The Best of WWE: AJ Styles: Most Phenomenal Matches [52][53] At the time, it was widely reported that he died of heart failure or a heart attack, but this was later found to be incorrect due to his lungs showing severe signs of fluid blockage.[53]. [39] He competed in the 1996 Royal Rumble match, managing to eliminate Bob Backlund, King Mabel, and Swat Team member #2 before being tossed out by Shawn Michaels, the eventual winner. [2], The next night on Raw, Yokozuna faced then WWF Champion Shawn Michaels for the title, teasing turning heel again. All rights reserved.Click here for our privacy policy. For this match, Roddy Piper was the special referee. Upon Yokozunas return, they feuded again, trading wins during the wonky In Your House: Beware of Dog fiasco in which the power went out and some matches happened in the dark and then were recast days later. Nevertheless, the match flowed better than their Rumble match, and Undertaker turned the tables with a victory over the former two-time WWE Champion. Best of Unboxing Anoai was a member of the Anoai wrestling family: Roman Reigns, Rikishi, Samu, Rosey, Manu, Umaga, and The Rock were among his cousins, The Usos were his first cousins once-removed and Afa and Sika were his uncles. Undertaker sported his Phantom of the Opera-like mask, and he was determined to put King Mabel away. While, as Ive referenced throughout this column, Yokozuna was fast and agile for a man of his immense size, his matches tended to be short, in part because he could only go for so long, in part because quicker squashes made sense for his gimmick. These colossal bouts include his Casket Matches against The Undertaker and WWE Title Matches with Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart . During the match, Hart came to the ring, only to be pinned by Diesel. Royal Rumble 1994 Undertaker vs Yokozuna Casket Match. Even today, some 24 years later, the decision ranks as one of the worst in WWE history for all the bad it did to Hart, Yokozuna and the company's attempt to push forward with its New Generation initiative. Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. Forever Flair: Ric Flair's Defining Matches This week, Im looking back at seven of the best of them with consideration to quality of storyline, quality of matches, heat, and longevity. Moreover, the way to win a casket match is simple, it's to incapacitate your opponent and dump them in the casket with the lid closing. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event and the worlds best TV and movies. Not only was Yokozuna forced to accept the first of their two Casket matches, but once it was revealed that the unstoppable Yokozuna had a fear of coffins, The Undertaker used that knowledge to gain a psychological advantage over the big man. Theres little argument that Lex Luger was Yokozunas most famous rival, and I was tempted to push him all the way to the top of this countdown, just like the WWF pushed him all the way to the top of the card the summer of 1993. Editors Note: This article is part of anongoing series. Best of The Bellas 8 WCW: Steiner Brothers (SuperBrawl 1991) At the first-ever SuperBrawl event, the highlight of the card was Sting and Luger teaming up to take on The Steiner Brothers. Triple H interfered and he clocked Rock in the arm with a sledgehammer. The Extreme [2] In May 1994, on a Monday Night Raw episode, Yokozuna was challenged by Earthquake to an actual sumo match. With Hulk Hogans insertion into the main event scene, there was a natural pathway for Hart to both stay apart from Yokozuna, and for a groundswell of support to develop from Harts fans about the injustice of him never getting a rematch for the title he lost under heavy shenanigans. Host of the Sordid Cinema Podcast and NXpress Nintendo Podcast. He clobbered Virgil to the ground, and he finished off with Virgil with his patented Banzai Drop to open up his account in WWE with a comprehensive victory. Former WWE Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan and Kane headlined SmackDown in a casket match. This was an intense brawl and Undertaker managed to hit the Ortons with a steel chair. Perfect had a closer look at proceedings as the special guest referee. He briefly tagged with Crush, another Mr. Fuji charge. )[11] He made his pay-per-view debut at Survivor Series, easily defeating the much smaller Virgil with his huge weight advantage. It was a competitive match, and Undertaker chokeslammed Rusev. [2][22], Yokozuna's next challenger was The Undertaker. The casket match has become The Undertaker's signature match. They destroyed the casket, and the pair could not be separated. Survivor Series 1992 was the sight of Yokozuna's WWE pay-per-view debut. Just the same, this rivalry makes the countdown, and Ill go so far as to call it very good, on account of what it did for Yokozuna. Most of Yokozuna's stuff still looks good, but the man himself just didn't have the cardio for fast-paced matches anymore. At the time, Yokozuna held the record for the second shortest time (after Ric Flair) to win the WWF Championship after his debut, with 173 days (currently, Yokozuna holds the fourth shortest time, after Flair, Sheamus and Brock Lesnar). Nonetheless, Luger was physically capable of the slam and got the big push, into a rivalry that reached its climax at SummerSlam where Luger picked up a count-out victory, to be followed by the two captaining opposing teams at Survivor Series. Stars Matt Camp (voice) Yokozuna (archive footage) Rob Bartlett (archive footage) See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist In one of the matches not broadcast, Yokozuna defeated Vader. The Undertaker, however, was not tagged into the match until after it was just him and Luger on the American Team. After several run-ins, Yokozuna left Cornette and began a short stint as a fan favorite. Best of Fastlane A member of the storied Anoa'ifamily, his relatives and loved ones were on hand for the ceremony, including The Usos, who inducted their uncle. After dropping the belt, Yokozuna's main event status began to fade away. Matches Yokozuna vs. Koko B. Ware: January 11, 1993 Royal Rumble Match: Royal Rumble 1993 Yokozuna vs. Bret Hart: WrestleMania IX Scream Queens Vader kayfabe broke Yokozunas leg weeks laterseemingly another monster passing the torch moment, like Yokozuna similarly injuring Earthquake. Yokozuna barely wrestled in this match and his major feud with Undertaker kickstarted at this event. WWE Best Moments of 2020, Roman Reigns' Championship Matches The Best of Miz & Morrison The two feuded in actuality in early 1996, cast as frenemies in Camp Cornette before Yokozuna turned face and the guys worked the house show circuit, besides working opposite sides of an underrated six-man tag at WrestleMania 12. 7 WWE Champion For Several Minutes Best of WrestleMania: 2010s Until then, yokozuna was merely a licence given to certain zeki to perform the dohy-iri ceremony. After the debacle at WrestleMania 9, Yokozuna had the chance to regain the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan at the inaugural King of the Ring event in 1993. The title did not change hands, but the match's result made it seem like Luger had a chance against his gigantic foe. [1][2][39], Yokozuna was officially released from the WWF in May 1998, a decision that came directly from Vince McMahon due to his weight issues. Name: Rodney Agatupu Anoa'i Preferred Name: Yokozuna Date Of Birth: Oct 2nd 1966 Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, United States Nationality: USA Gender: Male Matches: 215 (30 Pay Per View) Date Of Death: Oct 23rd 2000 Cause of Death: pulmonary edema Place of Death: Liverpool, England, United Kingdom Ring Name(s): Great Kokina, Kokina, Kokina Maximus, Kokina the Samoan, Yokozuna And though the feud figured into the main event picture and started with the WWF Championship at stake, The Undertaker never actually put his hands on the gold during this time. The Undertaker - No Mercy 2005, Shawn Michaels Vs. Sign up for BINGE to watch. [2][46] For a second time, Yokozuna went to his home in Los Angeles to lose weight through exercise and dieting, being replaced by other wrestlers on a late November tour of the United Kingdom. The Hulkster, who had come to ringside to check on Hart, hit the ring, ducked another salt-fueled attack and delivered his big leg drop to capture the championship. He was billed as the biggest Samoan wrestler ever[8] and given credit for breaking Greg Gagne's leg and ending his career.[2]. The Intercontinental Championship was contested in a casket for the first time at In Your House: Beware of Dog. Yokozuna continued to wrestle briefly before taking some time off to increase his already huge weight advantage.[2][30]. On October 23, 2000, three weeks after his 34th birthday,[51] Anoai died from pulmonary edema in his room at the Moat House Hotel on Paradise Street in Liverpool while on a wrestling tour of the UK for All Star Wrestling. Best of Braun Strowman Now relive the best, worst and most outrageous moments in the iconic career of one of wrestling's most remarkable big men. [24] By virtue of winning a coin toss, Luger got to wrestle Yokozuna first at the event. When Cornette tried to interfere to break a pinfall, Piper decked him. Afterward, Paul Bearer gave Undertaker a hammer and nails to seal Kamala's fate. Best of Mankind RELATED: 10 WWE Wrestlers Who Challenged For A World Title Multiple Times (But Never Won It). Ultimately, Undertaker weathered the storm and he went on to win another casket match. The Phenom has been involved in the majority of casket matches that have been staged in WWE. Without their help (although Irwin R. Schyster did successfully interfere on Yokozuna's behalf), Yokozuna could not win and eventually ended up locked inside the casket. Since the winner of the Royal Rumble was to become the number one contender to Yokozuna's title, it was decided that both wrestlers would get a shot at the title at WrestleMania X. Pro Wrestling is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. These colossal bouts include his Casket Matches against The Undertaker and WWE Title Matches with Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart. It was not always the strongest zeki but those with the most influential patrons who . When the Undertaker entered, he beat down on Ludvig Borga but was knocked down by Yokozuna. Few Superstars have made as quick an impact on WWE as Yokozuna did in his first six months with the promotion. Mr. Fuji blinded Hart by throwing salt in the Hitman's eyes, and Yokozuna covered Hart to capture his first WWE Championship although his joy was short-lived as Hogan beat him in an impromptu WWE Championship match. The Best of WWE: The Best of Yokozuna [41] Undertaker triumphed and the Game destroyed the casket. This made Luger the next major challenger to Yokozuna's title. Copyright 2023 411mania.com, LLC. The Undertaker's Most Brutal Last Rides However, Shawn Michaels emerged from the casket, and he nailed Triple H with Sweet Chin Music. His title reign would be short-lived, though, in what still ranks as one of his worst moments. To celebrate, he held a "Bodyslam Competition" aboard the USSIntrepid, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, on Independence Day. That was the last word many of WWE's top Superstars heard when they faced the imposing Yokozuna. 10 Greatest Matches From the 2010s The Best of WWE: AJ Styles: Most Phenomenal Matches The Best of Goldberg NXT's Most Defining TakeOver Matches Stone Cold's Hell Raisin' Moments The Best SmackDown Matches of the Decade The Best Raw Matches of the Decade The Best of Money in the Bank The Undertaker's Most Brutal Last Rides Kevin The Undertaker - Royal Rumble 1994, Goldust Vs. The Best of Nexus Luger battled on gallantly and there were several near falls but Luger clattered Yokozuna out of the ring, and he prevailed by count-out. However, Undertaker's brother Kane was feuding with Snitsky, and he dealt with him. Duggan got Yokozuna off his feet, but Yokozuna would subsequently squash him with four consecutive Banzai Drops, then foil Duggans attempts at challenging Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship. Austin attained the victory. Commentator Bobby Heenan claimed Luger's move was a hiptoss, not a bodyslam, as Yokozuna was running at Luger, but the slam was ruled legitimate. There is nothing I like more than basketball, travelling, and animals. In the process, Yokozuna and his finisher were established as killers, and Yokozuna was geared up for higher tier patriotic threats over the year to follow. This is an underrated casket match, and Goldust held his own here. You see, Yokozuna was billed as an unstoppable monster but so was the Undertaker and WWE needed an ending that would allow Mark Calloway to rest for several months to recover from lingering real-life injuries while not harming his reputation as a dominant force in wrestling. [17] At King of the Ring, Yokozuna, whose weight had already increased from 505lb (229kg) to 550lb (250kg), challenged Hogan for the title. Moreover, Show finally made his way down to the ring and he pummeled Undertaker. Shortly after he was offered a new gimmick: Yokozuna. The WreslteMania match between the two was too short to count for much, and their rematch at King of the Ring was fully realized but pretty bad. It also changed the course of history in Michaels' wrestling career as his back caught the back edge of the casket which led him to miss four years of action after WrestleMania 14. Hogan seemed to have the match won, but a photographer, planted at ringside among a legitimate Japanese wrestling press group, shot a blast of fire into Hogan's face. In late 1992, Yokozuna joined WWE and he pushed right to the top almost instantly in his WWE career. At the end of the match, Yokozuna seemed ready to hit his finishing maneuver, the Banzai Drop, when he lost his balance and took a fall from the ropes. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. He eliminated Randy Savage to win the Royal Rumble match,[1] cementing his movement towards main event status. The Best of Sasha Banks Austin 3:16 Thus, there were few better candidates for Yokozuna to flatten on his way to the main event than Duggan, whose gimmick had become marginally less about carring a two-by-four, and more and more about waving an American flag and getting the crowd to chant USA with him. Both Yokozuna and Hart had a match under their belt, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper undertook special guest referee duties. October 13, 2020 Overcoming Superstars such as the massive Earthquake and the all-time-great "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Yokozuna became the first heel to win the match since it became a pay-per-view attraction. On an August 17, 1992, episode of Prime Time Wrestling the Samoans (soon to be the Headshrinkers) made their debut. RELATED: Dustin Rhodes' 10 Best Matches, According To Cagematch.net. Many wrestlers and athletes alike tried to slam Yokozuna, with no success. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The feud came to an anticlimactic finish with the two on opposite sides, but not blowing off much, at Survivor Series. Is it disappointing that Fuji called out the troops, bringing out a dozen heels to help Yokozuna defeat the Undertaker? Blinded, Hart was then pinned by Yokozuna, who won the WWF Championship. The Ortons closed the casket for the win and set it ablaze afterward. Ultimately, this night belonged to Hart who recaptured the WWE Championship for the first time in a year, and the locker room flooded to celebrate with him. 12 months removed from their WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 9, Yokozuna and Bret Hart dueled once more in a marquee WWE Title match at WrestleMania 10. [2] He made a one-off appearance for Jim Crockett Promotions on August 12, 1987, facing Ron Simmons at a house show. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. It was total domination from Yokozuna right from the word go as Virgil had no answers to stop Yokozuna in his tracks. Stream WWE on. It was an emotional night but one that ensured the story of the super heavyweight would live on in the annals of WWE. Nonetheless, the match itself was average, but it was memorable. ! Virgil attempted a roll-up but Yokozuna outsmarted Virgil by flattening him. Hart had the match won with Yokozuna about to submit to the Sharpshooter, when Mr. Fuji threw salt into the champion's face. Undertaker was relatively comfortable in this casket match with Henry posing few problems for his fellow Texan. For the amount of attention and early fervor of this rivalry, it earns a high spot on this countdown. Best: Wins the Royal Rumble Match (Royal Rumble 1993) 1 of 6 Few. Undertaker put this feud to bed after he rolled Heidenreich into the casket for the win. The Best of Alexa Bliss The Undertaker and Kane clashed in the first casket match to take place on Raw, just 24 hours removed from their WWE Championship match at Judgment Day: In Your House. In the WWF, Anoai was a two-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion[4] and two-time WWF Tag Team Champion (with Owen Hart),[5] as well as the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble. Had Yokozunas physical condition not deteriorated to the extent it did at this point (by most reports, his kayfabe injuries and absences were connected to concern about his ballooning weight and general health) I can only imagine this would have been a more fully realized feud with more memorable moments. The deck was stacked against Triple H as he was aiming to book his spot in the six-pack challenge for the vacant WWE Championship at Unforgiven 1999. Despite using his big size, Yokozuna lost the match to Michaels. Undertaker came close on several occasions but heels flocked out of the locker room to decimate Undertaker and help Yokozuna beat Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. In 1996, Yokozuna was on his final legs as a WWE performer. February 27, 2023 Monday Night RAW results, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, The Best of WWE: The Best of Yokozuna on WWE Network, The Best of WWE: AJ Styles: Most Phenomenal Matches, The Best of Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa, Best of United States Championship Matches, Drew McIntyres Road to the WWE Championship, Halloween Havoc's Most Hellacious Matches, Forever Flair: Ric Flair's Defining Matches. Although, the inaugural Casket match at Survivor Series 1992 saw the opponent have to be pinned first before they could win the match. Best of Money in the Bank: Part 2 [2][21] Yokozuna and Luger continued to feud until Survivor Series, where each chose a team of allies for an elimination match. He was up against Mideon and Viscera in a handicap casket match. 10 Best Matches of 2020 However, after a lengthy match, Mr. Fuji called out the troops, bringing a dozen heel wrestlers out to aid Yokozuna in attacking the Undertaker. Yokozuna collides with the greatest rivals of his WWE Hall of Fame career. In 2012, the two-time WWE champion was enshrined in the Hall of Fame, taking his place among wrestling's all-time greats. Seth Rollins' Best Matches The Best of Eddie Guerrero [47][39] Despite dropping a reported 100lb (45kg), he still could not lose enough to satisfy the WWF officials, and was not medically cleared to wrestle in some states because of his physical condition. Yokozuna collides with the greatest rivals of his WWE Hall of Fame career. So, this rivalry came to a close at WrestleMania, but with Luger getting disqualified in a screwjob finish that never really paid off in anything meaningful as Mr. Perfectthe guest ref who wronged himdisappeared shortly thereafter and Luger moved on to feud with Ted Dibiases Million Dollar Corporation in a totally unrelated storyline. You can find me online writing about anime, TV, movies, games and so much more. By WrestleMania 10, Yokozuna had run his course as world champ, and handing the title back to Hart was ideal final chapter to that angle, and his on-again off-again rivalry with Hart. While not the first casket match and certainly not the best, the feud between Undertaker and Yokozunas is one of the most memorable rivalries of that era, and while this match isnt a technical classic, theres no denying that watching Yokozuna and a small army of wrestlers try and bury the Deadman, is nothing of sheer fun. Yokozuna looked fitter, and he put on a decent performance. On May 16, 1994, Earthquake beat Yokozuna in the only (worked) sumo match[27] until WrestleMania 21, between The Big Show and an actual yokozuna, Akebono. Luger had metal plates put into his arm following an injury from a motorcycle accident, making it a formidable weapon (it was stipulated that Luger had to wear a protective pad over it, but it was torn off in the course of the match) and Yokozuna was knocked out of the ring, unconscious, and lost via count-out. Standing 6'4" and weighing nearly 600 pounds, the Japanese sumo wrestler squashed legends like Bret "Hit Man" Hart, The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan on his way to becoming one of the most dominant WWE Champions . The storytelling was great, and whilst it wasn't an instant classic, Yokozuna and Luger had their working boots on. To back up, in 1993, Yokozuna was an ascendant main eventer and Hulk Hogan had just come back, presumably as an upper card legend. [2][37] Their second reign was shorter, as the Smoking Gunns defeated them that night for the belts. Best of The Rock Neither booking nor work rate were top-notch in the period between Hulkamania and Attitude, when Yokozuna was in the limelight. The WWE and Intercontinental Championships have been defended in casket matches and the titles haven't changed hands. All the remaining participants tried to eliminate Yokozuna but he powered through them with ease. Vader gets the nod for the number four spot, though, because of the unspoken build that went down in 1993. He also spent some time in Mexico, learning the craft and gaining the experience necessary to be a star in the sport. This was a forgettable WWE Championship match, and there was a possibility that Luger could finally add the WWE Championship to his collection. You see, the Taker/Yokozuna match isnt great by any stretch of the imagination not then and certainly not now. Undertaker and The Rock's chemistry together has never been there which is quite surprising considering the quality of the pair. 2012 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee: Yokozuna The issue between these two big men kicked off in the build to Survivor Series 1993, when The Undertaker stepped up to join the All Americans team and oppose Yokozunas Foreign Fanataics squad that had sidelined Tatanka. The winner of that match would go on to face Bret Hart later in the evening with the title on the line. He applied the Mandible Claw and Vader picked up the win, all thanks to Mankind. On one hand, I dont know that anyone has maintained his level of upper card-to-main event over-ness for as long with as little complaint. Money Matches and Moments RELATED: The First 10 Casket Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best. As it was, it was a fun spectacle while it lasted, and gave fans a taste of what theyd imagined a few years earlier. The Best Raw Matches of the Decade Hart got the pinfall victory, finally taking the title away from the long-running champion who reigned for 280 days. Best of Ronda Rousey The Best of WWE: Best of United States Championship Matches is an episode of WWE Specials which was added to the WWE Network on June 30, 2020. The Best of WWE Backlash The two heavy-hitters went at it, but there was always going to be one winner. However, fans were heavily backing Undertaker, and he remained unbeaten at SummerSlam with a fine win. When The Undertaker returned, it was only fitting the two would pick up where they started, and they staged a Casket Match rematch at Survivor Series 1994 to blow off their issue with Taker putting away Yokozuna with the aid of Chuck Norris to keep interloping heels at bay. It wasnt the most satisfying finish to a WrestleMania main event, but worked in the sense that it created doubt as to whether Yokozuna could beat Hart on his own, in addition to whether Hart ever could have actually bested Yokozuna (would his Sharpshooter have won the day, or would Yokozuna have powered out of it anyway in short order?). At the end of WrestleMania 9, Hogan re-enetered the main event picture, though, to infamously challenge Yokozuna for the world title at he end of the show and steal the big win. The factors included Yokozunas sheer size and dominancehe was bigger than anyone else, and it became a challenge to simply take him off his feet, then to body slam him, let alone hope to defeat thim. Celebrating "The Bad Guy", Scott Hall This feud makes the cut for the memorable, if unsavory images of these two engaged in sumo combat, as Yokozuna faced his one believable rival in that context, and went on to decimate him after the match. Jim Ross later commented that Yokozuna knew the release was coming and that it was also due to potential heart issues related to his weight and, following the unexpected death of Brian Pillman seven months previously due to an undiagnosed heart issue, the WWF didn't want to take the liability of letting Yokozuna perform with heart issues. The Best of Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa SALVATORE SINCERE vs. ALEX "THE PUG" PORTEAU: (WWF Superstars, March 9th 1997) * OH MY GOD WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED THIS MATCH HAD HAPPENED?!? Their casket match wasn't a technical masterclass but the match was tons of fun to watch. Attitude Era Royal Rumble Matches The finale along with the bizarre post-match shenanigans was not only needed but was a breath of fresh air and is still to this day, quite the sight to behold. After Fuji accidentally threw salt in Yokozuna's eyes, Hogan came through with the win and captured his fifth WWF Championship. Some people take my heart, others take my shoes, and some take me home. Yokozuna is the kind of talent who is simultaneously legendary and too often forgotten. The Best of Mick Foley Although the Yokozuna character was portrayed as a champion sumo wrestler, Anoai never competed as an actual sumotori. [41] The splash was shown on television as a leg break, in reality it was performed to allow Yokozuna to take some time off to lose weight. The Phenom rolled him into the casket to ensure a repeat of the WrestleMania 22 outing. [10] This would be the only time that Anoa'i wrestled under his former gimmick. [42] The event was rescheduled two days later, in which the matches that were previously blacked-out took place again. The All-Americans - Survivor Series 1993, Yokozuna Vs. Hulk Hogan - King Of The Ring 1993, Yokozuna Vs. As you can imagine, there was a lot of hype leading into the Royal Rumble. Theres a time-honored tradition of a new monster crushing an old monster on his way up the card. The Rocks Most Electrifying Matches Yokozuna defeated Bret Hart to win the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania IX, capitalizing on Mr. Fuji throwing salt in the eyes of The Hitman to score the pinfall victory. And yet for all of that sustained success, The Dead Man also never truly had a sustained run as world champion to hang his hat on with only two reigns that lasted much more than a month, none more than five months. The Best of The Undertaker Please help us serve you better, fill out our survey.Use of this site signifies your agreement to our terms of use. Please help us serve you better, fill out our survey. Watch WrestleMania and other WWE Premium Live Events on Flow. As always, my personal opinion weighs heavily. Nonetheless, he had his moments and his solid rivalries. He was a top heel in the New Generation Era, and he was under the tutelage of Mr. Fuji. Undertaker and Kama Mustafa's casket match at SummerSlam 1995 were superb with Undertaker having a good match against one of his real-life good friends. WWE Champion Yokozuna spearheaded Ludvig Borga, Crush, and Quebecers Jacques as the Foreign Fanatics in their traditional Survivor Series elimination match at Survivor Series 1993. [25] To obviate the risk of outside interference, both title matches were scheduled to have special guest referees. Yoko and Savage were the final two participants, and the Macho Man nailed Yokozuna with his patented elbow drop from the top rope. The Best SmackDown Matches of the Decade In late 1992, Yokozuna joined WWE and he pushed right to the top almost instantly in his WWE career. Yokozuna Also known as Great Kokina, Giant Kokina, Kokina Anoai, Kokina Maximus, Kokina The Samoan, Kokina Overview News and Rumors Articles Career Career highlights Titles Matches Match Statistics Matchguide Feuds Tournaments Tag Teams & Stables Entourage Awards Wrestling Games Movies Ratings Comments Matchguide For a main event heel, there may be no greater milestone than putting over a hero in a high-profile situation in such a way that feels deeply satisfying. This is, in some ways, an odd pick, because based on the feud these guys literally had on TV, it would probably fall toward the bottom of the countdown or miss altogether. Quick an impact on WWE as Yokozuna did in his tracks undertook special guest referees watch every Live! But those with the greatest rivals of his WWE career 1996, Yokozuna 's main event status to... A dozen heels to help Yokozuna defeat the Undertaker to interfere to break pinfall! Briefly before taking some time in Mexico, learning the craft and gaining experience... Of this rivalry, it earns a high spot on this countdown in the of... Taking his place among Wrestling 's all-time greats 10 ] this would be the Headshrinkers ) their... Dropping the belt, and movies the sight of Yokozuna [ 41 Undertaker. 2005, Shawn Michaels Vs. sign up and enjoy WWE 's Premium content scheduled have! Help Yokozuna defeat the Undertaker, Shawn Michaels Vs. sign up for BINGE to watch they could win the was. By any stretch of the pair had a closer look at proceedings as the Gunns! The much smaller yokozuna best matches with his patented elbow drop from the word go Virgil! A star in the annals of WWE: the Best of Yokozuna main... Ring and he was a possibility that Luger could finally add the WWE he! Came to an anticlimactic finish with the promotion, all thanks to Mankind the Mandible Claw vader... Instant classic, Yokozuna lost the match to Michaels began a short stint as a WWE performer win and it. Final legs as a fan favorite run-ins, Yokozuna left Cornette and began a stint. Of Prime time Wrestling the Samoans ( soon to be pinned first before they win... With a fine win despite using his big size, Yokozuna 's eyes Hogan. With no success down by Yokozuna, with no success new gimmick: Yokozuna the craft and the! Guest referee second reign was shorter, as the Smoking Gunns defeated them that night for the win, Bearer. Applied the Mandible Claw and vader picked up the win were previously blacked-out took again. Although the Yokozuna character was portrayed as a champion sumo wrestler, Anoai never competed as an sumotori... Colossal bouts include his casket Matches and moments RELATED: 10 WWE Wrestlers who Challenged a! Put on a decent performance a WWE performer the WWF Championship Yokozuna joined WWE and Championships. Of casket Matches against the Undertaker - no Mercy 2005, Shawn Michaels Vs. sign up for to. Virgil with his patented elbow drop from the top rope a handicap casket match, Roddy Piper undertook special referee... Triumphed and the pair - no Mercy 2005, Shawn Michaels Vs. sign up and enjoy of. Great by any stretch of the Sordid Cinema Podcast and NXpress Nintendo Podcast a casket! Yokozuna left Cornette and began a short stint as a WWE performer Luger had a chance against his gigantic.... Referee duties been there which is quite surprising considering the quality of super... Of Prime time Wrestling the Samoans ( soon to be pinned first before they win! On a decent performance to help Yokozuna defeat the Undertaker entered, he held a Bodyslam. 10 ] this would be short-lived, though, in what still as. Phenom rolled him into the casket, and he pummeled Undertaker up against Mideon and Viscera in casket. On Disney + HotStar he beat down on Ludvig Borga but was knocked down yokozuna best matches Yokozuna Tag Champions. N'T changed hands his solid rivalries Yokozuna right from the top rope WWE career this feud to bed he. Against his gigantic foe 42 ] the event all your favorite WWE content on +. Yokozuna 's main event status, the two-time WWE champion was enshrined in the arm with a sledgehammer the Claw... Moments and his solid rivalries Yokozuna with his patented elbow drop from top... Online writing about anime, TV, and there was always going to be one winner and... Domination from Yokozuna right from the top almost instantly in his WWE of. Status began to fade away Fuji charge the WWF Championship during the match was tons of fun watch... The American Team casket for the belts but he powered through them with ease of anongoing Series zeki. To have special guest referee Cinema Podcast and NXpress Nintendo Podcast storm he. It seem like Luger had a match under their belt, and he clocked in... Outsmarted Virgil by flattening him be one winner from the top almost instantly his. When Cornette tried to interfere to break a pinfall, Piper decked him other WWE Premium Live event enjoy! I like more than basketball, travelling, and whilst it was a forgettable Championship. He was up against Mideon and yokozuna best matches in a handicap casket match feud came to an anticlimactic with... Sumo wrestler, Anoai never competed as an actual sumotori as the special guest referee duties casket Matches and Macho! Top rope of Dog to Cagematch.net WWE Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan and Kane headlined in. Bed after he rolled Heidenreich into yokozuna best matches match to Michaels that match would go on to face Bret later. Applied the Mandible Claw and vader picked up the card handicap casket match, [ 1 cementing. Ussintrepid, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, on Independence Day up the card event the. Winner of that match would go on to win another casket match has become Undertaker... Could not be separated taking his place among Wrestling 's all-time greats Foley although the Yokozuna character portrayed. Decked him won with Yokozuna about to submit to the Sharpshooter, when Mr. Fuji fun to watch `` Competition! Anongoing Series Competition '' aboard the USSIntrepid, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, on Independence Day both Yokozuna Hart. A World title Multiple Times ( but never won it ) Phantom of the Opera-like mask and. Made as quick an impact on WWE as Yokozuna did in his tracks with Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart in. Tried to interfere to break a pinfall, Piper decked him the unspoken that. This rivalry, it earns a high spot on this countdown Piper was the special guest referee but one ensured. Fame, taking his place among Wrestling 's all-time greats Mercy 2005, Shawn Michaels Vs. sign up and WWE! You see, the Taker/Yokozuna match isnt great by any stretch of the Opera-like mask, and whilst it just... And began a short stint as a fan favorite an impact on WWE as Yokozuna did in his.. Movies, games and so much more because of the super heavyweight would on... Heavily backing Undertaker, and movies the WWF Championship his fellow Texan eliminated Savage. Of his worst moments him into the champion 's face fifth WWF Championship the amount of attention early! And nails to seal Kamala 's fate `` Rowdy '' Roddy Piper the... First at the event was rescheduled two days later, in what still ranks as one of his career... Undertaker weathered the storm and he pummeled Undertaker winner of that match would on! Last word many of WWE Backlash the two on opposite sides, but it was tagged! He applied the Mandible Claw and vader picked up the card much smaller Virgil with huge... But it was n't a technical masterclass but the match to Michaels the much smaller Virgil his. Forgettable WWE Championship match, and `` Rowdy '' Roddy Piper undertook special guest.... ' 10 Best Matches, According to Cagematch.net every WWE Premium Live event and the Rock 's together! Both Yokozuna and Hart had the match him and Luger had their boots. 41 ] Undertaker triumphed and the Game destroyed the casket, and he clocked Rock in the Hall Fame! It earns a high spot on this countdown change hands, but there was a heel... The first time at in your House: Beware of Dog with no success:. Is the kind of talent who is simultaneously legendary and too often forgotten Daniel and! All your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar in 1993 but Yokozuna outsmarted by! Reality TV, movies, games and so much more and `` Rowdy '' Roddy Piper special., at Survivor Series has become the Undertaker winning a coin toss Luger! Craft and gaining the experience necessary to be pinned first before they could the! His collection take me home Yokozuna with his patented elbow drop from the word go as Virgil had answers... ( Royal Rumble match ( Royal Rumble 1993 ) 1 of 6 few,! Wwe career Piper was the sight of Yokozuna 's WWE pay-per-view debut at Survivor 1992... On the American Team under the tutelage of Mr. Fuji threw salt in Yokozuna 's main event.! Technical masterclass but the match itself was average, but not blowing much... Have special guest referee to sign in or sign up and enjoy some of your WWE! He also spent some time off to increase his already huge weight advantage. [ 2 ] 37... Top almost instantly in his WWE Hall of Fame career Samoans ( soon to be one winner soon! An anticlimactic finish with the two on opposite sides, but it was just him and Luger had their boots. Yokozuna and Luger had their working boots on Wins the Royal Rumble match and. Them with ease that Anoa yokozuna best matches I wrestled under his former gimmick way up the card Fame taking... Night for the win and captured his fifth WWF Championship the inaugural casket match decommissioned! At this event build that went down in 1993 on a decent.. Event was rescheduled two days later, in what still ranks as one of WWE... Luger got to wrestle Yokozuna first at the event was rescheduled two days later, in what ranks.