10 Quietly Brilliant WWE PPVs

5. WWF One Night Only 1997

CM Punk Jeff Hardy
WWE

Wrestling fans of a certain age have very fond memories of One Night Only, a Pay Per View exclusive to the United Kingdom before that became a by-phrase for halfhearted, non-canonical dross.

Rarely seen outside of it, it is a cracker from the opening bell. Dude Love and Hunter Hearst Helmsley epitomised the hot opener in a tight, smooth and well-paced match which incited the already hot crowd into something approaching fever pitch. That crowd had witnessed just one event of any importance live - and they received even the stuttering undercard with some noise. Tiger Ali Singh was, notoriously, the worst man without gigantism to ever lace up a pair of boots - but here, he was received as if he wasn't the absolute sh*ts.

Furnished with an incredible atmosphere, the Bret Hart Vs. Undertaker WWF Heavyweight Title bout was a marked upgrade on even their very good outing at that year's SummerSlam. The crowd noise was so deafening and invested in its split that even the humble punch was greeted as a potential match-ender.

The main event, a quality European Title bout between Shawn Michaels and the British Bulldog, was overshadowed by its Sneer At Cancer finish. The Bulldog had promised to win in honour of his cancer-stricken sister, until Vince McMahon's design on a sequel the Montreal Screwjob put paid to turned his head.

The aftermath, if nothing else, was notorious - but the preceding three hours were just as unforgettable.

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!