My Top 10 Favorite WWF/WWE Moments Of All-Time
All of us on here love wrestling. It's something we have loved for a while. Why? Well we all have our reasons.
This slide show will give some insight to the moments and events that have transformed me into the lifelong wrestling fan that I am.
We have the moments that hooked us, shocked us, got us clapping, booing, and cheering. Moreover, they are the moments that turned us into fans. Here are my Top 10 wrestling moments ever.
10. This Is Your Life
1 of 10Many things can be said about The Rock. When watching this segment from the Sept. 27, 1999 edition of Raw is War, no words need to be said. His greatness is on display from beginning to end.
By this time I was already a big fan of The Great One, but it was on this night that he showed me how amazing he was, and from this point on, The Rock, and the WWF, became something different.
It became something fun. It became something electrifying.
From Poontang Pie, to pancakes, to whistles, to Yurple The Clown, this was the highest rated, and greatest comedy segment in Raw and wrestling history. When someone asks me about The Rock and why I love him so much, I always point them to this.
9. Bret Hart Returns To WWE
2 of 10Jan. 4, 2010.
It seems like it never happened still. I mean, who ever thought it would really? I sure didn't, Bret Hart in WWE? The Hitman back? As unbelievable as it is that it happened, it still brings a smile to my face upon thinking about it.
This moment was made even better because now, after a great and wonderful career, Bret "The Hitman" Hart was back where he truly belonged: in a WWE ring. Survivor Series 1997 was finally put to rest on this January day. For a longtime fan of WWE and the Hitman, there was something magical and eerie about that whole episode of Raw.
No moment best sums it up than when Bret Hart called out his long time rival (in the ring and in real life) Shawn Michaels to the ring to "bury the hatchet" as Bret put it. After the two said some open and honest things, they shook hands and decided to become "friends" again like they once were a long time ago. But that wasn't it.
Shawn turned, and what looked like a Sweet Chin Music stance, turned into a moment I will never forget: a hug. Bret and Shawn hugged in the middle of the ring. I had goosebumps and was actually emotional upon seeing it happen live.
Upon hearing later on that most of what the two said to each other in the ring was natural, real, and not rehearsed, it made that moment that much more special.
I want to thank Bret and the WWE for making this moment happen. It was a reward to many of us. One that will not soon be forgotten.
8. The Rock Returns to Raw
3 of 10This moment may not be special to many, but for me, it was one of those moments where I truly realize how much of a fan I really am.
It was late 2003 and Mick Foley was in the ring giving a promo and was interrupted by La Resistance. The two smug Anti-Americans began to make verbal threats at Mick.
Being the "Hardcore Legend" he is, Mick told them to bring it on. When he was backed into a corner and looked like things were going to get bad for him...
"IF YA SAAAMMMEEEELLLL LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LAOOOOOO!!!....."
Enter The Great One, The People's Champion, ENTER......THE ROCK!!
I love this moment because I was caught so off guard and I jumped so high and clapped so hard upon seeing The Rock and the live crowd's reaction was just like mine. They were beside themselves over seeing The Great One live and in person.
The Rock went on to deliver another A+ promo as always and reminded people that no matter how much time he spends away from the ring, nobody can or ever will, electrify quite like The Rock.
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7. Austin Returns (For One Night) at Backlash 2000
4 of 10Yet another moment on the list that involves The Rock. Only this time, it's not because of him. This moment will send a shiver down my spine because of the Rattlesnake. The Bionic Redneck. The one and only, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
In April 2000, Triple H and the McMahon family were running things in the WWF. There was one person who they didn't like; The Rock. He took the brunt of their abuse. Until Linda McMahon made the announcement that for Triple H and The Rock's World Wrestling Federation title bout, there would be a special enforcer. That man would be Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Why is that such a big deal? Well Austin had been out the previous five months after (real life) neck surgery. The big question they kept asking was "who's side will Stone Cold be on?"
Backlash 2000. It's time for the WWF title to be decided and all the McMahons in Triple H's corner, it looked as though The Rock had his work cut out for him. Unless, that is, he had Austin in his corner.
Vince made the announcement right before The Rock came out that Austin had been "detained." It looked as though The Rock was going to get screwed out of the title again.
Twenty minutes, and nothing short of a combined beat down effort later, left The Rock helpless with all the McMahon's in the ring helping Triple H to victory. Just as the Pedigree was to seal the deal....GLASS SHATTERS!!!!
Austin comes out to a thunderous roar (one that might be the greatest single second crow pop I have ever seen or heard) and decks everyone in the match with a chair. Except for The Rock. He leaves and The Rock manages to get up and hit the People's Elbow for the 1, 2, 3.
"AUSTIN AUSTIN AUSTIN AUSTIN!!!!!!!!" - JR
Jim Ross' quote above tells the story of every fan that was watching at home or there in the live crowd.
What makes this moment so special for me is not just all the people involved in it. It's actually the way the crowd reacted. The Attitude Era was the greatest for many reasons and one of them is how the crowds were so into everything.
The reaction to Austin's music, the chair shots, and The Rock pinning Triple H is enough to give me the shivers. Truly a classic moment. One that I witnessed live on PPV and one I love to re-live over and over again.
#6: "Who's Your Daddy, Montreal?!"
5 of 10The Heartbreak Kid
Canada
Survivor Series 1997
We all know what happened.
Shawn Michaels used all of the above to his advantage in August 2005. He cut a classic heel promo. Which, In my opinion, is the best promo of his career and of the past five years. His ability to insult the crowd and yet get them to react exactly how he wanted was a stroke of genius.
His facials, words, and biting humor were what made this work so well. Not to mention getting an arena full of Canadians to go totally insane by playing Bret Hart's music mid-promo.
I shouldn't only include Canadians in that last sentence because I was jumping up and down like a little kid Christmas morning, but still.
Just watch the clip of the moment to see why it's so memorable.
#5: The Y2J Era Begins
6 of 10Aug. 9, 1999:
As The Rock delivers a promo in the middle of the ring, the "mysterious" millennium countdown clock that had been appearing on WWF programming for the past couple months finally comes to an end. 10....9....8...7....and so on until 2.....1.....
The lights go out and the Titantron flashes the name JERICHO across the Titantron and with it, a new and exciting superstar in the WWF was born.
I won't go into great detail as to why I love this moment because the moment really speaks for itself, but I do that no wrestler will ever make a debut or comeback quite like this. It's unmatched.
The crowd's simultaneous roar upon seeing JERICHO on the screen, to him just standing there, to the verbal sparring with the greatest talker ever, it made for a flawless debut and a flawless moment.
And it also happened in my hometown of Chicago. We always have great crowds.
#4: Vince McMahon's Return To The WWF In 2000
7 of 10After months of being gone after the double cross of his daughter Stephanie and his newly crowned Son-in-law Triple H, the chairman made he surprise return on a March 2000 episode of Raw is War. What a return it was too.
The Rock was about to lose in the main event of the night to the Big Show. With the loss, Big Show would become the number one contender for the title and go on to face Triple H at WrestleMania 2000 for the belt. All the odds were stacked against The Rock.
With Shane McMahon the guest referee, the Big Show was moments away from victory when a limo pulled up and out came the chairman himself. He was confronted by Triple H. He knocked him out and kept going.
He made his way out to the ring and proceeded to take out his son and put on the referee shirt. He would help count the Big Show out and thus making The Rock the number one contender for the title.
I love this moment because it was something that summed up the Attitude Era and, to me, the best year in the company's history (2000).
It was so dramatic, so random, so shocking, so exciting, so perfect, and so rewarding that you couldn't help but mark out as a fan. The crowd was insane, the moment was right, and all the superstars played their roles to perfection.
This was, to me, a reward as a fan. The product was never better than it was right here. And that's why this moment means so much to me.
#3: Chris Jericho Wins The Title?!?!
8 of 10We all know that the decision of this match was reversed due to the fast count but the memory still lives. This was not only a moment that was made amazing by the two performers in the ring but the reaction of the crowd (my personal favorite crowd pop of all time) gave Vince and the WWF all they needed to know about what their audiences thought about Y2J.
Y2J was over. And over BIG TIME!!
It showed the writers that whenever they were ready to put the strap on him for real, the crowd would happily embrace it. This moment only gets better as time goes on, It makes me smile every time.
JUST WATCH THE CROWD!!! HOLY CRAP!!!!
#2: The "My Way" Promo Video For The Rock Vs. Stone Cold at WrestleMania X-Seven
9 of 10Few feuds in wrestling history have the appeal or the rich history behind it like The Rock vs. Stone Cold. These two titans would meet at WrestleMania three times, but none were as great or as greatly built up at the match they had in Houston on April 2, 2001.
It took place at the greatest WrestleMania, during the greatest era in wrestling history (1997-2002),and featured the two greatest stars of that era. What else could there be? Well there was a video.
This is the greatest video package ever produced by WWE. Just watch it. It's enough to make you want to cry. God, I wish the company still operated like this.
#1: The "Double Turn" Of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret "The Hitman" Hart
10 of 10Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission Match at WrestleMania 13.
To me, it's the greatest match to ever take place. For a number of reasons, but that's for a different slide show at a different time.
What part of the match I want to point out is from the moment Bret Hart locks on the Sharpshooter and forces a bloodied Austin to pass out, to Bret attacking Austin after the match, this was the single greatest moment in wrestling history for me. There are a number of reasons why:
1. The match took Hart (babyface) and Austin (heel) and had them reverse roles in the match. It was not only done, but done perfectly,
2. The match itself made the ending and the turn that much better
3. This made Austin the superstar and legend we know him as now.
4. Bret Hart's heel run, until his departure from the WWF later that year, was some of his best work ever. Especially in the promo department.
5. The crowd pop when Ken Shamrock pulls Bret off of Austin and slams him to the mat.
6. Austin refusing to give up with the now famous image of blood pouring down his face and in his mouth and teeth,
7. It was a early precursor to the Attitude Era that was soon to follow.
I won't ramble any further but this is the No. 1 moment that I love and the No. 1 reason I am still a fan to this day.
Side Note: I did not get to post the whole match so I put up the last 10 minutes or so. It's good enough to make my point.
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