Top 5 promos that shattered the boundaries of Pro Wrestling

It was almost two decades ago, a Texas rattlesnake, with a chip on his shoulder, made himself a legend. “Austin 3:16″ is often regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestling promos not only in terms of its influence but the individual behind the mic as well. Back then, fans took to Austin’s every last word and, as a result, made him and the promo he cut nothing short of timeless. Of course, it would be a lie to say that this was the only segment that shook the pro wrestling world.

When they come from certain individuals, words hold power. We hang on to every syllable, as we are being spoken to, even if we do not necessarily agree with every facet of the message being presented. Certain promos stand out more than others, which is what I’d like to get into today. On this day, to honour the “Austin 3:16" segment, I’d like to list 5 promos that rocked the world of professional wrestling.

#5: Roddy Piper disses Jimmy Snuka on Piper's pit

80's Wrestling often goes unnoticed when people are talking about their favourite moments in sports entertainment. They don't evaluate the past while naming their favourite moment as the greatest but when you’re talking about promos that shook the wrestling world, this is hard to leave out.

This is especially true when you consider that it downplays one old-school high-flyer, in particular. During a memorable “Piper’s Pit” segment, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper talked down Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, verbally running down the silent fan favourite. After a while, Snuka asked, “Are you making fun of me, brother?” After uttering the quote above, Piper reared back and cracked Snuka with a coconut.

This promo mattered for quite a few reasons. First of all, the impact that the coconut made on Snuka could be felt at home as he crashed through the set, tumbling to the floor. Secondly, it showed just how much of a villain Piper was at this time. He taunted the fallen Snuka, who valiantly crawled towards him in his weakened state. Even though WWE and the average pro wrestling fan alike turn to this as the most memorable Piper promo, it’s difficult to deny its impact.

#4: Mick's Foley's ECW promo, "Cane Dewey".

Mick Foley was one of the most unique characters in ECW. Once the star who would risk life and limb to entertain, Foley became embittered, viewing the ravenous Philly crowd as nothing more than savages. In a way, it’s easy to understand. When you’re working a job that involves a high level of violence, why wouldn’t you have a less-than-ideal attitude? However, when Foley’s attention was drawn to the sign with the words above, he snapped.

Foley became what could be considered the antithesis of ECW, at this particular time. He grew to dislike the gritty atmosphere of the company, not to mention the lower quality of life that he subjected himself and his family too. Instead of caving into their bloodlust, he wrestled a traditional style that the ECW faithful hated. Foley even told Tommy Dreamer, who had carved a niche for himself as a company hero, that his efforts would have been fruitless. If Dreamer wouldn’t realize it, Foley would beat sense into him. An intense promo from someone who many of us view as a child-friendly pro wrestling icon.

#3: Austin 3:16

"And that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so"

This had to be here since I already mentioned it in the intro. Admittedly this may be lower on the list than expected, but this doesn’t change the fact that it matters all the same.

Following his King of the Ring victory in 1996, "Stone Cold Steve Austin" used his new platform to run down Jake “The Snake” Roberts, calling him weak and broken despite his religious views. He even took a shot at said views, which is where the line we all know came to being. From there, Austin was on a path to become arguably the greatest star in pro wrestling history.

The one piece of trivia that gets me, even after all this time, is that this moment was originally not Austin’s to take. Hunter Hearst Helmsley was booked to win the tournament that year, only to have that moment taken away as punishment for the “Curtain Call,” which drew the ire of the company. One could argue that Austin would have been a star regardless, but this promo easily helped to speed that progression. With history and behind-the-scenes info alike, this segment is nothing short of monumental.

#2: This is Your Life

Many people claim that Mankind's first WWE Championship victory placed the final nail in WCW’s coffin. But I’d go as far as, that this segment lit that coffin on fire. “This is Your Life” is often viewed as one of the most popular pro wrestling promos, and understandably so. Not only was it conducted by The Rock and Mankind, two of the most charismatic names in pro wrestling history, but they completely went off-the-cuff. In essence, anything could have happened, whether it was bringing out people from Rock’s past or forgetting the birthday of The Great One himself.

What’s even more interesting about this promo is that it wasn’t even supposed to go as long as it did. Even though Vince McMahon was reportedly furious when the segment came to a close, surely the 8.4 rating changed the mind of the competitive promoter. I’m often critical of comedy in pro wrestling since it isn’t always done well. Instead of cracking up, I’m often rolling my eyes. However, this segment illustrated that it is possible for legitimate laughs to be had. You simply need the capable performers, the right platform, and sufficient time for the vision to come together.

#1: The Pipebomb

CM Punk's sit-down worked shoot came at a time when WWE, and pro wrestling as a whole, needed it. In 2011, WWE was nothing short of homogenized. We were stuck in an endless loop of the same old, same old. Fans were dying for something that wasn’t dressed in bright, tacky t-shirts.

Enter CM Punk, who took to the stage of the June 27th edition of RAW in order to run down the company and its most prominent stars. Suffice it to say, Punk had people talking.

For a wrestling segment to be truly effective, fans must believe in it. Despite the worked shoot nature of the segment, we believed in it. Our eyes widened when he insulted the likes of Hulk Hogan and The Rock, and our jaws dropped when he name-dropped New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor on WWE television. Punk was not shy about his disdain for “suits,” and those who have sold themselves out. Even though we never truly received the Summer of Punk that we deserved, this promo provided a much-needed shot in the arm or the company.

Edited by Liam Hoofe