Al

Sting/Vader is an easy pick. The only problem I have is that I feel like I have to pick one, and they had several equally great matches.

From what I've seen of other channels, my impression is that classic footage doesn't appeal to the masses. ESPN Classic has become an extremely marginalized channel, frequently falling off basic cable packages. The MLB Network had a wealth of classic games its first year but has shown only one classic game in full in the last six months. My gut feeling is that a WWE channel would contain more things like repeats of the John Morrison or John Cena bios. Current programming endlessly replayed.

Personally, I would've been annoyed that it was often four foreign object spots followed by that suplex as a finish. Any wrestling move felt like a lame finish after say, a DDT into a guardrail.

Some matches fit several categories. I'll try and come with with a different match for each. I've only got 10 minutes so I can't do many details. (FWIW, I do consider Andre/Hansen a great match as well.) Must see cage match- Bret Hart vs Owen Hart. Probably the best match to make use of the escape rules. Santana vs. Valentine might qualify for the finish. Must see high flyers match- The Michinoku Pro six man from Barely Legal? The problem is that old matches don't wow and new matches aren't well paced. Must see match with blood- I'll go Hokuto/Kandori here. Must see mat work- Let me get back to this. Must see gimmick match- Sabu/Sheik vs Goto/Onita. A must see match for non-traditional reasons. A gimmick match gone wrong. Must see world title bout- Steamboat vs Flair, Clash VI. Must see 1970s match- Funk v Tsuruta Must see 1980s match- Slaughter v Iron Sheik, Boot Camp Match. Odd that this match is widely unseen while the Slaughter/Sheik feud is legendary. Must see 1990s match- Bret v Austin, WM XIII. Must see tag match- Steamboat/Youngblood v Slaughter/Iron Sheik

It sounds silly, but considering Jericho's lineage I could actually see him as the Goon.

Probably semantics here, but I don't think "you can see a video package or magazine article" can be a reason for disqualifying a match. Particularly highlights. The match existed to create those highlights. That a match was just a great atmosphere, I could see that argument. But without atmosphere, Matsumoto/Nagayo becomes somethings that's simply maybe a little too disturbing to watch. It's important.

Hogan/Andre is on my list, actually.

Yeah, it is historic. For that matter now that I think of it, Bockwinkel/Hogan from Super Sunday may be an important addition to the list as well.

I've gone 53 deep on my own list so far. A match from anyone's recommendations not listed isn't necessarily a rejection. I haven't seen everything and there are some matches I'm unsure of. 1. Andre/Maeda 2. Morton/Gilbert vs Fuchi/Onita (Concession Stand Brawl) 3. Lawler v Funk (Empty Arena) 4. Andre v Hansen 5. Flair v Von Erich (Christmas 82) 6. MS-1 v Chicana 7. Piper v Valentine 8. Hogan v Iron Sheik 9. Duggan v Dibiase (Tuxedo, Coal Miners Glove Cage Match) 10. Matsumoto v Nagayo 11. Flair v Morton (cage) 12. Steamboat v Savage (WM III) 13. Flair v Sting (Clash I) 14. Steamboat v Flair (Clash VI) 15. Warrior v Hogan 16. Flair v Funk (I Quit) 17. Steiners v Sting/Luger 18. Hart v Perfect (Summerslam) 19. Royal Rumble 1992 20. Wargames 1992 21. Bulldog v Hart (Summerslam 92) 22. Hokuto v Kandori 23. Hart v Hart (WM X) 24. Ramon v Michaels (WM X) 25. Cactus v Funk (Death Match Finals) 26. Pitbulls v Raven/Richards 27. Michaels v Mankind 28. Santo/Casas v Guerrero/Barr (AAA When Worlds Collide) 29. Misawa v Kawada (6/3/94) 30. Beulah v Alfonso 31. Michaels v Undertaker (HIAC) 32. Misterio v Guerrero (Halloween Havoc) 33. Sting v Hogan (Starrcade) 34. Goldberg v Hogan 35. Triple H v Foley (Rumble) 36. Undertaker v Mankind (HIAC) 37. Angle v Benoit (Rumble) 38. Guerrero v Lesnar 39. Guerrero v Layfield (GAB '04) 40. Slaughter v Iron Sheik (June '84) 41. Steamboat/Youngblood v Slaughter/Kernodle (Cage Match) 42. Magnum v Blanchard (I Quit) 43. Sammartino v Zbyszko (Cage) 44. Hogan v Andre (WM III) 45. Austin v Rock (WM XVII) 46. Hart v Austin (WM XIII) 47. Brody/Snuka v Funks (12/13/81) 48. Hogan/Hall/Nash v Savage/Luger/Sting 49. Guerrero v Layfield (Judgment Day '04) 50. Andre v Wepner 51. Backlund v Patera (Texas Death Match) 52. Harts/Neidhart/Bulldog/Pillman v Austin/LOD/Goldust/Shamrock 53. Road Warriors v Midnight Express (Starrcade '86) Hokuto/Kandori absolutely a great match. I read the thread in the 1993 Yearbook folder. The youtube link I watched translated Hokuto's speech near the beginning of the match. The heat by the two is done so well that you don't even need the backstory. You're hooked.

How about the 1950s-60s. Are there matches existing on video that are historically significant? Perhaps Rogers-O'Connor and Rikidozan-Blassie.

You could definitely make it into a project. You'd need to clarify a couple of things as a group. Basically, how big you want the list to be, and what constitutes inclusion onto the list. (i.e. 75% agree, something like that). As far as your own list of 310. Definitely good stuff on the list. A lot of stuff I haven't seen. There are some matches that don't stand out for me. Adonis/Murdoch vs Inoki/Fujinami for example. Fine match from a wrestling standpoint. But what elevates it into a must-see match? Just being a great match doesn't cut it for me, unless it's the very cream of the crop. That is, a match that on its own merits qualifies as a contender for top 10, ever. Otherwise it has to have something interesting in the background about it. At least in my opinion.

Big Daddy is the greatest wrestler ever. I suggest you watch hours and hours of his matches.

My ideal list would number about 100 or so. I think each match needs something compelling behind it beyond the match. Something like Muraco/Snuka, a mediocre match that exploded into myth, that might make the cut. I definitely agree with Hokuto/Kandori having watched that match now. Andre/Wepner, that would merit consideration if someone actually had a copy.

Any list of WWF matches has to include Warrior/Savage from WM VII.

Dory's most significant matches are probably teaming with Terry in the Tag League finals.

Without being aware of the background of this match (which I'm going to watch on Youtube), can you fill me in? Is there a review you've done?

Footage has to exist. I'm not asking about stuff you haven't seen, but matches you think all wrestling fans should see.

I thought this would be an interesting list and I'd like to get some input. Essentially I would like to compile a list of "must see" matches. The matches that ultimately define wrestling and its history. What I'm looking for is not a comprehensive list of "five star" matches. Rather, matches that are representative of workers, styles, promotions, countries, what have you. Such a list would include great matches, but also great angles, memorable moments, perhaps great crowds or big houses. Misawa/Kawada (6/3/94) would make the list, but also Hogan/Andre from Wrestlemania III, and the Von Erich/Flair cage match. (You may not agree with them, just demonstrating some examples.) So what are your "must see" matches?

I heard John Cena made a speech off air after the show. I'm waiting for Irving Mushnick to answer when WWE knew.

According to Cawthon's site Volkoff made his first WWF appearance that year on July 31. Volkoff wrestled two Superdome shows, in November of '83 and April of '84. Volkoff did not wrestle at all in the WWF in 1983. So it would appear Volkoff wrestled in Mid-South, finished up and signed with Vince.

The soap opera style of storytelling is quite prevailant these days. Watch any WB drama and its the same thing really, just geared toward teens. The daytime soaps are their own animal and dying out, but it doesn't spell doom for the style.

As far as house shows, I think a bunch of those arenas had their own rings and such that they used. (I'm definitely thinking the Boston Garden's wooden ring steps here.) Those arenas probably kept their own cages in storage as well. I'm just making an educated guess, but I think it took Vince and company several years before they started carrying their own gear to every single stop.

A couple years ago I ate at a Cracker Barrel before attending a house show and I ended up walking right past Edge into a mens room. After I came out Edge was outside talking to some kids and their parents, taking pictures. Extremely pleasant.

I'm guessing it had to do either with television cameras or the slow climb dynamic. Probably the latter.

Figured out the Lawler/Cole match the other day and the way it should've gone. Cole Miner's Glove Match. You get a play on words with the cole mine and you get a gimmick match. From there, the big finish is a second rope fistdrop with the glove. Easy and effective.