3 matches to convert a non-fan?

[Moon Bird]

You've found a non-wrestling fan. You can show them any 3 matches from any promotion from any era in order to try and convert them.

Which 3 matches do you pick?

I'll go first

1- Jerry Lynn vs RVD at Hardcore Heaven '99
2 - The Hardys vs The Dudleys vs Edge & Christian at Wrestlemania 17
3- Cody vs Dustin at Double Or Nothing 2019

 

[Chris]

Interesting question, I've had this discussion with some folks before but I don't remember if I ever really was able to narrow it down Lemme give this some thought

 

[Alexa]

I don't think I convert a non-fan into a Deathmatch fan, unless they really liked horror movies

 

[Hoss]

I think it helps to know what the other person's interests are. Some, you'd wanna show a drama-filled epic. Some, you'd wanna show a stiff slobberknocker. Some, you'd wanna show a bloodbath. If I had to just say 3 for the average person though it'd probably be...

- Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman - SummerSlam 2017
- The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 25
- Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - WrestleMania 13

 

[O-Blaze]

I’m going to need some time to think on this one. Good thread idea tho

 

[Alexa]

I finally figured out my last. I went with CZW for this list since more non-wrestling fans may have heard about it then BJW and so.

1. Thumbtack Jack .vs. DJ Hyde (Cinder Blocks, Light Tubes, Syringes, And Fire) at Tournament Of Death VIII (If you know then you know)

2. MASADA vs. Masashi Takeda (Barbed Wire Ropes, Kenzans, And Flaming Glass) at Tournament of Death X

3. Jun Kasai .vs. Matt Tremont (Barbed Wire Ropes, Light Tubes, And Scaffolding Match) at Tournament of Death TOD XIII

 

[Villano69]

1. Undertaker vs, Mankind - Hell in a Cell
2. Okada vs. Ospreay - G1 2019 Day 7
3. Young Bucks vs. Omega & Page - AEW Revolution 2020

and I have to add one more

4. Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham- Jan 20, 1987. After an unbelievable 46 minute match, Flair delivers an even better promo. Just the very best at his best.

The Hell in a Cell is the all-time spectacle that no one can watch and not be amazed and horrified. Okada and Ospreay is just incredible athleticism in a complete sprint and a great story. The Bucks vs Omega/Page has Spielberg level storytelling and one crazy move and near falls after another. And that is my favorite Flair match even over the Steamboat trilogy. Go check it out

 

[Grim]

1. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit - WrestleMania XX

2. Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart - WrestleMania 13

3. Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage - WrestleMania III

These three matches in my mind are principally how to tell a wrestling story and make it believable. Each one is about the underdog trying to overcome the heavy favorite, and whether they succeed or fail, it's about the story they tell in-between.

 

[Villano69]

I finally figured out my last. I went with CZW for this list since more non-wrestling fans may have heard about it then BJW and so.

1. Thumbtack Jack .vs. DJ Hyde (Cinder Blocks, Light Tubes, Syringes, And Fire) at Tournament Of Death VIII (If you know then you know)

2. MASADA vs. Masashi Takeda (Barbed Wire Ropes, Kenzans, And Flaming Glass) at Tournament of Death X

3. Jun Kasai .vs. Matt Tremont (Barbed Wire Ropes, Light Tubes, And Scaffolding Match) at Tournament of Death TOD XIII

These are great deathmatches. My deathmatch list would be very different than my "try to convert a non-wrestling fan" list. But my try to get someone into deathmatches would start with:

1. The infamous Necro Butcher vs. Man Man Pondo - 200 lighttubes where Necro gets that huge chunk of his arm almost ripped off

2. Jun Kasai vs. Ryuji Ito - Razor Board match 11/20/09. The deathmatch that won Match of the Year by Tokyo Sports which is legit a big deal in Japan

3. Drake Younger vs. Brain Damage TOD 6 finals 6/9/07. Proof that Drake has always been crazy, as he almost gets his nipple cut off and just tapes it back on to finish the match. RIP -BD. Sorry, couldn't find a link

4. JC Bailey vs. Mad Man Pondo - Barbed Wire Circus Deathmatch. The fight on a scaffold over a ring with a net of barbed wire covering it. The match is ridiculous, but just so insane. A must watch. RIP JC- what a loss
https://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2014/12/iwa-mid-south-top-18-matches-17-jc.html

 

[Alexa]

These are great deathmatches. My deathmatch list would be very different than my "try to convert a non-wrestling fan" list. But my try to get someone into deathmatches would start with:

1. The infamous Necro Butcher vs. Man Man Pondo - 200 lighttubes where Necro gets that huge chunk of his arm almost ripped off

2. Jun Kasai vs. Ryuji Ito - Razor Board match 11/20/09. The deathmatch that won Match of the Year by Tokyo Sports which is legit a big deal in Japan

3. Drake Younger vs. Brain Damage TOD 6 finals 6/9/07. Proof that Drake has always been crazy, as he almost gets his nipple cut off and just tapes it back on to finish the match. RIP -BD. Sorry, couldn't find a link

4. JC Bailey vs. Mad Man Pondo - Barbed Wire Circus Deathmatch. The fight on a scaffold over a ring with a net of barbed wire covering it. The match is ridiculous, but just so insane. A must watch. RIP JC- what a loss
https://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2014/12/iwa-mid-south-top-18-matches-17-jc.html

Honestly, not a bad pick there

 

[Deezy]

New Jack vs Gypsy Joe
Samoa Joe vs Necro Butcher
Anything Abdullah The Butcher in the 70s.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Probably whatever is most praised this year or last. Def. the cage match from all out.

I'm probably in the minority but showing historic matches seems pointless because no one wrestles like that anymore. If the purpose is to convert id show them the best matches from today's era because that's what's now available

Sasha Bianca probably would be one

 

[Comrade Khan]

Walter dragunov 2 would be my 3rd . Or Britt v Rosa unsanctioned

 

[Hoss]

Probably whatever is most praised this year or last. Def. the cage match from all out.

I'm probably in the minority but showing historic matches seems pointless because no one wrestles like that anymore. If the purpose is to convert id show them the best matches from today's era because that's what's now available

Sasha Bianca probably would be one

I don't know, I really think the spotty flippy shit is on its way out sooner than later. A lot of the young wrestlers you see nowadays are wanting to bring back mat work and grappling (look at Moriarty, Garcia, MJF, baby Steiner and The Creed Brothers in NXT, and I could name many more on the indies right now). Plus, the number of wrestlers nowadays who are just wrestling geeks like myself, you see a lot of them trying to mimick their heroes. Look at all the NXT kids who want to copy HBK. Hell, look at Darby vs. Punk and how they basically copied a Bret Hart/1-2-3 Kid match from the mid-90s. I think the principles of wrestling hardly ever change really, and shit that guys like Steamboat, Flair, Savage, Michaels and Hart did will always be relevant. There will always be outliers but, yeah.

 

[Comrade Khan]

I don't agree the flippy shit is going anywhere considering Darby himself is likely to be a prototype of who young people will look at in the future, as will kenny, bucks etc just like guys like brock lesnar will still continue to influence things going forward.

i also think you misunderstand my philosophy on this and my thinking. The point of this thread is to convert a non-viewer. I'd show a casual the most excting matches possible with the most athleticism as possible because imo thats whats more likely to captivate a casual. we may enjoy technical master classes, but thats not something you show someone who wont be able to appreciate any of the nuances.