Top/Bottom 10 List Challenge

[tiger_rick]

Right, here's another idea that might die on it's arse. I've taked the best 10, worst 10 concept that everyone surely loves, crossed with the Ice Bucket challenge and come up with this. The idea being that if you get nominated, you write a top/bottom 10 list and then you challenge 2 other people with a topic that you've thought of. You can put timeframes, companies, etc into the challenges so it keeps it fresh and means no-one has to go googling Ed Strangler Lewis or something.

While we're waiting for the new lists, everyone else can tear apart the one that's been posted.

A little bit on each of your choices would be nice but you can write as much or as little as you like.

Since no-one asked, I gave myself my own category.

TOP 10 WWF RAW MATCHES OF THE 90S

1 - Bret Hart vs. 123 Kid - July 11th 1994

One of the best TV matches in the company's history, I think. Bret, despite being in the midst of his best run as babyface World Champion, leaned very subtely into being a bully, as he could easily do being the GOAT, and the plucky babyface Kid's work was so good that it created magic. Bret sold the frustration as the match went on at not being able to put Kid away and they created some convincing false finishes that had you questioning whether Kid might actually cause another upset. All the stars, this one.

2 - Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty - May 17th 1993

This was the first really outstanding episode of Raw as both of the most memorable moments of the year happened in the same hour. After 123 Kid upset Razor Ramon in a major angle, Marty Jannetty returned and beat Shawn Michaels for the IC Title in an absolute banger that pisses on their rather disappointing Royal Rumble match. The angle where Marty comes back is beautifully done but the match is everything you'd expect from both halves of one of the best tag teams of all the times.

3 - Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - April 21st 1997

Another mega episode of Raw and this match, at the height of their brilliant feud, was the main reason. It existed as a way to write Bret off for a little while and the work, considering he was hurt, was magnificent. It's more than just a match with the additional angles but all rolled into it, it's just fantastic work from both guys and Bret's lackies.

4 - Shawn Michaels/Steve Austin vs. British Bulldog/Owen Hart - May 26th 1997

Speaking of Bret's lackies, they're up next with one of the hottest Raw main events of all-time. Both Austin & Michaels were in long-term feuds with Bret Hart, and by extension the Hart Foundation, and Davey & Owen had been outstanding tag champs for the previous year or so, pretty much carrying the division. That all came together in a fairly impromptu match that was just sensational and played out in front of a rabid crowd. It was Shawn's first match back since he "lost his smile" and had a "career threatening knee injury" and he hadn't lost a step. His performance is incredible and makes a mockery of his time off while showing just how great he was before he embraced God and melodrama.

5 - Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon - August 1st 1994

Shawn and Razor had a rematch from WrestleMania 10 which went over 20 minutes and is really, really good. I think it's the most overlooked of their matches, due to no ladders being involved, but its a bit of a forgotten gem.

6 - Triple H vs. Mick Foley - September 22nd 1997

This was another great episode of Raw, being the night Steve Austin laid out Vince McMahon for the first time and it played out in MSG. Foley was busy making Triple H really matter for the first time in his career, and he'd do it again two and half years later, while Triple H was practising selling complete fear that Cactus Jack had turned up in the WWF. Again, he'd do that again in 2000. This was a wild falls count anywhere match, unlike most things the WWF had ever presented, and it still holds up as bloody brilliant on any rewatch.

7 - Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog - March 3rd 1997

These two were in the midst of the tag title run mentioned above but there was lots of tension between them right up until Bret Hart reunited the Hart Foundation a month later. What a coincidence then that they would end up in the final of the tournament to crown the inagural WWF European Champion. The tournament took place on the European tour and the final was recorded at a taping in Germany on February 26th. It's a real mat classic that's worked brilliantly as a match between two partners who are frustrated with each other but don't outright hate each other. 

8 - Ric Flair vs. Mr. Perfect - January 25th 1993

A lot of people might have this one higher. I really like it but not as much as some. It's definitely the first really good match in Raw's history and was way better than most things in Flair's WWF run but it just suffers a little bit from a lack of chemistry. I think that's because both guys are natural heels and natural sellers and is why Perfect's matches with Michaels were never as good as you'd think.

9 - Bret Hart vs. Hakushi - July 24th 1995

This is less than ten minutes and falls just short of their brilliant IYH match but it's a real Bret masterclass that is worth going out of your way to see.

10 - The Rock vs. Mick Foley - January 4th 1999

This one might annoy people who think it should be higher but I just don't think the wrestling is anything special. That doesn't really matter though because the atmosphere, the overall angle and the reactions to the Steve Austin run-in and Mick winning are just incredible. I nearly included Steve Austin vs. Kane from the night after KOTR 98 for similar reasons but I think this moment is just far more special.

I challenge @Supremo to list the "Top 10 Sami Zayn moments"

and @wandshogun09 to list the "Worst 10 wrestlers WCW ever pushed"

Enjoy!

[AshC]

Some absolutely stellar choices, here.

I had somehow forgotten about that Austin and Michaels vs Bulldog and Owen match and need to rewatch it sharpish. 

Have a good friend who's mad on wrestling but, for some reason, has a block on anything pre-Attitude Era. Got them to watch the Bulldog vs Owen bout from Germany and even they thought it was great.