wrestling / Columns
The Contentious Ten 09.20.10: Most Memorable Bladejobs
September 20, 2010 | Posted by
Once again, this is a requested column idea that’s been around for a while. This was really fun to go back and do. This isn’t necessarily about bloodiest matches (FMW in Japan pretty much owns that category), but the most memorable, dramatic blade jobs in wrestling history. I’m not a bloodthirsty wrestling fan, and I don’t like violence for the sake of violence. But when used appropriately and dramatically, blood really does take wrestling to another level. I’m here to showcase how it adds to already good matches, not used in place of good matches. In other words, this is what blood is meant to be, and why I miss it in the current PG era of wrestling.
Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smithsize=6>
In Your House: December 17, 1995size=4>
My personal favorite Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith match, but that’s neither here nor there. Sadly, this is a case where we don’t really get a great, iconic shot of the blood. Due to the World Wrestling Federation’s kid-friendly approach, they didn’t blade often and in this rare instance, they kept a wide shot on the action. But the red stains on the outside mats, the ring, and Bulldog’s white, blue and red tights gave us an idea of how bad it was. It was a sign of the WWF’s change in direction to a grittier, more violent product; I imagine that when WWE eventually decides to have another bloodletting, the effect be similar to this one, which was even more gruesome because of the lack of color in the mainstream wrestling product.
Vince McMahon vs. The Undertakersize=6>
Survivor Series, November 16, 2003size=4>
Not really a match so much as a glorified bloodletting, but oh what a glorious bloodletting! One punch busted McMahon open, and he spent the next ten minutes pouring out his blood all over the arena as Undertaker beat the crap out of him. I’ve disliked McMahon as a person and hated his character, especially around this time where we just came off the father-daughter “I Quit” match, but I have to give him his due. When it’s time for him to pay the piper, he pays in buckets of plasma. You have to respect that in a billionaire.
Bill Alfonso & Rob Van Dam vs. Tommy Dreamer & Beulah McGullicuttysize=6>
As Good As It Gets, September 20, 1997size=4>
Paul Heyman often lists this among his favorite moments in the history of ECW, and truth be told it makes sense. Here you have two non-wrestlers, one a beautiful but not particularly athletic woman, and the other a scrawny ex-referee. But they were so over, and were given such a good storyline, and gave so much effort, that they were able to have this great moment. That’s what ECW was about; taking anybody with a passion for the business and giving them an outlet to have great moments. In Fonzy’s case, he bled buckets and saved his job.
Sgt. Slaughter vs. Pat Pattersonsize=6>
MSG Alley Fight, April 21, 1981size=4>
Because the poster of this video disabled embedding, you can watch the blading here. WHY would you disable embedding on Youtube? Isn’t it a GOOD thing for people to embed your videos on their websites, therefore giving you MORE exposure? In the words of Randy Orton; stupid stupid stupid! Anyway, back to the match. Well, not a match. This was billed as an Alley Fight and it was a fight; not even a referee. It was violent, it was brutal, and it won the Wrestling Observer’s Match of the Year in 1981. Topping it all off was Slaughter’s awesome blade job after being catapulted into the corner, resulting in half of his face becoming bloody. This match is proof that there was more good stuff in the 1980’s that didn’t involve Flair, Hogan, Steamboat or Savage. You just have to go find it.
Rikidozan vs. Freddie Blassiesize=6>
Japanese Wrestling Association, July 25, 1962size=4>
I’m not putting this in the top five simply because I can’t find video of it, nor have I ever seen the actual match; this is more of an interesting story to fit in with the theme, one of the most historically important uses of blood ever. How do I sum it up? Well, not as well as Hulk Hogan, from his book, “Hulk Still Rules”:
Fred was a legend in Japan. At one time, he had wrestled the big star over there, a guy named Rikidozan. Rikidozan was basically the father of Japanese pro wrestling, and he and Freddie Blassie had some of the biggest wrestling wars in history. When Freddie Blassie wrestled Rikidozan on Japanese television, Fred had filed his teeth down before the match. And when he got Rikidozan in the corner, he made it look like he was biting him in the head. Then Rikidozan cut his head with a razor blade and Fred started sucking the blood out of the guy’s head. And when he was done he backed up and spit the blood back in Rikidozan’s face.
It made headline news in Japan because a bunch of elderly people who were watching the match at home that night had heart attacks and died. Nobody in Japan had ever done stuff like that. It made Freddie Blassie a big deal over there for life. So when he showed up with his new find, Hulk Hogan, it put me over with the Japanese fans even before I stepped in the ring. I was on my way to becoming a big star if I didn’t screw up.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hartsize=6>
Wrestlemania 13, March 23, 1997size=4>
What do you know, this match isn’t #1 on a list! I’ve heard some people state that the only reason this match is remembered is because of the blade, and while I vehemently disagree with that sentiment, I understand why. In this case, the blood is memorable less for the amount (it’s alright, but not nearly as sick as most of the other ones on this list) but for how it was used. The visual of Austin trying to fight out of the Sharpshooter, blood pouring down his face and into his teeth, only to eventually pass out in a pool of crimson, is one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history. That’s enough for it to make the top five, surpassed only by the truly gruesome.
Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. Chris Benoitsize=6>
Wrestlemania XX, March 14, 2004size=4>
Before the Benoit haters get on my case, this has almost nothing to do with Benoit, other than the fact that he executed the catapult that was the kayfabe cause of Michaels bleeding. Shawn has given us a slew of great bladejobs over the years, from Hell in a Cell with Taker to Survivor Series 2003, but this has always been my favorite. It’s not just because of how much he’s bleeding, its the great way he executes it (flying to the buckles) and the amazing visuals we get. Out of the entirety of this match, which is still one of my favorites, the moment I remember the most is Shawn and Triple H putting Benoit through the table, and Shawn getting into the ring, pouring blood and begging Triple H to fight him. If for no other reason, the match deserves to be remembered for that one shot.
The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnarsize=6>
No Mercy, October 20, 2002size=4>
I actually forgot just how utterly grisly Undertaker’s blade job was in this one. Probably has a lot to do with the #1 rendering all other blade jobs in WWE second-rate. This match was an absolute blood bath, with Brock bleeding, Heyman bleeding worse, and Taker bleeding like a faucet. It would have been unsettling with any wrestler, but the fact that it was Undertaker, a guy who’s been booked to be almost invincible, bleeding like this and looking like he was literally on his last legs, makes it that much more memorable.
The Great Muta vs. Hiroshi Hasesize=6>
New Japan Pro Wrestling, December 14, 1992size=4>
If you’ve been frequenting wrestling forums for more than a few years, you’ve probably seen the term “Muta Scale” used before in reference to blade jobs. If you’ve ever wondered where the term originated, it’s because of this match. A 1.0 Muta Scale blade job is roughly equivalent to the blood loss of Muta after being hit with a spike about fifteen minutes into the video. For those who don’t want to watch, for whatever reason; Muta normally wears red face-paint that covers his face. He loses all of it, and by the time the match is over it looks like the red paint is back. It’s that bad. There are obviously better matches with more blood, but this is the standard for bloody blade jobs, and this obviously justifies its high position on this list.
Eddie Guerrero vs. John Bradshaw Layfieldsize=6>
Judgment Day, May 16, 2004size=4>
Judgment Day 2004 wasn’t a particularly good PPV, up to and including the majority of this match. Then JBL blasted Eddie Guerrero with a chair, and Eddie gave himself perhaps the sickest bladejob in wrestling history. “Bleeding like a sieve” and “crimson mask” are overused cliches to describe blood loss in wrestling, but in this case it was absolutely appropriate. True story; my younger brother came back from his friend’s house when I was watching this match live, and asked who was wearing the red face paint; Eddie was beyond recognition. The entire ringside area was covered in Eddie’s blood, and after this gutsy performance he passed out in the ring. Because of this bladejob, this match and this event is remembered, when it was otherwise easily forgettable. On such a loose topic, this will be easy to argue, of course, but it’s the best example I know of where the blood, and little else, really made a match memorable.
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