Top 10 Indianapolis wrestling moments

(Credit: Submitted photo)

Most people know that Indianapolis was an old-school wrestling hotbed, providing the operations base for groups like the WWA, where Dick the Bruiser, The Sheik, Wilbur Snyder and Ox Baker reveled in the glory days of the squared circle.

But the Circle City has seen its share of big-time rasslin’ events in the modern wrestling era as well, and has hosted some of the biggest events in pro wrestling history. Metromix decided to pin down the 10 most memorable moments in Indianapolis wrestling history:

10. The Punjabi Prison Match: July 23, 2006, Conseco Fieldhouse.

Two bamboo cages surrounded the ring at this match, held during the Great American Bash pay-per-view. Originally, Indian behemoth The Great Khali was to go up against The Undertaker, but The Big Show was subbed in for Khali at the last minute. The match was a disaster: the twin cages obstructed the action, and what was visible was slow and dull. The undercard included (King) Booker T defeating Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight title.

9. Buried Alive Match: Oct. 20, 1996, Market Square Arena.

The rules were simple at this first-ever, historic match: Drag your opponent to the open grave set up in the arena, throw him in, and bury him alive. The Undertaker defeated Mankind, but his victory was short-lived, as some of Mankind’s pals rescued him, ganged up on ‘Taker, and threw him in the grave after the match.

8. Sid Vicious Breaks His Leg: Jan. 14, 2001, Conseco Fieldhouse.

WCW Sin was a relatively bland pay-per-view series, until the main event, a “Four Corners” match for the WCW title, pitted champion Scott Steiner vs. Sid Vicious (shown here), Jeff Jarrett and Road Warrior Animal. The match ended abruptly (and off-“script”) when Vicious leapt from the middle turnbuckle to deliver a kick, and landed on his left leg, breaking it in a gruesome scene. The clip, still in play on YouTube, is not for the squeamish.

7. Rey Mysterio’s WWE debut: July 25, 2002, Conseco Fieldhouse.

The diminutive masked luchador, a huge star in Mexico and WWE rival WCW in the 90s, made his much-hyped WWE debut during an Indy taping of “WWE SmackDown!,” beating Chavo Guerrero. Mysterio wowed the crowd when he interjected himself into a cage match between Chris Jericho and Edge, diving from the top of the cage onto Jericho and his Anti-American cronies, who were attacking Edge.

6. WWE SummerSlam: Aug. 17, 2008, Conseco Fieldhouse.

“The Summer’s Biggest Blockbuster” didn’t disappoint. The “Hell in a Cell” cage match between The Undertaker and Edge were the main event, but the card’s highlight may have been a hotly-contested match between the WWE’s two biggest “good guys,” Batista and John Cena.

5. Stone Cold wins the WWE Title again: Oct. 8, 2001, Conseco Fieldhouse.

2001 was an odd year for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. He was turned heel (a bad guy) after years of being the most popular star in the business. But fans refused to boo him, so when he took on good-guy Kurt Angle during this episode of “Monday Night Raw,” house loyalties were split. Austin won the strap with the help of outside interference.

4. Riot at the Fairgrounds: March 12, 1965, Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum.

WWA Heavyweight Champion Dick the Bruiser faced off with Johnny Valentine in a title match that ended in disqualification. Bruiser wasn’t content with only beating on Valentine, but also took out two referees. Pandemonium ensued, and it took a mob of seven wrestlers and six police officers to subdue the crazed Bruiser. Valentine was taken to the hospital for X-rays and stitches, and the title was held up.

3. The Brain turns on Dick the Bruiser, Sept. 21, 1974, Market Square Arena.

The first-ever sporting event at MSA packed in 15,900 fans to see U.S. champion Dick the Bruiser battle his nemesis The Sheik. During the match, Bruiser’s manager, Bobby Heenan, turned on him, aligning with the Sheik and his manager Eddie Creatchmen to gang up on and beat down Bruiser. Also, WWA Champion Ox Baker and Andre the Giant battled to a double count-out.

2. Hulk Hogan loses the title: Feb. 5, 1988, Market Square Arena.

The epic rematch between WWF champion Hogan and Andre the Giant was televised on NBC, and remains the highest-rated wrestling program in television history, scoring a 15.2 rating and 33 million viewers. The Hulkster lost when Andre’s friend “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase kidnapped the referee, then paid the ref’s twin brother to take his place. The crooked official counted three on Hogan even though he clearly raised a shoulder at two, and awarded the belt to the giant. Andre then tried to “sell” the title to DiBiase. The title was held up, and a new champ crowned at WrestleMania IV. Oh, and that biased referee, Earl Hebner? He became the WWF’s most “trusted” official for the next 15 years.

1. WrestleMania VIII: April 5, 1992, The Hoosier Dome.

Remember the Hulk Hogan city buses cruising around town in ’92? That was the year 60,000-plus fans crowded the Dome for Indy’s lone WrestleMania. Originally, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair were to face off in what would have been a historic dream match, but internal politics changed the card to a “double main event.” The results were still pretty memorable: “Macho Man” Randy Savage took the WWF title from Flair in a classic bout, and Hogan battled Sid Justice in a match that ended with the return of the Ultimate Warrior.

Going?
Monday Night Raw starts at 8:15 p.m. Feb. 22 at Conseco Fieldhouse. About 20 WWE superstars are scheduled to appear, including John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, the Big Show, Ted DiBiase and Chavo Guerrero. Tickets are $15, $25, $40, $50 and $70, and are available at the Conseco box office, www.ticketmaster.com or at (800) 745-3000.