8 Second Generation Wrestlers' Favourite Legacy Matches

8. Richie Steamboat - Ricky Steamboat

Richie Steamboat’s choice from his father’s excellent back catalogue is unlikely to shock anyone. One match transcends Steamboat’s personal bests onto the lists of all-time greatest wrestling matches – Steamboat vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania III. In the immediate aftermath both the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Pro Wrestling Illustrated awarded it Match of the Year 1987. Since then, its reputation has grown, and it is a much-lauded classic amongst wrestling aficionados.

In a 2016 interview with the In Your Head Wrestling Podcast, Richie described the bout as “arguably one of the best matches of all time”, adding:

“Just being able to grow up in his shadow has been amazing […] He’s definitely one of the best in the business. I’m not saying that because he was my dad, he truly has mastered the art form of professional wrestling.”

The match is a product of its time; however, it has elements of everything you look for in a pro-wrestling classic – technical finesse, strength, speed, agility, combined with the usually polar opposite in-ring techniques of brawling and mind games. The match was well paced with innovation after innovation providing a pop before anyone really had the chance to grow tired of any element.

Even a referee bump, roll-up finish, and George Steele’s sopping back hair couldn’t dampen the magic of the Macho Man and the Dragon.