22. Bret Hart Vs. The 123 Kid (Monday Night Raw, 7/1/94)
The obstinate Kid's penchant for beating larger opponents in upset fashion gave just enough credence in fans' eyes to the idea that he could defeat Hart for the WWF Championship. A match between masterful technician Hart and spry, dynamic Kid (just weeks shy of his 22nd birthday) held lots of promise of being a ring classic. It didn't disappoint. It was the age-old story of veteran experience against explosive exuberance, and Kid emptied his offensive tray over the span of the 25-minute match. Hart was there move for move during the enthralling encounter, going over with the Sharpshooter. Making the match more impressive is Hart's claim that the roster was beyond exhausted from the excessive touring schedule in place at the time.
21. The Rock Vs. Triple H (SummerSlam 1998)
It's fun to look back at the matches that firmly set a would-be star on the road to the top. As later examples will show, even the losers of said matches can become 'made men' with a top-notch performance. Here, Rock and Helmsley's ladder match for the Intercontinental strap at Madison Square Garden set both on the winning path, moreso for the match's loser. When Rock slammed Triple H on the ladder and delivered his increasingly-popular People's Elbow, the Garden came positively unglued - never mind that Rock was still a heel at this point. Helmsley gets almost as big a reaction when he pulls down the belt to end Rock's nine-month reign with the title. In Rock's case, the 'People' had profoundly spoken.
Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.
