Every WWE PPV Main Event From 1996, Ranked Worst To Best
WWE saw a changing of the guard in 1996 with Shawn Michaels becoming the face of the company, and Stone Cold Steve Austin emerging. The main events in 1996 were outstanding.
Unfortunately, 1995 wasn't a successful year for WWE but 1996 was miles better. The likes of Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Mankind, and Bret Hart all delivered top-level matches. Moreover, The Hitman undertook an eight-month hiatus after WrestleMania XII but Hart still played a pivotal role in the success of 1996.
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Michaels appeared in the most main events of the year as he was the reigning WWE Champion for eight months. Nevertheless, not all main events in 1996 were great but there was certainly more good than bad ones.
12 Shawn Michaels, Sid & Ahmed Johnson Vs. Camp Cornette (In Your House 9: International Incident)
The ninth iteration of In Your House titled In Your House 9: International Incident saw a six-man tag team match headline the show. Reigning WWE Champion Shawn Michaels teamed up with Sid and the Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson. They collided with Camp Cornette's The British Bulldog, Owen Hart, and Vader.
It wasn't necessarily a bad match as it was a competitive one, but it went on far longer than it needed to. Vader picked up a significant victory as he pinned Michaels with his patented Vader Bomb.
11 Shawn Michaels Vs. The British Bulldog (In Your House 8: Beware Of Dog)
In Your House 8: Beware of Dog was notorious for the power going out during the show due to thunderstorms. Nevertheless, Shawn Michaels put the WWE Championship on the line against a motivated British Bulldog.
Bulldog dominated the match with submission holds. He was going for the Powerslam but Michaels pushed him into the ring post and executed a German suplex. It was a draw with both men's shoulders down, which set up an inevitable rematch.
10 Bret Hart Vs. The Undertaker (Royal Rumble)
When you think about Bret Hart and The Undertaker colliding for the WWE Championship, you think of a five-star epic. Unfortunately, The Hitman and Undertaker's WWE Title match at the 1996 Royal Rumble was a slow and drab affair.
Both men were faces but fans did not shy away by cheering and booing for both competitors. The Hitman expertly worked on Undertaker's leg throughout the match, and he ripped off The Deadman's Phantom of the Opera mask. Nonetheless, Undertaker was closing in on a second WWE Title reign with a jaw-dropping Tombstone but Diesel pulled the referee out of the ring, which led to Hart retaining on a DQ.
9 Bret Hart Vs. Diesel (In Your House 6: Rage In The Cage)
Diesel was firmly a heel once again, and he was hellbent on regaining the WWE Championship from Bret Hart at In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage. They closed out the show in their final high-profile encounter on a WWE pay-per-view in a steel cage match.
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Big Daddy Cool easily powered his way through Bret but The Hitman kept Diesel horizontal by working on his leg. Diesel was going to escape through the door but Undertaker emerged and dragged Diesel down under the ring. Bret kept his title intact by escaping over the top of the cage.
8 Sycho Sid Vs. Bret Hart (In Your House 12: It's Time)
Sycho Sid ended Shawn Michaels' eight-month reign as WWE Champion at the 1996 Survivor Series. Sid's first major title defense was against none other than Bret Hart at the 12th iteration of In Your House titled It's Time.
Michaels had a close-up view of this match as he was on commentary duties. Michaels and Hart had an exchange at the commentary table, and HBK appeared on the ring apron. Ultimately, it was an excellent title match which saw Sid build more momentum as WWE Champion by defeating Bret with a powerbomb.
7 Shawn Michaels Vs. The British Bulldog (King Of The Ring)
The British Bulldog is one of the greatest Superstars to never capture the WWE Title. One of his final legitimate chances at winning the gold saw him collide with Shawn Michaels at the 1996 King of the Ring.
Both competitors were looking to sap energy out of their opponents by using submission holds. Bulldog showed his strength by throwing HBK over the top rope with a powerslam. Ultimately, Michaels nailed Bulldog with a delightful Sweet Chin Music to retain the title in one of the best matches in Bulldog's career.
6 The Undertaker Vs. Mankind (In Your House 11: Buried Alive)
Mankind proved to be a thorn in The Undertaker's side like no other superstar had been. Mankind boasted wins over Undertaker at King of the Ring and SummerSlam, and they took their feud to the next level by main eventing In Your House 11: Buried Alive in the first-ever Buried Alive match.
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Neither man pulled any punches in a brutal clash with both using steel steps and steel chairs. Undertaker executed a Tombstone Piledriver on Mankind and carried him to the gravesite. However, Mankind reacted by locking Undertaker in the Mandible Claw but The Deadman prevailed by chokeslamming Mankind into the grave and burying him alive.
5 Shawn Michaels Vs. Sycho Sid (Survivor Series)
Shawn Michaels' eight-month reign as WWE Champion was refreshing but he had his hands full with Sycho Sid at the 1996 Survivor Series. They headlined Madison Square Garden, and the crowd in New York City was booing Michaels, and cheering Sid.
Sid and Michaels have excellent in-ring chemistry together, and HBK traditionally works well with larger wrestlers. Ultimately, Sid had his crowning moment by becoming the new WWE Champion after planting HBK with a jaw-dropping Powerbomb.
4 Shawn Michaels Vs. Vader (SummerSlam)
Vader was another challenger looking to wrestle the WWE Title away from Shawn Michaels in the main event of SummerSlam 1996. HBK took the fight against Vader by being extremely aggressive in the early exchanges.
It was a physical brawl, the match was restarted twice as Vader prevailed by count-out and disqualification but the WWE Title would have not come his way. Nonetheless, Vader missed an audacious Moonsault attempt and HBK retained the title with a Moonsault of his own.
3 Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XII)
The marquee match of WrestleMania XII was Bret Hart's WWE Championship title defense against Shawn Michaels in a 60-minute Iron man match. This was an outstanding WWE Title match that is widely received as one of the greatest of all time.
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Michaels and Hart put on an instant clinic and both dominated certain parts of the match. The Hitman made HBK look like a megastar, and Michaels' Boyhood Dream came true when he dethroned Hart in overtime with a devastating Sweet Chin Music.
2 Shawn Michaels Vs. Diesel (In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies)
Before Diesel departed WWE to join WCW, he put on a magnificent WWE Championship match against his good friend Shawn Michaels. It was HBK's first major title defense at In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies.
Michaels stoically walked to the ring with authority and dominated the early goings of the match. Diesel put HBK through the table with a Jackknife Powerbomb. Nevertheless, Diesel took Mad Dog Vachon's prosthetic leg off, which backfired with HBK nailing Diesel with it. Ultimately, Michaels retained the WWE Title in a competitive WWE Championship match with Sweet Chin Music.
1 Shawn Michaels Vs. Mankind (In Your House 10: Mind Games)
Mankind thoroughly deserved his WWE Title opportunity against Shawn Michaels at the 10th edition of In Your House. The Heartbreak Kid changed up his style against Mankind in a hard-hitting brawl.
This match made Mankind viewed as a legitimate star, proving that he could hang with someone of Michaels' caliber. Mankind was going to put Michaels through the announce table with a backdrop but HBK expertly countered it into a crossbody in mid-air. Despite the disqualification finish, it was a high-level WWE Championship match.
