Eyes On Wrestlemania: Power Ranking Shawn Michaels' Wrestlemania Matches

By @Phranchize19

Shawn Michaels is the greatest performer in the history of Wrestlemania. He has probably the greatest catalog of matches in Wrestlemania history. Although Shawn has a losing record at Wrestlemania at 6-12, he still steals the show with his breathtaking performances. We are gonna power rank them and I’m sure you all know what number 1 is, but still let’s get into it.

17. The Rockers vs the Twin Towers
Wrestlemania 5

-This was a solid contest. The story of the smaller faster competitors vs The Giants is a tried and true formula in wrestling and this was no exception. The Rockers showed they belonged in WWE with this match.

16. The Rockets vs The Orient Express
Wrestlemania 6

-Another solid contest with 4 of the best talents that you’re gonna see. A fun fast paced match that gave WM6 some much needed life.

15. The Rockers vs The Barbarian and Haku 

Wrestlemania 7

-The trend that the Rockers were getting better and better was shown here with this match. This match marked the first victory at Wrestlemania for Shawn Michaels and his performance was great here.

14. Shawn Michaels vs Tito Santana
Wrestlemania 8

-A GREAT opening bout for Mania. Shawn’s first singles match at Wrestlemania proved to be a fruitful one as he defeated a legend in the business. It was clear WWF had a star in the making in Shawn Michaels and we saw that on this night.

13. Shawn Michaels vs Diesel 

WWF Championship Match Wrestlemania 11

-In what is considered the worst Wrestlemania of all time by many, this match was one of the few bright spots and it wasn't because of the champ Diesel. Shawn went out there and proved he was one of the best with his performance here and showed that he was deserving of the main event spotlight.

12. Shawn Michaels vs Tatanka Intercontinental Championship
Wrestlemania 9

-I think this match is vastly underrated even though the story is more about Sensational Sherri and HBK splitting, but Shawn still turned out a fantastic performance here.

11. Shawn Michaels vs Vince McMahon
No Holds Barred Match 

Wrestlemania 22

-This match was very good considering the circumstances. It didn’t feel overbooked and Shawn himself said that he just went out here and had a Wrestlemania off because he could just have fun as opposed to trying to steal the show.

10. Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair Wrestlemania 24

-The most emotional match on this list. Shawn was chosen to be the one to end the career of Ric Flair. Shawn would turn in another brilliant performance against a man who was well past his prime in Ric Flair. The ending is a legendary moment.

9. Shawn Michaels vs Stone Cold 

WWF Championship Match Wrestlemania 14

-While not the masterpiece we were accustomed to, this was still a very solid match. Michaels clearly was not 100% going in and couldn’t stop the show the way in which he wanted to, but he put on a very good match with his back in shambles.

8. Shawn Michaels vs John Cena
WWE Championship Match
Wrestlemania 23 

-Another career defining performance for Shawn Michaels. He was out to prove that he still could shine if the main event spotlight was on him. His first singles main event at Wrestlemania since Wrestlemania 14 and he literally carried this match. No knock to John Cena, but he went to wrestling school on this night.

7. Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho
Wrestlemania 19

-The comeback match. Jericho was arguably in his prime, so this would be a stern test for Shawn Michaels. He proved not only could he hang with younger guys, but that he could be better than them as well. This was the one the best matches of 2003 easily.

6. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker 

Career vs Streak
Wrestlemania 26

-I know many are looking at this and wonder why such a low ranking but it’s not that this match isn’t good, it’s just the ones I have after it were better. Shawn would main event Mania one more time and would deliver in such a great fashion. The match was big due to the stakes involved, but to say this wasn’t a good match would be asinine.

5. Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon
Ladder Match
Wrestlemania 10

-This match is iconic. Although I feel their Summerslam rematch was a bit better, this match was groundbreaking due to the fact that the first ever ladder match was not shown on Network TV (Shawn vs Bret), however Shawn and Razor made the IC belt so important by putting their bodies on the line in a match that they barely knew much about (the Ladder match was created in Canada by the way).

4. Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle
Wrestlemania 21

-In terms of sheer wrestling, this could be the best match of either man’s career. These guys went out there and literally had the match of the night. Shawn may not have the accolades of the Olympian, but he showed that he can hang with ANYONE including Kurt Angle.

3. Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart 

WWF Championship
Iron Man Match
Wrestlemania 12

-The first match of its kind in the WWF and boy did it deliver. These two men are 2 of the 3 greatest wrestler of all time IMO and they went out there for an entire hour and tore California to shreds. Two of the best mat technicians brought everything they had to this match and didn’t hold back an inch. This set the standard for Iron Man matches and is still the best one in my opinion.

2. Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit vs Triple H
World Heavyweight Championship Match 

Wrestlemania 20

-The greatest triple threat match I’ve ever seen. Shawn performed so gracefully in this match and his opponents more than held up their end of the bargain. 3 of the 10 greatest wrestlers of all time and it didn’t get much better than this.

1. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker Wrestlemania 25

-The greatest wrestling match I have ever seen. EVER. No disrespect to any fan out there but if someone who had never seen wrestling were to come to me and ask me about wrestling, this is the match I would show them. The best match from either man’s career and I put this match up against any match ever produced.

-Phranchize 

Read More

Eyes on the Ring 1:40 AM  4 comments

Eyes On Wrestlemania Weekend: 6 Must See Matches

By @TrueGodImmortal

While WWE usually dominates the scene at Wrestlemania weekend, other promotions have decided to host their shows in the same city in order to get eyes on their product, as well as give options to the fans all over the world. Wrestlemania weekend is usually a wrestling fan's Christmas and today I’m going to discuss what I feel are the best matches of that entire weekend.

*AJ Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE Championship 

Wrestlemania 34

-The rematch we all have been waiting on. These two men met at Wrestle Kingdom (NJPW's version of Wrestlemania) in a thriller of a match. Since then, both men signed with WWE and while AJ was introduced to the main roster upon his arrival, Nakamura went through a different approach and joined NXT first. Nakamura would get called up to Smackdown, which just so happen to be the show AJ Styles is making great TV. Eventually we were gonna get this clash and there is no better place than Wrestlemania for the first WWE encounter between the two.

*Johnny Gargano vs Tommaso Ciampa
NXT Takeover New Orleans 

-The longest running feud in wrestling will come to a head Wrestlemania weekend. The two former teammates turned enemies were once best friends until losing a tag team ladder match about 1 year ago. Ciampa would suffer an injury and while he was out, Johnny Wrestling ascended the ranks of NXT. Ciampa decided enough was enough and would interfere in everything Johnny was involved with including a match where his NXT career was on the line. WWE decided to make this better by having Johnny attack Ciampa at his home, at the Performance Center, and the NXT arena himself. This is probably the hottest feud going into Mania weekend and we finally get the payoff we’ve waited an entire year for.

*Cody Rhodes vs Kenny Omega Supercard of Honor 

-Most likely the main event of Supercard of Honor, the battle for leadership of the Bullet Club (maybe?) is on the line. The moment Cody joined Bullet Club, I knew his ego was just too massive to be second in command, especially considering that he brought a world championship to the group. Cody would attack the leader after quite a few issues between the two men, prompting Kenny’s friend Ibushi to make the save. With Cody manipulating the rest of the BC members claiming that he was indeed the leader, Kenny has thrown hints that he is still the leader so the infighting in Bullet Club comes to a head hopefully during Wrestlemania weekend.

 

*Ricochet vs EC3 vs Adam Cole vs Velveteen Dream vs Lars Sullivan vs Killian Dain
Ladder Match
NXT North American Championship
NXT Takeover New Orleans 

-A newly created champion will be crowned in this ladder match with arguably some of the best wrestlers in the industry right now. What’s not to like here? This could be the match of the weekend honestly.

*Charlotte vs Asuka
Smackdown Women’s Championship
Wrestlemania 34

The undefeated Asuka will get in the ring with arguably the best female wrestler in the world in a match that many (including myself) have waited to see. Asuka made history by winning the first Woman’s Royal Rumble and at Fastlane, she made her choice clear that she only wanted to face the best (sorry, Alexa) and that’s exactly what she's going to get. Charlotte has been the face of WWE’s Women’s division for a while now and while she has made history with matches with Sasha Banks, perhaps this match will make even more history.

*Cedric Alexander vs Mustafa Ali Cruiserweight Championship Wrestlemania 34

-This match will be fantastic. The Cruiserweight Division has stepped up since Enzo Amore was fired and we are getting a quality match for the vacant title. While these men are friends, they will do anything to win that title. Who wins this one? The fans.

-Phranchize

Read More

Eyes on the Ring 11:09 PM  No comment

Eyes On WWE: 5 Choices To Be Braun Strowman's Partner

By @Phranchize19

Ever since Strowman won the tag team battle royal by himself, he has been headed towards a collision with The Bar. Kurt Angle has said that he will be allowed to compete only if he has a partner. I’m gonna throw out 5 names on who I think it will (or should) be.

*Neville

It has been said that WWE is bringing Neville back soon. With him running through the cruiserweight division, he's likely main roster bound/heavyweight division bound once he returns. I think this makes sense for the shock value that will come at Wrestlemania if he returns. 

*Big Show

This is actually who I think it will be (Editor's Note: I hope not). Two giants that fit the mold Vince loves and they can make for an unbeatable team (Editor's Note: also a horrible team that no one ever asked for. Ever). The shock and awe wouldn’t be theren but they’d make a pretty formidable team and will likely dominate for the short period of time.

*Bobby Lashley

Thinking outside the box here, just a little bit, Lashley has been signed by WWE for a while. I think he’s in play because it’s a way to bring him to the Wrestlemania and back to WWE in one swoop while still making sure that Braun has a shocking partner .

*Samoa Joe

WWE has been awfully quiet in regards to Samoa Joe. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that WWE set a longer timetable than what it takes to initially be cleared so it can elevate the wrestler. Strowman and Joe would be an odd pair but an unstoppable one nonetheless for sure.

*Chris Jericho 

Don’t sleep on WWE calling back Jericho for something like this. Jericho is one of Vince’s favorites and Vince has given him free reign to come and go as he pleases. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to him to come back either.

-Phranchize

Read More

Eyes on the Ring 8:28 AM  3 comments