50 of the Greatest Cross-Era Wrestling Matches We Wish We Could See

They are played out on video game systems everywhere.

They are talked about as if they are folklore.

Matches for the ages, or cross-era wrestling—pitting the best of the former era versus the best of this generation.

Just as they are talked about today with such thirst and need, we all did this when we were younger, hoping that maybe Eddie Graham could get his hands on an arrogant David Von Erich or Harley Race beating the hell out of a misguided Rick Rude.

They are the stuff of legend and in our own way, we wanted to see them almost as much as the current stars we watch today.

I am changing this up a bit. Stars who are mostly retired (Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan) and those past their prime who still get in the ring qualify for the past generation.

And as they compete against the present talent, we have to wonder, in their prime (which is what I am basing these matches on), would they be able to get over or put their opponent over in the right situation?

And by the way, some of the photos in this slideshow speak to the awesomeness of wrestling back in the day!

The Rock vs. Superstar Billy Graham

Another one of those odd meetings where The Rock grew up in the business and knew probably Graham when he was a youngster.

The 22-inch Pythons vs. The People's Champion.

There will be electricity in this match as Rock tries to prove he is still the best damn mic worker in the business and Billy Graham proves why he is one of the best heels in the WWF of all time.

Karma vs. Luna Vachon

Both have a "unique" style about them. Karma, or Awesome Kong, tries to go through her opponents while Vachon tries to beat the hell out of them.

While Karma has a definite size advantage, don't count Vachon out. Her pedigree makes her a nice challenge for the awesome one.

Roddy Piper vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho takes on Piper in his prime.

At the height of his popularity, Piper was one of the top 20 in the business. But he would have to go to his NWA roots to bring out his best.

Jericho continues to be an enigma. He has gotten better with age.

Cody Rhodes vs. Jake Roberts

The snake versus the man who continues to climb the ladder on SmackDown.

Forget about snakes, forget about Dusty Rhodes.

This is about Cody's ability to wear down the older Roberts and make him submit.

Bobby Roode vs. Arn Anderson

These men are virtual clones.

Anderson never left the ring without giving it his all. Roode is up and coming and shows signs of being just like the former Horsemen member.

Both are tough SOBs and while Arn never held the World title in any promotion, it looks like Roode will get an opportunity shortly.

Don Muraco vs. Wade Barrett

The Magnificent One from Hawaii takes on the Brit with an attitude.

They are a lot alike. They both have held Intercontinental Championship and both could be the best in their given era.

Muraco's feud with Tito Santana and Pedro Morales was more intense than Barrett's feud with John Cena.

Triple H vs. Gunner

Many of Triple H's traits can be found in TNA's Gunner.

The former NWA national heavyweight champion is part of the Immortal Stable, but it would appear he can stand on his own.

Triple H, a multiple-time World champion in WWE, has been part of DX and Evolution and is more of a pit bull—one who does not stop until the final bell is rung.

Both powerhouses would beat the holy hell out of each other.

Raven vs. Kevin Sullivan

Both can wrestle with the best of them.

Both can get downright nasty if they had to.

Sullivan and his cast of characters, which included The Purple Haze and Jake Roberts.

Raven and his Flock (Perry Saturn, Sick Boy, etc.).

But could the smaller, more compact Sullivan last with Raven, who seemed immune to pain?

What an interesting concept!

Ole Anderson vs. Samoa Joe

In an odd way, this is the original enforcer taking on the current badass of TNA.

Anderson used to work with The Four Horsemen and the wizened veteran who would wear his opponents down and make them submit.

Joe just goes through his opponents, making them feel pain. He is currently showing that he can disassemble as many members of the Bound for Glory Series in TNA that he can.

Can the teacher beat the student, or will the younger more aggressive ace prevail?

Austin Idol vs. Hulk Hogan

Idol was a regional player in Memphis and Jerry Lawler's outfit for some time.

He claimed that Hulk Hogan stole his idea for "Idolmania."

Idol never met a microphone he did not like and thought he was God's gift to wrestling.

Hogan—well, I don't need to tell you his accomplishments. They stand on their own.

Jack Brisco vs. Jack Swagger

Leave it to the older Brisco to show the younger man how it is done.

Some argue Jack Brisco was the best mat wrestler of all time.

Swagger is an arrogant technical wrestler who has a great amateur background to him and a powerful physique that he uses to punish his opponents.

Will catch-as-catch-can prevail?

Edge vs. Jake Roberts

Edge had a great run as a tag team partner with his best friend, Christian, and then went on to be one of the greatest singles competitors in WWE history.

Roberts was a good worker and regional title-holder in the NWA before moving on to the WWF and captured the attention of fans with his boa constrictor, Damien.

Both were outstanding workers in their prime and appear to have an even ground in the ring.

How would Roberts react to Edge's sphere? How would Edge handle a DDT?

George "The Animal Steele" vs. Mick Foley vs. Missing Link

I really want to see a three-way dance between Steele, Foley and The Missing Link.

All three in their prime were as crazy as any wrestlers in the business.

Steele was misguided, opening turnbuckles and eating stuffing.

Foley as Mankind was odd and lovable at times.

Link was—well, let's just say five short of a six-pack.

Yes, that is Percy Pringle (Paul Bearer) in the picture.

The Rock vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams

The Brahma Bull vs. the original bull in the wrestling ring.

This one may be a time-limit draw.

Williams was a favorite in the NWA and long-time friend of Jim Ross.

The Rock was more flashy and animated. Williams just went about his business and beat the hell out of his opponents.

The Miz vs. Ricky Steamboat

The current loudmouth taking on the consummate professional.

Steamboat wrestled a loudmouthed wrestler named Ric Flair in years past and brought the fans to their feet. It is easily one of the 10 best feuds of all time.

The Miz is a great in-ring performer and a growing superstar on the mic.

Can Steamboat tame the "Awesome One" like he tamed "The Nature Boy?"

Purple Haze vs. Kane

Kane is bigger, stronger and tougher than Haze. Seems like a mismatch. But the Big Red Machine meets the man who never felt pain, barked in the ring and did what his "Master" Kevin Sullivan told him to do.

Haze was popular in Texas and Florida and held numerous regional titles over his career. He wrestled from the early 1950s until the late 1990s when he retired. He feuded with Sabu often late in his career.

Road Warriors vs. Big Show and Kane

Now we are getting somewhere.

One of the biggest tag teams ever to wrestle in the WWE take one the baddest tag teams ever.

Makes for pretty exciting stuff.

While they were big and tough, Animal and Hawk were not as tall as people think. As compact as they were, they looked huge.

It would have been great to see them in action against the raw power of the The Big Show and the power and agility of Kane.

Kerry Von Erich vs. Batista

Kerry Von Erich had one of the best bodies in all of wrestling while he was in both the NWA and WWF.

Batista was a powerhouse god.

Together they could pose and push and beat on each other. Kerry was the more skilled wrestler, but Batista was more powerful.

John Cena vs. Bob Backlund

Two extremely popular faces of the company go head to head.

Backlund and his "Vanilla" style vs. Cena's "Vanilla" style.

Makes for something that might need a little levity. Both would put on a hell of a match.

Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson vs. R-Truth and the Miz

Wow! All four love to talk.

The more mat-experienced Horsemen taking on the up-and-coming duo.

All four can brawl as well.

In the end, a gourd buster or slingshot suplex may be the difference in the match.

Austin Aries vs. Ric Flair

Arrogance at its finest.

What happens when a 5'9", 209-pound Aries gets in the ring with the 240-pound Flair? Magic.

Both can mat wrestle and both are great for the theatrics.

Flair should prevail in the end.

Wahoo McDaniel vs. Bully Ray

Wahoo was hardcore before hardcore was popular.

The king of the strap match faces a man who has become a good singles wrestler.

Both men will stand in the middle of the ring and throw punches until there is blood.

Good old-fashioned brawling.

Ricky Steamboat vs. CM Punk

Love the way this looks.

Steamboat was a conditioning machine who had a martial arts background and was a World champion in the NWA.

Punk is brash and arrogant and can perform as well as anyone today.

I wonder how much of Flair Steamboat sees in Punk when they go face to face.

Shawn Michaels vs. John Morrison

Could be the most athletic match ever.

Michaels is an in-ring general.

Morrison is a master of the athletic move and aerial attack.

It could be a grounded match but might not be, as the two energizer bunnies could go at it.

CM Punk vs. Great Muta

I know I have written this before, but what an awesome display if this had ever happened.

Punk is a great match for Muta, who uses the air and the ground to punish his opponents.

This could be another one of those matches that does not slow down until there is a pinfall.

Kurt Angle vs. Tito Santana

Angle is the best pure wrestler to ever compete in the business.

It is reported that Santana never had a bad match in his WWF career.

Two great champions collide.

Austin Aries vs. Chris Benoit

Another great match pitting two smaller opponents.

Benoit's attack mode vs. Aries mind games.

Both would thrill the arena and possibly headline a PPV event.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Rick Martel

Martel of the AWA days and first run with the WWF.

Del Rio is a great in-ring performer. Martel at one time was one of the 10 best ever. How would this play out?

Del Rio would use kicks to soften Martel and the former World champion would counter with old-school holds to wear the current champion down.

The Steiners vs. Kane and the Undertaker

Four giants.

The technical wrestling of Rick and Scott Steiner against the brute power of the Brothers of Destruction.

Holy cow!

I'd love to see Scott try to get a Steiner Recliner on one of these big men.

Eddie Guerreo vs. Brian Kendrick

Guerrero is one of the cruiserweight greats of all time.

Kendrick can be. He does not realize how good he is and can eventually become.

Kendrick's speed matches evenly with Latino Heat.

An instant classic.

Mark Henry vs. Big Boss Man

Henry has been the one immovable force in the WWE recently.

The Big Boss Man never backed down from anyone.

Two rocks collide. One giant destruction.

Beer Money vs. Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson

This one just makes sense.

Can Beer Money keep it together in a match with two of the greatest ever?

Anderson and Bobby Roode are so evenly matched. It would depend on what happens between James Storm and Tully Blanchard.

I could watch that for 60 minutes and not move an inch.

The Rock vs. Lex Luger

Not sure how this one plays out.

The Rock cuts the promo and talks to the millions of his fans, hits the ring and faces a body god.

Luger was taught by Flair to sell and that is probably what he would do for Rock.

Sting vs. Dolph Ziggler

This one, in its odd way, can happen.

Ziggler is a great performer and can sell with most wrestlers.

Sting is the Icon and needs no props. Can Ziggler withstand the Scorpion Death Drop?

Daniel Bryan vs. X-Pac

Two men who the WWE Universe would love to see face each other.

With Bryan's rise in the ranks of the WWE, can he hang with X-Pac and his style in the ring?

Would Bryan be able to get the crossface on him?

Magnum TA vs. Steve Austin

We will never know how great Magnum TA would have been.

We know how great Steve Austin was in the WWE. The WCW missed on this one.

TA had great wrestling technique and was adept at slugging it out as well.

Austin can mat wrestle and loves to brawl.

Fans would have loved this one.

Bruno Sammartino vs. Kurt Angle

For some reason, I think this would be good match.

Sammartino was the face of the WWWF/WWF for decades, was World champion and loved by all who watched.

Angle is the best pure wrestler the business has ever seen. Would the Italian be able to get away from Angle's agility?

A great test of wills.

Roddy Piper vs. Christian

In the 1980s, Piper was a great performer. In the NWA with his zany character and his unpredictability, he was the classic heel.

Christian can play face or heel and the fans eat it up.

Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit vs. Kid Kash and Austin Aries

I know, I am going to well too often.

Four guys who easily could compete in the X-Division.

And if there were a tag team belt for the division, these four would certainly be in contention for them.

Randy Orton vs. Paul Orndorff

Funny since Randy grew up in the WWF locker room around the same time his dad, Bob Orton Jr., was a fixture in the circus.

Mr. Wonderful vs. The Apex Predator. Sounds like something in a horror movie. Two body donnas in a  good match that would certainly be worthy of PPV consideration.

Bruiser Brody vs. Bully Ray

Two flat-out bullies.

Brody was the king of independent wrestling. Bully Ray has become a really good singles wrestler.

Something tells me very little wrestling would happen when these two men get in the ring.

Ron Garvin vs. Big Show

OK, on television, this is such a mismatch, but think about it—The Big Show with his punch against "The Man With The Hands of Stone."

The only thing we would need is Howard Cosell calling the action next to Gordon Solie.

Undertaker vs. Barry Windham

"The Man from the Darkside" meets the tall Texan and member of the Four Horsemen.

Undertaker's mystique, ability and athleticism is a great test for arguably one of the best wrestlers held back in the Ric Flair era.

Even at the advanced stage of his career, Undertaker still brought it in WrestleMania. He could do so again against the rangy and powerful Windham.

Kane vs. Abdullah the Butcher

Two men who like to punish their opponents.

But, as we all know, two different extremes.

Butcher uses foreign objects to get the job done.

Kane uses his agility and power.

Could make for a real interesting time.

Buzz Sawyer vs. AJ Styles

A complete contrast in style.

AJ is more balanced with mat moves and sudden bursts in the air.

Sawyer came to the ring to punish you until you give in.

Styles' ability to wrestle all types of opponents makes this a good match to test his will.

R-Truth vs. Bret Hart

This could happen if Hart plays a vital role in Raw or the WWE.

Truth has a way of aggravating people with his comments, his persona and now his character.

Hart would rather let his ring work do his talking.

The Rock 'n' Roll Express vs. The Motor City Machine Guns

Small wrestlers who could sell it every night.

Ricky Morton and Robert MCMG are an X-Division juggernaut that have fans standing in their seats from the dynamic action they provide every night.

A great balance of talent and a draw as far as I am concerned.

Ultimate Warrior vs. Sting

Two faces and favorites of all time.

Former tag team partners in the UWF.

Great powerful wrestlers who would put on a show. The Warrior is somewhat limited. Sting still works hard for a 50-something wrestler.

Hopefully it is better than Sting/Angle.

Ted DiBiase vs. Shelton Benjamin

I think this is a match that can make some noise.

When DiBiase was in the NWA, he was one of the best and won many regional titles fighting against Steve Williams, Jim Duggan, Butch Reed, etc.

Shelton Benjamin is a great competitor and has all the skills in the world to be one of the best ever.

Forget the Million Dollar gimmick. We want to see the real DiBiase wrestle like he used to against one of the current best in the business.

Randy Savage vs. AJ Styles

Ultimately, two guys who give it all in the ring.

Savage is one of the best ever. He was the best as a heel and the best as a face.

Styles brings it every night and can do so much in the ring that his moves are unpredictable.

Savage has the advantage on the microphone.

Styles may have a little more agility.

There are so many "what ifs" and fans will love finding out how good this match can be.