20 Most Epic Wrestling Matches That Weren't Supposed To Be Epic
2. Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio (Summerslam 2002)
Over the years, the general critical consensus for the best match of under ten minutes in length is Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle from Summerslam 2002. Outside of WrestleManias X and XXX, respectively, one could make a case that it was also the best curtain jerker in wrestling PPV history. One thing is for certain, no matter where it ranks in each of those categories, Mysterio vs. Angle was phenomenal. In earlier entries, a specific, 2002-period style was mentioned that emphasized pace and false finishes galore packed within a time frame that would have once told just a third to a half of a similar story on the wrestling canvas. Perhaps no match better exemplified that style than Angle vs. Mysterio. If you do not pay attention to the clock during their match, you may not notice that, from start to finish, it lasts only a shade over 9-minutes. It felt longer because so much happened from bell-to-bell. That was an immense accomplishment. To add another flattering comment, they set such a wonderful tone for Summerslam 02 that the rest of the roster was forced to rise to or exceed their level, creating for what is highly regarded as one of the finest PPVs in wrestling lore.
"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.
