50 Best WWE Matches Of The 90s

12. Shawn Michaels Vs. Mankind (In Your House: Mind Games)

Mick Foley often cites this match as the absolute best that he's ever worked, and it's hard to argue with his pick. The match pitted Michaels' world-class wrestling acumen against Mankind's penchant for destruction, and the two styles melded innately well, with Foley at junctures trying to outwrestle Michaels, and the WWF Champion resorting to remorseless brutality to quell Mankind. The two notably shared a back suplex off the top rope, to the floor, and through a commentary table, with Michaels maneuvering into a crossbody just prior to the landing. That was the zenith of a series of dangerous spots that made Michaels look like a killer for the first time since the win over Diesel in April. Vader runs in for the lame disqualification at the end, the only blight on this well-executed car wreck.

11. Bret Hart Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (Survivor Series 1996)

It was Bret's first televised match since his post-WrestleMania sabbatical, and the story was that virulent Austin had goaded him back into the ring in an attempt to use Hart's name as his own personal stepping stone. Hart famously signed a twenty-year contract to stick with WWF the month before, and the first order of business was to set up this first ever televised match between the two. Hart sold plenty for Austin throughout the extended match, and he noted that Vince McMahon on commentary was seemingly undercutting him, portraying him as old and slow for reasons unknown. In a contrast to their later matches, this was more an aggressive wrestling battle with some brawling mixed in. Hart went over in his grand return after using the same sleeper reversal on Austin that he performed on Roddy Piper at WrestleMania VIII.