Wrestlemania XII Iron Man Match : Over Rated?

[L 0 T T 0]

What's up guys.

I want your expert opinions on the matter.

Wrestlemania XII.

Sunday, March 31st , 1996

From the sold out Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California.

Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels - in a 60 minute IRON MAN MATCH for the World's Wrestling Federation Championship.

Many consider this match to be the greatest Wrestlemania match of all time. One of the greatest matches in the history of the sport of professional wrestling.

BUT - what I'd like to know is this :

DO YOU THINK that this match was a bit over rated, and left you feeling a little bored at certain points during the match?

I myself, am a fan of a LONG, good wrestling clinic type of match. I've seen many matches go well over an hour.

But, for some reason - I've always thought this one, was a bit boring. Especially with the two being in the prime of their careers, I felt they did way too many rest hold maneuvers.

Now, am I wrong?

The Wrestlemania XII Iron Man Match Main Event : Over rated, Under rated, or just about right??

[Deleted]

I am inclined to agree man.

the amount of rest holds used was excessive IMO.but thats just me.if this match had been a regular match that ran about 40 mins it would have been truly great

[Stevo]

Holy hell that first half hour is just godawful. So slow. Restholds with maybe a move performed once every five minutes.

But! Right around the time where the timekeeper eats Shawn's foot, the entire thing picks up and becomes some of the finest pro-wrestling ever performed. Godly, smooth, fluid, well-called, textbook greatness.

Take that however you will.

[layton]

The second half of the match makes up for how slow the first half was. If you think about it, most matches are slow at first for the workers to get the feel of the other guy in the ring. This match was just scheduled to go longer than an hour, so the feel-out process was longer.

[NAЯDO]

Overall, the match is not overated, it was just an awesome match, 2 great wrestling legends, they give up a real good show to the fans

[K5]

i've debated this in the past on this board.

it is hard to really describe the intensity of this feud. in a time when the wwf was just dropping it's cartoonish antics you could literally tell that these men were truly competing, they wanted to truly be the best. that is why this matches greatness and significance is hard for someone just viewing it in recent years to truly understand.

it was a one hour match, ofcourse there was gonna be some low spots, but the match truly is a gem because of what those two men went through. it was a throwback to the classic era of wrestling, where bouts like that were regular. and the biggest thing is that you really DIDN'T know who was going to win. when i watched the match live, i could feel the energy, and the match told a story. so if i had to say, i'd definetly say this match if anything is under rated. it's a true testament to the work horse that bret hart was, and cemented michaels' legacy.

[bane]

It's not on my list at all....

Savage Steamboat tops it by far. Diesel Hart SS95 is second.

[layton]

Mar 17, 2010 0:55:39 GMT -5 @bane said:

It's not on my list at all....

Savage Steamboat tops it by far. Diesel Hart SS95 is second.

Your list of great matches or your list of overrated matches?

[L 0 T T 0]

Mar 17, 2010 0:27:52 GMT -5 K5 said:

i've debated this in the past on this board.

it is hard to really describe the intensity of this feud. in a time when the wwf was just dropping it's cartoonish antics you could literally tell that these men were truly competing, they wanted to truly be the best. that is why this matches greatness and significance is hard for someone just viewing it in recent years to truly understand.

it was a one hour match, ofcourse there was gonna be some low spots, but the match truly is a gem because of what those two men went through. it was a throwback to the classic era of wrestling, where bouts like that were regular. and the biggest thing is that you really DIDN'T know who was going to win. when i watched the match live, i could feel the energy, and the match told a story. so if i had to say, i'd definetly say this match if anything is under rated. it's a true testament to the work horse that bret hart was, and cemented michaels' legacy.

See, like you - I followed every aspect of Bret & Shawn's long, historical feud. I think their rivalry is almost under rated to a certain extent. The build to Wrestlemania XII was great. You could tell that the WWF back then was starting to get a more legit feel to it, and this feud was the launch of it all.

The reason why I brought up this post - is because I plan on re-watching the match shortly. I've seen it probably 3 times in full - but, beyond bored at times.

I want to re-watch for the first time in quite a few Years, with more of an open mind.

I just wanted to see what you guys thought about it as well.

Thanks.

[BrIaNMeRcY]

I personally felt this match cemented Shawn Michaels' legacy and proved that he is one of the best in the world. Bret Hart's role in the match was to give Michaels the rub and nothing more. As for the Irion Man match at 'Mania XII, I thought it was a tremendous by all means. I agree with L 0 T T 0's statement that the World Wrestling Federation wanted to be more legit since it was the time period that the WWE was facing competition due to WCW launching Nitro six months earlier.

Is the Irion Man Match at WrestleMania XII overrated, I'd think not. I don't see a lot of people talk about this match.

[Deleted]

I thought it was a great slowburner, adhered to the Four Quarter System, and told a great story. Personally I would've loved to see more selling towards the end, especially from Bret, but that's just me.

[hbkrules]

I don't think it is overrated. Two amazing wrestlers in their prime going at it for an hour. I'm not sure if it's the greatest WM match ever but it's at least in my top 3

[Wuffles]

Honestly, it's one of my favorite matches ever, probably in the top 5. I watch it anytime I have some major time to kill, and I love it each time. I can see why it might be boring to some people, and I respect that. I kind of liked the slow start to it, really kind of showed the "chess match" aspect of wrestling, that we don't get to see too often anymore. The slow build led to an amazing 2nd half of the match, and ending with HBK in the sharpshooter as time expired was great, made Shawn look legit. Then the sudden death finish was just a great way to end it.

[L 0 T T 0]

Mar 17, 2010 23:49:05 GMT -5 Wuffles said:

Honestly, it's one of my favorite matches ever, probably in the top 5. I watch it anytime I have some major time to kill, and I love it each time. I can see why it might be boring to some people, and I respect that. I kind of liked the slow start to it, really kind of showed the "chess match" aspect of wrestling, that we don't get to see too often anymore. The slow build led to an amazing 2nd half of the match, and ending with HBK in the sharpshooter as time expired was great, made Shawn look legit. Then the sudden death finish was just a great way to end it.

Very, very well said. I'm going to think about your words in this paragraph when I re-watch it, very soon.

[Hurricane]

It was too slow and boring for me, but it was still a tremendous effort from both men. I think by cutting out 15 minutes worth of restholds and making it 45-mins, it would have been much better.

[Deleted]

Mar 18, 2010 0:32:54 GMT -5 L 0 T T 0 said:

Mar 17, 2010 23:49:05 GMT -5 Wuffles said:

Honestly, it's one of my favorite matches ever, probably in the top 5. I watch it anytime I have some major time to kill, and I love it each time. I can see why it might be boring to some people, and I respect that. I kind of liked the slow start to it, really kind of showed the "chess match" aspect of wrestling, that we don't get to see too often anymore. The slow build led to an amazing 2nd half of the match, and ending with HBK in the sharpshooter as time expired was great, made Shawn look legit. Then the sudden death finish was just a great way to end it.

Very, very well said. I'm going to think about your words in this paragraph when I re-watch it, very soon.

I agree.good post Wuffles

[nibs92]

i thought it could have done with a couple of falls during the match.

maybe with the hitman getting the first fall, hbk getting one back near the time limit, sending it into overtime with michaels clinching it then.

[Flava Dave]

I absolutely love this match and don't understand why it gets hate. My only gripe is that they went the full hour without any falls. If you're going to do that, you might as well just cut out the Iron Man stipulation.

[Terrys Wrestling Figures]

IMO its over-rated, i think the Taker/Diesel match was the match of the show, it had alot in it & really played out the fued they were having.

The Iron Man match being an hour & for the title & HBK finally winning the title is what overshadows the rest of the event & why its get rated so much.

[carly1988]

Anytime you watch a match and fast forward it to the last 5-10 mins then there is a problem. 45 min TOPS this match should have been. It really killed the mood for Mania. Im surprised fans hung around that long