10 Most Heated Matches In WWE History

Louder is better.

Cena Rob Van Dam II
WWE.com

A raucous crowd reception can elevate a basic wrestling match into something special.

This philosophy also works in inverse; look no further than WCW's dismal Road Wild Pay Per Views in the nineties for proof of that. Some of the matches, in terms of content at least, were very good indeed - but they were performed in front of fans who patently did not give a toss.

WWE events are largely lifeless affairs in 2016. This likely has something to do with there being next to no real dramatic stakes on its programming. Seth Rollins was more bothered about Chris Jericho's fashion choices than he was building a personal rivalry with his actual opponent, Kevin Owens in recent weeks. Their series - which culminated in the ultimate grudge feud battleground, Hell In A Cell - was predicated more so on banter than blood.

The apathetic reaction to their first match, at Clash Of Champions, was richly deserved. It had no stakes, no emotion - and as a direct consequence, it had no heat. WWE should study the same Network it constantly shills to its "Universe" - that way, they might remember how to transcend its creative malaise and, like these matches, give them something to shout about...

10. The Rock Vs. Hollywood Hogan - WWF WrestleMania X-8

Cena Rob Van Dam II
WWE

The WWF spectacularly misjudged Hulk Hogan's 2002 return.

To their credit, he and his former nWo cohorts were presented with impeccable logic in a refreshingly postmodern presentation. Their portrayal as sentient carcinogens, drawing on their real-life propensity for sabotage and self-preservation, was woven seamlessly into an intriguing overarching narrative. Though their debut was a damp squib, the faction's re-contextualised raison d'être provided considerable scope for future storylines.

The problem is that the nWo had been both completely overexposed in its original form and mangled beyond recognition in its affiliate iterations. It became an excuse to hawk t-shirts. The nWo brand was dead - but the brand of Hulkamania, unbeknownst to WWF officials, had become illuminated by a fuzzy, nostalgic glow.

The clamour for Hogan was so strong that the Toronto fans at WrestleMania cheered him at The Rock's expense - in such loud voice that it visibly flapped the coolest customer in all of wrestling, and elevated a basic match into the stuff of legend. Rock's victory on the night was pyrrhic - master politician Hogan, buoyed by the once-in-a-lifetime energy, had worked his way back into the hearts of WWF fans. The reaction was so thunderous that he probably never left them.

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!