My answer to these questions is this:
It wouldn't be traditional to me if I followed someone else's lead or guide in creating my own list?! Quite frankly, 12 is a number that is special to me.
Why???
Well for starter's my birthday is on 12/12. More significantly I lived long enough to experience my 12/12/12 birthday a couple of years ago (which was my 31st birthday). That was a special birthday to me since I received Wrestlemania tickets for the first time ever! To add, 12 is the number I always wore in Basketball in Middle School, HS Rec, College Intramural, Overseas in Europe, Post College Rec & Tournaments (except for my '99 - '00 season when I got stuck with the #13; hence, Friday the 13th lost all legitimacy of being a bad luck day at a very young age for me - I was a very superstitious youth). However, as I look back now that year was good for me since growing up I was deathly terrified of the hockey masked, machete toting lunatic named Jason Voorhies. I'd like to take this moment to further elaborate so here are some more of my reasons...
The first Wrestlemania proceeding my 12th bday was Wrestlemania 10 (my favorite Wrestlemania of all-time). According to many biblical studies the number 12 is considered a "perfect number." Jesus appears in public for the first time at the age of 12. Jesus had 12 disciples that followed him in the New Testament. God made the Sun to govern 12 hours of day, and the moon to govern 12 hours of night. Jacob had 12 sons who were the progenitors to the 12 tribes of Israel. Young girls in Judaism have their "Bat Mitzva" at age 12 (if you are a female subscriber). On the twelfth day of Christmas there were 12 drummers drumming (and I played the drums for this particular song in my elementary school holiday play). There are 12 calendar months in a year. 12 signs of the zodiac. 12 inches in a foot. 12 face cards in a deck of cards. Need I continue? I think not, let's start the list! Enjoy.
#12) Singles Match: Daniel Bryant vs Bray Wyatt at the 2014 Royal Rumble.
This match was one of the opening matches to the most recent WWE PPV. This match can be described as Bray Wyatt the unorthodox and terrifying versus Daniel Bryant the highly technical and fan favorite. Bray Wyatt wins this match, and will be considered one of the top heals in the WWE over the next several years (in my opinion). A star is born, and an epic match has been video documented. Bray Wyatt made my top villain in Sports Entertainment list after witnessing this match.
#11) WWE Championship Match: The Rock vs Triple H at Backlash 2000
This is a personal favorite match since I was in attendance among 19,101 other Attitude Era fans at MCI Center Washington, DC. I went to this event live with my brother Vin, cousin Sujey, Alwyn, Neil and Jason. I recall a few of my boys from my basketball team going to the show as well that night. The next day at Walk Whitman HS in Bethesda, MD we talked about it in the hallway between classes. It was my senior year and I rocked my brand new "Rock" shirt to school that day. Success! I finally was able to easily coordinate my (until that day) hard to match light blue Abercrombie & Fitch long sleeve T to match the Rock's unique blue wording on my new wrestling T (Successful since I used all of my lunch money to buy my new Rock shirt). I also wore my exceptionally hip navy blue Nike air max 95's, khaki cargo shorts from Gap, and a khaki colored Nike visor from Lids that day since I was just too cool for school. I went on to use the phrase "Helloooo Ladiessss..." (Val Venis reference) all day to the girls in my school. The McMahon family interfered during the match, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin made a highly anticipated return that night! This match was intensely physical, and the several performers that night made the crowd pop and roar on many occasions during this epic bout. When SCSA's glass shattered and his music began to ring I looked over at my brother, cousin and the rest of our party to witness their electrifying excitement. Awesome memory. SCSA interferes, and the Rock beats Triple H for the WWE Championship.
#10) Singles Match: The Undertaker vs CM Punk at Wrestlemania 29
This was another match that I went to live. I was at MetLife in NJ. I originally purchased tickets for the main event: Rock versus Cena! I was so excited to see that match live months leading up to Wrestlemania. Once I got to Fan Axxess and Wrestlemania I became mesmerized by the die-hard CM Punk fans in attendance, the overall story leading up to this match, and the Undertaker's eerie and haunting theme ringing throughout the entire arena during... I still catch feelings thinking about that time. I always liked the Undertaker's intro, but loved seeing it live. It really is the best ring entrance the WWE has ever produced. Paul Bearer had recently passed (RIP). This is the angle that CM Punk used as his catalyst to create steam for this match with fans and to create resent within The Undertaker himself. Despicable. Horrible taste. Brilliant marketing.
For weeks leading up to this match CM Punk would do terrible things to get underneath the Undertaker's cold skin. He stole the late Paul Bearer's notorious Urn, and went on to cut video's with the Urn to play on the Titantron at MNR while the Undertaker would angrily watch in the ring - unable to touch Punk. In these video's he would play with the Urn, drop it and just overall insult the meaning of respect (as Taker defines it). CM Punk once had Paul Heyman (his then ring manager) dress as Paul Bearer in mockery of the Undertaker's beloved late wrestling manager. He also sneak attacked Taker in one episode dressed up as one of Taker's druids. When Taker was on the ground he poured the ashes of Paul Bearer from the Urn all over the Undertaker. He went on to pummel Taker while he was down, and continued to take the ashes off Taker's body with his hands and rub them all over his body and mouth while ingesting some... It was sickening in numerous ways... As you may guess, the Undertaker went on to win this match and remains undefeated at Wrestlemania. The match was epic since the crowd was so involved, and the performers put on such a well calculated show for the fans. I ended up leaving Wrestlemania after this match from being dead exhausted being at Fan Axxess all morning. I know. I know?! I missed the Rock versus Cena - the main reason I initially bought tickets? The truth is this; I was already thoroughly satisfied with my Wrestlemania experience after this match.
#9) Intercontinental / WWF Championship: Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 6
This match in my opinion is the original battle of icon versus icon. Although Hogan is coined for being the originator of Wrestlemania; The Ultimate Warrior was an up and coming Superstar who was WAY over with the fans at the time. Therefore, Hogan losing to him was a monumental feat for The Ultimate Warrior to accomplish within this business at the time. Pro Wrestling historians describe this match as the passing of the torch. The match itself is played out like a golden era collision of dinosaurs... kind of boring. Nonetheless, it won every fans amazement and attention. The lead up to Wrestlemania 6 and the entrances had everyone in attendance or watching at home that night with a decision to make? Who are you riding with; Hogan or Warrior? The Ultimate Warrior went on to carry both titles out of the arena that night.
#8) WWF Championship: "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs Ric Flair at Wrestlemania 8
#RicFlair #MachoMan #MrPerfect #MissElizabeth #CurtisAxel - readers please stay tuned for clips and vignette's from this match and please subscribe! #WWE #TripleH #StephanieMcMahon #VinceMcMahon #Wrestlemania8 #ERPWrestlingBlog #PleaseSubscribe
#7) Intercontinental Championship: Bret "Hitman" Hart vs Mr. Perfect at Summerslam 1991
See clip below and please subscribe! #WWE #VinceMcMahon #BretHart #Hitman #MrPerfect #CurtisAxel #TripleH #StephanieMcMahon #RandyOrton
#6) WWF Championship: Hulk Hogan vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage at Wrestlemania 5
This match was dubbed "The Mega Powers explode." This was a time in the WWF when the two major superstars teamed up for one time to create arguably the best tag team of all time. The duo was short lived since Macho Man increasingly became jealous of Hogan's relationship with Miss Elizabeth. Savage was always a bit of a jealous control freak when it came to his girl/wife/ring manager: Miss Elizabeth. What all of this boiled down to was that at Wrestlemania 5 there could only be one Mega Power. More important to the match itself; this day in history (April 2, 1989) hold's bittersweet and fond memories of my personal growth in childhood coupled with my ever growing attraction to the WWE.
Weeks before the event my Uncle and Mom had a plan to do something special for my sister Julia, cousin Sindy, brother Vin, cousin Jey, cousin Shanthy and Myself. All six of us used to get babysat together by my dear & late Pati (Grandmother) as children. In those days we each had a partner in crime in one another which made us really close and tightly knit. For my sister it was Sindy, and for my brother it was Jey. Cousin Shanthy was the fearless leader of our elite unit. We used to catch a lot of flack from the older siblings for being the youngest and also for me being a boy and her being a girl. We were all at my Grandmother's house one evening and my Uncle and Mom had stopped by to pick us all up around the same time. This is when my Uncle presented his amazing and generous offer to all six of us. Shanthy immediately elected that we each be entitled to a shopping spree at Toy's-R-Us. I enthusiastically agreed. It was settled and such an excellent idea to me at the time. Cousin Sindy requested tickets to the up coming Bon Jovi concert; my sister got excited so my Uncle agreed and went on to chaperone and fulfill his promise. In retrospect, this may have had everything to do with my Uncle having three free tickets to Wrestlemania 5 at Cole Field House (The UMD Terrapins old arena) to watch Wrestlemania 5 closed circuit. My Uncle has always been a great businessman, and at the time owned several "Stage 1" video stores (80's and 90's). He would get promotional material from his clientele. Vince McMahon and Coliseum Video would often offer him tickets to live events whenever the WWF came to the Capital Center in Largo, MD. Before the WWF was the WWE; the WWWE was the CWC (Capital Wrestling Corporation) which was run by Vince McMahon Sr. The original territory of the WWE (and what it is today) was formed in my backyard!
I went ballistic when I realized I wasn't included?! "I mean, who even is the true Macho Man in the family, it's me!!!" My dismay did not last long since we ended up going to "Zayre" that evening (a department store that K-Mart purchased in the 90's) where I swayed my dear Mother into buying me a GI-Joe action figure.
The morning of the event I begged my brother for his ticket and he then body slammed me. When I saw my Uncle and cousin Jey come to pick up my brother that morning I started to cry. I was the youngest boy in a family of alpha males for a long period in my childhood (before Jonathan was born). My Uncle looked down at me and said "Paavum!" meaning: so sad/poor thing (in Tamilian). Cousin Jey chuckled at me but immediately looked at brother Vin. As I watched their eyes meet and begin to quietly light up regarding what they were about to witness; I continued to cry, whine and whale. I went as far as chasing the car as long as my tender bare feet could run and take me. I made a decision at the end of the road to burn this moment into my memory. I promised myself to be smarter and to let this feeling drive me and make me better... I decided to come into the house and buy the PPV (after of course consulting my Dad about this wonderful opportunity for him who smiled at me and agreed). Little did I know at the time that you needed cable TV to buy a PPV and we didn't have cable. My efforts were useless. 8 hours later is when I started becoming a man (at the age of 7). As sunset began I asked myself the following: "What the heck am I doing?" "Dag, I mean I know this sucks but everyone will laugh at me if they saw me being such a spoiled brat?!" I realized I was acting out of character. Today, I can honestly say that I never stopped spoiling myself but that night, I did decide to stop being a brat & baby. I showed no tears when my Uncle, cousin and brother got home to my Mom's famous chicken curry late that evening. The first question I asked as I graciously opened the door was about their closed circuit experience. Cousin Jey was so pumped and ready to tell me! He and brother Vin went through the entire match for me but this time they included me as their official wrestling buddy (this was years before the WWF launched the actual wrestling buddy line of merchandise). Although I already knew Hogan was going to win the title back from Savage that night I acted surprised by the turn of events when they told me - sheerly out of respect for my elder role models (and embarrassment for my earlier actions). "I can't believe you guys went to Wrestlemania 5 closed circuit! - you guys are the coolest!!!" My attitude had completely already shifted from what it was that very morning. I have to attribute this to those 8 strait grueling hours that adorable and entitled 7 year old Raj took on the phone with the yellow pages. I dialed number after number after number after number that day... I realized for the first time far more valuable trait's... Work. Diligence. Hunger. Desire. Pride. Manhood. The match itself was the "Macho Man" vs the "Real American." However for me that night it was "Ed" vs "Raj P." Hogan won the title back that night and so did Raj P...
This match leads me to the remaining top 5 matches of all time.
#5) TLC Tag Team Championship: Hardy Boys vs Dudley Boys vs Edge & Christian
#HardyBoys #JeffHardy #MattHardy #Mattitude #DudleyBoys #BubbaDudley #DeVonDudley #Edge #Christian #WWE #VinceMcMahon #StephanieMcMahon #TripleH #TLC #Wrestlemania17
#4) IC Championship: "The Dragon" Steamboat vs Randy Savage at Wrestlemania 3
#RickyTheDragonSteamboat #RandySavage #MissElizabeth #ProWrestlingIllustrated #PWI #WWE #WrestlemaniaIII #VinceMcMahon
#3) Singles Match: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Bret "Hitman" Hart at Wrestlemania 13
#StoneColdSteveAustin #SCSA #BretHart #Hitman #BretHitmanHart #Wrestlemania13 #WinBySubmission #WWE #VinceMcMahon #PaulHeyman #JRRoss #JerryTheKingLawler #Wrestlemania13
#2) Intercontinental Championship: Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon at Wrestlemania 10
#HBK #ShawnMichaels #RazorRamon #ScottHall #WWE #Wrestlemania10 #LadderMatch #VinceMcMahon
#1) Hell in a Cell: The Undertaker vs Mick Foley "Mankind"
See my archives for a detailed editorial on my top match of all time entitled "Epic Matches: Volume 1
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