10 Uplifting Wrestling Moments To Cure Your 'Mania Hangover

9. The Return Of The Dragon

Jericho Steamboat
WWE.com

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, arguably the greatest career babyface in the history of the industry, was forced to retire in 1994 after suffering a devastating back injury in a match with Steve Austin.

His was a happier ending than most; the Dragon made appearances for TNA and Ring Of Honor before formalising his return to WWE (he helped out developmental prospects during the company's short-lived association with the Heartland Wrestling Association) in 2005. Steamboat became a road agent, but four years later he stepped into the ring for his proper match in fifteen years.

That three-on-one match was actually as depressing as anything in the history of WrestleMania - to begin with. Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka showed their age in exchanges with Chris Jericho that were as slow as they were tedious.

Enter the Dragon: Steamboat marked his entrance into the match by flooring Jericho with a majestic cross body block before nailing him with his trademark incomparable arm drags. His hair was grey, thinning, his paunch visible - but his superb work betrayed his advanced age and inactivity. He even incorporated that into his performance. He wobbled as he skinned the cat, but it was a ruse - he recovered just as Jericho careened into him with a clothesline, sending him out of the ring with a back body drop.

He then vaulted over the ropes with a slingshot cross body block in what was a storyline lesson to Jericho - and a psychological masterclass to the rest of the roster.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!