this time around, so he accepted Vince's help and beat Rocky halfway to death with a chair for the win. The crappy part was the timing. Doing Austin's heel turn in Texas was just plain dump. Plus, with Rock leaving to shoot The Scorpion King, Austin didn't have a great babyface opponent for his initial heel run; he had lackluster Austin/Taker Feud #37, and then while the Benoit/Jericho run had some great matches, it didn't help the ratings which kept slowly sinking downward throughout the year.

 

Also Triple H retaining the WWF championship at Wrestlemania 2000 was disappointing even though it was obvious they wanted a huge buyrate for Backlash that year .

Yeah, that still pisses me off to this day. Plus, you could make a convincing case that Backlash's big numbers were caused by the much-hyped Austin return.

 

Terry Funk at that point just could flat out not continue.

I know, but it was still weird. Either the elbow off the ladder should've been the finish, or Cactus should've given him one last finishing move (double arm ddt, whatever), because as it was it just didn't make sense.

[cabbageboy 0]

How about Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels from Mind Games? Really crazy match but they should have had some sort of pinfall, even if it was HBK just rolling him up for a pin and then do the crazy UT and Vader stuff.

 

The WM 17 match with Austin/Rock had a business killing level of bad finish. Regardless of the Austin heel turn aspect it simply goes on way too long. Vince is out there for an eternity and it takes way too long for Rock to go down. If the guy was going to film the Scorpion King and wouldn't be around for months, why go to that length to protect him?

[Black Lushus 0]

yeah, that Austin/Rock finish had me going "Ooooo K???"

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

First one that came to mind was Rock-Jericho from No Mercy 2001.

That was the first match that came to mind for me. That match was on course for being a MOTY, and if Rock had tapped out clean in the middle, that place would have exploded, Jericho would have been made a star and it would for sure have been the best US match of the year. But it was all ruined with a terrible finish that took the wind out of the crowd, and took the edge of what should have been a major win for Jericho.

[The Truthiness 0]

3 of mine came from Wrestlemania 19, my 1st live mania.

 

Triple h vs Booker T WM19: I hated that Triple H went over, I hated that Hunter took so long to pin him after the pedigree. Especially on a night where guys had to use their finishers 3 time to wim a match.

 

Brock Angle WM19: This would've been a classic if Brock didn't almost kill himself, and hurt the finish.

 

Sting vs Hogan Starcade 1998

 

 

 

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

3 of mine came from Wrestlemania 19, my 1st live mania.

 

Triple h vs Booker T WM19: I hated that Triple H went over, I hated that Hunter took so long to pin him after the pedigree. Especially on a night where guys had to use their finishers 3 time to wim a match.

 

Brock Angle WM19: This would've been a classic if Brock didn't almost kill himself, and hurt the finish.

 

Sting vs Hogan Starcade 1998

The ending of Sting-Hogan was fine, it was the mid-match shenanigans that was the problem.

 

Agreed 100% on Brock-Angle.

[The Truthiness 0]

3 of mine came from Wrestlemania 19, my 1st live mania.

 

Triple h vs Booker T WM19: I hated that Triple H went over, I hated that Hunter took so long to pin him after the pedigree. Especially on a night where guys had to use their finishers 3 time to wim a match.

 

Brock Angle WM19: This would've been a classic if Brock didn't almost kill himself, and hurt the finish.

 

Sting vs Hogan Starcade 1998

The ending of Sting-Hogan was fine, it was the mid-match shenanigans that was the problem.

 

Agreed 100% on Brock-Angle.

Naw, It seemed like Hogan was robbed, more then Sting saved WCW from NWO.

 

[JHawk 0]

3 of mine came from Wrestlemania 19, my 1st live mania.

 

Triple h vs Booker T WM19: I hated that Triple H went over, I hated that Hunter took so long to pin him after the pedigree. Especially on a night where guys had to use their finishers 3 time to wim a match.

 

Brock Angle WM19: This would've been a classic if Brock didn't almost kill himself, and hurt the finish.

 

Sting vs Hogan Starcade 1998

The ending of Sting-Hogan was fine, it was the mid-match shenanigans that was the problem.

 

Agreed 100% on Brock-Angle.

Naw, It seemed like Hogan was robbed, more then Sting saved WCW from NWO.

Because they screwed up the screwjob that would have sold the story.

[The Buzz 0]

It's too bad they chose to go the way they did with it about stripping Sting. They should have just said it was WCW giving the nWo a taste of their own medicine.

[Just John 0]

Sting/Hogan doesn't apply because it was a terrible match all the way through.

 

I think the finish of Angle/Austin at Summer Slam was brilliant. It pissed everyone off, which is what it was supposed to do. You don't get finishes that evoke real emotion too much nowadays.

 

I agree with Angle/Lesnar at Mania 19, though. If Brock hits the SSP clean, people would've been giving that match MOTYC talk.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

I think the finish of Angle/Austin at Summer Slam was brilliant. It pissed everyone off, which is what it was supposed to do. You don't get finishes that evoke real emotion too much nowadays.

It pissed people off in the wrong way. They weren't mad at the heel and wanting to see him get his ass kicked. They were mad at the promotion for having a bullshit finish to a match that was all kinds of awesome before the finish.

[Just John 0]

Anyone who thinks the DQ ruined a workrate spectacle wasn't paying enough attention to the character development, psychology, or storytelling in the match, which all built to the finish which was perfect for the situation.

 

I could see that line of thinking applying to something like Benoit/Malenko at Spring Stampede 97, which was a fine techincal display for about 15 minutes before a DQ occurred out of nowhere, but not for Austin/Angle. Everything in the feud leading up to the match and the match itself did a great job setting up the DQ and making it work as the finish. Given that Angle was booked to win the title in his hometown the next month, I think you'd be hard-pressed to come up with a better heat-building finish for their Summer Slam match.

[Black Lushus 0]

if we're going to include botched finishes, I'd like to toss Trish/Mickie from WM22 in to that mix. The crowd was rabid, both girls had their working boots on...I don't think I've ever seen a crowd in America so fired up over a women's match...and then they have that clustered ending sequence. I'll go ahead and say that could have been MOTN if not for that.

 

EDIT: let me clarify, a crowd in America watching a WWE, ECW or WCW women's match. I don't know how hot crowds get in other promotions.

[haws bah gawd 0]

I agree perhaps they went a little too far to protect The Rock at Wrestlemania X-7, but it still doesn't knock it down from my personal favorite match of all time. The 10+ chairshot finisher was there to show how desperate Austin was to become champion again, and when The Rock kept kicking-out of Stunner, after Stunner, Austin took advantage of the no-DQ rule. Aside from the fact that The Rock was leaving for a couple months to film a movie, it's really no different than it taking nothing short of a nuclear attack to pin John Cena.

 

Here's an interesting topic to look into one of these days: Who has been more protected? The Rock from Late 1998-2002, or the Invincible John Cena?

 

In regards to Trish vs Mickie, didn't Trish blow her knee out during Mickie's spinning bulldog, which led to Mickie improving the weak kick for the win?

 

One of the top worst finishes I can remember though is the previously-stated Booker T vs HHH match from Wrestlemania 19. It takes Hulk Hogan THREE legdrops to pin VINCE MCMAHON, but it takes only one Pedigree, and a full minute of laying there to put away Booker T. Lame.

[CanadianChris 0]

I hated the finish to Savage/Hogan at WM5. I know Hogan had to win with the usual, but did he really have to kick out of the flying elbow WITH AUTHORITY at one and a half? They couldn't have had Savage just miss the elbow or something?

[NYU 0]

Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels from King of the Ring 1997. Excellent match -- really what the WrestleMania XIV match could have been had Michaels been healthy -- but the double disqualification ending just killed it.

[Papacita 0]

Anyone who thinks the DQ ruined a workrate spectacle wasn't paying enough attention to the character development, psychology, or storytelling in the match, which all built to the finish which was perfect for the situation.

 

I could see that line of thinking applying to something like Benoit/Malenko at Spring Stampede 97, which was a fine techincal display for about 15 minutes before a DQ occurred out of nowhere, but not for Austin/Angle. Everything in the feud leading up to the match and the match itself did a great job setting up the DQ and making it work as the finish. Given that Angle was booked to win the title in his hometown the next month, I think you'd be hard-pressed to come up with a better heat-building finish for their Summer Slam match.

I don't think they planned on having Angle win until after the 9/11 attacks, but even so I agree with you; it was perfectly fine storytelling and a good finish at that.

 

Not necessarily a bad finish, but I've gotta mention Jericho/HBK from WM19. I've always been a mark for Shawn, but having him survive the Walls of Jericho that last time AND go on to win took a lot of shine off of the match overall. He really should've tapped there.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Anyone who thinks the DQ ruined a workrate spectacle wasn't paying enough attention to the character development, psychology, or storytelling in the match, which all built to the finish which was perfect for the situation.

You're missing the point entirely. It wasn't about the finish ruining a 'workrate spectacle', or paying attention to character development, psychology or storytelling. It was the fact that for the fans live, and for a lot of fans at home, that finish ruined the match. Yes, the finish, on paper, makes perfect sense from a booking standpoint to keep the feud going, and it's one that I might have booked myself. But matches, and finishes, don't play out on paper. And on that night, that finish to that match ruined the match for a lot of fans. It wasn't because they weren't 'paying attention' to character development or anything else to do with those other buzzwords you threw out. It was because those fans were so into the match, something you can't always do when you're trying to pay attention to other things, that when the finish played out, they felt ripped off that after spending twenty minutes getting emotionally invested into a fantastic match, that investment was paid off by a total screwjob. It didn't matter to those fans if the finish played into 'character development' or any of that, or if the finish made sense on paper. What mattered is the fans that night were so into the match that a screwjob finish ruined it for them. It doesn't matter if the next day, the next week or the next month they paid attention to things like 'character development' or whatever. On that night, at that moment, the fans HATED that finish to the match, and not in a good way, and that's why it left a sour taste with people. When the fans feel ripped off when the match finishes, regardless of how the finish itself looks on paper, that is NOT a good thing. It's hard to overcome a feeling like that, even if the finish itself makes sense.

[Just John 0]

Well, I threw out those buzzwords somewhat sarcastically because the people who usually bitch about that finish are generally of the generic smarky "clean finishes are the only good way to end a match" line of thinking. Anyway, I found this sentence particularly interesting...

 

It was because those fans were so into the match, something you can't always do when you're trying to pay attention to other things, that when the finish played out, they felt ripped off that after spending twenty minutes getting emotionally invested into a fantastic match, that investment was paid off by a total screwjob.

 

To me, this doesn't seem like a bad thing. You build up the match so that it appears Angle has to win, then you piss everyone off with a total screwjob. Everyone in the arena shits all over the lame finish because they wanted they wanted a different result. Even people watching at home get pissed because the wanted a different finish. Hell, I was unhappy with the result as it happened, but later on I came to see that was exactly the reaction they wanted. That match WORKED people, including the smart fans, which really puts it in select company. If fans hated the finish to the match "at that moment" as you stated, then tuned into Raw the next night hoping to see a re-match signed, then the fans were playing right along with what the wrestlers and the writers wanted, similar to the quote in your sig.

 

I didn't like the finish because it made me or anyone else feel good. I liked it because it made everyone feel angry. It's like appreciating a movie with a sad ending in that you simply like it because it makes you feel something emotionally, which a fictional story generally shouldn't or doesn't do.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

The fact you think the fans feeling ripped off isn't a bad thing just about says it all really.