Do you agree? The 3 most important matches in wrestling history…

[8WON6]

Hogan/Andre is important because it's basically the blueprint WWE used for decades afterwards. The babyface vs the monster. It may not be the best match, but it's definitely top 3 most important matches.

 

[Reality Check]

I'd go with these three:

1) Bash at the Beach 96: For obvious reasons
2) HBK vs. Austin, Mania 14: Surprised this hasn't been mentioned at all yet but officially strapping the rocket to Austin's back + the end of HBK and the new generation + by product being the launch of the Rock as leader of the Nation and Triple H as the leader of DX
3) Finger Poke of Doom: This was the true beginning of the end for WCW IMO

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

• Hogan / Mr T vs piper and orndorff
  • It built the blueprint for the modern supershow, got incredible mainstream coverage and solidified the rock n wrestling run
• Austin vs HBK w/Mike Tyson
  • Similar to the above but it was the world's MAJOR introduction into all things Austin 3:16, and the era to follow.
• Dark horse: WrestleMania triangle ladder match - e&c vs Dudley's vs Hardy's
  • The modern hardcore spot fest latter and chairs match leading to TLC1 and 2, which is the model for every match like it since. Yes ECW was doing this prior but WWF doing it was more important and was the other half of attitude era. Now that match is being done by cj lee on nxt and Joey janela on YouTube wrestling.

 

[BlackAchilles]

Rikidozan vs Lou Thesz gotta be in that convo too

 

[8WON6]

• Hogan / Mr T vs piper and orndorff
  • It built the blueprint for the modern supershow, got incredible mainstream coverage and solidified the rock n wrestling run
• Austin vs HBK w/Mike Tyson
  • Similar to the above but it was the world's MAJOR introduction into all things Austin 3:16, and the era to follow.
• Dark horse: WrestleMania triangle ladder match - e&c vs Dudley's vs Hardy's
  • The modern hardcore spot fest latter and chairs match leading to TLC1 and 2, which is the model for every match like it since. Yes ECW was doing this prior but WWF doing it was more important and was the other half of attitude era. Now that match is being done by cj lee on nxt and Joey janela on YouTube wrestling.

it's funny you brought up the ladder match because i thought about saying HBK/Razor ladder match was important because it's like the 1st gimmicky match like that where they still "wrestled" and didn't just brawl.

 

[Bryan Danielson]

No Hogan vs Goldberg?

I remember how huge that match was in the lead up to it to the aftermath

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

it's funny you brought up the ladder match because i thought about saying HBK/Razor ladder match was important because it's like the 1st gimmicky match like that where they still "wrestled" and didn't just brawl.

I’d accept that as a #3 or 4 yeah

 

[YakSpiller]

Austin vs HBK at WM14 is a good one.

That solidified Austin as the guy at the top of the mountain.

…and all the other stuff that came with it in the aftermath.

 

[MrFirst2doit]

Andre vs Hoegan WM3
Bash at the Beach ‘96 Mystery partner
The Montreal Screwjob

These are the "handpicked" revisionist history most important matches based on WWE video packages but not the actual most important matches in history...

1. Hogan-Andre battle royal on Saturday nights main event.

Saturday Night's Main Event was a tremendous rating success for NBC during its heyday, most notably on the March 14, 1987 show, which drew an 11.6 rating, which to this day remains the highest rating any show has ever done in that time slot. That show was headlined by a battle royal involving Hulk Hogan and André the Giant, who were slated to face each other at WrestleMania III. As Hogan rarely wrestled on the WWF syndicated and cable television shows, Saturday Night's Main Event was the program on free television where most viewers were able to see him in action.

2. Hogan vs. Iron Shiek - this was Hogan getting the title and the beginning of the Hogan era and the beginning of WWE going mainstream.

3. Fabulous Moolah vs Wendy Richter on MTV - first live match on cable TV and beginning of rock and wrestling...all this preceded the first WM

MTV broadcast the first live wrestling match on cable television as well as the first live women's professional wrestling match. Lauper chose Wendi Richter, while Albano chose The Fabulous Moolah.[6] The match was scheduled for July 23, 1984, at The Brawl to End it All, broadcast live on MTV.[6][7] During the match, Lauper interfered on Richter's behalf by hitting Moolah in the head with her purse, dubbed "The Loaded Purse of Doom".[6] At the conclusion of the match, Richter defeated Moolah for the WWF Women's Championship, which the WWF had promoted as having been held by Moolah for the previous 28 years.[8] The connection between Lauper and the WWF continued with the video for the song "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough", "Time After Time," and "She Bop," all of which featured WWF wrestlers.

These three matches made WWE and had the most to go with the "expansion"....

WWE was already a proven brand by the time the other matches listed happened

 

[Art Barr]

It is actually three goblin matches or moments tbh.
If not for these matches.
Leading to the specific moments.
wrasslin never draws mainstream.
To the point it never becomes what we all indulge in.

Thundalips tosses rocky
Hogun beats sheik
Hogun turns and forms nwo.

Those three moments and matches.
made wrasslin the draw it is.
or rebolstered it.
or created the gateway.

Everything else even being smart has no legs or draw to sustain it..if it never occurs.

The goblin is also the goblin because he knows this as well.
Plus expertly better than anyone in the history of wrasslin as well.



Art Barr

 

[Dog Based Gremlin]

Like some have already said...

Honorable mention

CM Punk vs John Cena


In 2011, CM Punk successfully ushered in the "kickpad indy wrestler" era into the mainstream and WWE has been pushing these athletic skinny ex ROH guys for the past decade.

(Punk, Bryan, Seth, AJ, etc)

Although, WWE in 2022 looks to be returning back to the HOSS GANG with future stars Omos, Bron Breakker, Harland, Odysey Jones, etc