Biggest Moments and Matches in St. Louis' History Ahead of WWE Battleground 2015

Watching WWE in St. Louis over the years has left fans with teary eyes and lumps in their throats. The city that will welcome WWE Battleground 2015 on July 19 has hosted some of the company's most memorable tributes, surprises and beginnings.

Kane first tore his way into WWE in the Gateway to the West. The Shield left the city with armfuls of gold. And Missouri native Harley Race had two of his biggest WWE wins there.

In the company's early years, it stuck to a tighter radius, making the Northeast its home, with Madison Square Garden serving as its polestar. St. Louis had its own rich wrestling history thanks to promoters like Lou Thesz, Sam Muchnick and Race, but Vince James McMahon's promotion didn't come that far at first.

The then-World Wide Wrestling Federation eventually had a few shows in St. Louis in the '70s.

Some of those included a variety of heels looking to end Bruno Sammartino's historic title reign. These weren't among his most famous matches, though.

It wasn't until McMahon's son took over the business in the '80s that WWE started to compete with the regional territories, St. Louis included. The city then hosted a number of champion vs. champion bouts during that period.

Eventually, when WWE morphed into a national and then global phenomenon, going as far as St. Louis was nothing. The company was traveling to Japan, Canada and Europe. For whatever reason, though, it seemed that when WWE chose to have a show in St. Louis, it often turned out to be something special.

From Survivor Series 1998 to Raw 1000, Randy Orton's hometown has produced a litany of memorable events.

The following is a chronological look at the most famous and unforgettable WWE happenings that unfolded in St. Louis. Some are iconic heel turns. Some were the launching points for Superstars' careers.

When Brock Lesnar, Bray Wyatt and company head to "The Lou," don't be surprised if this list grows longer. History says that this city breeds the incredible.    

Harley Race vs. Bob Backlund

Nov. 7, 1980

When men like Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, it was considered the ultimate prize in wrestling. And the night that the champion showed up in a new territory brought buzz like no other.

Holding that prestigious title, Race took on WWE's best at the time—WWWF champ Bob Backlund, who had held his own world title for almost two years at that point.

This 2-out-of-3 Falls match was a battle of top stars. It was a showdown between the rising power that was Vince McMahon's company and the established network of the NWA.

The dream match ended when the referee disqualified Backlund for an illegal throw over the top rope. It's hard to imagine a champion vs. champion match of this magnitude again now that the NWA is no longer the powerhouse it was once.

WWE Holds Sam Muchnick Memorial Tournament

Aug. 29, 1986

Sam Muchnick was to St. Louis what Eddie Graham was to Florida and Paul Boesch was to Houston—the king of wrestling promotion in his city. The former NWA president promoted countless shows in the Kiel Auditorium and at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, known simply as "The Chase."

WWE decided to honor him in 1986, putting together a supercard stacked with big names.

Pedro Morales, Dory Funk Jr. and Junkyard Dog are among the Hall of Famers who competed that night. Harley Race outlasted his opponents by knocking off Ricky Steamboat in the finals. As a bonus, fans got to see Hulk Hogan defend the WWF title against Paul Orndorff.

The victory gave Race his second tourney win of the year after he also won the King of the Ring.

This kind of event stood out at the time, as the era of the monthly pay-per-view had yet to begin. WrestleMania was still in its infancy. The Muchnick Memorial Tournament was a massive event in addition to being a tip of the hat to a St. Louis icon.

Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker: In Your House-Bad Blood

Oct. 5, 1997

Trapped inside a steel contraption with an angry predator, Shawn Michaels spent much of this bout trying to backpedal his way to safety. Of course, he managed to wiggle out of the enclosure at one point, crashing from the side of the structure in one of the most memorable flesh-onto-table collisions in WWE history.

St. Louis fans watched on as a number of firsts unfolded that night.

This was the first-ever Hell in a Cell match, a contest that has since been the centerpiece of its own pay-per-view. This was also Kane's first appearance under that persona. He showed up bathed in red light, looking to inflict damage on his brother.

To be both the debut of a surefire future Hall of Famer and arguably the best Hell in a Cell match ever, Michaels vs. Undertaker is one of the biggest matches in company history, in St. Louis or otherwise.

The Rock vs. Mankind: Survivor Series 1998

Nov. 15, 1998

Fans kept waiting for Steve Austin to somehow save the day. Vince McMahon and The Corporation had done everything possible to keep the brawler away from the WWE title. It looked as if the corrupt group would arrange for Mankind to steal the championship, but instead The Rock shifted toward the dark side.

A thrilling end to the tournament that comprised the majority of Survivor Series that year saw The Rock turn heel and WWE mock the events dubbed The Montreal Screwjob from the year prior.

That change in character and title win launched The Rock into top-tier status.

He flourished in the new role, feuding with Mankind before eventually colliding with Austin. The Rock's first title win was a key part to his history as well as the Attitude Era's in general.

And St. Louis fans got a close-up view of it all.

Raw Is Owen

May 24, 1999

Just a day after a tragic accident ended Owen Hart's life, WWE paid tribute to him throughout the entirety of Raw.

The show was dedicated to his memory. Superstars spoke candidly of their time with him, stripping off their characters for the night to share their memories of a dear friend.

It was a surreal show, one that kept one in need of tissues nearby. Watching Jim Ross get choked up when talking about Hart or Mark Henry read a poem he wrote about The Rocket was moving and unforgettable. 

Raw has since gone past the 1,000-episode mark. It's hard to think of an edition of Raw, though, that is as fresh in fans' minds more than 10 years after it aired.

Daniel Puder Shoots on Kurt Angle: SmackDown

Nov. 4, 2004

The match only lasted 41 seconds. That's all it took, though, to become one of the most talked-about events in SmackDown history.

Kurt Angle called out the contestants from Tough Enough to take him on in the ring. The first of the impromptu battles saw Chris Nawrocki leave with broken ribs. Daniel Puder was up next and decided to show off his MMA skills in what quickly became a shoot match rather than the scripted fare that fans are used to seeing.

As Jimmy Korderas explains in the above video, he ended the bout abruptly out of fear that Puder was going to snap Angle's arm.

The incident obliterated Puder's chances of making it in the company. It remains his claim to fame and one of the oddest moments WWE fans have seen. St. Louis fans saw Booker T, Rey Mysterio and Josh Mathews in action that night, but none of their bouts has become a part of WWE lore as this one did.

Shawn Micheals Robs Undertaker: Elimination Chamber 2010

Feb. 21, 2010

Elimination Chamber 2010 saw Batista defeat John Cena in 30 seconds after Vince McMahon ordered the WWE champ to defend his title despite just surviving the match that gives that event its name. As stunning as that was, another moment would overshadow it by the end of the night.

Just when it looked like Undertaker would squash Chris Jericho like a roach inside the Elimination Chamber, an unexpected savior arrived.

Shawn Michaels popped up out of the steel grates around the ring. A superkick did his foe in, allowing Jericho to pick up the world title.

The attack led to Michaels and Undertaker clashing at WrestleMania XXVI, The Heartbreak Kid's final match ever. This was the reason The Deadman agreed to fight Michaels. This was a prime example of how desperate Mr. WrestleMania had become to take down his white whale, Undertaker.

The unexpectedness of the moment, the stars it included and what it produced make it one that will stay in fans' minds for years to come.

CM Punk Attacks The Rock: Raw 1000

July 23, 2012

St. Louis hosted the 1,000th edition of Raw and featured a would-be wedding, Jim Ross at the announce desk and The Brothers of Destruction working together once again. It was how the show ended, though, that created the most lasting image.

The Rock ran in to save John Cena from Big Show. CM Punk felt slighted by The Great One's appearance and showed him his displeasure via a Go To Sleep. The knee smash to The Rock's face signaled Punk's transition into villainy.

This all followed the first-ever failed Money in the Bank cash-in. It would be the starting point for Punk's descent into a darker persona and eventually his partnership with Paul Heyman.

With all that happening between the ropes, St. Louis fans certainly got their money's worth that night.

The Shield Take Home Gold: Extreme Rules 2013

May 19, 2013

The Shield's attack on Ryback at Survivor Series 2012 and the group's win in its debut match against Ryback and Team Hell No announced the arrival of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. Their victories at Extreme Rules announced that they were forces to reckon with.

Ambrose knocked off Kofi Kingston to become U.S. champ. Reigns and Rollins outlasted Daniel Bryan and Kane to win the Tag Team Championship.

Seeing all three men hold up their belts at the end of the night was the event's most memorable image. The Shield would build on that moment, going on to become one of the most dominant and entertaining factions in company history.

Indianapolis hosted The Shield's arrival, but St. Louis played home to the trio's coronation. 

Team Authority vs. Team Cena: Survivor Series 2014

Nov. 23, 2014

Just last year, St. Louis was the home to a match that won the Slammy Award for 2014's top bout. It was a thriller of a match that saw Dolph Ziggler play the gutsy hero, Big Show turn on his allies and The Authority flail in desperation as their reign ended.

Team Cena's win over Seth Rollins and company ousted the corrupt group, but unfortunately only temporarily. 

What truly makes this contest a key part of the WWE timeline, though, is that it featured Sting's first appearance in WWE ever. After decades of service for WCW and TNA, The Icon finally stepped into a WWE ring, a moment many thought would never happen.

St. Louis fans roared as a vigilante from another world aided Ziggler and knocked Triple H to the mat.

No debut will ever be so long-anticipated, but there's no doubt that St. Louis will host some electric moments in the future. With a hungry Brock Lesnar, a title-seeking Kevin Owens and the macabre Bray Wyatt on the card, that may happen as soon as Battleground 2015.