10 Images Showcasing Precise Moments Wrestlers Got Over

In which the hard part is made easy.

Shawn Michaels Marty Jannetty Barbershop window
WWE.com

"He isn't all the way over," was the phrase recently used by Steve Austin to describe the current plight of Seth Rollins in a challenging babyface role.

It's difficult to determine what, if anything, it will take for Rollins to reach a level at which he truly bonds with an audience receptive to - but not entirely in love with - his act. His entrance evokes pops. His matches have a sustained but only moderate degree of heat. There's no way to articulate it other than to say that something is missing. It might help if WWE affords him more freedom on the stick. It might help if he slims down a little; ironically, he was tipped as The Shield's breakout babyface act when he was a heel. His sharp and spectacular offence, now somewhat dulled, resonated hugely in those frenetic six-man tag classics.

Has his late 2015 ACL injury caused him to miss a step?

One thing is clear; if he reaches that babyface pinnacle, his path will follow that of a Goldberg - no one truly momentous victory or promo will put him over the edge, but rather trust earned through a steady build. If it's going to click, it will click. There doesn't seem to be an easy trigger to pull.

Not like the gentlemen included herein...

10. The Ironic Dumpster Fire Of '98

Shawn Michaels Marty Jannetty Barbershop window
WWE Network

As origin stories go, the formation of the New Age Outlaws is fairly inauspicious. Rockabilly and Jesse James simply decided they were going nowhere on their own, battered the Honky Tonk Man, and became a tandem more befitting of the times.

Their true arrival at the forefront of fan's minds saw them act out one of the most controversial segments of the early Attitude Era. They interrupted a match between Cactus Jack and Terry "Chainsaw Charlie" Funk on the February 2, 1998 RAW. Jack dropped an elbow onto Charlie from the tron and into the dumpster. The Outlaws then emerged to lock them inside it and send them careening off the ramp and onto the concrete arena floor. The crazed bump afforded Jack and Charlie zero protection; there was no way to gauge the fall and thus mitigate the damage.

This predated the Hell In A Cell bump and the following imitators. It was shocking stuff put over huge by the fourth wall breaking aftermath - another astute creative decision in a period full of them.

The comparison between the two teams was interesting. Both united after feuding to go against a common enemy. The contrast was equally gripping; Jack and Charlie were the hardcore old school; the Outlaws were a new breed of brat.

The Outlaws had their gimmick. They had perfect opponents. With this one unforgettable moment, they had their aura.

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!