Wrestling Matches That Looked Like A Movie

When the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold over the world, no one anywhere knew anything about how dangerous the virus was. Hence, why the world had to stop and quarantine itself. Wrestling was no different, but companies did all they could to continue to entertain the fans. Studio wrestling with no fans was a complete bore at first. To solve the issue, WWE, TNA, and AEW started the trend of having cinematic matches.

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Not only was the concept done before on several occasions, but some of wrestling’s biggest matches have felt like a movie – a cinematic, storytelling experience. Not every match can feel so grandiose. But when the story is large, cinematic storytelling takes shape.

Samoa Joe Vs. Kurt Angle (TNA Lockdown 2008)

Joe Wins His First TNA World Heavyweight Championship

Like two bulls circling one another, Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle had been back and forth ready to destroy each other at a moment’s notice. With Joe chasing the Olympic Wrestling Machine and the TNA title, The Samoan Submission Machine put it all on the line for a shot at the title at TNA Lockdown 2008. If Joe lost inside The Six Sides Of Steel, he would retire from wrestling forever. The two combatants wrestled a back and forth technical marvel that finally saw Joe hit The Muscle Buster for the victory and his first ever TNA world title.

Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes (WWE WrestleMania 40)

Cody Rhodes Finishes The Story

At WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes was able to triumph over backstage politics and constant interference from The Bloodline to finally finish his story. His victory marked the beginning of a new era in WWE, and the end of Roman Reigns’ historic reign as WWE Undisputed Universal Champion.

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Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, and even The Undertaker arrived to stem the tide and helped The American Nightmare live out his and his family’s dream.

Matt Hardy Vs. Jeff Hardy (TNA Impact, July 5, 2016)

The Broken Universe Begins With The Final Deletion Match

After getting his bell rung in a match with his brother, Matt Hardy’s psyche wasn’t just fractured, but it was… broken. Broken Matt Hardy not only helped reinvigorate Matt’s career, but both the Hardys and even TNA at that time.

The Broken segments were some of the only worthwhile segments in TNA. Matt took Jeff on in a Cinematic contest dubbed The Final Deletion. Jeff lost to his brother, as well as all rights to his name and the Hardy name.

Money In The Bank Ladder Matches (WWE Money In The Bank 2020)

The Male & Female Briefcases Were Both On The Line In The Same Match

The Money In The Bank match is usually one of the biggest spot-fest matches of the year. Because of those spots, it’s also one of the biggest fan interaction matches all year now. But with no fans, there’s no fan interaction. So, WWE had the idea of bringing the match to the office where competitors would literally “climb the corporate ladder.”

The other fun caveat to the match was that both the men’s and women’s matches took place at the same time. As Asuka and Otis ascended to the mountaintop of Titan Tower, some unique things happened, including Baron Corbin essentially kicking Rey Mysterio off the skyscraper. However, The Legendary Luchador seemed to be fine afterward.

Dustin Rhodes Vs. Blacktop Bully (WCW Uncensored 1995)

WCW Fired Both Wrestlers After The King Of The Road Match

Some of the secret to Eric Bischoff’s success as WCW President came thanks to his unique attempt to be different from WWE. One of those ways was for one night only, going Uncensored. The first event took place in 1995 and one of the big matches on the card was The King Of The Road match between Dustin Rhodes and The Blacktop Bully.

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The foes fought inside a moving 18 Wheeler, whoever could make it to the bell and ring it would be declared the winner. The match featured aerial shots and both men getting color, something that was a no-no for WCW at the time. Both men were let go for the blood. That led to Dustin joining WWE later that year, eventually becoming a big star with the controversial Goldust character.

John Cena Vs. The Fiend (WWE WrestleMania 36)

Bray Wyatt Defeated John Cena In The Firefly Fun House Match

The debate of whether The Firefly Funhouse Match was glorious or a bust continues to this day. But there can be no debate over the cinematic experience that Bray Wyatt was able to give fans stuck at home a terrifying and cinematic experience.

The premise of the entire match is that it somehow took place in John Cena’s mind, driving him to the depths of sanity until he was rife for The Mandible Claw and The Fiend claiming yet another soul.

The Undertaker Vs. AJ Styles (WWE WrestleMania 36)

The Unique Boneyard Match Marked The Deadman’s Last Ride

The other big cinematic match at WrestleMania 36 was the main event of Night One. The Phenom Vs. The Phenomenal One. AJ Styles had been goading “Mark” for several weeks. Not only did AJ get Mark Calaway, he got an Unholy Trinity of Mark, The American Badass, and of course The Original Deadman.

The battle that ensued was the perfect ending to The Undertaker’s long and storied career. He rode in on his steel chariot, annihilated AJ, and the rest of the OC before leaving and raising his hand (and the lightning) in victory.

Roddy Piper Vs. Goldust (WWE WrestleMania 12)

The Hollywood Backlot Brawl Was WWE’s First Cinematic Match

WrestleMania 12 might have been all about the Iron Man Match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. But just as Roddy Piper was able to upstage Hulk Hogan throughout the Golden Era, Hot Rod and Goldust were able to do it again with The Hollywood Backlot Brawl.

The two filmed it a few nights earlier and Roddy actually broke his hand. So when the match took place inside the Arco Arena, Piper gutted it out to stand tall over Goldust (even though the official result was a draw) and celebrate with his son.

Triple H Vs. The Undertaker (WWE WrestleMania 28)

Triple H & Shawn Michaels Did Everything They Could To End The Streak

Despite losing the match at WrestleMania 27, Triple H did something that no one else had done before to The Undertaker. He left The Deadman lying in a heap. The Phenom wanted to expunge that “loss” a year later. Triple H, now an executive, finally agreed to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but only if it was an ultimate end to an era – inside Hell In A Cell.

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With a conflicted Shawn Michaels as the guest referee, and even Jim Ross back on the call with Jerry Lawler, the match was a compelling story before the bell even rang. Once it did, one of the most brutal cell matches took place that eventually put The Phenom’s Streak at 20-0.

Steve Austin Vs. Bret Hart (WWE WrestleMania 13)

The Match That Made Stone Cold A Main Event Star For Life

After WrestleMania 12, Bret Hart was on a self-imposed sabbatical. During that time, fans started to care more about anti-heroes like Stone Cold Steve Austin. The two did battle at Survivor Series 1996 and were set to run it back on the grandest stage – WrestleMania 13.

Bret Hart and Austin wailed away at each other from pillar to post until Austin was a bloody mess. Bret weakened his foe enough to synch in the Sharpshooter until Stone Cold passed out and then beyond. After the fans began cheering for Austin’s effort, they actually began to boo The Hitman for his ruthlessness.