Post by Woo on Nov 10, 2009 23:14:04 GMT -1
Okay SSeries is nearly upon us and I thought a trip down memory lane is in order! Now while this PPV has been around longer than SSlam and the Rumble and has provided us with many memorable moments- the debuts of Taker, Rock and Angle, Austin's hit and run, HBK's title win in 02 and the Montreal Screw Job for whatever reason there hasn't been as many classic matches as the other big four.
But there have been some corkers, but which is your favourite?
Now must people go with Austin vs Bret from 96, but I have never seen it...., so here's my top five.
5. The Hardyz vs The Dudleys- SSeries 01 Cage Match
I thought this PPV was great and a good end to the inVasion angle, which I very much enjoyed. There were some great spots here and I really like the ending with Jeff going for the high risk move rather than just climb down the damn cage. This should have led to a great feud between the Hardyz, but never worked out for whatever reason.
4. HHH vs HBK vs Y2J vs RVD vs Kane vs Booker- SSeries 02- Elimination Chamber
So this is HHH vs four people who's careers he has tried to kill and his friend Shawn Michaels. This was the first EC and possibly the best one still. Everyone here hated HHH which made for a good story and we also got to see Y2J vs HBK for the first time!! In the end it came down to HHH and HBK and Shawn one his first (and currently his last) world title since Mania 14. JR's stupid hyperbole "DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!" is a bit much, but this is great.
3. Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels- SSeries 92
No not that one! This is from 92 shortly after Bret won the WWF title from Flair. It's simply a great match between two of the best ever before the hatred began to set it. Very underrated.
2. The Rock, Y2J, Taker, Kane & Big Show vs Austin, Angle, RVD, Booker & Shane McMahon- SSeries 01 SSeries Rules
So the end of the inVasion! It starts off with the Alliance hitting all their finishers on Show and Shane dropping the elbow to eliminate him. Shane then paid the price and ate the WWE's finishers including a then very rare Tombstone (I think this was only the 2nd Tombstone on 2001). Kane, Taker and Booker were then eliminated and that's when things picked up a gear.
On one team we had Y2J & Rock who had been having a big feud all summer and a PPV title match at the previous PPV No Mercy. The other team was Austin, Angle and Van Dam who....had been having a big feud all summer and a PPV title match at the previous PPV No Mercy...... so neither member on either team liked each other, but they all stayed on course and it looked like they would as RVD and Kurt were eliminated...... Then Y2J was pinned and in one of my favourite moments of the year he attacked The Rock. Not because he was turning heel or joining the Alliance- he just hated Rocky. Awesome. Angle eventually turned face and attacked Austin saving the WWE. That somehow made him a heel... yeah, I'm still trying to work out that one.
Unlike the previous match this was made better by the amazing Paul Heyman on commentary. 2nd only to Bobby Heenan at the 92 Rumble Paul's commentating all night has to be the greatest ever.
1. HBK, RVD, Booker & The Dudleys vs Orton, Y2J, CLB, Henry and Steiner- SSeries 03
Yes Henry, Booker and Steiner are in my favourite SSeries match-up. Anyway this was the climax of the Austin-Bishoff feud. Austin was banned from being able to lay his hands on any wrestlers which gave us the amazing moment where Y2J taunts him and says "What you gonna do about it Steeeeeeeve!" However Austin didn't find it as funny and wanted his ban lifted. Eric proposed an idea that they both pick 5 men and if Austin's team won- the ban was over. If he lost however he was gone from the WWE.
This started off okay but it was after Booker, RVD, The Dudleys, Stiener and Henry were gone it became great. HBK found himself at a 3-on-1 disadvantage against Orton, Y2J and Christian. A bloody desperate Shawn fought back to eliminate the Canadians (Y2J didn't go quietly and smashed HBK with a chair and began to taunt Austn "Screw you Austin- Bye!") but eventually Orton won with help from Batista.
Austin's finale was a good moment, but didn't mean much as he was back in weeks... What did become of this though was Bishoff giving each member of his team one favour he couldn't refuse. I don't know what Randy, Mark or Scotty chose, but I do know that Christian's and Y2J's favours lead directly into their BRILLIANT program with Lita and Trish and fantastically booked feud with each other.
However it's Shawn Michael's performance which really makes this match my No.1. Pure brilliance.
But there have been some corkers, but which is your favourite?
Now must people go with Austin vs Bret from 96, but I have never seen it...., so here's my top five.
5. The Hardyz vs The Dudleys- SSeries 01 Cage Match
I thought this PPV was great and a good end to the inVasion angle, which I very much enjoyed. There were some great spots here and I really like the ending with Jeff going for the high risk move rather than just climb down the damn cage. This should have led to a great feud between the Hardyz, but never worked out for whatever reason.
4. HHH vs HBK vs Y2J vs RVD vs Kane vs Booker- SSeries 02- Elimination Chamber
So this is HHH vs four people who's careers he has tried to kill and his friend Shawn Michaels. This was the first EC and possibly the best one still. Everyone here hated HHH which made for a good story and we also got to see Y2J vs HBK for the first time!! In the end it came down to HHH and HBK and Shawn one his first (and currently his last) world title since Mania 14. JR's stupid hyperbole "DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!" is a bit much, but this is great.
3. Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels- SSeries 92
No not that one! This is from 92 shortly after Bret won the WWF title from Flair. It's simply a great match between two of the best ever before the hatred began to set it. Very underrated.
2. The Rock, Y2J, Taker, Kane & Big Show vs Austin, Angle, RVD, Booker & Shane McMahon- SSeries 01 SSeries Rules
So the end of the inVasion! It starts off with the Alliance hitting all their finishers on Show and Shane dropping the elbow to eliminate him. Shane then paid the price and ate the WWE's finishers including a then very rare Tombstone (I think this was only the 2nd Tombstone on 2001). Kane, Taker and Booker were then eliminated and that's when things picked up a gear.
On one team we had Y2J & Rock who had been having a big feud all summer and a PPV title match at the previous PPV No Mercy. The other team was Austin, Angle and Van Dam who....had been having a big feud all summer and a PPV title match at the previous PPV No Mercy...... so neither member on either team liked each other, but they all stayed on course and it looked like they would as RVD and Kurt were eliminated...... Then Y2J was pinned and in one of my favourite moments of the year he attacked The Rock. Not because he was turning heel or joining the Alliance- he just hated Rocky. Awesome. Angle eventually turned face and attacked Austin saving the WWE. That somehow made him a heel... yeah, I'm still trying to work out that one.
Unlike the previous match this was made better by the amazing Paul Heyman on commentary. 2nd only to Bobby Heenan at the 92 Rumble Paul's commentating all night has to be the greatest ever.
1. HBK, RVD, Booker & The Dudleys vs Orton, Y2J, CLB, Henry and Steiner- SSeries 03
Yes Henry, Booker and Steiner are in my favourite SSeries match-up. Anyway this was the climax of the Austin-Bishoff feud. Austin was banned from being able to lay his hands on any wrestlers which gave us the amazing moment where Y2J taunts him and says "What you gonna do about it Steeeeeeeve!" However Austin didn't find it as funny and wanted his ban lifted. Eric proposed an idea that they both pick 5 men and if Austin's team won- the ban was over. If he lost however he was gone from the WWE.
This started off okay but it was after Booker, RVD, The Dudleys, Stiener and Henry were gone it became great. HBK found himself at a 3-on-1 disadvantage against Orton, Y2J and Christian. A bloody desperate Shawn fought back to eliminate the Canadians (Y2J didn't go quietly and smashed HBK with a chair and began to taunt Austn "Screw you Austin- Bye!") but eventually Orton won with help from Batista.
Austin's finale was a good moment, but didn't mean much as he was back in weeks... What did become of this though was Bishoff giving each member of his team one favour he couldn't refuse. I don't know what Randy, Mark or Scotty chose, but I do know that Christian's and Y2J's favours lead directly into their BRILLIANT program with Lita and Trish and fantastically booked feud with each other.
However it's Shawn Michael's performance which really makes this match my No.1. Pure brilliance.
