10 WWE Matches That Changed EVERYTHING
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant and other seismic WWE shifts...
While a constant influx of new talent is imperative to the survival of a wrestling company, the business has a tendency to rest on its laurels. Bookers are keen to reuse gimmicks, angles, twists and turns safe in the knowledge casual viewers won’t remember. Shenanigans and Dusty finishes are used to ensure the status quo is, for the most part, rigidly maintained.
Sometimes, though, a single match comes along that immediately causes a seismic shift. This can be a performer in the right place at the right time going supernova, an encounter capturing audience imaginations like never before, or a single moment that defines the company’s fortunes for years to come.
These can be beneficial changes, ushering in a new era in which WWE profits will soar ever skyward. They can also be disastrous - ill-advised decision-making, or a single moment that leaves destruction in its wake.
These matches are iconic and important not just for what happened at the time, in the ring, but for the shockwaves sent throughout WWE for months if not years to come. Wrestling history was made and shaped on these nights...
10. Triple H Vs The Rock (SummerSlam 1998)
The Austin era was well underway by August 1998, and in The Undertaker, 'Stone Cold' had another top star with whom to share the main event. This age of wrestling was known for its incredibly deep bench, and two more stars were well on their way to establishing themselves as top, top guys in the show’s penultimate (and best) match.
The Rock and Triple H’s ladder match for the Intercontinental Title can’t help but hark back to Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon’s tussle for the same prize at WrestleMania X. If anything, though, this SummerSlam bout is even more effective.
Both young stars were clearly rising stars, but the chemistry they demonstrate here would be the backbone of the company for years to come. Along with Austin and McMahon, Rocky and HHH would hardly stop feuding throughout the Attitude Era, and the pair would put on some incredible matches (though there’s an argument that this is the best).
The crowd reaction tells you everything you need to know. This is 20 flat out minutes of two men proving their worth, and the audience can’t get enough.