20 Most Epic Wrestling Matches That Weren't Supposed To Be Epic
6. Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather (WrestleMania XXIV)
Earlier in the countdown, the idea of being surprised by the quality of a match was discussed. Well, it is easier to be surprised and to have no expectations of quality when the details of the match are not announced until bell time. Such was the case when Floyd Mayweather lent his celebrity to WrestleMania XXIV. The original plan called for him to tag with Rey Mysterio, but Rey went down with an injury. So, plans changed to have Floyd play the babyface against the evil giant, Big Show. Only, the crowd cheered for their guy instead of the outsider. Once again, the dynamic had to be changed. Amidst all the creative chaos, the face-heel aspect worked itself out, but the match format was still an unknown. When the match started, the only thing that mattered was that Big Show was incredibly inspired and that Mayweather took very seriously his commitment to putting on a performance to remember. Show carried the way and, with the help of a lot of outside interference, the match earned high critical marks and a thoroughly invested live reaction. People wanted to see Show squash Floyd like a bug. Though they did not get to see that, they did get to see the greatest match in modern WWE history involving a celebrity.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
