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By Shawn Valentino, PWTorch Specialist

This coming weekend at WWE's Unforgiven PPV we will be witnessing one of the most anticipated matches in recent wrestling history. Although Summerslam is considered one of the most important events on the calendar, the buildup to the Chris Jericho- Shawn Michaels match surpasses anything we saw on that show. We can only hope that Michaels is healthy enough to create the classic we are expecting this match to be, and I am sure we all breathed a sigh of relief that the injury is not as serious as originally thought. One PWTorch reader suggested to me that I do an article on top WWE matches that took place in pay-per-views that were not part of the big four, WrestleMania, Summerslam, Survivor Series and Royal Rumble.

With the hype out of this world for Michaels and Jericho this week, I feel the timing is appropriate to look at some of the greatest matches in WWE PPV history that did not take place on their big brand events. I wanted to preface by telling you all that I have not seen every PPV in WWE history so I may be missing some of your favorites. I hope this list helps some of you find these matches on DVD and I hope you all mail me suggestions of other great matches that I have not mentioned here.

10. Triple H vs. The Rock with Shawn Michaels as ref, Iron Man Match: Judgment Day 2000

This was, in my opinion, the greatest Iron Man Match I have ever seen and only a botched ending prevented it from being higher on my list. The match was contested over Rock's WWF title and Michaels costing Rock the match in their previous encounter added to the buildup to the match. The action in the ring was spectacular from start to finish and did not have the lulls in action that other sixty minute matches like Hart and HBK had. The falls were creative and entertaining, especially when Triple H took a DQ on a chairshot, only to score two quick falls over the Rock. Michaels's possible bias and alliance with Hunter added tension to the match but he called the action down the middle. Unfortunately, the Undertaker, who returned after a long absence, missed his cue at the end of the match so an ending had to be improvised, resulting in a DQ for a Triple H victory. Despite the faulty ending, you should all watch this match for the sixty minutes of terrific action and storytelling.

9. Mankind vs. Shawn Michaels: Mindgames, In Your House 1996

By the middle of 1996, Shawn Michaels was putting on a consistent display of sensational championship matches never before seen in WWF history. This was no exception, as Mankind and Michaels put on an entertaining display of nonstop chaos and violence. Like Michaels' match against Diesel earlier in that year, this contest set a tone for the type of wild action that would characterize the Attitude Era. The battle provided a string of memorable moments, from Mankind both hanging by his neck from between the ropes, to him stabbing himself to get feeling back in his leg, to the innovative table bump, to the breathtaking Sweet Chin Music off the chair to the top rope. HBK proved again that he was the man to lead WWF into the next generation, and Mankind showed the in-ring ability to be a major star of the next era. This match also had a screwy ending with multiple wrestlers interfering causing a DQ, but it kind of fit the crazy tone of the match. Mick Foley calls this the greatest match of his career and it is not hard to see why.

8. Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels: Backlash 2004

While the classic match these three had at Wrestlemania XX got most of the attention, the rematch they would have at the following PPV was almost equally was good and had a much hotter crowd. What is phenomenal about this match is it takes the same three competitors but tells a totally different story. Hometown hero Chris Benoit (yes, I understand how ridiculous that sounds) was bringing his newly won WWE title and defending against the former champion as well as the biggest wrestling villain in Canada, Shawn Michaels. The heel heat on HBK nearly matched the cheers of Benoit and created an intense dynamic in the contest. Michaels, who was a face, played into the heat perfectly with his reactions to the crowd and his facial expressions. This may have been the one time where the play off the Bret Hart Screwjob seemed appropriate. Dave Hebner ran in to replace the injured ref, and Canada felt a little retribution as Benoit made HBK tap out. As somebody that can separate Benoit's brilliant ringwork from his personal life, I feel it should be recognized as one of the greatest in history.

7. Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel: Good Friends, Better Enemies, In Your House 1996

This battle between two friends was not only Kevin Nash's best match of his career but also had a long lasting impact on the direction of the business. The action in the ring was frenetic and the David versus Goliath story was told to perfection. This would be Nash's last major match before leaving to WCW and though he lost, he still came out of the match looking strong and that added to his marquee appeal during the NWO invasion angle. Michaels proved that the quality of matches he would have as champion would take in ring work in the WWF to a new level. During this time, the WWF was marketing their products toward young children, but this match was also a precursor to the hardcore battles that would become staples of the Attitude Era. The finish was tremendously creative with Michaels taking off Mad Dog Vachon's artificial leg and doing Sweet Chin Music with it for the win. This match laid a foundation for the direction the wrestling world would take in the ensuing boom period.

6. Edge & Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit: No Mercy 2002

The highlight of the wrestling world in 2002 was the incredible series of matches that the Smackdown Six was providing. Four of the best wrestlers in the world took part in a battle for the newly formed Smackdown Tag Team Championship and had the greatest tag team match in recent wrestling history. Although neither of these teams were traditional tag teams, they meshed together perfectly and put on a wrestling clinic for the ages. These teams along with Los Guerreros were putting on great matches regularly, making Smackdown the show to watch at the time. Angle and Benoit were reluctant tag team partners in this but displayed terrific chemistry here and ended up as winners. If you all want to see the greatness that was Paul Heyman's Smackdown in 2002, this is the prime example as it was pure perfection in the ring.

5. Randy Orton vs. Cactus Jack: Backlash 2004

Mick Foley was in retirement from wrestling in the ring for nearly four years. To his credit, he picked the perfect storyline to come back to. For nearly nine months, Evolution, especially Orton, was torturing Foley in numerous group beat downs. Orton built his Legend Killer persona during this angle and the heat on him was off the charts when he literally spit on Foley's legacy. After a very good match where Evolution beat the Rock and Sock Connection, Foley was finally goaded into returning to the ring to avenge his honor and prove he was still the Hardcore Legend. He returned in his Cactus Jack persona and the brutality of the action in this contest embodied the character. Ironically, it was Orton that showed his courageous and crazy side by taking a series of sick bumps, including the unforgettable shirtless fall into the thumbtacks. This match was significant on numerous levels. It reestablished Mick Foley as a star who could still put on classic matches. More importantly, Foley's presence and the long, well-booked program elevated Orton to be one of WWE's stars of the future. This feud, climaxing in this excellent match, should be a blueprint on how to use a legend to put over an emerging star.

4. Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar: No Way Out 2004

One of the all time great feel-good moments in the history of WWE took place when Eddie finally won his first world championship in a back and forth battle with the dominant champion Lesnar. This was a classic underdog story, with the smaller Guerrero trying to overcome the intimidating Brock. The action in the ring was terrific as one would expect from two of the best in ring workers in recent wrestling history. The psychology of the match was spot-on with Eddie working on Lesnar's knee in an attempt to slay the giant. This was the epitome of the big man-little man dynamic and Brock played the bully to perfection. Guerrero defeating him, and in the process, conquering his own personal demons was a real life story of redemption played to perfection. Many would rank this match lower because of the ref bump and the Goldberg interference, but the image of Eddie with the title at the end of the match in front of a frantic crowd made up for it. He broke the glass ceiling both for Latinos as well as smaller workers, and he did it with style and charisma. As sad as his early death was, we can all look at this match and smile.

3. Triple H vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, 3 Stages of Hell: No Way Out 2001

There was a time that Triple H could legitimately claim to be the best wrestler in the world. In 2000 and early 2001, he was putting on terrific matches with incredible consistency.  This had one of the most over the top match builds of any match of the Attitude Era, with Triple H hiring Rikishi to run over Austin with a car, and Austin dropping Triple H on a car from high in the air. When it was announced that these two would take part in a two out of three falls match that would consist of a regular match in the first fall, a street fight in the second, and a cage match in the third, the wrestling world was salivating. The excitement in the buildup did not compare to the brilliant action in the ring. These were arguably the two best workers in the ring at the time putting on a battle for the ages. The action never let up and the violence escalated with each moment, ending in a perfectly choreographed finish. The image of Triple H hitting Austin with a sledgehammer while being hit with a barbed wire bat and landing on top of him for a fluke win was unforgettable. This match perfectly exemplified the brutality and the chaos of the Attitude Era, while showcasing the prodigious talents of two of the best characters of the time.

2. The Undertaker vs. Mankind, Hell in a Cell: King of the Ring 1998

Speaking of the Attitude Era, would any discussion of the most memorable matches of the time be complete without this one? This may have not been one of the best wrestled matches of all time, but the memories it provided have left indelible images in the minds of every wrestling fan. The sight of Foley falling from the top of the Cell not once, but twice, was one of the most shocking sights any wrestling fan has ever witnessed. Beyond the devastating imagery was the story of the deranged Mankind character willing to put his body through hell and back again without regard to injury or his life. Undertaker, wrestling injured himself, played the deadly reaper with no remorse, and the sight of these two larger than life characters in the most demonic structure in wrestling was phenomenal. The hush the crowd was in throughout much of the match emphasized the awe-inspiring action that took place. When Undertaker pinned Mankind, we are almost relieved that both men lived throughout the contest. Foley's courageous performance in this match made him a main event draw, and the shots of him falling from the Cell became emblematic of the Attitude Era. Other matches have presented better in-ring work, but the impact this match had on the wrestling industry and on any fan that saw it make it one of the great matches in history.

1. Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker, Hell in a Cell: Bad Blood, In Your House 1997

When Shawn Michaels called himself the Showstopper before this epic encounter, even he likely did not know how historic his showstealing performance in this match would be. HBK put on one of the greatest performances in the history of wrestling, and Undertaker's awesome display was not far behind. The buildup to this match was the perfect illustration of the utilization of a gimmick match making sense. The smaller Michaels was a bit apprehensive of the aura and intimidation of Undertaker. He resorted to cowardly tactics like running away and using interference to defeat the Dead Man. WWE officials decided that a cage with a roof on it would be the only way to ensure that HBK could not resort to shady tactics to win. During over twenty-five spectacular minutes of innovative and exciting action, Michaels and Undertaker put the Hell in a Cell match on the map. The story in the match could not have been told better and it was the one time where the internal logic of escaping to the top of the cage made sense. When HBK injured the camera man and the door had to be unlocked to stretcher him out, who could have imagined what would take place? The image of the two combatants battling on top of the structure was unforgettable and Michaels's bump falling from the cage to the table set a new standard for WWF in-ring risk-taking. The debut of Kane tombstoning the Undertaker, also built up for months, only adds to the aura of this match. If these two legends did not put on the display they did in this match, the Hell in a Cell may not have been the successful feud-ending gimmick it would become in ensuing years. This match set a standard not only for how to climax a feud with a revolutionary gimmick, but also for two in-ring performers putting on legendary performances. For these reasons, it is the greatest match to take place in a non-big four WWE/F pay per view.

Please send questions, comments and feedback to valentino.torch@gmail.com

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