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Professional wrestling is all about the spectacle, the passion, emotion, theatrics, characters and so much more.
On that note—and this is something most detractors of pro-wrestling choose to wag an accusatory finger at time and again—the sport is oft derided as fake or scripted. So, for all the rocket scientists out there—yes, our sport is scripted!
How then does one accord it the respect that one does to non-scripted sporting competition—those in which the outcomes, the winners and losers aren’t pre-determined?
Well, for starters, competing as a professional wrestler, or ‘performer’ as most industry insiders and fans like to call it today, isn’t child’s play. The business takes a toll on one’s body and mind, forcing its players to push it to the limit and well beyond. Injuries, clashes, upheavals, revolutions are all part of this wonderful game.
One of the key factors that serve to further accentuate the sporting aspect of professional wrestling are rare but beautiful displays of sportsmanship amongst the performers. Respect and the invaluable virtue of sportsmanship are commonplace in the business, particularly behind the scenes, given the heel-face dynamics at play inside the ring, so to speak.
With that in mind, the industry isn’t bereft of said virtue even within the ring in front of the fans, irrespective of heel-face restrictions. And when it comes to one of its biggest companies, the WWE, such instances of sportsmanship act as instruments for etching the names of the enactors into the history books in letters of gold. Today we set forth on a brief journey, back in time, to reminisce about a few such excellent displays of sportsmanship in WWE history—
#10 Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels — Wrestlemania XXVI
The 26th edition of the showcase of the immortals was a pivotal one, in many ways. Two legends were set to face-off in a Streak vs Career matchup, as the Deadman took on Mr Wrestlemania.
The Undertaker beat Shawn Michaels in the 25th edition of Mania and faced him again the following year. In one of the greatest pro-wrestling matches of all time, both Superstars put a beat-down on each other — Sweet Chin Music and Tombstones galore.
In the end, the Phenom would prevail after delivering a flying Tombstone Piledriver to HBK. Both competitors showed respect toward one another by shaking hands and embracing; ending the night on a high note.
#9 Undertaker vs Triple H — Wrestlemania XXVIII
The King of Kings set forth on a journey of redemption for his best friend and recent retiree Shawn Michaels, with the former blaming the Undertaker for ending HBK’s storied career.
Needless to say, Taker didn’t take too kindly to the same, accepting Triple H’s challenge and beating him at Wrestlemania XXVII. The rematch went down the next year and took place within the confines of Hell In A Cell, with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee.
In a thrilling back-and-forth affair, the Undertaker dug deep and found a way to outsmart and outwork the Cerebral Assassin en route to a memorable victory. The match was followed by the Deadman and HBK helping Triple H up the entrance ramp, with the trio embracing before retreating backstage.
#8 Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair — Wrestlemania XXIV
Shawn Michaels faced Ric Flair in a ‘Career Threatening’ match at Wrestlemania 24, with the dirtiest player in the game using every trick in the book to keep HBK guessing.
However, Michaels would soon set the pace for the matchup, nailing Flair with Sweet Chin Music on multiple occasions. On that note, it was before the final time that Shawn delivered the aforementioned finishing move on Ric that we as fans got to witness one of the most touching moments in professional wrestling history.
Michaels uttered, the now-immortalized phrase—“I’m sorry, I love you.” He then delivered his finisher and pinned Flair ending the Nature Boy’s long and illustrious career. Following this HBK left the ring, and Ric shared an emotional moment with his family and fans ringside.
#7 The Rock vs John Cena — Wrestlemania XXIX
The Rock beat John Cena at the 28th edition of Mania and the duo would dance again at Wrestlemania 29, with the People’s Champion defending his WWE Championship against the Leader of the Cenation.
The two icons exchanged multiple signature moves and finishers, following which Cena countered a Rock Bottom with an Attitude Adjustment for the pinfall. A humbled Rocky shook hands and embraced Cena after the match.
The two performers then walked up the entrance ramp, with the Rock standing beside Cena; pointing towards the latter and raising the new champion’s hand. The moment signified a kind of official ‘passing of the torch’ from the Rock to Cena—something that would’ve happened much sooner had the Brahma Bull not taken a lengthy hiatus from the squared circle.
#6 Bayley vs Sasha Banks — NXT Takeover: Respect
Bayley challenged Sasha Banks for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT Takeover: Respect in October of 2015, in a 30-minute Iron Man match.
The event marked the first time Bayley won the NXT Women’s title and saw both competitors put on a highly technical performance. Bayley beat Banks 3-2 before the buzzer sounded, and was congratulated by everyone in attendance including WWE dignitaries backstage.
Bayley shared an emotional moment with her fans and was then pictured with the very rival she had just bested ergo ‘The Boss’ Sasha Banks; the latter raising Bayley’s hands in a show of respect.
#5 CM Punk vs John Cena — Money In The Bank 2011
The 2011 edition of the Money In The Bank PPV saw John Cena defend his WWE Championship against CM Punk, with the stipulation that the former would be fired if he failed to defeat Punk.
The match saw a symbolic reference made to the Montreal Screwjob wherein Vince McMahon legitimately screwed Bret Hart out of the latter’s WWF Championship against Shawn Michaels. On that note, in a re-enactment or rather parody of the same, McMahon came down to the ring and signalled the referee to call the match, with John Laurinaitis going to ring the bell.
However, in one of the most memorable shows of sportsmanship, Cena prevented the match from being stopped. He would then return to the ring and lose to Punk courtesy a GTS, but his sheer adherence to the values of Hustle, Loyalty & Respect won Cena millions of hearts.
#4 Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart bury the hatchet on Monday Night RAW
Speaking of the Montreal Screwjob, Bret Hart did, in fact, return to the WWE years later for a brief, primarily non-wrestling, run with the company.
It was on the January 4th, 2010 episode of Monday Night RAW that Hart called Shawn Michaels out for a face-to-face on live TV, so as to call a truce. HBK responded and the duo spoke about their differences in the middle of the ring on RAW.
HBK and the Hitman shook hands, following which the former mockingly suggested delivering Sweet Chin Music to Hart. However, the longtime rivals would then embrace, thereby bringing closure, albeit to a certain extent, to one of the ugliest real-life rivalries in professional wrestling history.
#3 The Rock vs Hulk Hogan Wrestlemania XVIII
The Rock faced Hollywood Hulk Hogan is an ‘Icon vs Icon’ match at Wrestlemania 18. Hogan, despite being a heel, was cheered for religiously by the fans in attendance at the SkyDome in Toronto.
The match was highly entertaining, with Rocky picking up the win after a couple of Rock Bottoms and a People’s Elbow. Hogan and the Rock shook hands as a sign of respect after which the latter left the ring, only to come back a few moments later to defend Hogan against his nWo brethren Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
Hogan and Rock stood tall in the end, with the duo posing for the fans.
#2 John Cena and Shinsuke Nakamura — SmackDown Live
John Cena and Shinsuke Nakamura are two of the biggest stars in the business today. Given that, it goes without saying why the WWE built up a showdown between the duo, as fiercely as they did, for a television matchup nonetheless.
In fact, several major betting outlets had big money coming in for the matchup. Such was the magnitude of Cena vs Nakamura on the 1st of August, 2017.
The King of Strong Style beat Cena clean, thereby earning the status of number-1 contender for Jinder Mahal’s WWE Championship. Following their epic showdown on SmackDown, Cena and Nakamura shook hands, showing the respect and admiration they had for one another.
Furthermore, it ought to be noted that Cena helped Naka finish the match despite the latter botching a drop and causing Cena to land awkwardly on his neck. Not many can match good ol’ John’s professionalism and sportsmanship in the wrestling business!
#1 Kurt Angle helps Brock Lesnar save face
Brock Lesnar faced Kurt Angle for the latter’s WWE Championship at the 19th edition of Mania—in what is, to date, considered as one of the most technical showdowns of all time.
However, it wasn’t merely the beautiful ring work that earned the match a special place in our hearts. It was Kurt Angle’s veteran savvy of covering up Lesnar’s botched Shooting Star Press that cemented the Olympic Gold medalist’s legacy as one of the best to ever do it.
Add to it the fact that Lesnar and Angle shook hands and embraced one another after the former dethroned Angle as the WWE Champion, and the night was the epitome of warrior spirit and sportsmanship in the WWE.
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