Wrestling Forum banner

Matches to introduce a non wrestling fan

5K views 47 replies 34 participants last post by  MKCS 
#1 ·
If you were to sit down with a non wrestling fan and show him or her some matches to peek their interest, which matches would you chose?

Off the top of my head I'd think I choose:

1. Samoa Joe vs Kenta Kobashi
2. Undertaker vs Mankind Hell in a Cell
3. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Rock Wrestlemania 17
4. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker Wrestlemania 25
5. Rob Van Dam vs Jerry Lynn Living Dangerously 99
6. Rob Van Dam vs Hardcore Holly ECW on Sci Fi
7. Do Fixer vs Blood Generation Supercard of Honor
8. Kurt Angle vs Shawn Michaels Wrestlemania 21
9. Bret Hart vs Owen Hart Wrestlemania X
10. KENTA vs Low Ki Final Battle

I might attempt to convert a non wreslting fan on Saturday. Either we'll watch some of these matches or we might watch the BOLA 2015 dvds if they arrive in time. Any match input would glady be appreciated! :grin2:
 
See less See more
#2 ·
NONE, NONE.

If you want to introduce someone to wrestling, don't show him any matches. The non-wrestling fan are obsessed with the fact that the wrestling is fake (and it is :D). So if you wanna introduce him to wrestling, don't show him a match. I'll say show him a "best of" of a storyline or something like this, you know, something that will actually make him forgot that it is fake.

The best choice is definitely some Attitude Era stuff, because the characters back then were a lot more enjoyable, a lot more badass, and they actually made you forgot that it was fake.
 
#6 ·
Show them the feud of Michaels vs Triple H from 2002 to 2004. Not a bad match in the lot, all the matches were hard hitting and the story was true as it could be. HBK came back better than ever, the video packages made each match feel special and on top of that they had several types of matches that all made sense story wise. Each man was legit the other man's Achilles heel.
 
#14 ·
Always best to go with an OTT Spotfest to interest a new watcher. Doesn't matter how much you know about wrestling or which performers you like or which style you prefer, the newbie wants something easy to enjoy and haven't got the time to understand/appreciate the nuances that matter to a long time fan.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NakNak
#16 · (Edited)
So the guy I'm trying to convert used to watch wrestling during the Monday Night Wars. So he really hasn't watched anything since then.

HBK vs Undertaker - WM25 is a great suggestion. I might start him off with some recent WWE matches with some ECW thrown in there for good measure. Punk vs Lesnar, Lesnar vs Cena vs Rollins - Royal Rumble or Undertaker vs HHH - WM28. And then maybe some ROH & PWG matches. Perhaps El Generico vs Kota Ibushi from Return Engagement and the ladder match from Threemendous III. I know he is very unfamiliar with any other federations.


Mike Awesome vs Spike Dudley is a great choice. Might show him Awesome vs Tanaka from N2R '99 and One Night Stand. And maybe RVD vs Jerry Lynn from Living Dangerously '99 and Hardcore Heaven '99.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Probably the majority of non wrestling fans would want something that looks nice, so i wouldn't show them something from NXT, ROH, PWG, even WCW, NJPW, AJPW, etc, because, you know, sometimes people are...stupid, thinking that the look of something equals quality, but whatever: On another point, I would show them some spotfest or some nice match with a strong story or both lol
















Now that I think about it, maybe I show them some LU matches like:







 
#19 ·
Austin vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania 13
HBK vs. Taker - WrestleMania 25 and 26
HBK vs. HHH - Royal Rumble '04
Cena vs. Owens - Elimination Chamber
Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog - SS '92
 
  • Like
Reactions: LaMelo
#3 · (Edited)
You should first think about their personality. What kind of person they are and who they'd like. Like if I was going to show a Christian friend of mine wrestling, I'd probably show them Michaels vs. McMahon WM 22. Because religion played a huge part in that feud and Michaels came out on top. Show promos too. Matches are great on their own, but build it up. Hype the shit out of them, dude.

Honestly, just gauge who they are and who they might like. Then, once you've figured that out, show them their top matches/promos. Best way to convert someone to wrestling.
 
#7 ·
you show them a match thats more a fight than harley race vs. jack brisco. my sister watched armageddon 1999 with me once and said she was getting bored watching wrestling but was super into the no holds barred main event of Vince McMahon vs. Triple H
 
#8 ·
Off the top of my head....

Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher

Ishii vs. Shibata G1 23

Rey Misterio Jr vs. Psicosis

Young Bucks vs. SSB vs. Futureshock - Ladder

Fenix vs. Mil Muertes Grave Consequences

And maybe some wild ass Memphis shit like The Fabs vs. Moondogs

Be careful, though. They'll either dig your choices, only to be disappointed when most matches don't live up to them or, worse still, they'll be like "eh, it was okay" & you'll have your favourite shit ruined by watching it through unimpressed eyes.
 
#9 ·
You can't just introduce someone to wrestling by giving him one of your favorite match.
You have to watch a lot of matches to develop your own taste in wrestling, learning the moves, learning the difference between a good or a bad selling... It's not something natural. You have to know what a normal kick or a normal punch looks like in a wrestling ring to enjoy a strong style match, you have to know where are the usual limits of violence to enjoy a big hardcore match et cetera...
 
#10 ·
If I were going to introduce someone to American wrestling, I'd pick Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit at the RR03 or Kurt Angle vs Shane McMahon at King of the Ring 2001.

For Japanese wrestling, it's gotta be Nakamura vs Tanahashi at WK8 OR Ishii vs Honma
 
#13 ·
My go to answer for this is Undertaker vs HBK at WM25. It's the definition of a perfect match, the only problem is that a new watcher doesn't know the history and legacy of both. The best option is to show them a realistic hard hitting match. Roderick Strong vs KUSHIDA @ Global Wars Night 2, Nakamura vs Ibushi at WK9 or even Kevin Owens vs John Cena (match 1) is a good match to start with. Go recent, no point showing them what it used to be like and then having them see the trash WWE has become.
 
#23 · (Edited)
Easy, show them the greatest WWE match of all time.

Edge and Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz at Wrestlemania 17.

If you don't want to show them a hardcore match (you don't get matches like the triple threat TLC tag team match anymore), show them something more recent with lots of moves.

John Cena vs Seth Rollins at Summerslam/Night of Champions.

Edit: Or, if you want to show them a small bit of action, skip to the end of Eddie Guerrero vs JBL at Judgement Day 2004, just before Eddie gets busted wide open from a chair shot.
 
#26 ·
Is this not the age old question? How do we make someone fall in love, or at least find some joy, in the things we love?

Well wrestling is maybe the toughest to do. I don't think it is as easy as "Well pick something with a bunch of action" which I would say is probably the best way to tackle it if you don't know the person. At the very least it is the safest. I think it is a little easier if you understand the sorts of movies they like (or some other visual media).

Do they like action movies?
Kota Ibushi vs. Nick Jackson vs. El Generico vs. Jigsaw is as safe a bet as any.

Do they like epic movies ala Lord of the Rings?
Well I would go Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin from WM13.

Are they fans of violent horror flicks?
Throw Jimmy Jacobs vs BJ Whitmer.

Comedy?
Give them Colt Cabana

Oscar nominated films?
Atlantis vs. Villano III/Ultimo Guerrero. It is the only time I'd suspect it wouldn't be too difficult for someone to go for an international bout.

Into indie films?
Chris Hero vs. William Regal. I don't know why. I just feel like that'd make sense.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top