The Short History of a Long Match

Hello and welcome to a special edition of CBlog that will be taking a look at the history of the Iron Man match in the WWE. Only five Iron Man Matches have been contested in WWE history, with number six coming at WWE Bragging Rights when Randy Orton defends the WWE Championship against John Cena in a 60-Minute Anything Goes Iron Man Match; the first ever Iron Man Match to feature no disqualifications and no count-outs. Though a short one, the Iron Man Match has a storied past since the match debuted in the WWE in 1996.

WrestleMania XII
March 31, 1996
60-Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship
Bret Hart © Vs. Shawn Michaels

In the most memorable Iron Man Match in WWE history, it was reigning WWE Champion Bret “Hitman” Hart defending the prestigious championship against Shawn Michaels on the grand stage of WrestleMania. This Iron Man Match proved just how determined and well-matched both legendary Superstars were in their quest for the WWE Title. This is the only Iron Man Match that ended with both competitors getting no falls in the 60-Minute time limit. With the time limit expiring and neither man gaining a fall, Bret Hart was the winner and still the WWE Champion. However, Gorilla Monsoon emerged and made the controversial decision to send the Iron Man Match into a sudden death overtime period where the first competitor to gain a fall would walk out the WWE Champion. Just under two minutes into the overtime, a new champion was crowned as Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart to win the WWE Championship. This would prove to be a defining moment in the storied career of Shawn Michaels.

WWE Judgment Day
May 21, 2000
60-Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship
Special Guest Referee: Shawn Michaels
The Rock © Vs. Triple H

While the first Iron Man Match in the WWE was the most memorable, the second can arguably be called the most controversial. The man who competed in, and won, the first Iron Man Match overseen this contest as the Special Guest Referee. With just one minute remaining on the clock, The Rock and Triple H were tied at five falls a piece. However, the landscape of, not only the match, but the entire WWE was changed as The Undertaker made a surprise return during the final minute and decimated Triple H and company. In his destruction of Triple H, Undertaker did not realize that he had been spotted interfering in the match by Special Guest Referee Shawn Michaels. In an ironic twist, The Undertaker actually secured the WWE Championship for Triple H as Shawn Michaels disqualified The Rock for outside interference and this gave Triple H the one fall he needed to be victorious. Regardless of the details, Triple H had defeated The Rock to capture the WWE Championship; a title Triple H would become very familiar with in the years to come.

WWE SmackDown
September 18, 2003
60-Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship
Kurt Angle © Vs. Brock Lesnar

In the first Iron Man Match to be aired on broadcast television, challenger Brock Lesnar believed he had a flawless plan in mind as Lesnar sacrificed a fall to Kurt Angle via disqualification in order to dominate the match. Lesnar did just that be gaining an unheard of 5-2 lead over the reigning WWE Champion. With only fifteen minutes remaining in the match, it looked as though Lesnar was on his way to taking the WWE Title from Angle with a dominant victory. However, Kurt Angle was somehow able to score two falls over the big man to bring the score to 5-4, still in favor of Brock Lesnar. With just seconds remaining, Angle locked in the Ankle lock on Lesnar, but Lesnar avoided tapping out long enough for the time to expire and, thus, Brock Lesnar was crowned the new WWE Champion.

WWE RAW
July 26, 2004
60-Minute Iron Man Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Chris Benoit © Vs. Triple H

In a back-and-forth contest between two determined Superstars, it was the late Chris Benoit who utilized some help from Eugene, to get the 4-3 victory over Triple H that he needed to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in the first Iron Man Match on RAW.

WWE RAW Homecoming
October 3, 2005
30-Minute Iron Man Match
Kurt Angle Vs. Shawn Michaels

It was a night to celebrate Monday Night RAW coming home to the USA Network and one of the featured contests was the first ever 30-Minute Iron Man Match between two experienced Iron Man Match combatants- Kurt Angle & Shawn Michaels. Following up their stellar match at WrestleMania 21, these two great Superstars did battle one more time in this grueling Iron Man Match. In the end, it was made apparent that both Angle & Michaels were evenly matched as the 30-Minute time limit expired with no falls being decided between the two, leaving the match at a draw.

Well, that’s a look back at the history of the Iron Man Match in the WWE. Will we see an Iron Man Match for the ages at WWE Bragging Rights when Randy Orton defends the WWE Championship against John Cena in the first ever Anything Goes 60-Minute Iron Man Match? Who will survive the hour and emerge WWE Champion?