8 Great Wrestling Matches (That Weren't Supposed To Happen)

1. Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin (WrestleMania 13)

Stone Cold Triple H Survivor Series 2000
WWE.com

Had Shawn Michaels not infamously misplaced the very countenance from his face back in 1997, arguably WWE's greatest match of all time would never have happened. But did it actually prevent us seeing one that could have been even better?

Probably not. Original plans outlined that The Hitman, disgruntled and embittered after his Iron Man match defeat a year previous, would gain a chance at revenge against The Heartbreak Kid come WrestleMania 13. According to Hart, the finish would have seen him catch Shawn's Sweet Chin Music and force him to tap out, UFC style, refusing to let go even after the bell had sounded.

In other words, the conclusion would have been remarkably similar to the one that closed the book on Hart's ultimate submission contest against Steve Austin. Only, given Shawn's mental and professional attitude of the time - that which gave rise to his missing smile - it's likely the chemistry would have failed to fizzle. Instead, we got one of wrestling's greatest ever double-turns, and the beginning of The Rattlesnake's rise into the stratosphere.

 
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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.