10 Wrestling Matches Better Than The One Thing You Remember Them For

5. Diesel Vs. Bret Hart (Survivor Series 1995)

Montreal Screwjob Bret Hart Shawn Michaels
WWE Network

Known for: The birthplace of the fabled Spanish announce table spot.

Why it's better than that: Bret Hart is often maligned for being his own biggest mark, but the legacy he forged on the canvas - where it ultimately counts - is one of complete altruism. This match is no exception.

Famously averse to playing the heel – and not just in Canada and Europe – Hart in the face role nonetheless acts with a certain subtle wickedness here as a means of protecting his much larger opponent. He even resorts, desperately, to biting his face at one point, having exhausted his wear-down repertoire to little effect.

Often conidered an inferior sequel to their earlier Royal Rumble encounter, this match is a triumph of strategy and realism. Hart's tactic of chopping the redwood down at the knees, and turning the match into a marathon, is ably sold through Diesel's exhaustion and limping. This was in 1995, remember, so that couldn't yet be attributed to his multiple quadricep injuries and mummified kneecaps.

1995 is often criticised as the garbage year of the occupational gimmick, but this layered interpretation of a face vs. face contest is proof that you shouldn’t skip past it when browsing the Network.

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!