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It's billed as the greatest arena in the world, and while it may not host quite as many musical acts as the O2 arena in London, Madison Square Garden is still far and away the gold standard for event venues.
Built in 1964, the venerable arena is the home to the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks. The arena was once destroyed by Godzilla during the 1998 film of the same name. It has also hosted the Ringling Brothers Circus, boxing matches, and of course pro wrestling events.
Modern WWE rose out of Vince McMahon Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) Since the WWWF's territory was the North East, the company could lay claim to Madison Square Garden for events.
Many of WWE's watershed moments happened at Madison Square Garden. It's the place where Hulkamania was born, the place where Kane was unmasked for the first time, and where 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin first delivered a Stunner to Vince McMahon.
The rich history of WWE and New York City's most famous arena has been intrinsically entwined. With such a rich tapestry of wrestling moments, it can be hard to whittle it down to a chosen few, but that's exactly what we have done for WWE History Vol. 13.
Here are the top ten greatest WWE matches ever to take place at Madison Square Garden which helps us justify why it is still called the 'Mecca of the WWE'.
#1. Bruno Sammartino (c) vs. Ivan Koloff, WWF World Championship, 1971
When one thinks of dominant WWE champions, one might think of men like John Cena, who has rivaled Ric Flair's numerous title reigns. Wrestling fans might also think of Hulk Hogan, who reigned as champion for most of the 1980s.
There is one name that stands above them all: Bruno Sammartino. Sammartino captured the then-WWWF title from 'Nature Boy' Buddy Rogers in a lightning quick squash match in 1963. He would then hold onto the belt for a mind-boggling eight years. Along the way he defeated a veritable who's who of wrestling legends, including Gorilla Monsoon and The Iron Sheik.
One of his most celebrated opponents was Ivan Koloff, the 'Russian Bear' who played on America's Cold War fears. Koloff could never quite unseat Bruno--until they faced each other at the Garden in 1971. Koloff defeated Bruno and ended the most legendary reign in WWE history.
#2. Jimmy Snuka vs. Don Muraco (c) Intercontinental title cage match
As with any form of entertainment, pro wrestling has evolved over the years. While today it may not be unheard of for a wrestler to dive off of a high platform, in the early 1980s it was unimaginable. The top turnbuckle was the highest that any wrestler would go--until 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka raised the bar.
Snuka had been feuding with Intercontinental Champion, The Magnificent Muraco, for months, always coming within a hair's length of winning the title. When they fought inside of a steel cage at Madison Square Garden, fans believed that 'Superfly' would finally capture the gold. Fate had other plans.
Muraco actually escaped the cage and won the match, retaining his title. However, that is not what most fans remember. What they do remember is Jimmy Snuka, angry at his defeat, throwing Muraco back into the ring and then climbing to the top of the cage. He dove off amid a tumult of flashbulbs, impressing a very key audience member--Mick Foley, who was in attendance years before he began his own wrestling career.
The fact that such a high-profile encounter was fought for a mid-card title goes on to show you how seriously the WWE took its programming back in the day.
#3. Hulk Hogan vs. Iron Sheik (c) WWF World Heavyweight title match
One of the greatest nights in pro wrestling history occurred on January 23, 1984 when Hulk Hogan faced champion Iron Sheik in a WWF World title bout.
Hulk Hogan was built up as the All American hero. The match came on the heels of the Iran Hostage Crisis, the end of which left many Americans with a sour taste in their mouths. Many believed that the USA should have taken military action to free the hostages and although they all returned home safe, the lingering resentment was still there.
The Iron Sheik captured the world title from Bob Backlund, and only reigned for a short time before facing Hogan. Sheik was essentially a transitional champion to get the belt around Hogan's waist, but the audience didn't care. They were happy to cheer on Hogan to his first world title victory.
Hogan was a superstar who many deemed was bigger than the industry itself back in the day. He had a tremendous fan following that only amplied his status after his famous win against the notorious Sheik.
#4. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff--Wrestlemania I main event
It's hard to fathom just how big a deal Wrestlemania I was back in 1985. It was the first major wrestling event to get a great deal of mass media attention. The show featured celebrities like music star Cyndi Lauper, show business legend Liberace, and 1980s television icon Mr. T.
Mr. T teamed with Hulk Hogan to take on 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff in the main event. This was during the days of kayfabe and WWE wanted to protect the industry, so Mr. T received little training prior to the bout. Both Piper and Orndorff held Mr. T in legitimate wrestling holds and wouldn't let him get much offense in, although he did manage some.
This Madison Square Garden main event is remembered more for making pro wrestling mainstream entertainment rather than for great technical wrestling, but it holds an important place on our list none the less.
#5. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect (c) Intercontinental championship, SummerSlam 1991
While pro wrestling is a performance, and the most important aspect of any performance is to resonate with the audience, there's still something special about seeing competitors who are amazingly skilled at the technical aspect of sports entertainment.
If you were to make a 'top ten' list of the greatest technical wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of boots, two names would appear or near the top of the list: Bret Hart and Curt Hennig.
Both men have many similarities. They both come from famous wrestling dynasties. Bret Hart is the son of Canadian wrestling legend Stu Hart, and Curt Hennig is the son of the legendary Larry 'The Axe' Hennig.
When they were scheduled to face each other for Hennig's Intercontinental championship at SummerSlam in 1991, fans expected a real barn burner of a match and they were not disappointed. The bout is still held up as one of the greatest displays of technical wrestling ever captured on film--and it all happened at the Garden.
#6: Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart--Wrestlemania X
Sibling rivalry has a much ballyhooed place in many cultures. Going back to biblical stories, Cain slew his brother Abel, which perhaps started us all down this particular road.
In pro wrestling, sibling rivalry sometimes rears its ugly head as well. Most famously in recent memory is the rivalry between The Undertaker and his (kayfabe) brother Kane.
If wrestling fans go back a couple of decades, the biggest feud in all of wrestling was contained within one family, The Harts. Bret Hart and brother Owen faced each other at Wrestlemania X, after months of haggling by the younger sibling. Owen believed that Bret was holding him back from becoming a main event player, while Bret kept trying to avoid fighting his brother.
Their match is one of the most blisteringly intense contests in pro wrestling history. The two technical wrestling experts traded holds for nearly half an hour before Bret finally earned the pinfall victory.
The match is still considered one of the best of all time, and definitely earned its place on this list of great Madison Square Garden bouts.
#7. Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Razor Ramon, Intercontinental title - Wrestlemania X
Contrary to popular belief, the Wrestlemania X bout between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels was NOT the first Ladder Match in WWE history.
That honor goes to Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, who had the first ever ladder match in 1992. However, most will agree that this second Ladder Match is far and away superior.
In 1994, gimmick matches in WWE were a relative rarity. When WWE booked this match between Razor Ramon and Shawn Michaels, they didn't know they were going to make history.
The two men--who are friends in real life--pushed each other to the limits professionally. Even today, the match still stands out for its choreography, story telling, and sheer brutality. Razor Ramon picked up the win, and the championship, but HBK found victory in defeat; He would be elevated to main event player shortly thereafter.
Despite all the high octane action surrounding the money-in-the-bank ladder matches that are ever so popular these days, it is matches like these that led to the former becoming what it is today.
#8. Triple H vs. Cactus Jack, WWE Championship Street Fight - Royal Rumble 2000
Back in 2000, Triple H had finally made it to the main event scene and captured the WWE Title. Still, there were many who believed that he had ridden his family's coattails to get into that position.
In order to legitimize Triple H, he was booked into a program with Mick Foley, who had reverted back to his Cactus Jack persona. The rivalry culminated in a match at Madison Square Garden at Royal Rumble 2000.
Cactus Jack was able to get his licks in, but Triple H overcame the odds by defeating Foley in his signature match. The only flaw in this bout is Triple H searching through a sea of barbed wire two by fours trying to find the sole 'gimmicked' one to hit Foley with.
The match was a brutal encounter just like how you'd expect Foley's bouts to be and helped cement Triple H's position as a top heel in the company.
#9. Elimination Chamber Match, WWE Title - Survivor Series 2002
The year was 2002. WWE had finally defeated their rivals WCW in the Monday Night Wars and bought out the failing company. Now armed with the biggest, most sensational roster in wrestling history, WWE had to find spots for a multitude of athletes, who could each make legitimate claim to being worthy of the world title scene.
To that end, Eric Bischoff created the Elimination Chamber (behind the scenes, it was really Triple H's brainchild) The idea was breathtakingly audacious and has gone on to become one of the most celebrated WWE gimmick matches.
The athletes poured their heart and soul into the match, but Shawn Michaels would come out as the inaugural victor. It would be Michaels' final championship reign and one of his most memorable. Michaels had returned to WWE after a lengthy hiatus to heal his broken body and battered spirit.
If you want heart, grit, and a heavy dose of brutality, this is the match for you. It all happened at Madison Square Garden.
#10. Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero (C) WWE World Championship -Wrestlemania XX
Our final match on the top ten list of greatest Madison Square Garden bouts features an Olympic Gold Medalist and a celebrated much-missed international superstar.
Eddie Guerrero had done the impossible, pinning Brock Lesnar and becoming WWE World Heavyweight Champion, the main title on SmackDown. Before he was set to defend the belt at WrestleMania, the grandest stage of them all, WWE did a great job with the build up to the match.
The company made it seem like Eddie was over-matched by the bigger, stronger, and more technically adept Kurt Angle. Still, Guerrero fought with legendary passion and took Angle to the limit.
It was Eddie's famous trickery which earned him the victory. After pretending his ankle was so badly swollen he had to loosen his boot, Guerrero reversed an ankle lock into a pinfall, and retained his title, much to the delight of the Madison Square Garden crowd.
Thank you for exploring WWE history with us once again. Be sure to comment below about your favorite Garden moments in WWE history, and as always thanks for reading!
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