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Greatest Successful Title Defenses

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We always make a big deal out of title changes but it this was a real sport, I think a great title defense would be valued more than it is. There'd be title defense compilations on youtube along with all the title change compilations....or maybe not. 

So what would be some of the greatest successful title defenses? Hogan defeating Andre at WM3 seems like the clear winner but here's some other matches I'd nominate...

-Austin over Dude at Over The Edge '98 (Talk about the deck stacked against you)
-Shawn over Diesel at In Your House '96 (If this was all real, that's a tough first title defense)
-Miz over Cena at WM27?? (Foil for The Rock or not...a win's a win right?)

​I'd add Flair over Luger in 88, both at the Bash and Starrcade, because in both cases it was considered a foregone conclusion that Lex would win and become the star of the future, and yet Flair managed to win both matches fair and square.  ​

Comments

  1. cultstatusJune 27, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    Yokozuna defending his title against Lex at SummerSlam 93.

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  2. Corned Biff HashJune 27, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    Steve Austin retaining over the Undertaker at SummerSlam 1998 was a big one that stands out, considering how big that match was at the time (that whole card smacks of being one of the high watermarks of the Attitude Era). Backing up, Hulk Hogan defeating Andre the Giant in the biggest match in wrestling history should probably be considered as well.

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  3. cultstatusJune 27, 2015 at 11:13 AM

    Also, The Giant defending his title against Lex Luger at Great American Bash 96.

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  4. Cena vs Orton,one more timeJune 27, 2015 at 11:14 AM

    HHH beating Foley at RR 2000,he was pretty much a made man because of it.

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  5. cultstatusJune 27, 2015 at 11:15 AM

    Ric Flair defending his title against Lex Luget at WrestleWar 90 is another great one.

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  6. cultstatusJune 27, 2015 at 11:16 AM

    You can't forget the sequel either at Capital Combat. Another great Ric Flair title defense against Lex Luger.

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  7. BiscuitJune 27, 2015 at 11:17 AM

    Nick Bockwinkel over Hulk Hogan at Super Sunday. Oh wait, that was the most calamitous successful defense.

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  8. nintydayfianceJune 27, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    Hunter at Mania 16.

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  9. TheDJRJune 27, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    Kurt Angle retaining in the six man Hell in a Cell at Armageddon.

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  10. BiscuitJune 27, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    My favorite successful defense was Bret over the Undertaker at Summerslam 1997 because of Shawn's legit boo boo face at having to count the pinfall, and also screw the boring Undertaker.

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  11. MikeyMikeJune 27, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    Great call. Was just about to type that lol.

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  12. MikeyMikeJune 27, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Wasn't Taker the Champ going into the show?

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  13. nintydayfianceJune 27, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Although the match was an absolute trash bag, Shane v Al Snow at Wrestlepalooza 98. Everyone though Al was gonna win.

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  14. BiscuitJune 27, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Ah crap you're right.

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  15. Nick SaikleyJune 27, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    This entry is disqualified for including Shane fucking Douglas.

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  16. BiscuitJune 27, 2015 at 11:23 AM

    Cue the Target jokes and elderly couch surfer Ric Flair sobbing someone hurt his fragile feelings.

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  17. Dead Meat ManJune 27, 2015 at 11:23 AM

    HHH/Booker T at WM19. One of the greatest defenses in World Wrestling Confederation history.

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  18. JManJune 27, 2015 at 11:23 AM

    Cena defending over HHH at Wrestlemania 22. Established him as the man

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  19. cultstatusJune 27, 2015 at 11:25 AM

    Does Yokozuna beating Lex Luger at WM 10 count as a title defense?

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  20. Mitch, The GodfatherJune 27, 2015 at 11:26 AM

    Angle was.

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  21. Devin HarrisJune 27, 2015 at 11:26 AM

    I laughed

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  22. Devin HarrisJune 27, 2015 at 11:27 AM

    This gets my vote. I gave HHH no chance

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  23. JManJune 27, 2015 at 11:28 AM

    It's crazy how many of these already include "over Lex Lugar"

    The last 10 years a lot would be "over Batista"

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  24. fg76June 27, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    Probably Austin squeeking out of SummerSlam as champion in 2001. Kurt won by DQ and was then handed the title due to 9/11 at the next PPV - but he should have won it here.

    In theory, Triple H surviving Scott Steiner at Royal Rumble 2003. Match in hindsight was very bad and Steiner was very bad - but in the heat of the moment - the match was fun. I'm scared to watch it again, because I might still think the match is good or something.

    A lot of Flair matches with him as champion. In theory, you thought the power guy was going to serve Flair and Flair escaped with a Dusty Finish.

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  25. Devin HarrisJune 27, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    Miz over Cena wasn't an upset as much as it was stupid. I think the ones with interference shouldn't count b/c the guy didn't actually beat his opponent.

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  26. Devin HarrisJune 27, 2015 at 11:32 AM

    Are we limited to world title defenses? If not, I go with the Rock N' Roll beating The Andersons at Starrcade '86. And what about Flair constantly defeating Nikita? I'd say the Bash '85 win was an upset.

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  27. BiscuitJune 27, 2015 at 11:36 AM

    How little we knew...

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  28. fg76June 27, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    Angle was wrestling in 1997? He must have gained a lot of weight after taking off that mask. Joke: Angle and Patriot used the same music.

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  29. DavidJune 27, 2015 at 11:40 AM

    Ramon over HBK at WM10

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  30. Dead Meat ManJune 27, 2015 at 11:47 AM

    10 year old me was certain Bret was going to lose the belt to Owen at Summerslam 94, especially after losing at WM10 and Owen being reigning KotR by golly. I was ecstatic when he retained.

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  31. Jeremy RinehartJune 27, 2015 at 11:50 AM

    I wouldn't call Flair's win at the '88 Bash "fair and square."

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  32. TimeandtheRaniJune 27, 2015 at 11:55 AM

    He won them FAIR and SQUARE, Jeremy Rinehart!

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  33. TimeandtheRaniJune 27, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    It's pretty recent, but Brock taking every fucking thing Cena and Rollins could throw at him and still powering through to win was pretty damn impressive.

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  34. Cena vs Orton,one more timeJune 27, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    Also, brock vs taker at no mercy 2002.

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  35. SodiePopJune 27, 2015 at 11:59 AM

    That was my pick. I thought for sure the Cena Experiment was over considering the reaction he was getting, and that they were just going to move on and try something else.


    Good lord was I incredibly fucking wrong.

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  36. BasscaseJune 27, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    Hogan/Andre is historic for a number of reasons. I think that was the first time Hogan's title ever looked like it was in real jeopardy.

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  37. BasscaseJune 27, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    Eddie over Angle at WM I thought was a foregone conclusion and they would switch the title back to Angle afte Eddie had his feel-good moment beating Brock.

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  38. Edward MJune 27, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    AJ Lee vs 14 divas comes to mind for me at wrestlemania, even if the match was terrible. Were there any championship matches where the champ had to defend against that many opponents at once? I cant think of any.

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  39. zbinksJune 27, 2015 at 12:23 PM

    Steamboat / Flair: Clash VI

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  40. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 27, 2015 at 12:35 PM

    Miz over Cena at WM27 was the worst title defense ever.

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  41. thejob111June 27, 2015 at 12:40 PM

    I'd throw in Bret vs Bulldog at IYH5. I always think of that as an example of a successful championship defense by a great champion.

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