10 Most Overrated "Classic" Matches In Wrestling History

1. Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XII)

Brock Lesnar Eddie Guerrero
WWE.com

Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels’ famous Iron Man match is a popular choice for the most overrated WWE match of all-time, and justifiably so. It’s an absolutely tedious affair with little to no drama throughout, and while WWE themselves love to trumpet this as one of the greatest matches in history, it’s not even close.

Unfortunately, the bout is blighted not only by the competitors’ egos, but their dislike for one another. Neither man wanted to take a conventional loss to the other, and thus, there wasn’t a single fall in the contest’s first 60 minutes. It eventually went to sudden death overtime, with Michaels scoring the decisive pinfall following Sweet Chin Music, and while the realisation of HBK’s boyhood dream was a great story, the match preceding it was a tremendous insomnia cure.

The opening half was particularly tiresome, and blighted by endless restholds that went absolutely nowhere. Using just a single fall within an Iron Man match sounds innovative, but it didn’t translate to an enjoyable bout, and instead of captivating the audience, the glacial pace killed the spectacle.

Though not without its moments, Bret vs. Shawn is the most over-hyped match in WWE history.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.