Bret/Owen let's get this to the mercy rule so we can get another match up today.

It almost feels like I should put a cap on it where only a max of four matches can run concurrently, but I guess this probably won't become an issue since Savage/Steamboat over Savage/Warrior is hitting the books within an hour, and there's basically no way in my mind that Flair/Steamboat v. TLC II is going to be decided either way by 10+ votes.

Bret-Owen

Hart 2 Hart.

Bret/Owen

I'll go with HBK/Razor barely in what looks like a futile vote.

And Bret/Owen obviously.

Savage/Steamboat wins in a walk, and Bret/Owen just got the requisite 10 vote lead.

Matchup incoming.

SOUTHWEST REGION SEMIFINAL

#1 SEED: RIC FLAIR VS. RICKY STEAMBOAT (WRESTLEWAR ’89)

Whole match: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...ature=view_all
(Get it while it’s hot. These links are still live; they seem to only really be obsessed with zapping the Clash of the Champions 2/3 falls match. Thanks once again to Chargers in 09.)

The third match in the most brilliant trilogy in wrestling history. Enjoy.

VERSUS

#4 SEED: BRET HART VS. SHAWN MICHAELS IRONMAN MATCH (WRESTLEMANIA XII)

Whole match: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS3U1zIw86w

This was the first ironman match in WWF history, properly conducted from two of the greatest of all time. Shawn Michaels had come back from kayfabe injury to win the Royal Rumble, and then had successfully defeated Owen Hart in February to retain his title shot for WrestleMania. The personal feud between these two was mostly non-existent, at least on-screen…they didn’t purport to be friends, but there wasn’t a ton of tension.

Tons of great wrestling in this one. And a ****ing hard superkick to a timekeeper, just to keep things interesting.

VOTING ON THIS MATCH IS NOW OPEN. POST YOUR VOTE IN THIS THREAD; THE POLL WILL CLOSE AT 12:43 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON THURSDAY THE 9TH.

Flair/Steamboat for me. Not very close.

No, not close at all. Flair/Steamboat (GOAT).

Time for a



Bret/HBK

Flair vs Steamboat

60 minutes of rest holds and wristlocks > Flair/Steamboat

HBK winning his first championship makes up for it. I've been very consistent this entire tournament saying that certain moments and factors are more important than the actual match itself. And I used a little bit of hyperbole with that post, the match is still very good, I just dislike that Bret made the match go at his pacing and not HBK because he couldn't keep up with Shawn in the ring.

I mean, a moment like that could maybe make it better than a match that it's similar in quality to, but it doesn't all of a sudden elevate it above maybe the GOAT.

FLAIR-STEAMBOAT

Flair vs Steamboat

Hart/Hart

Flair/Steamboat

As far as moments go, the Flair/Steamboat match is one of my favorites of all time. How could anything follow that series of matches, that feud? How could you possibly end it and transition to something else? Was Ricky going to be the one to finally knock Flair out of the top spot, or was Ric still the man?

That Flair's matches with Funk also made this list show how it was done. It was simultaneously a brilliant end to perhaps wrestling's greatest book length tale, and the start of another. I remember watching this match over and over throughout the early 90s, each time being able to suspend disbelief and becoming upset with Terry Funk once again. Steamboat too was transitioned well into a a successful feud with Luger, featuring perhaps Luger's best matches with somebody not named Flair.

Yeah, I usually have pretty unpopular opinions when it comes to naming matches GOAT and stuff like that, but even I know this deserves:

flair/steamboat

ive never been a big fan of the ironman match

Bret/Owen

Flair/Steamboat

Cena v. Punk officially moves on to the Elite Eight. It will take on Savage v. Steamboat.

fyp

^^^

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

I doubt anyone wants to discredit this tournament that much. I do have that much faith in the voters.