I have a good memory but it's short. I tried to think more in terms of Kayfabe and things/segments/moves/outcomes that made me smile, moments that have stayed with me. I tried to veer more towards the positive than things like Eddie's death or RAW is Owen, because of course those were moments I'll never forget.

My list so far:

24. HHH’s Conan Entrance WMXXII

I was there live and I think even if I wasn’t it would remain my favorite entrance EVER.

21. Shane McMahon jumps off the Titantron

Not a huge Shane fan but I respect the hell out of him for the crazy OMG shit he does.

18. DX impersonating Vince & Shane

This is one of my favorite segments ever. Bar none. When Rogue and I get together we replay many of our favorite funny segments and laugh and laugh.

17. Roddrick Strong Joins UE April 7, 2018

Fuck the haters; I ADORE Undisputed Era and Roddy Strong is awesome, but he needed this stable. I didn’t see it coming and it happens so rarely nowadays that I felt it deserved to be on my list.

16. Chyna turns on HHH and joins the Corporation

I was a huge DX fan, HHH was great, but he’d be nothing without Chyna. She and HHH were the power couple of the WWF/E before HHH and Steph were. When she turned on him to join the Corporation I was legit stunned. Course it wouldn’t be long after that HHH would join her and the end of that incarnation of DX would occur along with the creation of the McMahon/Helmsley Era.

14. End of an Era: Undertaker/HBK/HHH aka HBK’s retirement – after WM26

For those of who grew up watching HHH/Taker and HBK this was truly a sign (or at least we thought it was) of the old guard passing the torch. Rogue and I were lucky enough to be there live to witness it. Very emotional moment as there was a surreal feeling in the air.


Ones that made my honorable mentions list (Ones that were cut and I did not send in)
1. Bret, Owen & Davey reunite The Hart Foundation - March 31st, 1997
3. The Milk Truck - Raw August 20th, 2001
4. Rock this is Your Life by Mankind
8. Stone Cold attacks Mr McMahon at the hospital and hits him with a bed pan

EDIT: I'm batting zero for #40 & 39

 

No one added Steiner math sometimes I feel I don't know you people.

Out of curiosity RT had Miss Kitty nude at Armageddon 99 made the top 40 would you have provided a video link?

I would have put Steiner math if I remembered it. But nope. I watch it once a month and still had no chance of recalling it.

I need to play memory improving games or something. I have zero memories of my childhood.

Nothing from even my big list in this batch but Austin returning to help The Rock end Triple H's GOAT title run at Backlash 2000 was a great moment while Luger showing up on the first Nitro was an important and memorable one. Scott Steiner's math promo certainly is something as well.

Sept 21, 2020 23:16:30 GMT X-zero said:

No one added Steiner math sometimes I feel I don't know you people.

Out of curiosity RT had Miss Kitty nude at Armageddon 99 made the top 40 would you have provided a video link?

I guess we'll never know.

Couple great moments in there but none from my list.

I'll let Emperor tackle the KENTA attacks because he'll do a better job of explaining why it was such a big deal and crazy heel move. Great shout there.

The Jay Lethal/Ric Flair thing is one for the ages. One of the funniest things to ever happen in a wrestling ring.

And The Man. THE MAN. God I love her. That image of her smirking at Rousey with blood all over her face is iconic.

How did two moments that I voted for get the same number of points? Or did someone else, maybe RT, vote for one of them?

The only one I had on the list for #38 was:

23. Rise of The Man: Becky leads SD against RAW and takes one for the team

This angle was done so well and even thought Nia Jaxx legit injured Becky, Becky came off looking like a bad ass and The Man was born.

I originally had the unification of the Mega Powers but cut it so we’ll call it #11 on my honorable mentions list.

I should have had that Cena shoot/work on Roman.  I forgot how awesome it was.  'You blame me.  Fine.  I blame you.  I'm still here because you can't do your job'.  :cena:  

I had the biggest brainfart of all time for my #10. I listed the Hart Foundation entrances as King of the Ring, when I meant Canadian Stampede. Had the match and date correct but somehow wrote KOTR.

10. Hart Foundation entrances (Hart Foundation vs. Austin/Shamrock/Goldust/LOD - WWF King of the Ring 7/6/97)

Which I imagine will be pretty high on the overall list and even higher if RT is able to fix my colossal cock-up.

Kazuchika Okada breaks down at Wrestle Kingdom 9



An unforgettable moment in modern pro-wrestling.

First, it is an important chapter in the long and memorable Tanahashi vs Okada feud, a rivalry that will go down as one of the greatest of all time. Tanahashi had ruled NJPW as The Ace for many years. Okada seemed poised to be the man to take him down. He had defeated Tanahashi on a few occasions, but never at Wrestle Kingdom. This was his second attempt, and it seemed Okada had improved enough to become the new Ace, but it wasn't his time. A crestfallen Okada, failing once again, walks out in tears. It would be another year before he got the win he had been seeking his entire career.

Second, to me this is the greatest example of a wrestler selling a loss. So often we believe that wins and losses don't matter, because they are presented to us like they don't matter. NJPW is particularly good at emphasising the consequences of losing a match, and this is the best example. Okada literally walked out of the arena in tears, in full view of the audience. How humbling. How embarrassing. Yet, as bad as it may sound for a fully grown pro-wrestler to cry, this made Okada an extremely sympathetic, relatable character, who cares deeply about what he does. That, to me, is more meaningful than a badass who shrugs off all losses because it's cool.



KENTA attacks Tetsuya Naito after Wrestle Kingdom 14

Gedo needed to have titanium balls to book this moment. Crowds don't riot in this day and age, especially in Japan, but this moment is about as close as you get in 2020.

The main event of the biggest show in NJPW, a show that had been expanded to two days. Much like Okada chasing Tanahashi, Naito had been chasing the elusive Tokyo Dome win over Okada for years. Finally he gets it. This is the moment all the fans have been waiting for basically ever since 2015, when Naito debuted his Ingobernable persona. Naito's coronation on the biggest stage, after his biggest victory. He talks to the crowd, in glee, and signs off his speech with his trademark Los Ingobernables Roll Call.

He doesn't get to finish his catchphrase. KENTA blindsides him in the final words, smirks to the irate crowd, hits Go 2 Sleep and sits on Naito's chest.



To translate this to America: imagine the end of Wrestlemania 30. Daniel Bryan is celebrating after defeating all of Evolution in one night. As he is celebrating, a random upper midcard heel (let's say The Miz) jumps Daniel Bryan, hits his finisher, and poses to close Wrestlemania.

That's exactly what NJPW did.

As a moment, it was unbelievable, but what was the payoff? Naito defends his title against KENTA a month later in a mediocre filler match to which everybody knew the result going in. I don't think that came close to justifying the moment.

But it happened, and it is a memorable moment, if for the wrong reasons.

Sept 22, 2020 19:09:56 GMT Strobe said:

I had the biggest brainfart of all time for my #10. I listed the Hart Foundation entrances as King of the Ring, when I meant Canadian Stampede. Had the match and date correct but somehow wrote KOTR.

10. Hart Foundation entrances (Hart Foundation vs. Austin/Shamrock/Goldust/LOD - WWF King of the Ring 7/6/97)

Which I imagine will be pretty high on the overall list and even higher if RT is able to fix my colossal cock-up.

I actually think I counted it as Canadian Stampede which explains why this one is lower than it should be had I counted it the way you submitted.

Something is weird here. I'll figure it out.

EDIT: Never mind, the points are right as you were the only vote, it's just the wrong show. I'll edit it.

There is another vote for a Canadian Stampede moment but it isn't the entrances. You were the only person that voted for it.

11. Lex Luger comes out on Nitro- Monday Nitro 9/4/95- This set the tone for the Monday Night wars where really anything could happen. Luger being one of the standard bearers for the New Generation suddenly jumping ship was massive. Through my cousin's WWF magazines I knew Luger hadn't vanished from sight as was the norm when someone departs. He was a featured part of the WWF's programming right up until the switch which made his appearance all the more shocking. Easily the most any of my wrestling buddies marked out for Lex Luger.

10. Megapowers Unite- Saturday Night's Main Event 10/3/87- Not long after the epic with Steamboat Randy Savage was starting to gain momentum as a face and very quickly became neck and neck with Hogan as he started to challenge HTM for the IC title. That angle on SNME was so beautifully executed with The Hart Foundation and HTM laying waste to Savage only for Elizabeth to run to the back and get Hulk Hogan. Hogan runs off the baddies then we get the most dramatic handshake in wrestling history, and most kids everywhere were on cloud 9 as the two strongest forces in the WWF are on the same side.

Flair vs Jay Lethal was hilarious and Steiner Math is another great shout, great moments in TNA history.

10. Hart Foundation beat Bulldogs for the WWF Tag Team Championship- I've told this story before but here it goes again....This was the first title change I ever saw. That was huge to me. I was so new to wrestling that I didn't even know titles could change hands. I must have just assumed champions were champions....forever. So I thought this was every bit as big as the Mets winning the World Series or the NY Giants triumphing in the Super Bowl. 

It's also a pretty brilliant segment. The dastardly Hart Foundation take Dynamite (who was shoot injured) out with a megaphone shot before the bell rings. Davey Boy valiantly fights the Hart Foundation in a de facto handicap match. Heel ref Danny Davis gets huge heat just for allowing the match to begin after Dynamite is attacked. He then officiates the match in his usual shady, heel friendly way. The numbers game coupled with a corrupt ref proves too much for the valiant Davey Boy and he eventually succumbs to a Hart Attack. The Hart Foundation get a major rub and Danny Davis is now a legit contender for most hated man in the company. He was publicly "banned for life" from refereeing a short time later by Jack Tunney.

Just a classic segment that happens to get bonus points for being one of the first truly great segments (and first title change) I ever saw. 

26. Hart Foundation Entrances At Canadian Stampede- I wimped out on this at the very last minute largely because I didn't want two moments from the same match on my list of 25. Yes, I was the person who voted for a different moment from this very same match.

But this is obviously great. It's probably been my 2nd most watched wrestling video since joining PW almost 8 years ago. This is the Hart Foundation returning home triumphant as conquering heroes. I love how the pops get progressively louder. Anvil comes out first. To a huge pop! But those pops only grow and grow until finally Bret Hart comes out last as the Calgary faithful just about blow the roof off the Saddledome. 

Alas, what followed makes this a bittersweet moment. Here they are on top of the world. Within 4 months it would all come crashing down. First Pillman tragically passes away. Then the Screwjob. And things arguably got even worse after that. From Triumph to Tragedy in 4 months. Sad.

RT clearly rigging this thing to be anti-Brock.

Gif of latest moment is like the ONLY gif I have yet bothered to edit into #BROCKTOBER, and that was like a year ago!

ANYWAY... I got your back, bro.

Jay Lethal's Flair impression. Flair may be one of the best performers ever since I was convinced Lethal caused him to completely break down he was so flustered.


Becky lead Smackdown assault on Raw. I am guessing someone else put in on their list but not that high for it to get here. That one of the most badass moments to take down Raw's unstoppable champion then walk into enemy territory alone.

I knew 🤯 would come up big.

Every video that I found was a confrontation on Raw. I couldn't find anything from their Summerslam match. And the one video on YouTube that showed Rollins in rib tape was from Raw and heavily edited. So yeah. I tried.

First big surprise of the countdown for me, the placement of Dolph Ziggler's cash-in. If I remember correctly it placed very high last time we did this, possibly in the top 10. I think recency bias played a factor back then.

I had it in my personal honourable mentions but it didn't make my top 25.

Also, fun fact: a young RT was present at Summerslam 2004 for Randy Orton's title win. But I was mad because I was cheering for Chris Benoit. :lol:

Hangman Page and Jake Hager's bar fight was the highlight of that match, and a highlight of AEW as a whole.

Still would be nowhere near my top moments list.

10. Randy Orton wins WHC at 24 at SS 2004 (Breaking record previously held by Brock Lesnar )

Always been a big RKO fan and although I loved me some Benoit and was kind of hoping they'd wait to turn Randy face and strap the title on him, I was thrilled nonetheless. Of course the next part of the story saw Randy struggling to get over as a face and finding his way solo without Evolution and some lackluster matches vs HHH.

Sept 23, 2020 18:14:22 GMT iron maiden said:

10. Randy Orton wins WHC at 24 at SS 2004 (Breaking record previously held by Brock Lesnar )

Always been a big RKO fan and although I loved me some Benoit and was kind of hoping they'd wait to turn Randy face and strap the title on him, I was thrilled nonetheless. Of course the next part of the story saw Randy struggling to get over as a face and finding his way solo without Evolution and some lackluster matches vs HHH.

As much as I was sour at the outcome, the match itself was very good. Benoit brought the best out in Orton in that match, and that finish was so good. Very underrated. The way Randy dodged the Crossface all match then slipped out of it, spinning into the RKO immediately, was really well done.

I had good seats too. We were about the 12th row behind JR and King. We couldn't hear them but it was cool to see them selling everything happening in the ring.

Also we got a good view of Orton with the title. I got a pretty good picture but I have no idea where it would be or if I even still have it.

Sept 23, 2020 15:31:29 GMT RT said:

Ludvig Borga ends Tatanka's undefeated streak

I can't find any video on this.

lol Which one of you weirdos voted for a moment so obscure that poor RT couldn't even find a video for it?

Oh wait. It was me. Of course it was. And here is the video.... 


*Skip ahead to 10:40 for the finishing stretch. Stay for the ***** post match angle and learn how to sell a PPV in the process.

9. Ludvig Borga ends Tatanka's undefeated streak- Seeing this on the 1993 Halloween weekend edition of Superstars was HUGE to me. Allow me to explain why....

Borga & Tatanka were set to be on opposing sides at the upcoming Survivor Series PPV. Borga was still a relative noob, but one who got red hot in a hurry (at least among my peers and I) as an anti-American heel feuding with top babyface Lex Luger. The Evil Finn was basically a wrestling version of Ivan Drago, but with better mic skills. "Brock with better mic skills" also works as a description for Borga. Borga was undefeated, but had only been with the company for around 3 months....

Tatanka, on the other hand, had been undefeated on tv for a whopping 21 months. As best I can remember, this is the longest undefeated streak of my wrestling watching life. For comparison sake, Ultimate Warrior had been on tv for approximately 17 months before suffering his first defeat. Goldberg's legendary undefeated streak lasted around 15 months. Alex Wright about 8 months. Ahmed & Brock only a little over 7 months. Tatanka trumps them all. Oh, and Tatanka was basically Luger's #2....Lex's best friend and most trusted lieutenant in the All Americans' war with Ludvig Borga's Foreign Fanatics.

I had been conditioned to expect a Tatanka win after 21 months of seeing nothing but Tatanka wins. At most, we might get a schmozz finish with Borga's Foreign Fanatic friends interfering. Nope. Borga won! And he did so by pinning Tatanka with one finger! WHOA! Mind blown!

Now I was already a Borga believer. He was a total badass. But this had me thinking he might just be unbeatable. We're talking baddest man on the planet.....Taz before Taz. He pinned Tatanka with one finger!!!! Tatanka! The man who had spent 21 months beating all the greats- The Model! The Mountie! Michaels! Bigelow! And more! 

I was shocked watching this alone in my own home. But as a heel-loving Borga fan it was the good kind of shocked. I can only imagine the reactions of my Borga-hating friends. Can't help thinking they would have reacted similarly to that one meme guy when Brock beat 'Taker at WM 30. Borga beating Tatanka with one finger was that shocking. 

*Nothing else from this batch made my list. 

9. Chyna enters Royal Rumble 1999

As previously mentioned I adored Chyna. Very sad to see how far she fell after her tenure, because at the time I believe she was as big of a name as any during the Attitude Era.

Chyna not only being the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble but also win, was a sign of things to come for female wrestling fan such as myself. Sure, she was more of a character than a wrestler, but no one can say she didn't pave the way and open doors that had once been closed to women.


And here's where I beg the rasslin' gods for forgiveness. Bret Hart being my ALL TIME favorite wrestler and winning the IC Championship at WM8 was a huge moment for me. I can't believe I forgot it!!! Shame!!!!

Chyna didn't win the Royal Rumble?

EDIT: She totally should have though!

You are right. My bad. Edited.

Wait I don't remember this match. Did they reverse the decision or something?

Sept 24, 2020 18:09:44 GMT iron maiden said:

You are right. My bad. Edited.

I bet you're thinking of the Corporate Rumble from RAW, which I think she won to earn the #30 spot in the real Rumble or something?

Sept 24, 2020 18:45:04 GMT 🤯 said:

Sept 24, 2020 18:09:44 GMT iron maiden said:

You are right. My bad. Edited.

I bet you're thinking of the Corporate Rumble from RAW, which I think she won to earn the #30 spot in the real Rumble or something?

Yes. That's exactly what I was thinking.

So is the clip I posted the corporate rumble? I'm so lost.

8. Quebecers win tag titles from the Steiners
Fun Fact: Much-put-upon 1993 WWF had the most moments on my list at 3.

I started watching wrestling in 1987. Until 95-96 I rarely noticed when wrestlers disappeared. Out of sight, out of mind. The best example of this is not even realizing The Ultimate Warrior left WWF for over 7 months in 91-92. Didn't find out until I read about it 4 years later in the magazines.

"The Mountie" Jacques Rougeau was one of the rare exceptions to this rule. I didn't think in terms of all time favorite wrestler back then, but Jacques would have been a strong contender if I had. Top 5 for sure. So I felt his absence both when the Rougeau Brothers vanished, and then again when The Mountie disappeared. It may have been in the back of my mind, but for some 9 months I'd always hope for a Mountie return when I tuned into Superstars, Challenge, or Raw on those extremely rare occasions when I happened to be at a house with cable which wasn't inhabited by a wrestling hater.

And then he did! In a new tag team called The Quebecers with a new partner named Pierre. I was thrilled! They instantly because Baker Guys because, duh, Jacques Rougeau. They were great squashers with an amazing theme. OK, so I didn't get the whole "we're not the Mounties" thing. "Why do they dress like Mounties if they're not the Mounties??"- 1993 Baker. Who didn't realize they were mocking the Mounties. It wasn't just the Jacques Rougeau Show either. I quickly realized the new guy Pierre was pretty damn cool, too. I obviously wanted them to be tag team champs. Preferably forever.

But they debuted cold. No hype. No vignettes. Nor were they in any feuds. I had been watching wrestling long enough to realize they weren't really going anywhere. Maybe one day they would, but that theoretical day in the sun was still far away. They were just decimating jobbers in entertaining ways on a near-weekly basis and then was fine enough for now. 

Then it happened. They were booked against tag champs, the Steiners, in a Province of Quebec Rules Match on Raw. I can't imagine thinking The 'becers were going to win no matter how much I wanted them to. This wasn't even a feud. It had no more or less hype than any other semi big Raw main event. Plus the Steiners were good guys who were booked strong in an era where strongly booked good guys usually won. 

You can all see where this is going. The Quebecers took full advantage of the ludicrous Province of Quebec Rules to steal a victory. The whole thing is a masterpiece in gloriously booked sports entertainment b.s. and you should all watch it. Even stupid WWE considered it one of the Top 50 Raw matches of all time as recently as a few years ago.

In 2 months the Quebecers achieved what the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers never did....and NEEEWWWW Tag Team Champions! I can't imagine there was anybody outside the Province of Quebec who was happier than young, Jacques Rougeau-loving Baker. 

Sorry for the delay. I was working at a Government of Canada site today and it was a research centre that didn't allow cell phones or any electronics of any kind. Was a boring day, except for all the cool shit I got to see. I'll post some extra stuff this weekend to make up for it and speed this along.

...

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. The Dudley Boyz turn on Right To Censor
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Finn Balor attacks Johnny Gargano
13. The Hardy Boyz return at Wrestlemania 33
14. CM Punk signs his WWE contract on the ROH World title
15. The Milk Truck
16.
17.
18. Shane McMahon is the owner of WCW
21.
22.
21. Paul Heyman confronts Mr. McMahon before Survivor Series 2001
22. Chris Jericho enters the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 12
23. Hiromu Takahashi returns from injury; confronts Will Ospreay
24. The Dudley Boyz return after Summerslam 2015
25. Seth Rollins cashes in at Wrestlemania 31

The Dudley Boyz suckering RTC is a major moment for me. I voted it high last time we did this and it hasn't fallen down my list much over the years. It was one of my biggest mark out moments ever.

They're my favourite tag team ever, which is obvious from the fact I have two of their moments on my list. Also it was one of the only times I saw my dad mark out. We watched wrestling together often, but most of the time it was just a way for him to spend time with me. He liked it, don't get me wrong. He's the reason I got into it. But there wasn't much that got him actually excited. He liked Stone Cold, but I can only think of one time he laughed or cheered when Austin did something (a moment a couple of us voted for that is yet to come).

He also liked The Dudley Boyz. And this was the one time he actually yelled "YES!" or whatever it is he yelled when Bubba turned to Stevie Richards and said "..then I don't want to be right!" and decked him. We both cheered in the living room and as Bubba stared into Richards' eyes and yelled "D-VON!!!" we both sat up and were 100% into it. We both even yelled "GET THE TABLES!!"

I'm getting goosebumps right now thinking about it. That was one of the best moments I've ever had both watching wrestling and with my dad.