10 Wrestling Matches That Broke All The Rules

5. Steve Austin Vs. Dude Love - WWF Over The Edge 1998

Mankind Undertaker Hell In A Cell
WWE.com

The WWF pay-per-view match, prior to May 31, 1998, was simple (in format, not content): almost invariably a singles match between a babyface and a heel, or a babyface and a babyface, sometimes fought under a stipulation, it either ended cleanly or with interference, depending on the story being told. That interference was limited to the finish.

Over The Edge 1998 changed everything, in that the entire match was interfered with by Vince McMahon and his stooges in order to stack the deck against the unwanted WWF Champion.

Hilarious, dramatic, unpredictable, and unprecedented, most of all, it was inspired: the WWF's white-hot storytelling TV formula bled into and complemented the white-hot, PPV-quality intensity. It was like a Best of the WWF compilation, when the WWF was at its best, broadcast live as it happened: a phenomenal bit of business.

In storylines, McMahon and Austin were an unwanted union, but the fusion of TV tropes and high-gear action was the perfect advancement of Vince's sports entertainment vision. A groundbreaking match, a multi-tonal masterpiece, with it, the WWF broke the rules of in-ring storytelling.

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!