10 Embarrassing Matches Wrestling Stars Want You To Forget

7. Bret Hart Vs. Bob Backlund - WWF WrestleMania XI

Shawn Michaels
WWE.com

Incredibly, this was almost duller than their Survivor Series slog, and it was a third of the length.

Bob Backlund may forever remain Vince McMahon's most inexplicable decision, because he decided to push him as a key star amid a New Generation conceived to rid the WWF of the old-timey feeling he reckoned Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage cultivated. This was *before* Vince went mad.

Backlund was a WWWF headliner. It was all so odd. Backlund was almost the manifestation of the old Vince Sr. guy that Vince Jr. wanted to shift away from - a bland-looking technician - and yet, here he was. He must have came cheap. It is the only rational explanation; indeed, Vince on commentary revealed that Backlund "lives just in the shadow of Hartford, Connecticut". Perhaps he brought him in because he didn't have to spring for a flight.

Special guest ref Roddy Piper, presumably as bored as everybody else, asked both men "WHADDAYASAY?!" every time they were in a position of vague peril, in this I Quit match, in a desperate attempt to will the f*cking finish into existence.

A lot of laying about and f*ck all else, this was the night Shawn Michaels convinced Vince that he was the next big babyface to build around. The most lurid story in WWF history opened with its most tedious chapter.

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!