10 Best Opening 60 Seconds Of Wrestling Matches Ever

7. Diamond Dallas Page Vs. Goldberg - WCW Halloween Havoc 1998

DDP Goldberg WCW Halloween Havoc 1998
WWE.com

Making his second appearance on the list - he's hardly going to appear on 10 Classic Epic Matches That Went Over 40 minutes, is he? - that level of snark doesn't apply here.

This was something so intelligently crafted that it's wild to think it took place in post-Starrcade 1997 WCW. Goldberg wasn't a wrestler. He was an explosive, beastly force of nature who happened to be paid a pro wrestler's salary.

This was Goldberg being challenged to wrestle, and he did it, on this night at least, as well as anybody.

DDP is such a great babyface here. He knows he's physically outmatched, but he has the spirit and work ethic no other headliner in that company had. With the whites of his eyes bulging, he walks up to Goldberg, talks sh*t in his face, and challenges him to a collar-and-elbow tie-up. It is magnificent "Motherf*cker, let's wrestle" energy.

Goldberg accepts, and uses his raw strength to throw the back of Page's skull into the top turnbuckle. Page is undeterred. He flies straight back and forward, again and again, and after collecting himself, outwits Goldberg with an arm drag. It mutates into a fight with an awesome tumble from the ring, but Page secured a small victory for himself within 60 unbelievably thrilling seconds.

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!