Match of the Week: Steve Austin vs Rock (Backlash 99)

 Match of the Week: Steve Austin vs Rock (Backlash 99)

This match is one forgotten gems they had together. In my opinion, this match is far superior than their Wrestlemania 15 encounter. Going into the match the following happened:

- while Rock got his rematch, Steve Austin wanted his custom smoking skull world heavyweight belt back
- McMahons stacked the odds against Austin with Shane McMahon as referee of the match. Stipulations tacked on if Austin touched him he would be DQ'd and lose the belt
- Vince and Shane McMahon now at each other throats over power
- Rock and Austin battle on the bridge which Rock threw Austin over and into the river along with the "title"
- turns out Rock didn't toss smoking skull belt. He was wearing it and held mock funeral for the belt. Austin gained revenge steamrolling Rock's car. Both fought which Austin sent Rock down to the grave. Shane McMahon bashed Austin from behind with a shovel and is left as the last visual of holding smoking skull belt high in the air over Austin and Rock going to the show.
- before the show started match is made into no holds barred.

At least Austin and Rock made sense while McMahons feuding bit confusing. Then again its Russo style booking.

As for the match both took no hold barred rule seriously at they brawled and tore everything down in their path from fencing, equipment, and announce tables. One of my favorite visual moments when Rock got hold of camera mocking Austin only eat a stunner on top of announce table. The overbooking kicked in trying screw Austin few times. Vince would enter the foray sending one of Hebners as referee of the match and KO'ing Shane with a belt. Steve Austin gave Rock another stunner then a belt shot to retain the title and is shown holding both winged and smoking skull belt at same time.

Another wild fun brawl between the two and would get to pinnacle of it few years later.

WWE Backlash 1999 Stone Cold vs The Rock (No... by tweety-adnan

The next night on RAW Rock would turn full blown face again leaving The Corporation while Steve Austin save Stephanie McMahon from clutches of The Undertaker whom he kidnapped at end of Backlash.

Match of the Week: Mankind vs Rock (WWE Halftime Heat)

Match of the Week: Mankind vs Rock (WWE Halftime Heat)

So its halftime of the Super Bowl. Are you bored of the lame entertainment featuring lousy singers, awful bands, and stupid celebrities of the show? Here's a perfect way to kill off that boring halftime show. Turn off your TV and watch this match featuring Mankind trying win back WWE World Heavyweight title from the Rock in empty arena match. Don't worry missing beginning of the second half of Super Bowl. The match is perfectly timed breeze through entire halftime show. Take it from me. I been watching this match over and over during halftime for past 16 years.

Rebel's Top 10 Wrestling Matches of 2012 - Part 1 (5-10)

 Almost end of the year and I saw doses of wrestling in-person and on DVD. There were plenty of good, average, and bad matches and shows.There are selected few the leave you more than enjoyed. I'm giving you my top 10 wrestling matches of the year. These are match I seen personally of this year. If I haven't watched it its not going be on the list. That means PPVs, DVDs, and shows I missed or haven't seen despite the praised it got like PWG or A.C.H./Davey Vega match. Here is my list:

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10. Big Show vs Sheamus - WWE Hell in the Cell

Raise your hand if you were looking forward to the match on a PPV. If your hand still raised you must be a big Sheamus/Big Show fan or just lying to yourself. It's one of those matches that look ok on paper, but turned out quite good live in-person. In a surprise these two have good in-ring chemistry producing barnburner of a match with Big Show taking the belt away from Sheamus. Lesson learned is never let looks fool you on a match.

 

9. Jun Kasai vs Masada - Freedoms 8/12 (Pain Limit finals)

These are two familiar with each other. In this match both fought each other at finals of Pain Limit tournament featuring no mats, panes of glass, and gusset plate board. They brutalized each other with one insane spot after another with Jun Kasai taking victory and winning the tournament. My mouth was literally dropping throughout the match.

  

 8. Matthew Palmer vs Masada - ACW Guilty By Association 6 (Scaffold Match)

Masada on the list again this time at Anarchy Championship Wrestling taking on Matthew Palmer in a scaffold match for ACW Hardcore title. I was in-person to watch the carnage unfold. Highly underrated Matthew Palmer was in his "Son of Anarchy" phase throughout 2011 after winning ACW Heavyweight title. After losing it he targeted Masada who is reigning hardcore champ at the time. The match started on top of the scaffold with chairs being used and Masada using skewers on Palmer before tossing him off to the ring. The brutality continue in and outside the ring with Palmer taking a beating. Palmer fought back against Masada with both going up and fighting on top of the scaffold once again. This time Palmer got the best of Masada sending off the scaffold and down to the mat of chairs. He revealed his "Centerfold" tights and hits Centerfold Splash from top of the scaffold ending Masada two-year reign as ACW Hardcore champion. I seen hundreds of hardcore style matches, but this is first I saw in person. It left me lasting impression on both Palmer and Masada as both busted and nearly killed each other throughout the match in jaw-dropping insane way.

7. Rachel Summerlyn vs Jazz - ACW Queens of Queens

Anarchy Championship Wrestling has their annual women tournament called Queens of Queens. In the first round strong-style Rachel Summerlyn took on former WWE Women champion Jazz. In the match both of these women trade each hold for hold and move for move with Summerlyn coming on top in possibly the best women match within past few years. This was just first round of the tournament.

 

6. Rock vs John Cena - Wrestlemania 28

A year in the making this is a dream match lived up to its billing.  Both of these guys put on entertaining match with the crowd helped the match pumping up to big time feel. The ending left me surprised with Rock coming on top of Cena. Looks like on a verge of getting Cena vs Rock part 2.

Part 2 coming up with matches 1-5. Stay tuned.