10 Most Important Matches In The History Of WWE
8. Randy Savage Vs. Ricky Steamboat - WrestleMania III
Randy Savage, essentially, was a method wrestler - so committed to even the crumbling pretence of kayfabe that he very rarely revealed the man beneath the visage. This quest for total immersion extended to the ring; he was a perfectionist, scripting his matches in advance, move for move, in an era when the action was mostly called on the fly.
The tactic mystified Steamboat (until he heard the reception, anyway), but enthralled the Pontiac Silverdome. It doesn't matter how many fans were actually in attendance; all went ballistic at the convoluted sequences and unparalleled athleticism.
The legacy of the match is profound. Not only did it prove that McMahon was capable of promoting pure, beautiful professional wrestling - something he would have to embrace, years later - but the intense preparation planted the idea to micromanage absolutely every element of his product in ensuing years. In 2019, every last match is scripted with the same level of forethought. Nothing is left to chance. Everything must be coordinated perfectly in order for the sophisticated multi-camera set-up to capture every last move.
WrestleMania III is often recalled by the company that promoted it as the single most influential show in the history of the industry. For once, their trademark carny bluster is warranted.