The final four were so close that it took a bit of nitpicking to separate them all, with the understanding that each one could technically be #1. The match that drew #4 was so ranked because Bobby Heenan, on commentary, foreshadowed Hulk Hogans unbelievably shocking heel turn by accident. The Brain had ragged on the Hulkster for nearly the entirety of his career. They were fierce on-screen rivals in WWE, leading to some of the biggest matches and moments in the history of the early WrestleMania Era. Unfortunately, for a select few, Heenans verbal tirade when Hogan showed up during the match between The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) and WCWs trio of Sting, Lex Luger, and Macho Man, the claim has been that Heenan ruined the surprise. Yeah, right. Cheers to all one hundred of you. The rest of the wrestling world sat in awe as Hogan did his usual shirt-ripping schtick, only to turn his back on Hulkamania immediately afterward with one thunderous leg drop. Hogan had been the hero for well over a decade. Hulkamania had been running wild in the AWA before it totally ran wild in the WWE and fizzled out in WCW. The fans had practically dared promoters to turn him for several years, but to see him actually make the turn was a swerve that very, very few saw coming. The only heel turn that could ever possibly be that surprising, in a similar context, would be if John Cena did it.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
