10 Greatest WWE TV Matches Ever

8. Bret Hart Vs. The 1-2-3 Kid - RAW (July 1, 1994)

HBK Cena
WWE

Rightfully lauded as the modern day babyface vs. babyface template, this landmark match - contested for Hart’s WWF title during an era in which challengers of Sean Waltman’s slight proportions were completely unprecedented - rewards a focused viewing as much as it thrills on an athletic level.

Bret's use of facial expression was exceptional in the opening exchanges; having been out-chain wrestled by the underdog challenger, he acknowledged that fact by begrudgingly raising his eyebrows in recognition before launching into an assault not exactly befitting of his status as the company's top face. He redeemed himself by refusing to accept the tainted win following the false finish, after which the Kid donned the black hat by catching the champion off-guard to initiate the action-packed and massively suspenseful final stretch.

Those shifting character dynamics (it genuinely felt like two men in a fight out there, as opposed to characters occupying roles in predetermined combat) - in addition to the teased Owen Hart run-in - lent even more unpredictability to the stirring back and forth, which still holds up today despite the relatively unspectacular aerials on show.

It worked perfectly in the environment of TV, much more so than it would have on pay-per-view. The WWF was fond of screaming "Anything can happen in the World Wrestling Federation!" at the time. Hart's selfless performances as WWF Champion rendered it more than a mere marketing ploy.

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!