10 Great Matches Starring Dud Wrestlers

4. Mankind Vs. The Big Show - WWF Backlash 1999

Sid Shawn Michaels Survivor Series 1996
WWE Network

It would be pithy to describe The Big Show, taking the whole of his career into consideration, as a dud - but he damn sure was in 1999.

A fattened husk of the man who could perform a Moonsault back in 1997 (sadly but understandably, nobody was willing to take it), Show's conditioning was so shoddy that he was sent to a weight loss farm early on in his gigantically disappointing early WWF career.

His non-gimmicked singles matches were uniformly rotten - but he had the help of a unique stipulation and and an opponent who was selfless to a fault here. The chaotic backstage environment allowed the WWF to depict him in a more positive light than they had done previously. Show at one point lifts heavy-looking table with jaw-dropping ease, before naturally cracking Foley over the head with it.

There's one glaring botch. Show at one point inadvertently traps Foley under some staging, which would have allowed him to win the match by escaping the boiler room in which it was contested - but it wasn't finished, so he senselessly lifted it up.

That can be forgiven since Foley then smashes Show in the face with a pane of glass, in the sort of spot which, while guilty, is a pleasure nonetheless.

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!