10 Absolute Worst Matches In The History Of WrestleMania

4. Razor Ramon Vs. Bob Backlund - WrestleMania IX

Melina Ashley Massaro
WWE.com

WrestleMania IX was the most abysmal iteration of the Show of Shows.

Competition for worst match of the night was fierce, but plumbing depths well below a sea of absolute dross was Razor Ramon Vs. Bob Backlund. The latter had yet to adopt the heel role with which he carved out a memorable run. He made his entrance to the sound of silence; the lack of a theme was probably meant to underscore his old-school legitimacy, but it merely served to render him completely forgettable. Nobody remembered who he was.

The match only went 03:45, but Razor and Backlund wasted a full minute stalling, regardless, as if it were a house show. It didn't help that Backlund was paired with one of the few genuinely cool members of the roster. Every last facet of his act, from his thigh sweeps and hip tosses to his enthusiastic, jobber-tastic body language, was hopelessly anachronistic - even more so in unflattering comparison. Backlund, prior to his return, hadn't wrestled for the WWF since 1984. He was still stuck there, frozen in time - and he was passé back then.

"I've been drenched with beer. I've been drenched with soda. But I've never had a better time in my life," lied host Todd Pettengill through his teeth in the pre-match segment. He still sounded roughly 80% more sincere than Michael Cole.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!