10 Best Wrestling Matches That Ever Happened In New York City

Hardcore wrestling may have gained popularity in the 1990s, but it certainly wasn't invented during the Attitude Era, or even by ECW prior to WWE's mainstream adoption of the style. For decades prior to that time period, wrestlers were having bloody brawls all around the country. Even WWE, which was considered a more family-friendly territory prior to becoming a global entity, got in on the extreme action.

First: some background. Even though Sgt. Slaughter is remembered as one of the most beloved babyfaces in WWE history, he was once a hated heel (and not just during that stupid Iraqi sympathizer gimmick). In 1980, Slaughter came to WWE as a bad guy, offering $5,000 to any wrestler who could break his Cobra Clutch hold. When he called popular babyface Pat Patterson "yellow" and upped the ante to $10,000, Patterson took him up on the offer. Just when Patterson seemed to be about to break the hold though, Slaughter released it and started beating the first Intercontinental Champion down.

That made Slaughter even more hated, and two faced off in an "Alley Fight" at Madison Square Garden. In that match, the rules went right out the window. Patterson came out swinging and took the early advantage, but Slaughter went to town on Patterson with a belt. Patterson came back with a catapult into the corner, leading to one of the nastiest bladejobs in WWE history by Slaughter. Patterson kept working over Slaughter's wound, eventually taking off his boot and hitting him in the forehead. That finally forced Slaughter's manager to throw in the towel.