80’s and 90’s WWF (or WCW) I guess

[Amherstcavsfan]

In my mind the single greatest rivalry was Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect in terms of the utter... perfection of the matches.

Every single match they had was a classic.

They were the two greatest workers of their age.

I think this is their first match in the WWF. Hennig returned to the WWF in late 88 or early 89, but would only begin his legendary IC title run in early 1990.

@RchfldCavRaised @The Oi

As a Bret coinsurer myself, I do think that the KotR match might be slightly better than the Summerslam match. Something about it really turns Bret into a mega star, while it sends Hennig out on a high, albeit sad, note not long after because of the back.

Look at what I just found, @RchfldCavRaised!

I think this might be the only full match between Undertaker and Bret Hart.

Back when Taker was a cheating heel.

Never a cleaner, text-book perfect execution of a suplex ever.

We'll never know if the Undertaker would have tapped out from the Sharpshooter.

Taker's best matches, along with Diesel's best matches, were always with Bret. Royal Rumble 96, with Bret vs Taker, is one of my favorite big man vs small guy matches. Bret is methodical in taking down the big man, while Taker comes away looking like an unstoppable freaky big man.

Bret Hart is the GOAT, as far as I'm concerned. He took the business ultra-serious, which is kind of lame, but it showed in the way he perfected his craft. The Daniel-Day Lewis of Wrestling.

 

[Sebastian]

As a Bret coinsurer myself, I do think that the KotR match might be slightly better than the Summerslam match. Something about it really turns Bret into a mega star, while it sends Hennig out on a high, albeit sad, note not long after because of the back.

Taker's best matches, along with Diesel's best matches, were always with Bret. Royal Rumble 96, with Bret vs Taker, is one of my favorite big man vs small guy matches. Bret is methodical in taking down the big man, while Taker comes away looking like an unstoppable freaky big man.

Bret Hart is the GOAT, as far as I'm concerned. He took the business ultra-serious, which is kind of lame, but it showed in the way he perfected his craft. The Daniel-Day Lewis of Wrestling.

I can't disagree with your position.

Ultimately he was the most successful, true technical wrestler of the age and opened the door for all the smaller guys that came after him. He was also the great custodian of the game.

I can take the position that Curt Hennig was just slightly better than Bret, based even off of Bret's own scale: Perfect was a bit better with the mic, slightly better showman, while I think they were about even in terms of look and in-ring skills.

Bret himself has said Hennig is the one man he would say was better than him.

With Hennig's injury he simply never peaked anywhere near Bret's success and Bret defined that age of wrestling.

From an objective stand-point, even with Bret calling him the best, Hennig could have been the best. Bret Hart was the best.

 

[Sebastian]

Who can forget the showdown between the Mega Powers and Andre and DiBiase?

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I can't disagree with your position.

Ultimately he was the most successful, true technical wrestler of the age and opened the door for all the smaller guys that came after him. He was also the great custodian of the game.

I can take the position that Curt Hennig was just slightly better than Bret, based even off of Bret's own scale: Perfect was a bit better with the mic, slightly better showman, while I think they were about even in terms of look and in-ring skills.

Bret himself has said Hennig is the one man he would say was better than him.

With Hennig's injury he simply never peaked anywhere near Bret's success and Bret defined that age of wrestling.

From an objective stand-point, even with Bret calling him the best, Hennig could have been the best. Bret Hart was the best.

Oh definitely. If Hennig doesn't fuck up his back and destroy himself with drugs, I fully believe he'd be considered among the greatest to ever be in the squared circle. The New Generation probably looks a whole lot different with a healthy Hennig, with his shit eating grin, being a dominant heel champion to Bret and Shawn's babyface.

We even saw it as late as 02, when Hennig was seemingly over/"treating" his back problems. The dude was absolutely incredible in the ring STILL, despite the fact that he was in the gutter the entire time he wasn't in the ring.

Hennig should have beaten Hogan, too. Missed opportunity in an era where WWF didn't miss much.

 

[JDailey23]

Who can forget the showdown between the Mega Powers and Andre and DiBiase?

That entire build of with Hogan and Randy was amazing

 

[CBBI]

Speaking of Hennig...



This is 32 minutes of absolute gold. Literally everyone plays their part to perfection, especially Hennig and Heenan.

 

[Sebastian]

Speaking of Hennig...



This is 32 minutes of absolute gold. Literally everyone plays their part to perfection, especially Hennig and Heenan.

I loved this storyline.

The Face turn of Mr. Perfect.

Even when he was a heel, you could always tell everyone had the utmost respect for Curt Hennig.

Heenan was a phenomenal actor. His two greatest moments were his play-by-play for the 1992 Royal Rumble and this Face Turn. You can see the sweat pouring down his face. He is incredulous, pleading, he's angry, he's trying to down-play what Razor is saying, he's bargaining. He is going through all the stages of grief before our eyes as he sees his perfect empire crumble. Incredible. Oscar worthy.

Flair's response is amazing, howling with rage over the betrayal, tearing his clothes off, even calls him Hennig!

And Hennig plays it perfectly.

I wish they had kept Macho Man and Mr. Perfect as a tag-team for a while.

Rumor has it that Vince wanted to put the Big Belt on Perfect, and one of two scenerios would play out, either Perfect was going to be the one to defeat Yokozuna after the latter beat Hart, and win the title, in Wrestlemania IX, or Perfect would have won the 1993 King of the Ring tournament and won the Belt at Summerslam 1993. Hence the Face push because of the general rule back then of the Face holding the Belt for long periods of time.

But, Hogan scuppered the former, and Perfect's back the latter.

 

[Sebastian]

I could not find the whole match, only this:

We do get to see the Perfectplex on Razor Ramon.

 

[Sebastian]

Jake the Snake was perhaps the greatest promo man ever.

He didn't have to yell, flex or growl.

He smoldered like a sociopath.

Perhaps his best:

 

[Sebastian]

Found this NWA/WCW gem for @The Human Q-Tip

Featuring a one-time battle of the brothers-in-law Barry Windham vs. Mike Rotunda, the US Express civil war, in their primes as they wail on each other and break the ring in a Television Title bout. One sees the formidable technical and NCAA Division I skills between them.

Featuring Lex Luger and the rest of the Varsity Club: Rick Steiner and Kevin Sullivan.

Between the four of them they have:

x9 WWF Tag-Team titles,
x16 NWA/WCW Tag-Team titles,
x9 NWA/WCW Television titles,
x6 NWA/WCW United States titles,
x4 NWA/WCW World Heavyweight titles.

And, also, Kevin Sullivan may have been the devil.

 

[Sebastian]

Happy Raw 1st Birthday!

@RchfldCavRaised

 

[Sebastian]

I think I have been remiss to not state the obvious: OG Jeff Jarrett was fantastic.

Perhaps the best strut in the game? @RchfldCavRaised?

 

[natedagg]

My sons just got into professional wrestling. This thread is perfect. RCF for the win!

 

[letgocavs]

Watching wrestling as a kid in the late 90s was the best. Haven't watched since like 2000. I don't see how any adult can watch this crap out now. Not being too serious because everyone likes what they like, but I couldn't get into wrestling past 13.

 

[MattyFos.]

Watching wrestling as a king in the late 90s was the best. Haven't watched since like 2000. I don't see how any adult can watch this crap out now. Not being too serious because everyone likes what they like, but I couldn't get into wrestling past 13.

I watched religiously as a kid during the attitude era.. got back into it as an adult for the entertainment purposes. I enjoy the in ring work, think some of the stories are great and compelling. Some are cheesy and stupid. But i think there's more to like with the modern product than the attitude era, in hindsight... better in ring work, less cringe, less serious brain damage. Modern product can be great at times.