10 Major Career-Making Wrestling Matches

5. RONDA ROUSEY & Kurt Angle Vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H - WWE WrestleMania 34

Ronda Rousey Triple H
WWE

The greatest performers change the game by altering our preconceived notions of success. That is how it is obtained, ultimately.

Hulk Hogan's routine was thought (by Verne Gagne, most notably) a cartoonish betrayal of the gritty human spirit required to get over even in "New York". He changed the game by becoming the embodiment of a superhero, leaving the mortal plane behind. When that cartoonish appeal dimmed, Stone Cold Steve Austin channeled the darkness and used it to become a merciless, smack-talking sensation.

Ronda Rousey this year has completely dispelled the idea that, in order to become a great pro wrestler, one must learn the trade on the job. You don't need to grind on the Independent circuit to become a refined talent. You don't need to go on excursion to Mexico... if you'e great. Ronda Rousey is absolutely great, as she proved at WrestleMania 34. She wowed everybody by reflecting our hatred of Stephanie McMahon with a snarling intensity, reflecting our dismay at Stephanie McMahon by getting her wings clipped, and providing catharsis for years of Stephanie McMahon castration by pummelling her face in with the credibility of a combat athlete and the explosive kinetic energy of a pure pro wrestling babyface.

Ronda is a total star. Just don't give her lame scripted verbiage to recite.

That goes for everybody, really.

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!