Big Bubba: Top 5 Moments that Shaped the Wrestling Industry

So here we go, the top 5 moments that have defined the wrestling industry. This was not an easy choice, it took me awhile, but here are my top 5 moments that defined the wrestling industry:

Moment #5: WrestleMania XX
Well the sports entertainment spectacular that has been going on since 1985 made it to 20 years on March 14, 2004. It was in my opinion the best WWE show I've ever watched. It was full of feel good stories and full of matches. When I think about WrestleMania XX, I think of how Eddie Guerrero retained his WWE Championship against Kurt Angle and then Chris Benoit realized his dream and beat Triple H & Shawn Michaels in a triple threat match to win the World Heavyweight Championship. I don't care what people say about Eddie and Chris now, we loved them when they were here, and they made the show that night. I was almost in tears that night because of the feel good atmosphere. Obviously there were other matches on the card that made it simply amazing, so here's the card results:
United States Championship
John Cena def. Big Show(c)

World Tag Team Championships
Rob Van Dam(c) & Booker T(c) def. The Dudley's, Garrison Cade & Mark Jindrak, and La Resistance

Christian def. Chris Jericho

Batista, Randy Orton, & Ric Flair def. The Rock & Mick Foley

Torrie Wilson & Sable def. Miss Jackie & Stacey Keibler

Cruiserweight Championship
Cruiserweight Open
Chavo Guerrero(c) def. Rey Mysterio, Tajiri, Ultimo Dragon, Shannon Moore, Akio, Jamie Noble, Funaki, Nunzio, and Billy Kidman

Special Referee: Steve Austin
Goldberg def. Brock Lesnar

WWE Tag Team Championships
Rikishi(c) & Scotty 2 Hotty(c) def. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin, The APA (JBL & Faaroqq), and The Basham Brothers (Doug & Danny)

Women's Championship
Hair vs. Hair
Victoria(c) def. Molly Holly

WWE Championship
Eddie Guerrero(c) def. Kurt Angle

Undertaker def. Kane

World Heavyweight Championship
Chris Benoit def. Triple H(c) and Shawn Michaels

Moment #4: Kurt Angle moves from WWE to TNA
Now I no to some this may seem dumb, but remember TNA really wanted a jump start and KUrt Angle who was really a crowd favorite in WWE suprised everyone when he made the jump to TNA. He gunned right for Samoa Joe who was undefeated. Kurt Angle would challenge Samoa Joe at Genesis and beat him with the Ankle Lock. Kurt continues to compete in TNA to this day and still shocked us all when he arrived in TNA and gunned for Samoa Joe. In my opinion, Kurt Angle was born by WWE and for Angle to turn around on them and go to TNA was huge.

Moment #3: Shane McMahon buys WCW
Well this was a huge moment! Ok so think about this, WCW kicked WWE's but for a long time until Mr. McMahon introduced the Attitude Era where he started winning back the ratings. Vince would do anything and everything in this era to beat out major competiton in WCW. When WCW started losing ratings to WWE, Vince McMahon made a deal with Ted Turner, officially signing WCW over to WWE. Vince was pure genius making this deal and made a rivalry out of it by having Shane McMahon be the one who "bought" it, just to start the Vince McMahon/Shane McMahon rivalry that ended when Shane beat Vince at WrestleMania 18. McMahon eliminated his competition then, can you only imagine what will happen if TNA comes close to WWE? Vince McMahon turns on the thinking cap and that means the evil genius will be back.

Moment #2: The First WrestleMania
Let's just say, Madison Square Garden was rocking on this night! WWE had brought its business to new heights. The main event will forever be remembered as Hulk Hogan & Mr. T defeated Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorf w/ Cowboy Bob Orton. Hulk Hogan gave the crowd the energy rush they needed as he always did and Mr. T added to the fun. It was an amazing night and started the sports entertainment spectacle that we see today. Heres the matches that happened on that night:
Tito Santana def. The Excecutioner

King Kong Bundy w/ Jimmy Hart def. Special Delivery Jones

Ricky Steamboat def. Matt Borne

Intercontinental Championship
Junkyard Dog def. Greg Valentine(c) via Count Out

World Tag Team Championships
Nikoli Volkoff & The Iron Shiek def. The US Express(Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham)(c)

Ander the Giant def. Big John Studd in the $15,000 Body Slam Challenge

Women's Championship
Wendi Richter (with Cyndi Lauper) def. Leilani Kai(c) (with The Fabulous Moolah)

Hulk Hogan and Mr. T (with Jimmy Snuka) def. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff (with Cowboy Bob Orton)

Moment #1: Showdown at Shea
I'm not sure of how many people have heard about this, but now you will. The Showdown at Shea is pretty much what started WrestleMania. They actually did this twice before WrestleMania. Showdown at Shea was simply an event at Shea Stadium in Queens, NY, bascially putting on WrestleMania type cards. The second one though which happened on 6/24/76 really started the idea of WrestleMania. The card for that night was amazing. The real main event was Bruno Sammartino defending his WWE Championship or WWWF at the time against Stan Hansen. Bruno Sammartino was the longest reigning WWE Champion in history and should great excellence in the ring. He put on a show on this night in Shea Stadium. The 32,000 strong cheered on Bruno has he won his match. Now there was another match that took place that was technically the main event as Antonio Inoki and Muhammed Ali had a draw. This match was actually shown by closed broadcast in Tokyo, Japan and technically the match actually occured on July 26, 1976. So there ya have it, the Showdown at Shea on 6/25/76 is my top moment that shaped the wrestling industry as it started the idea of WrestleMania. Here are some of the other matches that happened on that card:
Ivan Putski def. Baron Scicluna

Jose Gonzales vs. Kevin Sullivan went to a draw

World Tag Team Championships
Best Of Three Falls
Jay Strongbow(c) and Billy White Wolf(c) def. The Executioners

Andre The Giant def. Chuck Wepner via count out

WWE Championship
Bruno Sammartino(c) def. Stan Hansen

Antonio Inoki vs. Muhammed Ali went to a draw

So there ya have it! The top 5 moments that happened in the wrestling industry! I hope you guys enjoyed and lets keep rollin into next weeks Big Bubba!