Most Exciting Pro Wrestling Rivalries Ever

Professional wrestling is not just about the sport itself, it is also about the high drama that comes when personalities clash in the ring. It may not be 100% genuine, and there may be some behind the stage maneuvering that goes into these rivalries, but none of this matters very much once sparks start flying between the over-the-top macho men in the ring.

Picking our favorite wrestling rivalries is like picking a favorite child, a difficult decision full of emotions, but we have come up with a successful way of narrowing it down. It should be a clash between the good and the bad, one where expectations are subverted and yet justice is eventually meted out, delivering a deep sense of catharsis to the audience. Read on for four of the top wrestling rivalries ever.

Randy Savage & Jake Roberts

Between Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Jake "The Snake" Roberts, you have two wrestlers who rank among the all time greats and are absurdly entertaining to watch on their own. Putting them together in a ring is like a flamethrower facing off against a bazooka, a scenario where you would not want to be on either end of the equation but from a spectator’s perspective is as good as it gets. In 1991 and 1992, they had a truly epic feud, with Jake Roberts playing the villainous heel and Randy Savage being the crowd-pleasing hero. 

Also part of the feud was Miss Elizabeth, messing with Savage and distracting him for the benefit of Roberts. The feud was so much fun to watch because both Savage and Roberts were one of a kind characters as well as fantastic wrestlers. If one moment stands out above all others in the feud, it is when a king cobra attacked Savage. Fans were in no way disappointed by the feud, which delivered on the much promised fireworks.

André The Giant & Hulk Hogan

André The Giant and Hulk Hogan were once friends, but their relationship soured before Wrestlemania III in 1987, leading to great anticipation to see what would happen between the two superstars at the event. 90,000+ people went to the Pontiac Silverdome to witness the spectacle, and it certainly did not disappoint.

Hogan was the reigning champion for three years, and Andre had spent fifteen years without being defeated. Their clash was guaranteed to be one of the most epic in history, and in the words of Gorilla Monsoon, it was "the unstoppable force versus the immovable object.” The standout moment was Hogan slamming down Andre, which went down in history and brought Hogan to the next level.

Bret Hart & Mr. Perfect

The rivalry of Bret Hart and Mr. Perfect was another of the most captivating in the WWE’s history. With both stars hailing from wrestling families, their feud was imbued with a sense of history. They were similar in other ways as well, including their physiques as well as their technical abilities. The two going toe to toe was bound to be exciting, with each seeing the other as a formidable opponent. For both wrestlers, they saw some of their finest moments when they were up against each other.

When they fought in the SummerSlam 1991 competing for the Intercontinental belt, fans were treated to two performances of exceptional technical skill. Hart won the title, but it was not an easy one to win. Mr. Perfect put up quite a fight, and he did so despite having a back injury. However, out of respect for his opponent he wished to give him a good match. It is ironic that despite having a rivalry, the two of them brought out the best in each other.

Bruno Sammartino & Larry Zbyszko

Bruno Sammartino and Larry Zbyszko had a long history together. Zbyszko was once a pupil of Sammartino, and after Sammartino had to hang up his jockstrap after a neck injury, Zbyszko ended up thriving. Sammartino was widely known as one of the greatest wrestlers ever, and Zbyszko hoped to prove himself on his own rather than just being known as an underling of his mentor.

To do this, Zbyszko convinced Sammartino to come out of retirement, and he tried to get Sammartino to go into the ring with him. Sammartino agreed, but Zbyszko was utterly ruthless in the match. He lost his cool and went at Sammartino with a wooden chair, shocking the audience with his shameless brutality. After this, fans rallied around Sammartino, just waiting to see him retaliate against his former pupil who betrayed him.