10. Lawrence Taylor Buries The Beast From The East
Event: Wrestlemania XI Location: Hartford, Connecticut Venue: Hartford Civic Center Date: 1995 Wrestlemania XI was shocking for all the wrong reasons. The WWE was leaning on its New Generation to carry the show, but few of the young guys were ready to perform on a big stage. The PPV was in a small arena, and it lacked the epic feel that is integral to a proper Wrestlemania. But the weirdest part was the main event, which wasnt the Championship match between Diesel and Shawn Michaels. Instead, it was a gimmick match between NFL icon Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam Bigelow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SI6CibgbxM To his credit, L.T. didnt perform half badly in the ring. But no one expected him to win. Under no circumstances should a retired football player ever beat an active wrestler, even if the fighting is fake. It got some decent mainstream press (I still remember seeing the highlights on the evening news), but at the cost of reducing professional wrestling's reputation in the public eye.
Kevin is an AP English Language teacher and freelance writer from Queens, NY. His focus is on American pop culture and American issues. He wrote a weekly column for Complex called "Throwback Thursdays," which spotlighted video games and trends from previous console generations. Kevin has also been published in VIBE, Salon, PopMatters, Joystiq, and Racialicious. Follow him on Twitter to learn more.
