For me the best written storyline was the original Kane and undertaker feud. that wrestlemania promo package is GOAT. But HBK's comeback match at summerslam for me is the greatest moment in wrestling history, coming back from a broken back after four years away and proving that he was still head and shoulders above everyone else. Magic.
Austin calling Bret out, the return, the first match, Austin making a mockery of and eventually cracking Bret, the second (GOAT) match, the double turn.
It was all perfect. How it mixed with the Hart Foundation reuniting and went into Austin vs. Owen feud. What a badass year.
They're all tied into eachother and in a way, one big storyline but; HBK/Bret, which led to the USA/Canada storyline, which then led to HBK turning heel at SummerSlam '97, which then led to the HBK/Taker '97 matches and the formation of the original DX. Also led to Montreal. Perfect way of showing how a storyline with depth could lead to many different layers and characters and great matches.
I agree with you on this one. That was one of the best periods (and one of the most underrated ones in wrestling). Except, the problem is that not all of it was a storyline in the sense that was purposefully written with that much depth. The reality of the dislike between HBK and Hart took it to that dimension that it would've never reached otherwise. We've seen the WWE try to re-do that kind of feud energy repeatedly since but nothing will ever reach that fever pitch because the disdain then transcended kayfabe and resulted in completely tearing it down.
My favorite storyline is not a very serious one : Angle vs HHH from 2000 , I just love dorky Angle so much and he was so funny during that summer.
As for a serious one : Corporate Rock vs Mick Foley .
Owen turning on Bret and the feud that followed is one of my favorite as well.
Favourite storyline of this modern era of WWE will always be Cena/Punk 2011, the build up and everything else was suburb. As for all fucking time? Jericho Vs HBK both incarnations
Man, I was gonna type just that and then saw your list. Spot on with Hart and Austin, just imagine if Hart hadn't left and that feud had reignited in the full blown attitude era. Wow!
SO my list:
1. Bret Hart and Stone Cold
2. McMahon and Austin but the original story ,when the two were mortal enemies, not what happened with the invasion and the whole frenemies crap that we had to sit through.
3. HHH v Austin, tha twas the foundation for the whole Game gimmick, with HHH coming out and saying that he had studied the way Austin worked, how cold and calculated he was. It was a story line that has had a decade long implication.
4. Austin v Rock, no matter who was being face or heel, the fact that these two were genuinely the biggest guys in all of wrestling, there didn't need to be any manufactured BS, everybody knew that there could be nothing bigger in any other wrestling company.
Hard to say because there's been so many but a few of my favorites are:
Shawn Michaels vs Triple H 2002
CM Punk vs John Cena 2011
The Authority vs Daniel Bryan 2013-2014
Stone Cold vs Bret Hart - 1997
Stone Cold vs The Rock & The McMahons - 1999
Most of 2000 was bomb status. Rock vs HHH had a decent feud going that year.
The original Kane vs undertaker storyline from 97-98. I've always thought that was one of the best and most well thought out storyline they've ever presented.
Been watching raw from 96-97 the last few months and the Austin Hart feud is awesome as well. Those would be my picks.
I'd throw in the summer of punk but in my opinion that shit jumped the rails the minute triple h got involved on screen. It was all down hill from there. They really worked hard to extinguish that fire.
I was always a sucker for the Mick Foley story lines. To me there was always something more genuine and versatile about Foley than any other wrestler in the history of this business.
He was likeable. He was funny. He was deranged. He was intense. The guy had so much range. He was the master at drawing people in and he just knew how to play a crowd and get a reaction. Then he backed it all up with the bumps he would take. He just had this knack of getting you emotionally invested in him unlike other wrestlers.
The thing I always liked about his story lines is that he would zig when everyone else was zagging. His matches with Vader, Funk, Taker, and so many others were amazing. But his story lines with Rock, HHH, Austin, and McMahon were even better. I really liked the fact that no matter what emotion he was trying to draw out of the fan base, his Have a Nice Day line just worked to convey a brilliant message.
One of my favorite story lines of his goes back to ECW when he turned on the fans and started denouncing hard core wrestling and changed his wrestling style to anger the fans. Any time a wrestler gets a crap gimmick to work with, I always think back to Foley and so many of the stupid angles he just made work. To a degree, Foley was the original comedy jobber. His character was as gimmicky as they come. Not only that, but he had multiple personalities that were some of the cheesiest and off the wall characters ever created. But somehow, you put him in any story line with anyone, and Mick just made the story work somehow.
At the end of the day, if guys have talent, they can overcome the worst character and booking. And Foley is the proof. He really should have been one of the cheesiest wrestlers of all time, but he just went all in, amplified it into multiple personalities and somehow became one of the greatest ever.
If the WWE had more Foley's, any dumb idea from Vince would work and we wouldn't be talking about a dozen good story lines over a bazillion years like we are now.
Austin vs McMahon
Just won't be surpassed will it.
As for an actual wrestler vs an actual wrestler I'd say CM Punk vs Cena. I'd been in and out of wrestling for a while before that and that really rekindled my love for it
Mine is probably Kane vs Undertakeer 2010, as a long time Kane fan it was awesome seeing the lead up with his investigation, then he wins the title and has an amazing promo on how he had his brothers holy grail. Then we find out Kane not Rey Mysterio (Why'd you do it Rey was an awesome line lol) took out Taker. Kane gives another amazing promo detailing all his prior failures to end Taker, then goes on to 3-0 Taker in the feud and the Kane mark in me was so proud.
The return of Stone Cold during the Alliance vs Wwf.
Austin was a heel and didn't care about anything. He was hugging Mcmahon, and the Alliance was taking over the show. Mcmahon needed the old Austin back so all night long we had the suspense of if Austin would turn babyface again.
It led to the biggest pop I ever saw. Best night to be a wrestling fan.
The whole build up to wrestlemania 4 will forever be one of the best to me. I was a kid but even looking back and watching it now. It was great. The Mega Powers forum on saturday night main event in that classic segment. Ted DiBiase on saturday night main event paying for the Hebner double and Andre beating Hogan for the belt then giving it to DiBiase. Hogan yelling in the back about how much did the plastic surgery cost. Leading to the tournament at wrestlemania 4 and Macho winning.
The mega powers running wild the summerslam match with the mega powers vs the mega bucks, then started the mega powers split. The classic saturday night main event where Hogan takes Liz to the back and then Macho Man finally snaps and the mega powers explode at wrestlemania 5 unfortunately Hogan won the belt back.
I just think this was a great time in the wwf and had a really great story that lasted for a good 2 years.
Austin vs McMahon
Bret vs HBK (broke the lid off of kayfabe completely)
HBK vs Undertaker's streak
Bryan vs Authority 2013-2014
Punk shoots on the WWE (Though it could've been booked better, but some of the stuff was worthy of being considered an all time classic)
Brock Lesnar's monster booking 2014-date
Ministry of Darkness
Who is Austin going to sign with in 2002
Kane and Undertaker saga
Orton's Legend Killer gimmick 2004 onwards - Many good story lines came out of that.
Who ran down Stone Cold
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