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In professional wrestling, there are some matches which are ‘destined’ to happen. They become legendary feuds/matches when it happens. You have the Austin – Rock, Taker – Kane, Shawn Michaels – Bret Hart etc., which became a legend on their own. These are the feuds/matches that come together when all the stars align, when everything comes together perfectly. In the WWE, there were instances when such matches/feuds could have happened, but never did. Whether you talk about miscalculations on the management’s part, or last minute changes to the planned feuds due to injuries or other circumstances, WWE dropped the ball with certain superstars, which could’ve and would’ve been larger than life matches. In this article, I take a look at ten such instances.
10. Kurt Angle vs Bret Hart
For most of the wrestling fans, this is a match that should have happened. With Kurt Angle joining the WWF and improving immensely with in the first two years of turning professional, many people considered this the ‘technical dream match’ that never happened. With Bret Hart joining WCW and later suffering a career ending concussion at the hands of Bill Goldberg, many fans were disappointed that they did not get to witness something that would’ve exceeded almost all the other professional wrestling matches in the history of the industry. Kurt Angle on many occasions said that his dream opponent would be Bret Hart, and that he hoped to face Bret sometime in the future when he first signed with the WWF. With Bret suffering a stroke which permanently ended his wrestling dreams, this match has become a ‘What if?’ in the minds of wrestling fans and critics. One can only imagine the technical genius of a match which featured Kurt Angle and Bret Hart in their prime. Sadly, that is something that can never happen.
9. Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan
When Flair joined the WWF back in ’91, all the wrestling fans looked forward to the dream match between the former face of NWA and the face of the WWF. Back then, Flair was considered to be the face of professional wrestling in the United States, while Hogan was looked at as the guy who revolutionized the industry. So when Flair brought down the NWA World Heavyweight championship to the WWF and challenged Hulk Hogan to a match to see who the real World champion was, the fans were ecstatic, and thought they would finally see ‘the match’. Unfortunately, that never happened on TV. Although Flair did take on Hulk Hogan at live events which weren’t televised, these two never had a PPV match in the WWF, with Vince believing that they were five years too late. When Flair and Hogan returned to WCW, this was the first match they wanted, but sadly, they weren’t booked as well as they would have been in the WWF.
8. Steve Austin vs Brock Lesnar
In 2004, Steve Austin was involved in an angle with Lesnar and Goldberg. With Goldberg giving his notification of leaving the WWE after the expiration of his contract, and his disinterest in renewing it, the WWE built up the Lesnar – Goldberg feud around Lesnar and Austin. The WWE management believed this would be the ‘big feud’ of the year. WWE initially had plans of Austin – Lesnar feud during Lesnar’s first year in the WWE, but with Austin walking out of the company because of the differences with the management, the plans were scrapped, and so the WWE had the opportunity to do it over all again. The seeds were sowed after Lesnar attacked Austin, and then Austin was made the special guest referee in the Lesnar – Goldberg bout at WrestleMania to further their feud. But with Lesnar leaving the company after WrestleMania, the plans were scrapped once again, and the WWE fans never got to witness what could’ve been one of the best feuds of the decade.
7. Steve Austin vs CM Punk
When WWE introduced the concept of Special guest GMs on RAW, during one episode, Austin and CM Punk came face to face. What followed was speculation and interest among the wrestling fans, and with WWE going ahead with Cena – Rock feud, the fans started clamoring for a Punk – Austin feud. With Austin being Punk’s idol, and with both of them being two of the greatest talkers in the history of professional wrestling, it provided all the elements to be a dream feud. What made it all the more special was the exact opposites of their characters, which were an extension to their real life personas. WWE still has a chance to go ahead with this feud, and if it happens, there is little doubt in the fans’ minds that it will exceed the Cena – Rock rivalry, and can be unparalleled in modern wrestling.
6. The Rock vs Shawn Michaels
When Shawn Michaels was at his prime, there was a certain superstar who was climbing up the ranks. The Rock was making a name for himself in the WWF when Shawn Michaels was the WWF Champion. Although the WWE management later had a program for Shawn Michaels and Dwayne Johnson, it was reported that Rock didn’t want to do anything with Michaels due to his poor attitude and his involvement in the Montreal Screwjob. Were those just rumors or facts is something that the fans still debate about, but had that feud taken place, it would have been one of the greatest feuds during the Attitude Era.
