Wrestling Memories: WrestleMania XII Iron Man Match
Aug 13, 2019 6:26:44 GMT -5
LA Times, The Brain, and 1 more like this
Post by hbkjason on Aug 13, 2019 6:26:44 GMT -5
Wrestling Memories: WrestleMania XII Iron Man Match
Thanks to all you guys who took the time to read and comment on my last post.
Before I get to the actual match, I have to talk about the kind of wrestling fan I was back in 1996. I know that many people look back at the New Generation era as being horrible. For me though, this was awesome. I was in high school during this time and my three closest friends were also huge wrestling fans. We ate up everything the WWF did and we had zero complaints about the state of the WWF during this time.
I wanted to say this so that you know my views on this match are from someone who could not have been anymore invested in the WWF at the time it happened and from someone who also watched it live!
Anyway, my buddies and I were split on who was best between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. We were very excited for this years WrestleMania and were sure that the main event, the 60 minute Iron Man match was going to be one of the greatest matches of all time.
In the UK at the time WrestleMania XII took place, it was the Easter Holidays. This was good as a PPV would start at 12 PM back then so it would not finish until 3 or 4 AM. As there was no school, staying up to watch it was not an issue at all. In the weeks leading up to the main event. My friends and I would hotly debate what the score would be. My prediction was that Shawn Michaels would win 5-4. Another friend had 4-3, one even thought it could be a 3-3 draw with them having to wrestle again at the next event.
I can tell you right now that not one of us for one single second thought that we would get a 60 minute 0-0 snooze fest! To say I was hyped for this match is a massive understatement. I considered Bret and Shawn (and still do) to be the best wrestlers of all time, I had seen them wrestle before (even live in Glasgow in 1992) and it was great.
This match was slow, boring and made zero sense! I know some folks say this is the greatest match of all time and that is cool. We all like different things and I can appreciate that. I can tell you from the point of view as a 14 year old kid back then and a 30 something now this match did not click for me at all.
At the time I was so, so disappointed with the match, we all were! Instead, we spent our time talking about Diesel vs Undertaker as that match for us was way more fun. Now when I look back at this match, I see two of the all time greatest performers who were not willing to put their egos to the side to tear the house down in an exciting match. For me, Shawn Michaels should have taken the first fall, as it would have made his comeback even more amazing.
Knowing what we know now though, there was no way in hell that Shawn Michaels was going to eat that first fall or any decision in the match. Clearly, Bret would not take the first fall either. I really think had they gone all out and had a few decisions each that the match would have been all the better for it.
While I love the New Generation Era, Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XII is by far my most disappointing match from this era.
I know some folks love it so I would love to hear from those of you who enjoyed the match and those who were like me (which I am sure is the minority) found it boring.
Thanks to all you guys who took the time to read and comment on my last post.
Before I get to the actual match, I have to talk about the kind of wrestling fan I was back in 1996. I know that many people look back at the New Generation era as being horrible. For me though, this was awesome. I was in high school during this time and my three closest friends were also huge wrestling fans. We ate up everything the WWF did and we had zero complaints about the state of the WWF during this time.
I wanted to say this so that you know my views on this match are from someone who could not have been anymore invested in the WWF at the time it happened and from someone who also watched it live!
Anyway, my buddies and I were split on who was best between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. We were very excited for this years WrestleMania and were sure that the main event, the 60 minute Iron Man match was going to be one of the greatest matches of all time.
In the UK at the time WrestleMania XII took place, it was the Easter Holidays. This was good as a PPV would start at 12 PM back then so it would not finish until 3 or 4 AM. As there was no school, staying up to watch it was not an issue at all. In the weeks leading up to the main event. My friends and I would hotly debate what the score would be. My prediction was that Shawn Michaels would win 5-4. Another friend had 4-3, one even thought it could be a 3-3 draw with them having to wrestle again at the next event.
I can tell you right now that not one of us for one single second thought that we would get a 60 minute 0-0 snooze fest! To say I was hyped for this match is a massive understatement. I considered Bret and Shawn (and still do) to be the best wrestlers of all time, I had seen them wrestle before (even live in Glasgow in 1992) and it was great.
This match was slow, boring and made zero sense! I know some folks say this is the greatest match of all time and that is cool. We all like different things and I can appreciate that. I can tell you from the point of view as a 14 year old kid back then and a 30 something now this match did not click for me at all.
At the time I was so, so disappointed with the match, we all were! Instead, we spent our time talking about Diesel vs Undertaker as that match for us was way more fun. Now when I look back at this match, I see two of the all time greatest performers who were not willing to put their egos to the side to tear the house down in an exciting match. For me, Shawn Michaels should have taken the first fall, as it would have made his comeback even more amazing.
Knowing what we know now though, there was no way in hell that Shawn Michaels was going to eat that first fall or any decision in the match. Clearly, Bret would not take the first fall either. I really think had they gone all out and had a few decisions each that the match would have been all the better for it.
While I love the New Generation Era, Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XII is by far my most disappointing match from this era.
I know some folks love it so I would love to hear from those of you who enjoyed the match and those who were like me (which I am sure is the minority) found it boring.
