10 Wrestling Matches We Didn’t Know Changed EVERYTHING

8. Shawn Michaels Vs. Diesel - WWF House Show, May 19, 1996

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WWE.com

On Diesel's last night with the WWF, he went out on his back in time-honoured tradition to put over babyface WWF Champion (and close friend) Shawn Michaels. He then, alongside his Kliq buddies, transgressed on tradition by breaking kayfabe. The ruse was up, but the WWF preserved it to maintain the integrity of a fictional universe that hadn't yet revealed itself.

At the end of the match, heel Hunter Hearst Helmsley and babyface Razor Ramon entered the ring. The four men dropped all semblance of their characters to say goodbye to the WCW-bound Nash and Hall. This indulgence pissed off the talent that already resented the Kliq's politicking, and raised the ire of key office personnel. It hardly affected the WWF's fictional universe.

For all the pearl-clutching of breaking kayfabe, really, it takes something like Vince Russo's systemic desecration to alienate the audience - but to restore morale, Hunter was punished. Vince couldn't punish Nash and Hall, and Michaels was the WWF Champion. This wasn't close to his worst behaviour, anyway, and Hunter's punishment was a symbolic gesture.

This incident catalysed a butterfly effect. Austin was significantly more than a catchphrase, as much as history benefits from cinematic, signposted narrative. He was always going to become a superstar.

Still, he wouldn't have eliminated Jake Roberts from the 1997 King Of The Ring. Roberts had left the company in February of that year. With no born again Christian to ridicule, the Austin 3:16 catchphrase would not have been born.

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!