2. Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel (Madison Square Garden, May 19, 1996)
It seems odd to find a house match on a list of the most influential matches of all-time. I mean, how could a match that was not even broadcast have a tremendous impact on the product? Well, this house match was unlike any other. During the mid-1990s, a group known as the Kliq held considerable power within the WWE. The group, which consisted of Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Triple H, and Sean Waltman, were legitimate friends outside of the ring and looked out for one another backstage. This would be the last night under contract for Hall and Nash, as both had recently signed with rival WCW. The final match of the night was a cage match between Michaels and former bodyguard Diesel. The outcome of the match is rather insignificant (Michaels won the match, in case youre wondering). It is what happened after the match that altered history. Following the contest, Scott Hall and Triple H both entered the ring and the four superstars hugged one another. To current fans this may seem insignificant, but at the time it was a serious violation of company policy to break character. As a result, Triple H would be reprimanded for the incident. He was scheduled to win the 1996 King of the Ring and become a main event player. Instead, he was forced to job to the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania XII, and the King of the Ring crown would instead go to some guy named Austin.