This is of course an opinion piece, there are certainly other matches that could be presented.
10. Bob Backlund vs Billy Graham 2/20/78 Madison Sqaure Garden, New York
Why? Of course, this was Bob Backlund's first title victory but to me the significance of this match is the tailspin this result sent Billy Graham down. Vince Sr's idea of celebrating a more technical champion was never really that popular with his fan base. It could be noted that Vince Jr took note, and when he finally got the book, Backlund was moved out of the way for the Graham clone...Hulk Hogan.
9. Pedro Morales vs Bruno Sammartino 10/30/72, Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY
Why? The WWWF at this time was very formulaic, and having their two biggest babyfaces square off was not a part of the formula. This was unheard of. The match drew a massive crowd for the original "Showdown at Shea"
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8. Antonio Inoki vs Karl Gotch 3/6/71 Ota Ward Gym, Tokyo
Why? Not only is this a rare loss by Antonio Inoki but this is the main event of the first card ever by New Japan. The maiden voyage of the new company gets off to a solid start.
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7. Harley Race vs Dorey Funk Jr. 5/24/73 Kansas City, KA
Why? Harley Race is why. Harley would capture his first NWA World Title which was without a doubt the most coveted wrestling title in the world at the time. This would be his first run, and he would go on to dominate the NWA title scene for much of the 70's. To be clear the NWA was a more important title than the WWEWF belt. But the title changes in the NWA just happened more often.
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6. Nick Bockwinkel vs Verne Gagne 11/8/1975 St Paul, MN
Why? The changing of the guard for what most people considered the best wrestling company in the world for much of the 1970's. Bockwinkel's first title run for the AWA, the company he would dominate for much of the next decade plus. Equally important is, that Verne Gagne finally relents to not being the face of the AWA and allows the younger heel to take the reigns.
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5 Muhammed Ali vs Antonio Inoki 6/26/76 Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY.
Why? Being an important match does not always mean it's for good reasons. The most popular boxer in the world vs. Japan's most famous wrestler. This was a farce from the opening bell with Inoki infamously laying on his back in order to prevent Ali from landing any legit punches. The match was ruled a draw in spite of Inoki landing kicks over and over again on Ali who seemed furious over the whole ordeal at the time. The match made historic amounts of money as an early closed circuit offering.
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4. Eddie and Mike Graham vs Pak Song and Dusty Rhodes 5/14/74 Ft. Horner Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL
Why: One of the greatest baby face turns of all time takes place when Dusty Rhodes finally becomes 300 pounds of sweet sweet soul, after Pak Song seems to inadvertently strike him. The match and face turn launches Rhodes career into the stratosphere where the charismatic Rhodes quickly ascends to world wide fame in wrestling.
3. Superstar Billy Graham vs. Bruno Sammartino 4/30/77 Baltimore, MD
Why: There had not been anyone like Graham in the sport, with that look, that build, the ability to speak, Graham this match started one of the first fan favorite heel runs of all time. Graham would largely be cheered during his run, especially by the MSG patrons. Graham was also the first heel WWWF champion to hold the belt for a substantial length of time.
2. Wayne Ferris and Larry Latham vs. Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler 5/15/79 Tupelo Sports Arena, Tupelo, MS
Why? While it may not be the birth of hardcore wrestling, it's certainly the match which has been credited for it most often. And it is without question the most influential match on many of the pioneers of the style. Men like Onita, Heyman, Gilbert, Mantell, Cornette credit it as the match that hatched their ideas for what was to come. Onita actually participated in the sequel to the original shortly after opening his hardcore company in Japan.
1. Ivan Koloff vs Bruno Sammartino 1/18/71 Madison Square Garden New York.
Why? Although the WWWF was not yet the powerhouse it would become, it was still New York and one of the biggest companies in the world. More importantly this was the end of one of the most legendary wrestling title reigns of all time, as the legendary Bruno lost his WWWF title following a knee drop in front of a stunned crowd. A 2,803 day run ended that night in silence.
10. Bob Backlund vs Billy Graham 2/20/78 Madison Sqaure Garden, New York
Why? Of course, this was Bob Backlund's first title victory but to me the significance of this match is the tailspin this result sent Billy Graham down. Vince Sr's idea of celebrating a more technical champion was never really that popular with his fan base. It could be noted that Vince Jr took note, and when he finally got the book, Backlund was moved out of the way for the Graham clone...Hulk Hogan.
9. Pedro Morales vs Bruno Sammartino 10/30/72, Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY
Why? The WWWF at this time was very formulaic, and having their two biggest babyfaces square off was not a part of the formula. This was unheard of. The match drew a massive crowd for the original "Showdown at Shea"
8. Antonio Inoki vs Karl Gotch 3/6/71 Ota Ward Gym, Tokyo
Why? Not only is this a rare loss by Antonio Inoki but this is the main event of the first card ever by New Japan. The maiden voyage of the new company gets off to a solid start.
7. Harley Race vs Dorey Funk Jr. 5/24/73 Kansas City, KA
Why? Harley Race is why. Harley would capture his first NWA World Title which was without a doubt the most coveted wrestling title in the world at the time. This would be his first run, and he would go on to dominate the NWA title scene for much of the 70's. To be clear the NWA was a more important title than the WWEWF belt. But the title changes in the NWA just happened more often.
6. Nick Bockwinkel vs Verne Gagne 11/8/1975 St Paul, MN
Why? The changing of the guard for what most people considered the best wrestling company in the world for much of the 1970's. Bockwinkel's first title run for the AWA, the company he would dominate for much of the next decade plus. Equally important is, that Verne Gagne finally relents to not being the face of the AWA and allows the younger heel to take the reigns.
5 Muhammed Ali vs Antonio Inoki 6/26/76 Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY.
Why? Being an important match does not always mean it's for good reasons. The most popular boxer in the world vs. Japan's most famous wrestler. This was a farce from the opening bell with Inoki infamously laying on his back in order to prevent Ali from landing any legit punches. The match was ruled a draw in spite of Inoki landing kicks over and over again on Ali who seemed furious over the whole ordeal at the time. The match made historic amounts of money as an early closed circuit offering.
4. Eddie and Mike Graham vs Pak Song and Dusty Rhodes 5/14/74 Ft. Horner Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL
Why: One of the greatest baby face turns of all time takes place when Dusty Rhodes finally becomes 300 pounds of sweet sweet soul, after Pak Song seems to inadvertently strike him. The match and face turn launches Rhodes career into the stratosphere where the charismatic Rhodes quickly ascends to world wide fame in wrestling.
3. Superstar Billy Graham vs. Bruno Sammartino 4/30/77 Baltimore, MD
Why: There had not been anyone like Graham in the sport, with that look, that build, the ability to speak, Graham this match started one of the first fan favorite heel runs of all time. Graham would largely be cheered during his run, especially by the MSG patrons. Graham was also the first heel WWWF champion to hold the belt for a substantial length of time.
2. Wayne Ferris and Larry Latham vs. Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler 5/15/79 Tupelo Sports Arena, Tupelo, MS
Why? While it may not be the birth of hardcore wrestling, it's certainly the match which has been credited for it most often. And it is without question the most influential match on many of the pioneers of the style. Men like Onita, Heyman, Gilbert, Mantell, Cornette credit it as the match that hatched their ideas for what was to come. Onita actually participated in the sequel to the original shortly after opening his hardcore company in Japan.
1. Ivan Koloff vs Bruno Sammartino 1/18/71 Madison Square Garden New York.
Why? Although the WWWF was not yet the powerhouse it would become, it was still New York and one of the biggest companies in the world. More importantly this was the end of one of the most legendary wrestling title reigns of all time, as the legendary Bruno lost his WWWF title following a knee drop in front of a stunned crowd. A 2,803 day run ended that night in silence.
