Hak vs. Raven vs. Bam Bam Bigelow - Falls Count Anywhere Triangle match - WCW Uncensored (1999)
Three guys who made a name for themselves in the extreme promotion known as ECW going head to head to head in a WCW style hardcore match. As an early precursor to WCW's Hardcore title division (a cheap imitation of the hardcore wrestling that had become popular through WWF), all it really was was taking the weapon-oriented style that ECW was using (but not limited to) and cranking it up to 11. So, as you can see from the video above, this match is more about how many things Hak (Sandman), Raven, and Bam Bam Bigelow can hit each other with than it is about being hardcore. Granted, these guys are/were hardcore at one point or another, the match is still just one big mess.
Many people call the backyard wrestling, ultraviolent, sleazy hardcore wresting of today "trash" wrestling, but this match literally looked like trash wrestling with all the crap that littered the ring.
PS: sorry for the sketchy video... it was the best I could find just of this match in its entirety.
Raven vs. CM Punk - Dog Collar match - ROH Death Before Dishonor (2003)
One of CM Punk's greatest rivalries in Ring of Honor. Features an early use of Punk's straight edge lifestyle versus a man who is struggling with his personal demons - a gimmick that was later used in Punk's rivalry with Jeff Hardy which some say really put Punk over in WWE. Parts of this rivalry were also used again in the Punk/Jericho Best in the World '12 feud.
Raven and CM Punk fought in many hardcore matches together around this time... some for ROH and some for TNA when Punk was in Raven's "Gathering"; TNA's version of The Flock.
Scotty Flamingo vs. Flyin' Brian Pillman - Light Heavyweight title match - WCW Beach Blast (1992)
Part 1
In the opening bout of Beach Blast '92, Flyin' Brian defends his Light Heavyweight title against a pre-Raven Scott Levy AKA Scotty Flamingo. It's a solid back and forth match featuring two soon-to-be loose cannons.
Probably the most remembered moment in Aaron Stevens', now known to the little Jimmies of the WWE Universe as Damien Sandow, first run in the WWE. Raven, who had been banished to wrestle on WWE's c-list shows thanks to the dreamer back in June, decided to humiliate his poor rookie opponent by "breaking" his fingers after the match was over.
What does this have to do with Easter?
Less than a year after this, Aaron Stevens returned to WWE to take part in APA's Bar Room Brawl Invitational as the one and only, Easter Bunny!
So basically Aaron Stevens is Jesus... He suffered (as Aaron Stevens), died (as the Easter Bunny), and was buried (as Idol Stevens), but then was resurrected (as Damien Sandow)!
Raven vs. Kane vs. Big Show - Hardcore Tile match - WWF Wrestlemania X-Seven (2001)
In one of the most memorable hardcore Wrestlemania, the hardcore champion, Raven must battle the two biggest wrestlers WWF had in 2001, Kane and the Big Show.
This hardcore match lasts about a minute in the ring before making its way to the backstage area where many memorable spots are performed including: Raven getting thrown through a glass window, Raven slipping and almost getting run over by the cart, and Kane and the Big Show going through a door then through a wall. The match ends at the entrance way when the Big Show and Raven both fall off the side of the entrance ramp into a cloud of smoke giving Kane the chance to perform what looks like a blind flying leg drop into the carnage to the side of the ramp. Kane ends up landing on the Big Show and gets the pinfall to become the new hardcore champion at the seventeenth annual Wrestlemania.
Overall a very enjoyable worked match!
During this match we also learn that Paul Heyman's favorite type of snapple is diet peach.
Blood Gallows of Retribution Hangman's Horror Dog Collar Match
Vampiro and Raven fight out in a Hangman's Horror Dog Collar match, because there's nothing like taking a good thing i.e. Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper's classic Dog Collar match, and choking the life out of it for the amusement of no one.
The object of this match, which had three names, one being "dream blood" which Professor Mike Tenay explains to us is the words smeared on Raven's chest and that's about it, is the first person to strangle their opponent with the dog collar over the top rope wins. So yeah, dream blood.
After chaining Vampiro up with two dog collars to smack Vampiro with a trash can and then delivering him with a terrible-looking DDT onto a table, Raven would get the victory as Vampiro was unable to continue from the dog collar choke-out.
What makes the match as bad as it was though really would have to be combination of the fans on-demand chanting "let's go Raven" as if this was some kind of fun pie eating contest or was running a 200 meter dash at a high school track meet, and Mike Tenay and Don West's constant teaching of science as they continually try to explain that without oxygen going to your brain or something - you are a goner.
Another cringe-worthy part that I actually enjoy that takes place after the match is when a young CM Punk runs in to try to help Raven against James Mitchell and his sinister fireballs which causes Raven to grab a mic and explain to Punk that "this is a personal matter" and he "must take care of it himself" - except instead of Raven saying this, it sounds just like classic Johnny Polo circa 1993.
I would love to see Raven play Johnny Polo again in Chikara for King of Trios in some classic blast-from-pasters team like Team WWF. I would see that.
"Dr. Death" Steve Williams vs. Raven - ECW Crossing The Line Again (1997)
After Steve Williams left WCW to make a name for himself as one of the best American wrestlers in Japan in the better part of the 90's, he decided to take his tough guy reputation and the decade-long undefeated streak he had built to the mean streets of South Philadelphia as he entered the dirty bingo hall known as the ECW arena for some Extreme Championship Wrestling blood.
While appearing on the Crossing The Line Again card in 1997 against Axl Rotten, Williams proved himself a World title contender by winner the match in 2 minutes tops. So after calling out Raven, the ECW World champ at the time, Williams didn't have to wait for his championship match - an impromptu match for the title was announced and the fight took off just like that...
The match probably seemed frantic not only because Williams wanted to win the title so quickly but also because there was still four more matches to be had that night. Unfortunately for Williams however, American wrestling isn't as faithful to some wrestlers as Japan is as Williams doesn't end up with the title and instead ends up losing for the first time in a decade.
Overall reaction to this match: First off, the pacing for this match is great - remember that Williams just had a match against Rotten and he was rearing to go - there was even the classic table at ringside ECW spot. But what really takes me aback about this match would clearly have to be the ending. Not only does Williams not win a title he could have easily won, he loses his undefeated streak... to Stevie Richards no less! Yep, Stevie Richards: The Dave Grohl of wrestling (I don't know about you, but I think they look very much alike).
Sometime after the match gets underway, blue World order along with bWo shirt-wearing Raven's son and girlfriend (?) show up to distract Raven and try to get "Dr. Death" to become the first international wrestler to join their crew. Williams refuses the offer of the bWo belly-shirt handed to him by Stevie, so he decides to take matters into his own hands and become The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels and delivered Williams with three sweet chin music. Stevie must have really tuned up the band nicely because after Raven came in to finish Williams of with a DDT, Raven got the 1-2-3 and retained his title.
I always read that Williams had such a terrible time once he tried to break into the WWF, but looking back on this match, it seems that Williams was just one of those guys who did super well for himself in Japan but never really had it in the States. Maybe Williams just had a little something I like to call, 'Japanese wrestling syndrome'.
But hey, Japan-based wrestling is one of the most well-respected and true 'professional wrestling' forms this world has to offer. So... yeah.
