Rare "Heel vs Heel" and "Face vs Face" matches (1984-1996)

[Derk!]

Oct 3, 2014 7:24:15 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

One of my favourite Heel vs. Heel matches was a slugfest that Steve Austin had with Vader on a 1996 RAW.

Also in 1996, Stone Cold and Mankind had a brutal match. Oddly enough, Vader was supposed to be in this match, but he was injured the night before, after taking a nasty suplex from Yokozuna in the Survivor Series match. So, Stone Cold ended up replacing him.

[2 time pro bowler Fred Dryer]

Jericho defended the TV title against Raven, at some PPV. I feel like it was Halloween Havoc, 98?

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Wait, how could I forget a match likely to be this year's MOTY, The Shield vs The Wyatt Family.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

This makes me think of the Booker/Benoit feud over the WCW TV title... I don't think either of them would considered a heel at the time, would they?

[Adam Black]

Heel vs Heel
Snitsky vs Santino
Big E vs Jack Swagger
Sandow vs Del Rio
Sheamus vs Orton -Both playing cowardly heels which is odd for a main event WWE Championship on a freakin PPV.
Sheamus vs Wade Barrett- this was prior to Sheamus' face turn. I think it ended with Sheamus standing tall after beating the shit out of Wade after a countout.
Del Rio (or Damien Sandow? Not sure) vs Wyatt -Dark match main event on Smackdown)

[cherry coloured funk]

For some reason when this topic comes up, I always remember a Virgil vs. El Matador match from summer 1993 or so. The point eludes me to this day, as neither guy had any semblance of a push, and both were soon on their way out.

[Joe Neglia]

The Barbarian vs. The Berzerker - www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH9kFRRoLIg

Of course, one of the most important matches in WWF history was Bruno vs. his protege Larry Zbysko. Course, that one ended ugly. (Other face vs. face matches in the WWF often were part of an angle to turn one side heel by end of the match like the Rougeaus and the Islanders).

Brooklyn Brawler feuded - not had a match with but feuded - with both Bad News Brown (after teaming with him) and Big Bully Busick.

Piper vs. Hart for the IC belt.

The HBK/Rick Martel ppv match with the no-face-hitting rule.

Some might consider the King Haku/Harley Race match heel/heel.

[Joe Neglia]

Bundy/Orndorff vs. Orton/Muraco - www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Ua_pBHixw

Fuji/Kato vs. Haku/Barbarian - www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrWR6fUajLo

[MiLB Fan]

May I include one that was supposed to happen, but didn't? The original lineup for SuperBrawl 3 included a United States title match between champion Dustin Rhodes and Ron Simmons. At the beginning of the show, Eric Bischoff announced that Simmons could not compete because of a shoulder injury, and would be replaced by Maxx Payne.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Oct 3, 2014 23:28:57 GMT -5 cherry coloured funk said:

For some reason when this topic comes up, I always remember a Virgil vs. El Matador match from summer 1993 or so. The point eludes me to this day, as neither guy had any semblance of a push, and both were soon on their way out.

I just watched it last night and intended to mention it, but it's worth pointing out "match" might not be the correct term. Headlock exchange is more accurate.

[auph10imitated]

I am guessing no has actually read the thread, so changed the title. I meant pre Attitude era. Anything post Attitude and beyond is anything but rare.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Oct 3, 2014 22:46:50 GMT -5 El Pollo Guerrera said:

This makes me think of the Booker/Benoit feud over the WCW TV title... I don't think either of them would considered a heel at the time, would they?

Both were babyfaces at the time. Harlem Heat had been faces ever since they got rid of Col. Parker and were primarily against heel tag teams, and Benoit hadn't changed alignments since the Four Horsemen took on the nWo unsuccessfully.

[Deleted]

The Steiners vs. Sting & Lex Luger (1991, I believe) was a great match between 4 of the most popular wrestlers in the company, and I believe it won PWI's Match of the Year.

(Believe it or not, Luger did not turn on Sting here.)

[Citizen Snips]

The Wild Card Match at Survivor Series 1995- HBK, Ahmed Johnson, Sid and the British Bulldog vs Razor Ramon, Yokozuna, Owen Hart and Dean Douglas.

[Jam]

Oct 3, 2014 7:24:15 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

One of my favourite Heel vs. Heel matches was a slugfest that Steve Austin had with Vader on a 1996 RAW.

Austin and Mankind had a couple really good brawls around that time period, if I remember correctly. Both were heels at the time.

[TGM]

Repo Man vs Papa Shango from a random superstars in the early 90s. I'm guessing Janetty got fired the night before.

[somsta]

Oct 4, 2014 7:57:53 GMT -5 @sandman said:

The Steiners vs. Sting & Lex Luger (1991, I believe) was a great match between 4 of the most popular wrestlers in the company, and I believe it won PWI's Match of the Year.

(Believe it or not, Luger did not turn on Sting here.)

That reminds me of a great match the Steiners had with Owen and Bret prior to the 1994 Royal Rumble. Both teams were faces. It's on the Hart family DVD.

[amaron]

Bret Hart vs. The 123 Kid is one I prominently remember.

[Sephiroth]

No one mentions Rick Martel vs Shawn Michaels? That was one of my fave comedy matches ever!

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Oct 3, 2014 21:56:42 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

Wait, how could I forget a match likely to be this year's MOTY, The Shield vs The Wyatt Family.

Minoru Suzuki vs. AJ Styles also seems high on many NJPW fans' lists around here. But the topic is more about pre-Attitude examples.