2008 Match of the Year
My look back at 2008 continues with announcement of the 2008 Match of the Year. Both of the matches listed below share an interesting twist to them. Both matches were released on 3-disc DVD sets of the losing wrestler.
Runner-Up: The Undertaker vs. Edge in a Hell in a Cell Match at SummerSlam
This match was the culmination of the 2008 Feud of the Year. After being banished from the WWE, the Undertaker made his return in the match he helped make famous. After winning an incredible match, the Undertaker literally brought hell into the cell as the post-match scrum ended with Edge being thrown through the mat and the hole then being engulfed in flames.
Winner: Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair in a Career Threatening Match at WrestleMania 24
Over the years, seemingly every great career has ended with a whimper rather than a bang. For the first time that I can remember, a great career ended in an appropriate manner, at the grandest stage in the business in a match where the fans knew they would be saying goodbye to an icon.
Despite every fan knowing how this one was going to end, the match was still an emotional roller coaster for the fans. These two greats proved that a great match is more about doing the little things than doing huge high spots that people forget about 30 seconds later. The last few seconds of this match will be remembered by everyone that saw Shawn mouth the words "I'm Sorry. I Love You." right before ending the career of his friend.
Photo of Shawn Michaels: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Comments
I agree that the Ric Flair/Shawn Michaels was a great match, and at least a possible Match of the Year candidate, but no TNA or Ring Of Honor Matches? No Samoa Joe and Curt Angle considerations? No matches involving the great TNA tag team division, such as any LAX matches? I find that often TNA matches are much better actual WRESTLING matches than WWE ones…WWE ones are better at pushing and marketing an angle over and over and over, or keeping a feud going too long.
I enjoy reading the column, but it really should be titled ‘About WWE’ as other wrestling organizations that focus on actual match quality are pretty much ignored.
Hi Tolcat,
I really thought that the first comment about this was going to be from a Jericholic angry about the ladder match where he beat Shawn Michaels not being given the winner or the runner-up spot.
I have to ask, which LAX match do you think was more deserving of the match of the year honor than the two I have listed? While I’m at it, I’m also curious as to what you would have awarded the winner and runner-up spots to?
By the way, thanks for saying you enjoy reading the site. As far as it being so focused on the WWE compared to other wrestling organizations, it is because that is what the readers of the site want to read. I can tell that by the clicks I get on the different content on the site. However, my awards have nothing to do with that. You just might be in for a surprise on Thursday.
Eric