'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Professional wrestling is a soap opera, and much like any other opera, is able to garner emotional reactions.
Often, wrestling makes us angry, frustrated even, as we see our favourite stars come up short in high profile matches.
Sometimes, we're elated when our favourites finally come out on top, as we've followed their career and seen them grow as an athlete and eprformer before our very eyes.
And sometimes, we get downright emotional, as the wrestling world is able to garner a strong reaction from us.
Whether it be due to a legendary career retiring, a dream coming true or something else, the WWE can really hit fans hard.
And in these matches, the WWE Universe couldn't help but be swept up.
Here are five WWE emotional matches which made fans reach for the tissues.
#5: Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels (Survivor Series 1997)
What can be said about the Montreal Screwjob that hasn't already been said before?
The lore is well-known. WWF Champion was set to retain the gold at the show against Shawn Michaels, and would forfeit it the next night, before leaving for WCW.
However, Vince McMahon's paranoia got the best of him, as the Screwjob occurred, with Michaels winning the match and title via submission, despite the Hitman never tapping out.
An emotional night for everyone involved, the match itself is very emotional when you know what is going to happen in its conclusion.
Simply put, the match represents a friendship being broken, as it'd take Bret Hart (once considered the most loyal of WWF stars), over a decade before he would feel comfortable appearing in a WWE ring once again.
#4: Chris Benoit Vs. Triple H Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 20)
When Chris Benoit captured the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 20, the win was a long-time coming.
For 18 years, the Canadian had honed his craft, facing adversity after adversity from being considered too small in WCW, to a broken neck in WWE.
A highly emotional win, fans can see how much the opportunity meant for Benoit, who wept openly after being handed the title.
As if the ending to the 20th WrestleMania wasn't emotional enough, Benoit would be joined in the ring by WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero, as the two cried tears of joy over their success.
It's harrowing looking back now, knowing that both men would be dead within a handful of years, and that Benoit's actions in his final moments (truly evil acts), would forever taint this emotional bout.
#3: Daniel Bryan Vs. Randy Orton Vs. Batista (WrestleMania 30)
In the latest WWE NEWS, Daniel Bryan had established himself as the new face of the company.
After his hard-work and perseverance had won over the crowd the prior year, Bryan had been held down by The Authority, which only made fans on-screen love him more.
Backstage was a similar story as though WWE realised the YES! Man's star power, he was overlooked in favour of Batista, who won the 2014 Royal Rumble to a chorus of boos.
With fans dreading a Batista-Randy Orton main event for WrestleMania, the company faced no other choice but to add Bryan to the match after an onslaught of criticism by fans.
Beating Triple H earlier in the night to qualify, Bryan would capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, proving sometimes, the good guy does win.
#2: Kofi Kingston Vs. Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania 35)
Just five years after he had won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 30, Daniel Bryan was a changed man.
Retiring in 2016, Bryan had returned to the ring two years later, and shocked fans in November 2018, turning heel to capture the gold.
Much like Bryan in 2014, this time it was Kofi Kingston's turn to be embraced by the fans, who respected the New Day star's eleven years in the business.
Being told he was nothing more than a B+ player by Bryan (who had been called this before) was the clincher, as the two had a highly emotional match at WrestleMania.
Though it was never alluded to on-screen, Kofi becoming the first black WWE Champion was a huge moment for the African-American community, as you can see from former Superstars MVP and Shad Gaspard:
#1: Shawn Michaels Vs. Ric Flair (WrestleMania 24)
In late 2007, Vince McMahon gave Ric Flair a twisted ultimatum: the next time he lost a match, his career would be over.
For months, the legendary star notched up win after win, including pay per view victories over MVP and Mr Kennedy.
Unfortunately for the Nature Boy, he hit a roadblock in the form of HBK Shawn Michaels.
Accepting Flair's challenge to a match at WrestleMania, Michaels said he respected the 16-time World Champion's legendary career, but said he wouldn't hesitate to end it.
Doing just that, both men fought back tears as Michaels hit his Sweet Chin Music to end Flair's career, and though the Nature Boy has wrestled since outside of the WWE, most fans will agree that this match was the definitive end of his iconic tenure.
