Greatest Upsets In Professional Wrestling?

[rainmakerrtv]

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Vladimir Kozlov pinning the Undertaker clean as the proverbial sheet.

And on Smackdown too, wasn't it?

 

 

Yeah, this was mind boggling, I mean Taker has always had a history of being willing to put new guys over (Yokozuna in 1993, Mankind in 1996, Angle in 2000, Lesnar in 2002, hell, even Khali in 2006 - which was comparable to Brock squashing Cena at Summerslam this year) on big stages, but this was a random throwaway episode of Smackdown. What's more weird is how the finish came across. Kozlov countered the Old School into a Powerslam and pinned Taker. It came across like Taker simply fucked up, rather than Kozlov actually defeating him. An upset nonetheless, as nobody expected Kozlov to go over.

 

 

It was a kind of strange path to the Shawn Michaels/Undertaker Mania match. Kozlov beats Undertaker, then a short time later, Michaels beats Kozlov, so there is a bit of buzz going in of "Michaels defeated the guy that Undertaker couldn't beat." Then a few weeks later, Undertaker beat Kozlov so the whole thing was meaningless.

[WingedEagle]

Leaving aside fluky upsets like Santino, how many of these really, actually shocked you when they happened? No argument that plenty were upsets, but most seem to be along the lines of "I expect X to win, but Y has a shot." Brock/Taker really the only one where I went in with the outcome a foregone conclusion.

[shakla]

Leaving aside fluky upsets like Santino, how many of these really, actually shocked you when they happened? No argument that plenty were upsets, but most seem to be along the lines of "I expect X to win, but Y has a shot." Brock/Taker really the only one where I went in with the outcome a foregone conclusion.

 

The Iaukea/Regal TV title match on Nitro that I brought up would fall into this. Iaukea was barely above jobber level at that point and had no hype coming into the match.

 

Maybe the first Barry Horowitz WWF 1995 win as well.

[pol]

 

 

 

 

Kurt Angle defeats Hulk Hogan by Submission.

 

- I believe this was the first time in his career that Hogan had tapped out. It was a significant upset, given that Hogan was on a twilight megapush and had recently been the WWE Undisputed Champion. Meanwhile, Angle went cleanly over having just come out og a mid card feud with Edge.

 

Luger submitted him with the rack in '97.

Hogan submitted verbally though, so technically he's still right

[Memphis Mark]

The upset that springs to my mind is Jimmy Hart defeating " Golden Boy " Chic Donovan for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship . It only took Jimmy 5 seconds to upset. It was a great win for the President of the First Family.

 

Over time some people have made claims that Chic took a dive for Jimmy . I have never believe those lies . , The fact that Chic was the Vice President of the First Family did not have any bearing on the outcome. Also the fact that Chic had a broken leg did not aid Jimmy Hart in securing the pin. It was a clean flash pin by Hart . A major upset.

[Sidebottom]

No idea what was going on with Keiji Mutoh in 99/00, but here's another pretty big upset (IMO). Muta went down to Ernest Miller I believe at one point, although it involved some kind of interference. Had that been a clean pinfall victory, it would be like Rico defeating Ric Flair (which did actually happen).

 

Muto's 2000 was such a mess. From his awful look with beyond dodgy hair, injuries mounting effecting his performances - his stock was at his lowest. Then from out of nowhere he rebounds, reinvents and has an incredible 2001.

[iamthedoctor]

 

Has the Milan Miracle been mentioned?

 

Santino over Umaga for the IC title?

 

Come on... This match was Bobby Lashley destroying Umaga with a chair, spearing him, then holding Santino over him for the pinfall! They gotta be clean victories, no outside interference, etc.

 

Kurt Angle defeats Hulk Hogan by Submission.

 

- I believe this was the first time in his career that Hogan had tapped out. It was a significant upset, given that Hogan was on a twilight megapush and had recently been the WWE Undisputed Champion. Meanwhile, Angle went cleanly over having just come out og a mid card feud with Edge.

 

 

That one irritated me no end seeing the over babyface Hogan submit. My Kurt Angle action figure deffinately got a sound beating after that PPV was over. Back then didnt even see what the point was in Hogan jobbing to Angle after he dropped the belt the previous month.

 

Yet Vince and co wanted me to actually believe Hulk wasent jobbing to Brock 2 months later.

[Fantastic]

 

No idea what was going on with Keiji Mutoh in 99/00, but here's another pretty big upset (IMO). Muta went down to Ernest Miller I believe at one point, although it involved some kind of interference. Had that been a clean pinfall victory, it would be like Rico defeating Ric Flair (which did actually happen).

 

Muto's 2000 was such a mess. From his awful look with beyond dodgy hair, injuries mounting effecting his performances - his stock was at his lowest. Then from out of nowhere he rebounds, reinvents and has an incredible 2001.

 

 

Possibly one of the greatest comebacks of all time?

[Sidebottom]

I'd certainly put forth an argument for a top 5 on that one.

[Dwide Schrude]

Duane Gill over Christian

 

Do people really think Lesnar/UT was an upset? I don't want to sound like the guy that pretends to have known it all after the fact, but I recall on this board alone a whole of people saying Lesnar was probably going to go over (UT getting old and Lesnar being a part timer helped the fact that WWE wouldn't have a chance to ruin the rub he got from the win right away).

[iamthedoctor]

Which upset? Taker/Lesnar at mania or the HIAC match in 2003? Hated the Mania match because Brock didnt deserve or need the win. They should have saved it for someone who actually deserved it. Never really got why they just give Brock everything after he pissed them off when he quit because he didnt care about all the sacrifices people made to make him a star. In a way im glad Austin refused.

[Fantastic]

Which upset? Taker/Lesnar at mania or the HIAC match in 2003? Hated the Mania match because Brock didnt deserve or need the win. They should have saved it for someone who actually deserved it. Never really got why they just give Brock everything after he pissed them off when he quit because he didnt care about all the sacrifices people made to make him a star. In a way im glad Austin refused.

 

The Mania match obviously.

 

When Brock first quit, I don't think it was seen as an issue of disrespect, at least not until he turned around and demanded that WWE drop their no compete clause so he could wrestle in another promotion. That was probably the single and only big mistake he's made in business matters. The guy comes across as quite astute, he seems quite aware of his market value at any one time and is happy to wait for people to come to him.

 

I think a lot of the allowances Brock has been given, is down to the fact that Vince, Stephanie, Triple H, etc, seem to really like him. Specifically, they see him as a once-in-a-generation athlete, and a guy that fits that "larger than life" look to a tee. Brock's pretty meat and potato in his approach to business too, it seems. It's like:

 

"Here's my price, this is the schedule I'm willing to work, and here's a couple of additional requests I have (sponsor logos), if you agree to that, I'll perform to the highest standard I can, wrestle whoever you want me to wrestle, and lose to whoever you want me to lose to. If not, I'll be back home on my farm."

 

The guy seemingly had no issues with putting John Cena over in his first match back. He performs to a high level, and draws money. I think that Vince is the kind of guy that respects a guy who is simple, but firm in his business dealings. After all, Brock doesn't need WWE, he's an incredibly wealthy man already, he could retire tomorrow and live out the rest of his life on his farm, never wanting for anything.

[WingedEagle]

Rewatched the finish of Lesnar/Taker today. Very comfortable saying I've never seen a crowd that shocked at a finish. They weren't yawning after that last F-5, but were simply waiting for something else to bridge things to Undertaker winning. Then he lost and it was the wrestling version of Chris Webber calling a timeout he didn't have, Charles Smith blowing 4 layups or Leon Lett. Just incredible.

 

Were the announcers tipped to the finish before it happened or no?

[funkdoc]

oh yeah has anyone mentioned sika jobbing clean to SD jones? that was not too long after sika's title shot on SNME, i think...not significant but more of an all-time "WTF" job and fall from grace imo. just the starkest illustration of the hogan heel formula i can think of.

[BigBadMick]

 

Which upset? Taker/Lesnar at mania or the HIAC match in 2003? Hated the Mania match because Brock didnt deserve or need the win. They should have saved it for someone who actually deserved it. Never really got why they just give Brock everything after he pissed them off when he quit because he didnt care about all the sacrifices people made to make him a star. In a way im glad Austin refused.

 

The Mania match obviously.

 

When Brock first quit, I don't think it was seen as an issue of disrespect, at least not until he turned around and demanded that WWE drop their no compete clause so he could wrestle in another promotion. That was probably the single and only big mistake he's made in business matters. The guy comes across as quite astute, he seems quite aware of his market value at any one time and is happy to wait for people to come to him.

 

I think a lot of the allowances Brock has been given, is down to the fact that Vince, Stephanie, Triple H, etc, seem to really like him. Specifically, they see him as a once-in-a-generation athlete, and a guy that fits that "larger than life" look to a tee. Brock's pretty meat and potato in his approach to business too, it seems. It's like:

 

"Here's my price, this is the schedule I'm willing to work, and here's a couple of additional requests I have (sponsor logos), if you agree to that, I'll perform to the highest standard I can, wrestle whoever you want me to wrestle, and lose to whoever you want me to lose to. If not, I'll be back home on my farm."

 

The guy seemingly had no issues with putting John Cena over in his first match back. He performs to a high level, and draws money. I think that Vince is the kind of guy that respects a guy who is simple, but firm in his business dealings. After all, Brock doesn't need WWE, he's an incredibly wealthy man already, he could retire tomorrow and live out the rest of his life on his farm, never wanting for anything.

 

Seemingly, he might have http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/30283-proposed-finish-to-lesnarcena-1/

 

Never really heard much more on this - anyone know the truth?

[GSR]

Not a full on upset, but I watched Brad Armstrong go to a time limit draw against Jushin Liger on an episode of Saturday Night from 1992 recently.

[Al]

A week plus of contemplation, for my money it has to be Kid/Razor.

 

-Ramon was a pushed heel at the time.

 

-The Kid had been introduced as jobber fodder two weeks prior, with absolutely no fanfare.

 

-The WWF had never pushed a wrestler of Kid's stature. As much as they were starting to push smaller wrestlers like Bret Hart, wrestlers of that size never, ever beat bigger wrestlers.

[iamthedoctor]

A week plus of contemplation, for my money it has to be Kid/Razor. -Ramon was a pushed heel at the time. -The Kid had been introduced as jobber fodder two weeks prior, with absolutely no fanfare. -The WWF had never pushed a wrestler of Kid's stature. As much as they were starting to push smaller wrestlers like Bret Hart, wrestlers of that size never, ever beat bigger wrestlers.

 

Ill agree on this. That was shocking mind you WWE didnt show his matches in the UK vs Doink & Hughes so this was the first time I had seen him.

 

Kid/Dibiase seemed a more shocking thing for me from Challenge.

[shakla]

I'm still set on the Regal/Prince Iaukea Nitro TV title match in 2/1997. Iaukea was maybe half a step above total jobber status at that point, the only TV win I found for him before this was against the Gambler on Saturday Night. Plus, a title changed hands and it was live.

[C.S.]

I'm still set on the Regal/Prince Iaukea Nitro TV title match in 2/1997. Iaukea was maybe half a step above total jobber status at that point, the only TV win I found for him before this was against the Gambler on Saturday Night. Plus, a title changed hands and it was live.

 

But what did it mean after? Nothing. WWE has always been better about making their big moments matter, not only at the time, but for years after the fact. 1-2-3 Kid became a huge star because of it, and it's constantly touted as a great Raw moment, etc. Iaukea is barely remembered today. I think that's why no one else is jumping on Iaukea/Regal as any kind of big deal, because it ultimately wasn't.

[The Chief]

 

 

I'm still set on the Regal/Prince Iaukea Nitro TV title match in 2/1997. Iaukea was maybe half a step above total jobber status at that point, the only TV win I found for him before this was against the Gambler on Saturday Night. Plus, a title changed hands and it was live.

But what did it mean after? Nothing. WWE has always been better about making their big moments matter, not only at the time, but for years after the fact. 1-2-3 Kid became a huge star because of it, and it's constantly touted as a great Raw moment, etc. Iaukea is barely remembered today. I think that's why no one else is jumping on Iaukea/Regal as any kind of big deal, because it ultimately wasn't.

That's not the point. It was a big upset at the time, regardless of what happened after.

[GSR]

Not a full on upset, but I watched Brad Armstrong go to a time limit draw against Jushin Liger on an episode of Saturday Night from 1992 recently.

As an addendum to this, I've just seen Armstrong beat Liger clean with the Russian leg sweep on the 5.27.96 episode of WCW Prime.

[ButchReedMark]

Is it this match?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzy5k5pU6LM

[C.S.]

I always thought Brad Armstrong deserved a bigger push. I was glad to see him get it with the Light Heavyweight Title and awesome Pillman angle.

[iamthedoctor]

 

Not a full on upset, but I watched Brad Armstrong go to a time limit draw against Jushin Liger on an episode of Saturday Night from 1992 recently.

As an addendum to this, I've just seen Armstrong beat Liger clean with the Russian leg sweep on the 5.27.96 episode of WCW Prime.

 

 

Was Prime just a highlight show or did it have exclusive matches?