7 Secret Versions Of Classic WWE Matches

6. The Rumble In The Garden

CM Punk Dolph Ziggler HIAC
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[A previous version of this article was written before I discovered/watched the YouTube upload - Sidgwick]

Held just prior to the 1994 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, itself an unforgettable intersection of all that was awesome and naff at the precipice of the New Generation Era, the 'Rumble In The Garden' saw Owen Hart triumph ahead of his legendary heel turn.

Owen was a massive bumper of incredible stamina and cheeky ingenuity; a lengthy stint in a venue that demanded talents lace up their working boots, even without the presence of TV cameras, virtually guaranteed a superb performance from one of WWE's greatest in-ring wizards. At one point, he slid out of the ring, causing Johnny Polo to tumble over the ropes, before eliminating him with a crunching flying headbutt.

A less heralded but almost equally spectacular babyface worker in Marty Jannetty almost stole the final third; he and former Rocker rival Shawn Michaels pelted each other's brains in to molten MSG heat in a moment that powers through the cheap VHS grain to become vibrant in its heated star power.

Crush was handed an elimination spree ahead of his major match against Randy Savage at WrestleMania X in the same venue - this company once treated continuity more carefully on house shows than on television - but Bret Hart ended his watch before staying ringside to urge his brother to victory. The knowledge that it exists, albeit outside of canon and in dire quality, enhances Owen's heel turn in retrospect. What a little sh*t he was to betray Bret after that show of support.

What a magnificent little sh*t.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!