Since the dawn of time, the human race has found a number of ways to tell stories and build narratives. From word of mouth around the fire to live stage productions to film and television to interactive virtual reality, there are countless ways to experience the joys of storytelling. Yet one form that typically gets overlooked and often looked down on is professional wrestling.
In eras past, a pair of warring wrestlers would have settled their differences the old-fashioned way: by getting into a scuffle backstage, if not agreeing to meet one another outside later on for a full-on fist fight. But today, things are a lot more civilized. If you don’t like one of your co-workers, you either wait for an opportune time to salvage their credentials as a performer during a candid shoot interview or take to social media and post a series of drunken Tweets.
Ken Shamrock vs. Don Frye
Along with being involved in the first known feud in the UFC, Ken Shamrock and this feud with Don Frye ended up being the beginning of the crossover of mixed martial arts and wrestling fans in North America and Japan. The feud saw some personal and harsh insults from Frye that were both stinging and comical at the same time. Frye also stated that if and when the two met, Ken’s father would corner him instead of his own son.
The feud was real and generated unbelievable hype for their fight, which ended up happening at Price 19 in Japan. The fight delivered heavy striking from both, with Frye landing and doing most of the damage on the feet. Shamrock, however, brought out an arsenal of leg and ankle locks that he ripped and tore at Frye.
CM Punk Vs. Triple H
This probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone who watched Monday Night Raw in 2011, but CM Punk and Triple H didn’t really get along during their time working together in WWE.
As with their on-screen rivalry, it was Punk who drew first blood. On his now infamous appearance on Colt Cabana’s podcast, the future UFC star accused HHH of taking an instant disliking to him, essentially suggesting that this was to blame for his failure to reach the WrestleMania main event.
Sasha Banks Vs. Bayley
Inspired by the famous feud between Trish Stratus and Mickie James, Sasha Banks and Bayley spent years playing the best of friends and the worst of enemies. The two lifelong wrestling fans, who were viewed as underdogs during their developmental years, rose to fame during the Four Horsewomen era of NXT alongside Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. Sasha Banks and Bayley were responsible for two of the greatest matches in NXT TakeOver history; Bayley finally defeated Sasha at TakeOver: Brooklyn and their encore performance in the first-ever WWE Women’s Iron Man Match. Their on-again, off-again friendship has been going on for years and spanning across promotions, with their 2020 feud on the WWE main roster considered the best of the year.
