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| source// wwe.com |
The art of creating a true babyface hero is something that has been lost to the sands of time in professional wrestling. Now more than ever, those in charge of the biggest companies are struggling to get fans on board with their hand-picked good guys.
The most recent example being Roman Reigns, a man WWE are badly failing to present properly as a top babyface heading into a main event match at WrestleMania 32.
Part of the problem lies with the heels on the other side of the presentation. Those who are (supposed to be) bad should make it more simple for the babyface to elicit that killer response to go along with their victory. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look like happening at ‘Mania this year, but history has shown itself to be different.
Over the years, WWE have been able to present stunning babyface victories on their grandest stage.
In order for a match to qualify, it must have been a babyface win against a top villain. For example, The Undertaker defeating Shawn Michaels at ‘Mania XXV in 2009 doesn’t count, because both men were beloved figures at that point. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of examples to choose from.
When wrestling’s biggest heroes have vanquished wrestling’s biggest heels, history is usually made…
10. Bret Hart Vs. Vince McMahon (WrestleMania XXVI)
There’s a simple reason this match falls so early on this list; it was not a success from an in-ring perspective. That said, it was a major babyface win, and also one with which Bret Hart was able to enjoy some closure on one of pro wrestling’s most controversial incidents. Pretty much all wrestling fans knows the story of the 1997 Survivor Series and subsequent fallout so we’ll skip the particulars.
In 2010, Hart returned to WWE and ended up in a feud opposite Vince McMahon. Following the ‘Montreal Screwjob’, McMahon was able to reinvent himself as one of the top heels in the industry. That character was back once more to put an exclamation mark on the reignited rivalry heading into WrestleMania XXVI.
At ‘Mania, Vince flopped around for Hart, who was unable to bump due to his fragile physical condition. This created a very weird bout, but it does deserve to be mentioned due to the historical significance. If only it happened years earlier, it could have been something special, but for what it was worth Hart got his babyface redemption on the man who screwed him over.
9. Razor Ramon Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania X)
It’s been said by some fans that the Ladder Match from WrestleMania X was one of the greatest performances in the career of Shawn Michaels. Whilst it’s hard to argue the validity of such a statement, Scott Hall deserves some credit too. After all, Michaels (contrary to popular belief) couldn’t have wrestled the bout on his own and he required a strong babyface to contest the match with.
It’s true that HBK was well on his way to garnering cheers by the Spring of 1994, but he was still technically a villain. By contrast, Hall – as Razor Ramon – had morphed into one of the most popular upper card babyfaces on the entire WWF roster. Positioning both men opposite one another was a masterstroke, and it was even better when Ramon emerged victorious. A babyface win put the cherry on top of the proverbial cake.
Battling to establish exactly who was the undisputed WWF Intercontinental Champion, this ladder match scrap quickly became cherished as one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history. As good as Michaels was in it, it’s important to state that Razor’s triumph only makes it more memorable.
8. Chris Benoit Vs. Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XX)
It’s unlikely that things will change when it comes to WWE’s attitude towards the idea of celebrating the career of one Chris Benoit. On one level, the promotion cannot be blamed for their stance, but it’s important for the wrestling community not to discount his achievements in the industry. His personal life shouldn’t come into things when analysing what happened before things went sour.
The fact is that Benoit was an absolute wrestling machine in 2004, and had been for years. In the main event of WrestleMania XX, he joined Shawn Michaels and Triple H in putting together one hell of a Triple Threat blockbuster. Michaels was very much a babyface hero, but the deciding submission occurred on Triple H, who was very much the top antagonist in WWE at the time.
The post-match emotion was assuredly real from the Canadian, who celebrated mid-ring with one of his oldest friends in the business. As Benoit and Eddie Guerrero shed tears amidst the falling confetti, it was wrestling fans who felt like they had won. Whatever was to come cannot be ignored, obviously, but similarly moments such as those concluding ‘Mania XX shall never be forgotten, either.
7. The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania VII)
Before he locked horns with The Ultimate Warrior in a ‘Retirement Match’ at WrestleMania VII, Randy Savage fell on the heel side of the good and bad divide. Fans were somewhat split, but it’s true that Warrior was the more obvious hero in the equation. By the end of the bout, heat aimed at Savage cooled, and people were ready to embrace him once more.
Maybe it was the ‘Macho Man’ who carried the bulk of proceedings, but the collision exceeded expectations. Even now when shown to those who haven’t seen it – yet are aware of Warrior’s work – it likely comes as a surprise how utterly gripping the match was. After the action was all said and done, and Randy had stared at the lights, he turned babyface by reuniting with Miss. Elizabeth in a tear-jerking love scene.
It was a wonderful way to cap off what had been a stirring contest, but it must not be overlooked that Warrior bagged the win. What makes this one meaningful isn’t only the actual match result however, it’s the fact it paved the way for Savage to return to the babyface kingdom. Fans were there to greet him.
6. Randy Savage Vs. Ted DiBiase (WrestleMania IV)
Years earlier, Randy Savage scored a major win which finally allowed him entrance into the upper card pack for good in the WWF. It’s been rumoured that Ted DiBiase was actually tentatively scheduled to win at WrestleMania IV, but it would be Savage who left with the WWF Heavyweight Title in 1988. Cheerfully, they ended what had been a relatively dull tournament to crown a new champ on a high note.
‘Mania IV needed that big babyface win to end things in fine fettle, otherwise it would have been quite the sour conclusion. The tournament had at times felt interminable, but people were overjoyed when Savage pinned DiBiase (aided by Hulk Hogan) and picked up the win. Making things even more memorable, this would plant the seeds for the bumper bout between Savage and Hulk at the following year’s event.
In the span of around 12 months, Randy Savage went from concocting a quite incredible match with Ricky Steamboat at ‘Mania III, to becoming WWF Champion. His popularity in the Spring months of ’88 can’t be dismissed, and Savage was very much ready to take on the role of champion.
5. John Cena Vs. JBL (WrestleMania 21)
Some may have their pitchforks at the ready, but there’s a reason John Cena vs. JBL takes up space on this list. Despite the popular misconception that he’s a horrendous worker, Cena has at times proven otherwise. WrestleMania 21 may never rank among his most amazing matches, but it’s nonetheless one of the most poignant moments of his entire career.
Back in 2005, Cena hadn’t yet fully crossed into the territory he occupies now. In other words, he was still eliciting some positive responses from WWE audiences, and ‘Mania 21 was his coronation as the promotion’s big babyface hope for the future. Eventually, fans would start to turn their backs on the man, but he was a rightful and popular winner against JBL.
This marked Cena’s first ever WWE World Title victory, and it completed his journey to the top. Love him or hate him, the guy has provided big box office for the organisation ever since. Along the way, he’s had many better matches than this one, but that doesn’t prevent it from being remembered as a truly gargantuan babyface win in WWE history.
4. Daniel Bryan Vs. Triple H (WrestleMania XXX)
Much maligned for supposed burials, marrying the boss’s daughter and apparently ensuring he maintained top status, Triple H isn’t popular with every section of the wrestling fan fraternity. That’s quite the understatement, but he was popular on April 6, 2014, all because he ensured that Daniel Bryan would have a night to remember.
It’d wind up being one WWE fans may never forget.
Going into ‘Mania XXX, it was the fans who made sure that Bryan would have a role. Outraged at Batista’s Royal Rumble win and the apparent exclusion of their favourite from the featured bout on the biggest show of the year, the audience revolted. WWE caved to this and set up a meeting between Bryan and Triple H to open the show.
It’d be the babyface who had his hand raised afterwards, and he’d go on to defeat both Randy Orton and Batista to win the WWE World Heavyweight Title in the main event.
Just as they had a decade earlier for Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, fans shed tears of joy over a workhorse wrestler being given such a tremendous moment to share with them. Sadly, it’d end up being the apex of Bryan’s career, but it’s a memory few will be able to let slip from their minds.
3. Steve Austin Vs. The Rock (WrestleMania XV)
‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was an absolutely flawless wrestling character, and exactly what the ‘Attitude Era’ required. Drenched in beer and with more aggression than the entire ‘New WWF Generation’ combined, Austin was a revelation. Similarly, by 1999 The Rock had evolved into one of wrestling’s greatest heels. He was cocky and dripping with charisma, and the pair were a riot when working together.
Their first WrestleMania match occurred at ‘Mania XV, and it was a stunning brawl. Austin’s road to the grand show had been long, mainly due to the intense obstacle Vince McMahon provided. It was a great story, one which had fans simply begging to see their (anti)hero of choice emerge on the winning side come March 28 of that year.
That’s exactly what happened, and the show even ended up with a celebratory foot on the chest of a downed McMahon. Fans had their wish, and WrestleMania XV ended with a bang. Incredibly, it wasn’t the biggest babyface victory Steve Austin would have during his appearances on the annual supershow.
2. Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre The Giant (WrestleMania III)
How could any list looking at the biggest babyface wins in WrestleMania history be complete without the main event of ‘Mania III? His name may have been sullied to some, but in 1987 Hulk Hogan was the hottest thing going in professional wrestling. The WWF were still amidst a golden age, and Hulk was the glue holding the whole situation together.
As good as he was in the holier-than-thou role, Hogan needed someone like Andre The Giant to draw people to the building. There was a feral atmosphere to proceedings by the time both men stared at one another mid-ring, people were bursting with anticipation. When Hogan then hit a slam on his monstrous opponent, things were at a fever pitch and history was being made live and in living colour.
Hyperbole be damned, this almost invented the need for those goosebump-causing WrestleMania video packages to come.
The match has definitely aged, that can’t be denied, but it will not be forgotten. There’s something magical about seeing Hogan vs. Andre, it feels special. Whilst the action may not be as crisp to look back on now, the sheer atmosphere never lessens in impact. That pop when Hulk dropped a leg on his foe and pinned him is insane.
1. Steve Austin Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV)
As aforementioned in a previous entry, there were few – if any – like Steve Austin. Arguably, Austin’s ‘Stone Cold’ persona usurped Hulk Hogan’s babyface success. Certainly, when looking at pure numbers, many point to Austin as the biggest star in the history of WWE. Everyone may have their own favourites, but ‘The Rattlesnake’ was killer in terms of business.
WrestleMania XIV featured his first coronation as WWF Heavyweight Champion. A pained Shawn Michaels, suffering from serious back pain, was the opponent, and he helped his successor look like a million bucks. The match itself had thrilling moments, but it’s the conclusion which lives longest in the memory.
Seeing Austin, a true babyface creation of the people, hoist the top title aloft was history-making.
In his own mind, Steve Austin had been ready to lead for years. Finally, come 1998, Vince McMahon was willing to hand him the proverbial ball and let him run with it. Everything clicked; fans were ferocious in their support of Austin, his character was on fire, and his in-ring work had evolved into a beautiful brawling style.
History will tell you that ‘Stone Cold’ is the hottest babyface champ in WrestleMania history.
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