Let's Dance (vol. 5- John Cena)

The "Let's Dance" Series continues to roll in a strong way. Dance Partners are made to bring the very best out of each other.

Now, I would like to examine the many dance partners of the Franchise Star of the Modern WWE Generation, John Cena.

There have been very few stars that have had the same abundance of dance partners that Cena has had over the course of his impressive career. The only other names that come to mind with an array of rivals were Undertaker, HH and Ric Flair. Just like them, Cena has been able to spark amazing rivalries over the history of wrestling.

Just like Superman or Goku, Cena has enjoyed a variety of villains to dance with. Since Cena is the Superman of WWE, these villains are his Lex Luthors, Brainiacs, General Zods, Doomsday, etc. Time to examine his "Who's Who?" of Dance Partners.

Edge:

Length of Feud: 2006-2009

Featured Matches:

Royal Rumble 2006
Backlash 2006
Summerslam 2006
Unforgiven 2006 (TLC Match)
Backlash 2007
No Way Out 2009
WrestleMania XXV
Backlash 2009

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating 9.5/10

Edge and John Cena were very much counter culture. Cena was Rap, Edge was Rock/Heavy Metal. John Cena was the clean cut standard hero while Edge was the villain that served to be the ultimate thorn in his side. Edge made his first Main Event Impact by cashing in his MITB Briefcase on a wounded John Cena after he survived a Brutal Elimination Chamber Match. Edge conquered Cena with two Spears to win his first WWE Championship. As a result, RAW's Ratings spiked (with the addition of Edge's live sex celebration with Lita). Cena would gain his revenge when he defeated Edge to win back the WWE Title at the Royal Rumble. They feuded over the title throughout 2006 as their feud was named "Feud of the Year" by PWI. This was Cena's biggest challenge as Champion at that point in his career. The highlight of their feud took place at Unforgiven 2006 when Cena defeated Edge at his own game of a TLC Match. To add fuel to the fire, the match was in Edge's hometown of Toronto, Canada. Cena and Edge would meet again in a Fatal Four Way Match at Backlash involving Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton. Cena remained Champion as Edge would move to Smackdown concluding their feud for the time being. However, their paths would cross once again during 2009 as Edge won the World Heavyweight Championship at No Way Out. Cena would defeat Edge and Big Show at WrestleMania XXV to win the title. Edge would have the last laugh at Backlash to win back the WHC with help from Big Show.

Randy Orton:

Length of Feud: 2007-2013

Featured Matches: 

Backlash 2007
Summerslam 2007

WrestleMania XXIV
Backlash 2008
Night Of Champions
Summerslam 2009
Breaking Point
Hell In A Cell
Bragging Rights
TLC 2013

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

The unique thing about the John Cena vs. Randy Orton feud is how their career paths have followed each other from their time at OVW. Both Cena and Orton made their debut on the main roster in 2002 as part of Smackdown. Cena would become the Dr. of Thuganomics while Orton joined Evolution. They won championship gold around the same time. Orton and Cena had unique paths to the top. Randy won the IC Title at Armageddon 2003, while John won the US Title at WrestleMania XX. Orton became the youngest World Champion at Summerslam 2004 at just 24 years old. Meanwhile, Cena became WWE Champion at WrestleMania 21. This shows how their careers have been parallel. Even though Randy won his titles first, Cena won his on bigger stages. However, Orton hit a roadblock in 2004 when he lost the WHC. When John Cena won the WWE Championship from JBL at WM, he maintained his spot at the top on a consistent basis and gained stronger momentum. By 2007, Randy Orton had become a more polished performer just in time to be inserted into the WWE Title picture. Orton was involved in the Fatal Four Way match at Backlash for the WWE Championship. The match also included Edge and Shawn Michaels with Cena winning. However, Cena suffered a pectoral injury during the Summer. On an episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, Orton added further damage by giving him the RKO on an open steel chair. As a result of John Cena's injury, Randy Orton was crowned the new WWE Champion. This is what helped to escalate their rivalry to another level. Cena would return at the Royal Rumble for a shot at the title. Orton retained at WM XXIV. The feud between Cena and Orton would consistently go through 2008-2009. The high points of their feud would be from Breaking Point to Bragging Rights. These two are considered the legends of their generation with nearly 30 world championships combined between them.


CM Punk:

Length of Feud: 2011-2013

Featured Matches:

Money In the Bank 2011

Summerslam 2011

Summerslam 2012

Survivor Series 2012

RAW 2013

Match Quality: 4.5/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

As John Cena was in the midst of his feud with The Rock building up for WrestleMania XXVIII, he was met with another intense feud in between that time. Enter CM Punk. In the Summer of 2011, CM Punk had grown frustrated of being pushed to the background while the likes of The Rock ("Dwayne") and John Cena took over a lion's share of the spotlight as they were in the marquee headline of WrestleMania while he was not. In his famous "Pipe Bomb" Promo, Punk shot straight from the hip about his anger of being disrespected and unappreciated by WWE. His main target for the frustration at that moment was John Cena. Punk threatened to take the WWE Title with him back to Ring Of Honor and NJPW. Once they had the contract signing along with Vince McMahon's involvement, the stage was set for Money In the Bank 2011 in Punk's backyard of Chicago. CM Punk would emerge victorious as he defeated Cena for the WWE Title. Cena's feud with Punk would continue into Summerslam 2011. It would be on again, off again as they would have Triple Threat Matches featuring Big Show and Ryback (Summerslam 2012, Survivor Series 2012), along with their final match at RAW 2013 to determine the number one contender for WrestleMania XXIX. Cena and Punk danced tremendously together. Contrary to the popular opinion of the Internet, dancing with John Cena put CM Punk on a higher platform. 

Brock Lesnar:

Length of Feud: 2003, 2012-2015

Featured Matches:

Backlash 2003

Extreme Rules 2012

Summerslam 2014
Night of Champions 2014
Royal Rumble 2015

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

Much like with Randy Orton, and Batista, John Cena's history with Brock Lesnar dates back to their time in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). You can say that their rivalry started casually in 2003 when Cena was the Dr. of Thuganomics. During that time, Cena challenged Lesnar for the WWE Championship. One of the most memorable things about that time was when Cena cut a freestyle about Brock's tattoos. Lesnar would win, but it was a sign of things to come for Cena in the future. The timing is interesting from when Brock left to when Cena became the face of the company. In Brock's absence, Cena established a Hall of Fame Caliber Career and became one of the biggest box office draws in WWE History. The night after WrestleMania XXVIII, Brock made his long awaited return as he gave John the F5. Cena looked like he was on his way to a downward spiral going into Extreme Rules. Their match was brutal with Brock throwing Cena from left to right and nearly beating him half to death. Suddenly, Cena surprises everyone as he hits Lesnar with the chain before nailing him with the Attitude Adjustment for the win. It seemed as though Cena got rid of the monster once and for all. However, business was not finished. After Lesnar broke the Streak, he was Cena's automatic challenger at Summerslam. Lesnar destroyed Cena in a one-sided match to become the new WWE Champion. The rivalry continued as Brock retained at Night of Champions and ended with him remaining Champion at the Royal Rumble. 

The Rock:

Length of Feud: 2011-2013

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania XXVIII
WrestleMania XXIX

What makes this stand out as one of John Cena's top rivalries is not only the star value of his dance partner but the buildup surrounding the feud. This was the quintessential example of a "Dream Match" on paper. Rock and Cena are the premiere stars from different generations. This was more tangible than a dream feud between Rock-Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart-Kurt Angle, Hulk-Bruno, etc. FINALLY, after seven years away from WWE, the Rock HAS COME BACK to the WWE. Rocky wasted no time in taking care of business. Rock's main target the night of his return was John Cena. He shot straight from the hip about the jabs that Cena took in various interviews. This led to a war of the words. The Rock even became the host of WrestleMania XXVII. It was obvious that The Rock was going to get involved in Cena's match. Rocky cost Cena the WWE Title match against The Miz. The next night, The Rock and John Cena booked their "Once In A Lifetime" Match for WrestleMania XXVIII. From that time, they kept their distance with jabs at each other in the mainstream media and in Social Media including Rock's classic promo via YouTube. This feud ran simultaneously with the feud that John Cena started with CM Punk during the Summer. Their paths would finally collide at WrestleMania XXVIII in The Rock's BattleGround of Miami, FL. Rock was the hometown favorite and the favorite of Attitude Era fans, while Cena was the favorite among the current demographic. Both were faces going into the match, even though Cena was booed out of Miami heading into the ring. For what it was worth, this was a great match with The Rock standing tall as the winner in the end. The buildup and storyline for this match (along with Taker vs. HHH) made this the highest grossing live event in WWE history. Naturally, Rock and Cena would have a sequel at WrestleMania XXIX for the WWE Championship. Cena won the Rumble the same night that Rock defeated CM Punk to become WWE Champion. Their paths would collide again, but this time Cena won to redeem himself in a passing of the torch moment similar to what The Rock experienced at WrestleMania X8. The buildup and the drawing power that this feud created is enough to rank among John Cena's greatest rivalries.


Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 9.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

Batista: 

Length of Feud: 2008-2010

Featured Matches:

Summerslam 2008

WrestleMania XXVI

Extreme Rules 2010

Over the Limit

The John Cena-Batista feud was well built by how wisely they were kept apart from each other. Their origins began at OVW. They were the last two men in the 2005 Royal Rumble with Batista winning. At WrestleMania 21, they were positioned as the top franchise players for the WWE. Both of their victories were torch-passing moments. Their paths ran parallel with each other. Cena defeated JBL for the WWE Title, while Batista defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Title in a more intense match. That summer, they were the most valuable stars in the WWE Draft during the Brand Extension Era. Cena was the 1st overall pick for RAW, Batista was the 2nd overall pick for Smackdown. It was clear that John Cena was 1A as he became not only the Captain of RAW, but star of WWE itself. Meanwhile, DC Dave was Captain of the B-Show as he became 1B. Batista had the initial firepower coming out of WM 21, but Cena would slowly pull ahead. While they could have very well collided at Survivor Series (possibly WrestleMania), they stayed out of each other's way for three years. Batista carried Smackdown as he feuded with JBL. Meanwhile, Cena defended the title against Kurt Angle before kicking off his feud with Edge. Their paths would finally cross when Batista returned to RAW for a superstar showdown at Summerslam 2008. This was one of the rare cases of WWE using the brand split to build dream matches (ex: Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle). However, Cena and Batista were both faces in this match. In rare fashion, John Cena ended the match looking up at the lights as Batista broke his neck with a Batista Bomb. This would be a sign of things to come as this was the fuel for their fire going into WrestleMania XXVI. Going into their WM Match, their was actual doubt that Cena would walk away as champion because of how dominant Batista was as a monster heel champion. Not only that, but Batista already had the victory over Cena before. Cena would overcome the DC Monster Batista at WrestleMania and sweep the series with wins at Extreme Rules and Over the Limit. Even though Cena won the overall series, he found an opponent that matched him when it came to physical and star power credentials to a degree. It was a battle of "I should be number 1". It proved to be one of the most significant feuds not only for John Cena, but for Batista as well. 

Match Quality: 3.5/5

Storyline Quality: 8/10

Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

Chris Jericho:

Length of Feud: 2002-2008

Featured Matches:
Vengeance 2002
Summerslam 2005
Surivor Series 2008

This feud was a launching pad for Cena becoming a star in WWE. They had a match early in Cena's career before he became the Dr. of Thuganomics with John getting the win over the veteran Jericho. However, things were kicked up another notch as we fast forward to 2005. John Cena was just drafted to RAW as the first overall pick as he was the guest on Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel. It wasn't long before Jericho stepped up to become the challenger for the WWE Championship. Naturally, Jericho becomes the heel and goes into arrogant rockstar mode. It was truly "Rap vs. Rock". They even had a "Battle of the Bands" on RAW. Cena with his rap group vs. Fozzy. However, Jericho came to the stage by himself and refused to perform. Cena's band won by default. Jericho vowed to take the title away from Cena at Summerslam. John Cena defeated Y2J at Summerslam 2005 with the Attitude Adjustment (At that time it was the F-U). Cena defeated Jericho the next night on RAW in a "Loser Leaves Town" match. After Y2J lost, he was "fired" and taken out by security screaming and crying. In the midst of Jericho's return (aka: "Second Coming") he turned heel and started wearing a suit. During his time as a heel, Y2J became World Heavyweight Champion and finished a great feud with Shawn Michaels. Jericho would then rekindle his feud with John Cena. Cena would defeat him at Survivor Series for the WHC. What makes this feud so unique is that Chris Jericho was instrumental in helping to legitimize John Cena as a star that can dance in the main event. Y2J helped to pull things out of Cena that he probably thought that he never had before. In Cena's early run as Champion, Jericho proved to be a very good foil for him to defeat. Both legends certainly did great music together in the ring. This was certainly one of the high spots for Cena's first title run along with his feud with Kurt Angle. 

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Quality: 7.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 7.5/10

Conclusion:

Edge:

As I have come to my conclusion, there is no other dance partner that was better for John Cena than Edge in my view. John Cena is the marquee star of his generation, but there was a critical point in Cena's rise where many people were not sure if he was really going to work out. People may not want to admit this now, but fans were happy to see him relieve JBL of the WWE Title at WrestleMania 21. They were also more or less on his side in his early feuds with Chris Jericho and Christian. Then, he ran into Kurt Angle a wrestling machine that fans knew John Cena was no match for hold for hold. Kurt was the premiere ring general of his time, but he was playing heel to John Cena's silliness. However, smart fans were not willing to shun Angle in favor of Cena. After Jericho left, Bischoff turned up the heat with Angle. After Cena conquered the Olympic Gold Medalist, he faced the likes of Carlito and Chris Masters who were the next heels in line for the title. Promising at the time, but a downgrade from the likes of future Hall of Famers like Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle. Masters and Carlito were certainly not world title material. Cena's first run lasted 9 months but it had its hit and misses.

This is where Edge enters. In true heel fashion, Edge makes WWE history by cashing in his the first MITB Briefcase on a bloodied and wounded John Cena that just overcame five other wrestlers to retain the WWE Championship. Edge cashed in on a grand opportunity by defeating Cena after the match was over to win his first WWE Championship. This was a turning point for both stars. Cena finally had a red hot feud with someone that was a lethal thorn in his side. Edge was not a match for Cena physically like Brock or Batista, but he was a master manipulator who could use his heel psychology to push Cena to his limits. This would become the premiere standard bearer feud of John Cena's career. This was the most defining feud of Cena's legacy. Edge was elevated by successfully cashing in his MITB Briefcase on the Captain of RAW and WWE overall. Edge was launched from being an upper mid-card glorified tag team star that everybody loved to becoming the perennial main event villain of his era. They danced in a series of matches, from singles matches, triple threat matches and even a classic but sometimes overlooked TLC Match. Edge and Cena danced in many different ways to their own instruments, but they left fans with some great performances that they would never forget. With that said, Edge is John Cena's quintessential dance partner. You could say that he was Lex to Cena's Superman.


Greatest Matches:

1. vs. CM Punk (Money In the Bank 2011)
2. vs. Edge (TLC Match- Unforgiven 2006)
3. vs.  Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins (Royal Rumble 2015)
4. vs. CM Punk (RAW 2013)
5. vs. Randy Orton (Breaking Point 2009)
6. vs. The Rock (WrestleMania XXVIII)
7. vs. Edge vs. Triple H (Backlash 2006)
8,  vs. Brock Lesnar (Extreme Rules 2012)
9. vs. CM Punk (Night of Champions 2012)
10. vs. Edge (Backlash 2009)

This Top 10 is based off of Cena's Dance Partners

Let's Dance (vol. 4- Ric Flair)

Over the course of his remarkable 30+ year Career, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair has had his share of great dance partners that he has had amazing chemistry with. Flair knew how to dance with the best while also bringing others to his beat. When you have won 16 World Titles along with other accolades, you have to have some great opponents along the way to produce outstanding matches. Ric did that and then some.

Now, I would like to explore and discuss the Greatest Dance Partners of the Nature Boy's Career:

Harley Race:

Length of Feud: 1977-1985

Featured Matches:
Texas Death Match
Best Two out of Three Falls for NWA Championship (6/10/1983)
Steel Cage Match (Starrcade 1983 "A Flare for the Gold")

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

In order for Ric Flair to emerge into the Main Event Star that he became, he had to overcome the man that stood tall on the NWA Mountain, Harley Race. Both Flair and Race were a very sharp contrast of each other. Harley Race was hard-nosed and hard-hitting with very methodical promos. He was very sturdy and blue collar in every way.

He was even one of the first wrestlers to wear tattoos before they even became cool. Meanwhile, Flair was very flamboyant with the way that he wrestled, the way that he dressed and the way that he talked. Harley was the ultimate predecessor for Flair to defeat. They had a series of matches from the early 70's going into the mid-80's when Race was starting to slow down. Race even put a bounty on Flair's head. That is how serious this feud was.

The feud reached its apex at Starrcade 1983 when Ric Flair defeated Harley Race to win the NWA World Title in a Steel Cage Match. This will forever be known as the passing of the torch for Flair's career. Ric won the title before, but this was the official confirmation that he would carry the company going forward. Harley would briefly win back the title, but ultimately Flair would have the last laugh.



Dusty Rhodes:

Length of Feud: 1977-1987

Featured Matches:
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (9/16/1981)
Best Two out of Three Falls for NWA Championship (1/1/1982)
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (Starrcade 1984)
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (Starrcade 1985)
Steel Cage Match for NWA Championship (Great American Bash 1986)

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

The Classic Story of the Working Class Common Man vs. The Limousine Ridin', Jet Flyin' pompous Villain. It was a tale of Rags vs. Riches. Dusty represented the hard working, lower to middle-class common person. Flair represented the high-class, snobbish socialite that lives a lavish lifestyle while looking down on others. Dusty and Ric have a history dating back to the '70s.

Flair patterned some of his styles after Dusty in a roundabout way. In fact, Flair won his first World Title from Rhodes on September 16, 1981, in Kansas City, MO. They would have a number of matches in between, but no real storyline until 1984. Dusty challenged the winner of the Flair vs. Race match from Starrcade '83. As we know, Naitch won the match.

Their feud would soon start to build as they would collide for the NWA World Title at Starrcade 1984 (Million Dollar Challenge). In that match, Boxing Legend Joe Frazier was the Guest Referee. This was not exactly their best match together because Frazier called for the bell when Dusty's eye was covered with blood.

This would transition the feud into Starrcade 1985, which is known for Dusty's passionate "Hard Times" promo heading into the match. This match made up for the year before as it was executed in a much better fashion. The match was at a very solid but intense pace. In spite of interference from Arn and Ole Anderson, Dusty picked up the win to become champion after pulling Flair in with an inside cradle.

However, the decision was reversed by referee Tommy Young. The outcome was changed for Dusty to win by DQ after interference from the Andersons. This launched the Four Horsemen in January 1986. Their feud would reach its peak and pretty much blow off at the Great American Bash in 1986 inside of a steel cage. I would say that this was the best match that they had together because Dusty was able to get his ultimate revenge on Flair with no Horsemen involved. Rhodes defeated Flair to officially win the NWA World Title for the third and last time.

This feud was carried by great matches but an even greater and more intense storyline. Flair and Dusty danced to different beats, but they were still in sync with each other.



Ricky Steamboat:

Length of Feud: 1977-1994

Featured Matches:
Chi-Town Rumble (NWA World Heavyweight Championship)
Clash of the Champions VI (2 out of 3 Falls for NWA World Title)
WrestleWar '89 (NWA World Heavyweight Title)
WCW Spring Stampede '94 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)

Match Quality: 5/5
Storyline Quality: 9.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 9.5/10


Like his feud with Dusty, this was a clash of two different morals. Steamboat was the clean-cut, straight-laced family man who wanted to do things the right way. Meanwhile, Flair was the opposite. He was all about glitz, glamour beautiful women and living on the wild side. The one thing that they had in common was that they were both technical geniuses in the ring that had the stamina to deliver a great 20+ minute match.

They first crossed paths in the late '70's when Steamboat joined NWA Mid-Atlantic. Their most famous encounter at the time was when Steamboat ripped Flair's clothes. Naitch responded by attacking Steamboat and rubbing his face into the floor. At this time, they battled for the Mid-Atlantic TV Title and the U.S. Title. Flair has even said that he believes those earlier matches were better than the ones that they had in 1989, which says a lot.

When The Nature Boy was elevated to the Main Event picture, Steamboat would be one of his natural opponents for the World Heavyweight Title. They enjoyed a series of classic matches from 1983 to early 1985 before Steamboat left for the WWF. In 1984, Steamboat and Flair had three straight matches that went 60-minutes. They had Ironman matches long before WWE came up with the idea.

When The Dragon returned to NWA/WCW in January 1989, his focus was on Ric Flair. Steamboat revealed himself to be Eddie Gilbert's mystery partner vs Ric Flair and Barry Windham.

The Dragon became the number one contender for Flair's NWA World Title heading into Chi-Town Rumble. Steamboat defeated Flair in this contest of endurance and ring generalship. They took each other to the limit. Flair would have a rematch at Clash of the Champions VI (Ragin Cajun') in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the World Title. However, Steamboat remained champion when it was ruled that he had Flair's shoulders down even though Ric fell on him during a submission. This led to the final showdown of their trilogy at Wrestle War. In the end, Flair would regain the title after a remarkable series of matches.

Five years later, their paths would cross for the last time as Flair defeated Steamboat to remain WCW World Champion. The Dragon would retire that year.



Sting:

Length of Feud: 1987-2001

Featured Matches:
Clash of the Champions I (NWA World Heavyweight Championship)
Starrcade 1989 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Great American Bash (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Starrcade 1990 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Clash of the Champions XXVII (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
The First WCW Monday Nitro (WCW United States Championship)
WCW World War 3 1995
The Final WCW Monday Nitro

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10


This is the prime example of a guy with less experience who gets elevated by a legend and stays a Main Event Star for the rest of his career. Sting was a guy that was able to get over because he had the image and charisma.

Then, he gets in the ring with the franchise of the NWA (Ric Flair) and gets elevated to the Main Event picture. However, Sting found a way to maintain that status pretty much from the time that he stepped into the ring with Naitch.

Sting was a made man after his classic battle with Flair at the first Clash of the Champions PPV in 1988 (Same night as WrestleMania IV). Sting brought everything that he had to the table and did not disappoint. The match ended in a draw. This shows that you could put someone over without actually losing. Unlike Lex Luger, Flair's investment of Sting paid off in the long run.

Sting was dismissed from the Four Horsemen at Clash of the Champions X: Texas Shootout after refusing to relinquish his title shot against Ric Flair.

Sting was originally going to face Flair at WrestleWar in 1990 but suffered a serious knee injury in a Steel Cage Match featuring the Four Horsemen.

Once he recovered, Sting defeated Ric Flair at the Great American Bash on July 7, 1990. Sting's reign came to an end on January 11, 1991, at the hands of Flair in a rematch of Starrcade 1990.

Flair defeated Sting in a Title Unification Match at Clash of the Champions XXVII. Other notable matches include the first-ever WCW Nitro and World War 3.

This legendary feud came to a close on the final episode of Nitro. They kicked off Nitro together and ended Nitro together. Full circle.

Terry Funk: 

Length of Feud: 1981-2000


Featured Matches:
2 out of 3 Falls Match (AJPW- NWA World Championship)
Great American Bash 1989 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Halloween Havoc 1989 (Thunderdome Match w/Sting & Great Muta)
Clash of the Champions IX (I Quit Match- WCW World Championship)
WCW SuperBrawl X

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

This was the Battle of the Master of the Figure Four vs. the Master of Hardcore. Flair vs. Funk at its core was brutal. Funk served as the Guest Color Commentator for Flair's match with Ricky Steamboat at Wrestle War. After the match, Terry came to the ring to congratulate Ric. He would also joke about challenging for the title. Flair said that he would have to wait in line with all of the other challengers. Funk was not cool with that at all as he attacked Naitch after the match with a Piledriver through the announce table. Flair said that he was legitimately hurt for months after Funk's Piledriver. This feud was so intense that Terry even tried to suffocate him with a plastic bag. He was hardcore LONG before ECW.

In his promo leading into the Great American Bash, Funk said that the "Glory Days" would become the "Gory Days" for Ric Flair. Flair defeated Funk at the GAB to remain Champion. At Halloween Havoc, Ric Flair teamed with Sting to defeat Terry Funk and Great Muta in a Thunderdome Match. Flair put Funk in the Figure Four as Gary Hart threw in the towel.

The feud would culminate with an "I Quit" Match at Clash of the Champions IX, where Flair would make Funk say "I Quit" with the Figure Four Leglock.

The feud with Funk was not as Iconic as the feuds with Race, Rhodes, and Steamboat, but it was a feud that Flair was into the transition from his war with Ricky Steamboat to a war with rising star Sting.

In the end, it was still great in its own way.

Randy Savage:

Length of Feud: 1992-1995

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania VIII
Survivor Series 1992
Great American Bash 1995
Bash at the Beach 1995
Starrcade 1995


Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

When Ric Flair made his arrival in the WWF in September 1991, he wasted no time shaking the landscape of the company. Everyone already knew of his reputation as the Wrestling Kingpin of the South. He called out everyone from Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage down to Roddy Piper. The Nature Boy proudly carried his Big Gold Belt from WCW as he proclaimed to be the "Real World's Champion". As we know, Flair won the Royal Rumble in 1992 to win the vacant WWF Championship.

After becoming Champion, Flair revealed how he and Miss Elizabeth had a "relationship" before she even met the Macho Man. Flair and Mr. Perfect called out Savage as a man. Perfect's promo was on point. "Macho Man Randy Savage. What makes you so Macho? What makes you a Man? What makes you a Savage?". They teased the idea of exposing a Centerfold of Liz after the match.

Macho Man was furious about this as he went silent in the time heading into WrestleMania. These ingredients mixed together created a highly intense and greatly executed match between the two for the Title. In typical Flair fashion, he was busted open. Savage won the WWF Title for the second time. This was the high point of their feud in the WWF. Flair would win the title back in September with the Figure Four while Savage passed out from the pain, but it was nowhere near their encounter at Mania.

Their feud was rekindled in 1995 after Savage's arrival in WCW. They had a series of good to great matches from Great American Bash, Bash at the Beach to Starrcade. Once again, the common themes were Elizabeth and the Title.



Conclusion:

Ricky Steamboat:

As I have come to my conclusion, there is no question that Ric Flair's greatest dance partner was Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. They were like two great musicians with different genres but were on point with the way they danced together in the squared circle. Both Flair and Steamboat were technical powerhouses that never ever disappointed. Their 1989 trilogy was the peak of their rivalry. Steamboat wrestled according to morals and ethics as the ultimate babyface that never went heel. Meanwhile, Flair was at his best as a heel which made him the perfect thorn in the side of the Dragon. It is one thing to bring someone up to your level of rhythm as a dance partner. Flair has had a history of doing that (ask Lex Luger and others). It is another thing to have someone who can naturally dance to your beat during a match, and Steamboat was that guy for Flair. Overall, they made things better for each other as they brought the best out of one another.

Greatest Matches:
1. vs. Ricky Steamboat (WrestleWar)
2. vs. Ricky Steamboat (Chi-Town Rumble)
3. vs. Ricky Steamboat (Clash of the Champions VI)
4. 1992 Royal Rumble
5. vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania VIII)
6. vs. Dusty Rhodes (Great American Bash 1986)
7. vs. Sting (Clash of the Champions I)
8. vs. Harley Race (Starrcade 1983)
9. vs. Sting (Great American Bash 1990)
10. vs. Dusty Rhodes (9/16/1981)

Let's Dance (vol 3. Eddie Guerrero)

In this installment of the "Let's Dance" Series (courtesy of @RealMikeKnoxxx and Perfect Plex), This series has gotten off to a strong start after highlighting the dance partners of future Hall of Famer Chris Jericho.

Now, I would like to focus on the great rivalries throughout the career of one of Jericho's closest friends, Eddie Guerrero.

During his storied Career, the late legendary Eddie Guerrero has battled with some of the best that the business had to offer. From AAA in Mexico to Japan, to ECW, WCW and finally in WWE, Eddie has danced with many partners. Like Chris Jericho, Benoit and others, Eddie was well versed in many different International styles of wrestling. Now, it is time to explore his greatest rivalries:


Chris Benoit:

Length of Feud: 1993-2003

Featured Matches:

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 1996

Fatal Four Way at No Way Out 2001 (IC Championship)

Four Way Elimination Match on Smackdown (w/Edge and Kurt Angle)

Armageddon 2002

Vengeance 2003 (US Title Match)

Match Quality: 4.5/5

Storyline Quality: 7.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

Their styles of wrestling and careers mirrored each other. The only difference is that Eddie had much more charisma. Both were technical wizards who crafted their skill Internationally. Eddie incorporated more of the Lucha-libre style while Benoit applied the Hart Dungeon Canadian style of wrestling. They were both fantastic in the Japanese strong style of wrestling as well. Their builds were also very similar. Guerrero and Benoit first crossed paths on the International Circuit in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the Best of the Super Juniors Tournaments in the 90's. They would battle each other in WCW as well, but things did not fully launch until they both jumped ship to the WWF as members of the Radicalz. Soon, tension started to build within the group as both leaders would find themselves fighting for the IC Title. At No Way Out 2001, Guerrero and Benoit were involved in the Fatal 4 Way Match that included X-Pac and IC Champion Chris Jericho. Y2J would ultimately win. Between 2002 and 2003, Benoit and Eddie would battle for the US Title with Guerrero being the ultimate victor. WrestleMania XX was a watershed moment for both of them as they closed the night with confetti as they held their World Titles in victory after years of dedication. The chemistry that they had together was among the best that wrestling had to offer. They had similar skills, but different characters. Sadly, they are also associated by the way that they died. Eddie passed away in 2005 while Benoit tragically took his life along with his family's life in 2007. They changed the business not only by their influence as wrestlers but also through their tragedies. 

Rey Mysterio: 

Length of Feud: 1995-2005

Featured Matches:

Halloween Havoc 1997 (Title vs. Mask for WCW Cruiserweight Title)

WrestleMania 21

Judgment Day 2005

Great American Bash 2005

Summerslam 2005

Match Quality: 4.5/5

Storyline Quality: 9/10

Rivalry Rating: 9/10

Both of these Latino Warriors are deeply connected because Eddie Guerrero's influence is what helped to propel Rey Mysterio. Without Eddie, there would be no Rey. Eddie and Rey's history traces back to their time in AAA. From that point, they would reconnect in WCW. This is where things really started to heat up between them. Rey and Eddie were fixtures as the backbone of the Cruiserweight Division. At Halloween Havoc, Guerrero and Mysterio tore the roof off of the building with their Title vs. Mask match for the WCW Cruiserweight Crown. Mysterio won the championship and kept his mask. This match put everything else on that show to shame. This was named WCW's Match of the Year, and rightfully so. Later, Eddie would form the Latino answer to the NWO called the "LWO" (Latino World Order). He tried to recruit Mysterio, but Rey denied. In WWE, Eddie and Rey would be members of the Smackdown Six, a group of workhorse wrestlers that delivered the best quality matches that WWE had to offer on the Smackdown Brand. Along with them were Edge, Kurt Angle, Benoit, and Chavo. Like they did in the Cruiserweight Division, Eddie and Rey formed their own identity away from the A level Stars. Eddie even defended the WWE Title against Rey at one point. Mysterio and Guerrero later won the WWE Tag Team Titles. At WrestleMania 21, Eddie and Rey put on a great match to start the show. Mysterio won as it helped to ignite the fire that was burning to create their feud. Soon, Guerrero turned heel and viciously attacked him. The feud culminated at Summerslam with Rey winning custody of Dominic. Following Eddie's death, Rey won the WHC at WrestleMania 22 in honor of the Latino Legend. 

Dean Malenko: 

Length of Feud: 1995-1997

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Quality: 7/10

Rivalry Rating: 7.5/10

Featured Matches:

ECW Hostile City Showdown

ECW WrestlePalooza 6-man Tag Match (Dean w/Cactus Jack & 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Eddie Guerrero & The Steiner Brothers)

Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match in ECW

WCW Uncensored 1997

WCW Starrcade 1997

This feud was built strictly off of one-upmanship. Malenko was one of Eddie's best dance partners, because of how well they were able to bounce off of one another. Their matches were the highlight of ECW as they carried many of the shows. In an environment fueled by blood-thirsty fans and violent brawls, Guerrero and Malenko provided substance and technique. Their series of matches from ECW is still the stuff of legend to this very day. They danced pretty much to the same beat and same rhythm in the ring. Both men received a standing ovation from the ECW crowd in their farewell match before going to WCW together in late 1995. In WCW, Dean and Eddie would cross paths again as staples of the Cruiserweight Division with feature matches in 1997 from Uncensored to Starrcade. No matter the environment, they created chemistry. 

Kurt Angle: 

Length of Feud: 2004

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Quality: 7.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 8/10

Featured Matches:

WrestleMania XX

Summerslam 2004

Much of Eddie's best work involves him dancing with great technicians, and Kurt Angle is one of the best that his generation has to offer. I find it quite interesting that after winning the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar, Eddie transitioned from a storyline with one former amateur wrestler to another. Kurt Angle stepped in to become Guerrero's next challenger. Kurt attacked Eddie's character by saying that he has brought dishonor and disrespect to the WWE Title because of his problems with drugs and alcohol. This led to their awesome match at WrestleMania XX, where Guerrero retained the title by outsmarting Angle. Soon, Kurt suffered an injury and became the General Manager of Smackdown. The feud continued with Angle making things miserable for Eddie as champion. At the Great American Bash, Kurt pointed out how JBL reached the last turnbuckle in their Strap Match before Eddie's hand reached that point. Thus, JBL became the new WWE Champion. After his injury was exposed as fake Kurt Angle faced Eddie Guerrero at Summerslam. This time, Kurt won. Anytime Eddie and Kurt stepped into the ring to battle, you knew they would pull things out of the hat that they wouldn't use against anyone else. 

John Bradshaw Layfield:

Length of Feud: 2004

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Rating: 8.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 8/10

Featured Matches: 

Judgment Day 2004 (WWE Championship)

Great American Bash 2004 (WWE Championship- Texas Bull Rope Match)

Steel Cage Match (Smackdown)

Armageddon (Fatal Four Way for WWE Championship w/Undertaker and Booker T)

When Bradshaw returned after the APA split up, he became the arrogant JR Ewing-inspired John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL). The JBL character was like the Texan version of Ted DiBiase. JBL was like the Cowboy that struck rich on Wall Street. He carried himself like a Presidential Candidate. After fighting off Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XX, Eddie would have his hands full with the hard-hitting and pompous Layfield. JBL caused Eddie's mother to have a heart attack (kayfabe). From that point, the rivalry would kick off. JBL would mock Hispanics and Latinos and say that Eddie had no place as the WWE Champion (Long before Donald Trump). This would lead to a bloody and brutal battle at Judgment Day as JBL challenged Eddie for the WWE Championship. This match was the definition of Ruthless Aggression, as it was clearly a product of its time. It is most remembered by the way that both men would heavily bleed during the match as it was the extra element that made this battle unique. Eddie would retain the WWE title by DQ after hitting JBL with a chair. This would open the door for a Texas Bull Rope Match at the Great American Bash. Much like the Judgment Day match, Guerrero and JBL would bleed profusely in this match. Talk about a colorful rivalry. Their matches are best defined by blood. This match ended in very controversial fashion when Eddie would seemingly remain the champion. However, GM Kurt Angle reversed the decision when he showed that JBL's back reached the turnbuckle before Eddie's hand could even reach it. As a result, John Bradshaw Layfield became the new WWE Champion. They would have a rematch in a Steel Cage Match. However, Angle cost Guerrero the title when he dressed as El Gran Luchadore. It caught Eddie by surprise. Guerrero and Layfield would have their last encounter for the Title in a Fatal Four Way match that featured Undertaker and Booker T. JBL remained Champion. This feud did great things for JBL as a heel. I would go on record to say that Bradshaw had the best matches of his career with Eddie Guerrero. This is a testament to how Eddie could bring the best out of his dance partner. 

Conclusion:

Rey Mysterio:

Eddie Guerrero's most passionate and intense rivalry came against long-time friend Rey Mysterio. They were practically brothers, which added extra fuel to this fire. Their matches were technical classics, but their storyline is what gives this feud the edge over Eddie's other rivalries. The dances that Eddie had with Rey were his best. Guerrero was a major influence on Mysterio breaking into the business. The best Dance Partners are usually those who have a very deep connection with each other, and Eddie had his best dances and strongest connections with Rey. It was evident in their quality of matches and storylines. The rivalry essentially started with Eddie trying to take away Rey's mask and it basically ends that same way. The only difference is that it became much more personal years down the line in WWE. Both of these Latino legends had undying passion and that very passion was at its peak in their feud. Without question, Rey Mysterio will go down as Eddie Guerrero's greatest rival. 

Greatest Matches:

1. vs. Rey Mysterio (Halloween Havoc)

2. vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania XX)

3. vs. Chris Benoit (Vengeance 2003)

4. vs. Dean Malenko (Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match)

5. vs. Dean Malenko (Hostile City Showdown)

6. vs. JBL (Judgment Day 2004)

7. vs. Rey Mysterio (WrestleMania 21)

8. vs. Chris Benoit (Best of the Super Juniors 1996)

9. vs. Kurt Angle (Summerslam 2004)

10. vs. JBL (Great American Bash 2004)

Let's Dance (vol 2.- Randy Savage)

In this edition of "Let's Dance", I would like to focus on the greatest rivalries and opponents of one of the most Charismatic and Iconic Wrestlers to ever step into a wrestling ring. This man is no stranger to feuds, whether someone started a feud with him, or if he started a feud himself.



This man was the Cream of the Crop and the King of the Madness. He perfected the Elbow Drop. OH YEAH, I am talking about none other than "Macho Man" Randy Savage:

Through the Course of his Legendary Career, Randy Savage has taken on the best of the best during his Era. Savage has been a magnet for compelling matches and storylines. Macho Man performed with great rhythm no matter who he had to dance with. He had a tendency to bring his dance partner to the same beat that he was. He has had a wide variety of dance partners, whether they just great matches, great storylines or both. Here is a look at his storied dance partners:

Hulk Hogan:

Length of Feud: 1985-98

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania V
Summerslam '89
The Main Event III
Halloween Havoc '96
Uncensored '98

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

From the time that they first encountered each other in 1985, Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan would forever be connected. Their rivalry started without a true storyline, but Macho Man always proved to be a threat in those early years of '85-'86 during their series of House Show matches. Even in that time, Savage would continue to be a thorn in Hogan's side as he taunted the Hulkster in his promos as IC Champion. During their matches, Macho Man would prove to be a different kind of challenge for Hogan. Unlike most Hogan matches, Savage would get cheered.

Then, their paths would collide on the famous Saturday Night's Main Event episode in October 1987 when the Hulkster came in for the save. This was the night the Mega Powers formed. In a roundabout way, their storyline started from that moment.

During Savage's reign as Champion, the seeds were being planted even with Hogan as his partner. Randy became suspicious of how close Hulk was getting to Ms. Elizabeth. This animosity even spilled over into the locker room. Eventually, they came to blows during a match against Big Bossman and Akeem when Hogan left the match to take Liz to the locker room. After the match, Hogan and Savage got into an argument that ended when Macho Man nailed him with the WWF Title.

The Stage was set for WrestleMania V where The Mega Powers would officially explode. Heading into the match, Macho Man would show edited footage of Hogan being flirtatious with Liz to make him look like the bad guy. Their match at Mania V is where the feud reached its climax. Hogan would ultimately win, but Macho Man walked away with plenty of respect from the fans.

After the Summerslam '89 Tag Match, they went their separate ways for the most part until both men joined WCW in 1994. They teased another head to head, but it became official when Hogan joined the NWO. They would have a match at Halloween Havoc, but it was a far cry from the Mega Power Main Event in The WWF. Things would go even further with Savage joining the NWO.

Eventually, their egos would clash within the group as Randy helped to form the Wolfpac. Their careers have become forever connected.



Ric Flair:

Length of Feud: 1992-2000

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania VIII
WWF Survivor Series 1992
WCW Great American Bash 1995
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995
Starrcade 1995

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Rating: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10



Randy Savage and Ric Flair are responsible for four of the top five matches of the 80's. (WrestleMania III vs. Ricky Steamboat, and Flair's trilogy with The Dragon in 1989). They have two other things in common: 1.) Both had spectacular matches with Ricky Steamboat 2.) They could be counted on to deliver spectacular matches within under 30 minutes or over 30 minutes. Both men were the total package when it came to in-ring performers of their time. Not to take anything away from Steamboat, but they could put on epic matches.

Fast forward to 1992. Ric Flair has already shaken up the wrestling world with his arrival in the WWF in September 1991 as he proudly carried the WCW World Title proclaiming to be the "REAL World's Champion". He challenged everyone that was a top star at the time. In the 1992 Royal Rumble, Flair backs up his claim by winning the Rumble to become the new WWF Champion.

Soon after, Flair and Mr. Perfect talk about how the Nature Boy had a relationship with Miss Elizabeth long before she met the Macho Man. Flair even threatened to show a centerfold of Liz at WrestleMania VIII if he won the match. In the buildup of the match, Savage was silent. At WrestleMania, he did not even give Mean Gene an interview before the match. The Nature Boy was playing mind games with him.

I noticed that some of Savage's Greatest Feuds involved Elizabeth. From his Mega Powers feud with Hogan to his feud with Ric Flair, Liz was involved in some way. The casting was perfect for this storyline. Flair, the conniving villain who wanted to challenge the honor of Miss Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Randy Savage was the crazed knight in shining armor.

I believe the high point of this feud was their WrestleMania VIII match. This match was fantastic, with a great mix of high-quality ring work and an intense storyline. Savage defeated Flair for the WWF Title and to protect the honor of his lady. After the match, a busted open Flair kissed Liz on the lips. Randy went ballistic and attacked him.

The feud would continue for the rest of the year with encounters that were not as stellar, but still good. It would culminate in Flair winning the title back from Macho Man with the Figure Four as Savage passed out from the pain. This feud would rekindle in WCW in 1995, with Liz still being involved in the equation. This time, Savage's elderly father Angelo Poffo was brought into the feud when Flair attacked him. They had a series of special matches throughout the year.


Ricky Steamboat:

Length of Feud: 1986-87

Featured Match:
WrestleMania III (Enough Said)


Match Quality: 5/5
Storyline Rating: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 8/10

In the early years of WrestleMania, it was just about the spectacle of Sports Entertainment. Style, but little substance. It was about Hogan and Piper sharing the same ring with Mr. T. It was about Cyndi Lauper managing Wendi Richter, Liberace dancing, etc. I take nothing away from those early celebrity appearances, but WrestleMania in its infancy was not focused as much on what went on in the ring as it was about the Pomp and Circumstance surrounding the show.

Suddenly, things started to change at the dawn of WrestleMania 3. They wrestled each other before on House Shows for the IC Title, but things went to a different level when Savage crushed Steamboat's larynx with the ring bell on SNME (Saturday Night's Main Event). You know the rest of the story. The brash heel Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage stayed true to his name as a Savage going after the ultimate babyface Ricky Steamboat. This would lead to a Match for the Ages in the Pontiac Silverdome. Their match put more attention on the quality of a match and the mechanics in the ring.

Steamboat captured the IC Championship after defeating Savage in a thriller. People talk about the impact this match had on the WWE quality of matches for years to come, but few people talk about how this benefited both parties when they went their separate ways. Savage had proven that he was ready for prime time, and this match helped to propel him to the very peak of the WWF as he won the world title the following year. After that, he would wrestle Hulk Hogan for the WWF Title at WrestleMania V.

When it comes to Steamboat, you could say that he was just starting to get things rolling in his own way. Two years later, The Dragon would feud with Ric Flair over the NWA World Title. Before Bret and Shawn and Rock and Triple H, Savage and Steamboat elevated each other from the mid-card to main event status with a feud that only lasted for a matter of months.

When Savage and Steamboat danced in the ring, they both had great rhythm and timing. Nothing was off-beat.


Ultimate Warrior:

Length of Feud: 1991-92

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania VII
Summerslam 1992

Match Quality: 5/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

The Ultimate Warrior jumped to superstardom shortly after Macho Man Randy Savage. Warrior arrived in late 1987 and quickly rose as one of the shining stars and household names along with Savage and Hulk Hogan. Warrior fizzled faster, but his light was just as bright as Savage's and a shade under Hogan's.

When Warrior made his debut in the mid-card in late 1987, Macho Man graduated to the Main Event. When Warrior moved to the Main Event, Savage took a step back to Warrior's position in the upper mid-card as the Macho King. During WrestleMania VI, Ultimate Warrior headlined with The Hulkster. Meanwhile, Macho King wrestled the Polka Dot version of Dusty Rhodes.

Fast forward nine months later. Savage looked for every way that he could get a title shot at WrestleMania VII. Warrior denied him. In his way of revenge, Savage interfered in Ultimate Warrior's WWF Title match with Sgt. Slaughter at the Royal Rumble. Macho Man nailed Warrior with the Sceptre to help Slaughter become Champion.

This put the stage together for WrestleMania VII. Hogan would battle Slaughter for the WWF Championship. Meanwhile, Savage and Warrior would battle in a Career-Ending Match. Macho Man and The Warrior put everything on the line in this match. This was another classic in the careers of both gladiators. The Ultimate Warrior would emerge as the victor in this match.

When the dust settled, Savage and Liz would reunite. Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man would clash the next year at Summerslam after Savage was reinstated and Warrior returned. This time, Macho Man's WWF Championship was on the line. This storyline was compelling enough to be the first main-event program in a world without Hulk Hogan in 1992.

The Storyline had enough passion and intensity, but it also helped to bring out the best quality work from the Warrior. When they danced, Savage helped Warrior move to the same beat.

Ted DiBiase:

Length of Feud: 1988

Featured Matches:

WrestleMania IV

Summerslam 1988

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Quality: 8/10

Rivalry Quality:8/10

At a time where Hulk Hogan was the top draw and battled other stars with larger than life physiques like Andre The Giant, Ultimate Warrior and King Kong Bundy- you had ring generals like Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat and Ted DiBiase with great technical prowess and great stamina to put on longer paced matches. Savage and DiBiase knew how to hold their own on the mic. 

DiBiase came in late 1987 with lots of momentum as a heel. After failing to keep the WWF Title after trying to buy it from Hulk Hogan, The Million Dollar Man entered the WWF Championship Tournament at WrestleMania IV. DiBiase had an easier route in the tournament then Savage, which would naturally give him a better chance to win. In the finals, Savage and DiBiase put on an underrated classic Main Event. The victory launched Savage's first reign as a main-event star on a national stage with the WWF Championship. 

Savage and DiBiase would wrestle each other in a series of House Show matches for the Title. Their feud would culminate at Summerslam when the Mega Powers defeated the Mega Bucks. 

The feud between Savage and DiBiase was about something more important behind the scenes. The story goes that Ted was originally going to win the WWF Title at WrestleMania IV. The idea was for him to be the heel Champion while Hulk Hogan stepped down so that Macho Man could win the gold at another event (possibly Summerslam). Instead, Savage walks out victorious with his shining WrestleMania moment. Macho Man would become one of the most storied champions in WWE History while The Million Dollar Man became one of the greatest heels in WWE History. 

Jake Roberts:

Length of Feud: 1991

Rivalry Rating: 7/10

The history between Macho Man and Jake "The Snake" goes back to 1986. Roberts was one of the contenders for Savage's Intercontinental Title. Even as a heel, Jake was really getting over although he was the challenger. 

Fast forward to the Summer of 1991. Business was going through somewhat of a drought. Ultimate Warrior did not quite work as the Champion that they had expected. Hulk Hogan's popularity was winding down, and the only thing holding it was his feud with Sgt. Slaughter. Bret Hart just became the IC Champion and was a year away from taking the main-event crown. 

The WWF was running very short on top baby faces to keep things steady. Randy Savage was called from the announcing table back into the squared circle. Macho Man still had enough to offer, so it was out of place to see him behind the table. 

In order to justify bringing Savage back after his WM VII match with Warrior, WWF created a storyline where he was Elizabeth's knight once again. Jake became an even more vile heel by crashing the wedding reception and threatened Liz with his cobra. Roberts then let the Snakebite Savage's arm during an altercation. 

They never had an official high profile match to culminate this feud, which takes points away from what could have really been a great rivalry. There was no proper blow off. It already got off to a hot start. They had a short match at Tuesday in Texas (the week after Survivor Series), a brawl at the Royal Rumble, and their final confrontation at Saturday Night's Main Event. 

I believe that if things were properly aligned, Savage vs. Roberts could have taken place at WrestleMania VIII. It was building up to be that way. As we know, WWF got cold feet about Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair. As a result, that show was shuffled in so many different directions. Instead of Hogan vs Flair, we got Savage vs Flair. Instead of Jake vs Savage, we got Jake vs Undertaker. This might have also been a result of Hogan's intentions to retire after the show. 

Diamond Dallas Page:

Length of Feud: 1997

Featured Matches:
Spring Stampede 1997
Great American Bash 1997
Halloween Havoc 1997

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 8/10


If you want to talk about a rivalry that shot one wrestler from the mid-card to main event level, this is prime exhibit A. If you want to look at how a journeyman wrestler that was a late bloomer can become a star player, this is the perfect example.

When Randy Savage joined WCW, he was an established top level star that was positioned to stay at the top. Through much of his time in WCW, Savage rekindled old rivalries with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. He also feuded with The Dungeon of Doom, Lex Luger, and The Outsiders.

Outside of his feuds with Hogan and Flair, nothing matched the heat, intensity, in-ring production and long-term impact of his feud with Diamond Dallas Page.

DDP was a journeyman who got off to a late start in the business. He started as a manager and did not get into the ring until he was in his mid-30's. He defied every odd that was stacked against him to make the rise as one of the top stars on a stacked roster.

Page brought the best he had to offer in his storyline with Savage. Macho and Liz antagonized DDP and Kimberly- the closest WCW equivalent to Savage and Liz. After multiple brawls on Nitro, DDP picked up a career-changing pinfall victory over The Macho Man at Spring Stampede 1997. This solidified his status as a major player in WCW. The feud would culminate at Halloween Havoc in a Las Vegas Death Match, with Macho Man winning. Savage won the match, but DDP came out as the real winner. It was Page's springboard further up the WCW ladder.

Wrestling an Icon like Macho Man did miracles for DDP. With no disrespect to Page, but this was a great demonstration of how Macho Man was able to take someone who was naturally not on his level and raising their game. This was the PWI "Feud of the Year" for 1997.


Conclusion:

Hulk Hogan:

In order for a feud to truly be compelling, it has to have an epic match, along with a powerful storyline. The feud also has to have the power to draw money. Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan delivered in those areas, especially when it came to drawing power to bring interest. It had the signature match (WrestleMania V) along with other feature matches. From start to finish, this rivalry was very well built.

With that being said, Hulk Hogan has to be remembered as Macho Man's greatest dance partner. The way that they have been connected for so many years is a sign of how great they have been able to dance together on the biggest stages. The way that they were able to create a buildup is what makes this Savage's best rivalry.

Savage had his best business when he danced with Hogan. One can make the same case for Hogan himself. After the Mega Powers formed, Savage rises to the top by winning the WWF Championship at WrestleMania IV. However, Savage had to be highly conflicted considering the fact that he was unsure if he was REALLY the number 1 guy even while holding the number 1 prize in all of wrestling (the WWF Championship). The prime reason for that conflict and self -doubt was the fact that he was in the same Federation as Hulk Hogan. While Savage was Champion, he had to share the cheers and main event spotlight with Hogan.

There was also the conflict of whether or not Macho Man would have been the champion if Hogan did not help him at 'Mania. Could Savage fight off DiBiase and Andre on his own? Then, you add Miss Elizabeth as the factor in the middle. Savage guarded her like a mad man, especially around a man like Hogan. We can tell it must have been frustrating for Savage to see Liz divide her attention between himself and The Hulkster.

They were both tailor-made for each other. The Mania and the Madness always created an explosive combination when they clashed. As time went on, their match quality may have gone down. However, their promos and storyline disdain for each other was the strongest fuel to their fire.

From a character standpoint and storyline standpoint, they were perfectly in sync as dance partners. It is only fitting that Savage's top two dance partners are two of the best wrestlers of his era (Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair). Macho Man is among the top three with both of those names. In the end, Hogan gets the nod considering him and Savage have the most detailed history.

Greatest Matches:

1. vs. Ricky Steamboat (WM III)
2. vs. Ultimate Warrior (WM VII)
3. vs. Ric Flair (WM VIII)
4. vs. Hulk Hogan (WM V)
5. vs. Ultimate Warrior (Summerslam '92)
6. w/Mr. Perfect vs. Ric Flair & Razor Ramon (Survivor Series '92)
7. vs. DDP (Spring Stampede 1997)
8. vs. Ted DiBiase (WrestleMania IV)
9. vs. Hulk Hogan (Philadelphia Spectrum, 1985)
10. vs. Jake Roberts (SNME)

This is the Top 10 Based on Savage's Dance Partners.

(Portrait Courtesy of Rob Schamberger. Twitter/Instagram: @RobSchamberger)