10 Most Emotional Shows In Wrestling History

Today marks 22 years since the tragic, untimely passing of Owen Hart.

Owen was set to make his repelled entrance from the ceiling (as the comedic Blue Blazer) at WWE's Over the Edge pay-per-view, when something went wrong and he fell from the rafters.

He was only 34 years-old.

The show continued, with commentator and Vice President of Talent Relations Jim Ross announcing the news to the world midway through the broadcast.

Owen's death and the aftermath brought up a lot of different emotions, many of which were evident the following evening on Monday Night Raw, which was a dedicated tribute show to the two-time Slammy award winner.

Tribute shows to deceased wrestlers are typically emotional affairs, but they are not the only shows that bring up strong feelings.

Wrestling is an industry built on emotion and often tries to manufacture it with storylines and angles, but very rarely does it come close to replicating what happens when real life situations are involved, whether that results in euphoria, despair or something else.

The following are ten examples of such shows (ranked in no particular order).

10. ECW One Night Stand 2005

WWE.com

The death of ECW was a protracted one, caused by a thousand cuts.

While most of the roster at the time knew it was inevitable, there was no opportunity to host a proper farewell and, for many of those who had been with the company through the good times and the bad, its 2001 closure offered no sense of, well, closure.

After Rob Van Dam pitched the idea of a reunion show pay-per-view to Vince McMahon in 2005, they finally got their chance.

One Night Stand was a celebratory, cathartic night for those that felt a special connection with Extreme Championship Wrestling. Bringing back (most) of the old gang for the occasion, One Night Stand was like a supercharged 'greatest hits' event where many in attendance were visibly emotional.

It was relatively recent nostalgia, but it was pitched exactly right and provided an opportunity to close that particular chapter of wrestling history. In theory, anyway.

Highlights included the injured RVD's rousing shoot promo, Paul Heyman addressing the crowd, the Sandman making his iconic entrance, complete with Metallica score, Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome going one more round and tearing the bingo hall down and, well, there were lots of others.

The first One Night Stand featured an energy and a passion that you simply cannot manufacture and made it stand out from any other show from the era.

10. ECW One Night Stand 2005

WWE.com

The death of ECW was a protracted one, caused by a thousand cuts.

While most of the roster at the time knew it was inevitable, there was no opportunity to host a proper farewell and, for many of those who had been with the company through the good times and the bad, its 2001 closure offered no sense of, well, closure.

After Rob Van Dam pitched the idea of a reunion show pay-per-view to Vince McMahon in 2005, they finally got their chance.

One Night Stand was a celebratory, cathartic night for those that felt a special connection with Extreme Championship Wrestling. Bringing back (most) of the old gang for the occasion, One Night Stand was like a supercharged 'greatest hits' event where many in attendance were visibly emotional.

It was relatively recent nostalgia, but it was pitched exactly right and provided an opportunity to close that particular chapter of wrestling history. In theory, anyway.

Highlights included the injured RVD's rousing shoot promo, Paul Heyman addressing the crowd, the Sandman making his iconic entrance, complete with Metallica score, Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome going one more round and tearing the bingo hall down and, well, there were lots of others.

The first One Night Stand featured an energy and a passion that you simply cannot manufacture and made it stand out from any other show from the era.

9. The Final WCW Nitro

WWE Network

While the ECW locker room weren't entirely sure just when the end was going to come, the men and women at WCW sure did, even if they weren't given too much prior notice.

After being informed that the company was to be purchased by WWE, many were left wondering what their future in the business was, especially with ECW no longer operating as well (though many were signed to contracts by WCW parent company Time Warner, guaranteeing them money for the duration).

So on March 26, 2001 WCW held its last ever show, which was a live episode of Monday Nitro, the programme that once beat WWE Raw in the ratings for 83 consecutive weeks.

Oh how the mighty had fallen.

Much of the show was business as usual, but there were some loose ends to tie up, like making sure Booker T beat Scott Steiner for the WCW Title before his planned jump to WWE.

Everyone on the show looked a little shell shocked, from announcer Tony Schiavone, who relayed the gravity of the situation for fans at home, to DDP, who sincerely thanked the fans via video message.

Most people remember the show for the simulcast and storyline revelation that Shane, not Vince, actually controlled WCW, but the true main event was really Sting and Ric Flair, two of WCW's stalwarts, locking up one last time.

It was an emotional night for WCW fans, too, many of whom simply went away once their choice of wrestling had bit the dust.

9. The Final WCW Nitro

WWE Network

While the ECW locker room weren't entirely sure just when the end was going to come, the men and women at WCW sure did, even if they weren't given too much prior notice.

After being informed that the company was to be purchased by WWE, many were left wondering what their future in the business was, especially with ECW no longer operating as well (though many were signed to contracts by WCW parent company Time Warner, guaranteeing them money for the duration).

So on March 26, 2001 WCW held its last ever show, which was a live episode of Monday Nitro, the programme that once beat WWE Raw in the ratings for 83 consecutive weeks.

Oh how the mighty had fallen.

Much of the show was business as usual, but there were some loose ends to tie up, like making sure Booker T beat Scott Steiner for the WCW Title before his planned jump to WWE.

Everyone on the show looked a little shell shocked, from announcer Tony Schiavone, who relayed the gravity of the situation for fans at home, to DDP, who sincerely thanked the fans via video message.

Most people remember the show for the simulcast and storyline revelation that Shane, not Vince, actually controlled WCW, but the true main event was really Sting and Ric Flair, two of WCW's stalwarts, locking up one last time.

It was an emotional night for WCW fans, too, many of whom simply went away once their choice of wrestling had bit the dust.

8. WWE Hall Of Fame Ceremony 2014

WWE.com

The Hall of Fame ceremony is typically a night of intense emotion, regardless of who is in the class that's being inducted on any given year.

2014 was more poignant than most, however, because it saw the inductions of a beloved member of the 'WWE family', as well as a man who many thought would never appear in WWE again and two men who most assumed wouldn't even be alive to see their own inductions.

Paul Bearer, The Ultimate Warrior, Jake Roberts and Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) were all deserved inductees, but the context of their inductions really added gravitas to the occasion.

Bearer had passed away the year prior and was represented by his sons, with Kane giving a nice induction speech for the man who managed him and The Undertaker showing up in-character to pay his respects too.

Warrior had been on the outs with the promotion for almost two decades, but the two sides put the bad blood behind them in order to do business and give one of WWE's most memorable stars his big moment. Watching his two young daughters share the stage with their father was a surprisingly sweet moment, and he looked proud and content after years of aggravation.

Warrior's appearance was given added significance when he passed away just days later.

The Bad Guy and the Snake, on the other hand, had been at death's door many times in the past and there were constant fears that they would be the next wrestling fatalities.

Fortunately, they managed to turn it around (with a lot of help from good friend and wrestling angel Diamond Dallas Page), getting clean and mending fences.

For their family, fans, friends and co-workers, it was a heartening experience all around.

8. WWE Hall Of Fame Ceremony 2014

WWE.com

The Hall of Fame ceremony is typically a night of intense emotion, regardless of who is in the class that's being inducted on any given year.

2014 was more poignant than most, however, because it saw the inductions of a beloved member of the 'WWE family', as well as a man who many thought would never appear in WWE again and two men who most assumed wouldn't even be alive to see their own inductions.

Paul Bearer, The Ultimate Warrior, Jake Roberts and Scott Hall (as Razor Ramon) were all deserved inductees, but the context of their inductions really added gravitas to the occasion.

Bearer had passed away the year prior and was represented by his sons, with Kane giving a nice induction speech for the man who managed him and The Undertaker showing up in-character to pay his respects too.

Warrior had been on the outs with the promotion for almost two decades, but the two sides put the bad blood behind them in order to do business and give one of WWE's most memorable stars his big moment. Watching his two young daughters share the stage with their father was a surprisingly sweet moment, and he looked proud and content after years of aggravation.

Warrior's appearance was given added significance when he passed away just days later.

The Bad Guy and the Snake, on the other hand, had been at death's door many times in the past and there were constant fears that they would be the next wrestling fatalities.

Fortunately, they managed to turn it around (with a lot of help from good friend and wrestling angel Diamond Dallas Page), getting clean and mending fences.

For their family, fans, friends and co-workers, it was a heartening experience all around.

7. WrestleMania XXX

WWE.com

The night after the 2014 Hall of Fame induction ceremony was also a very emotional one.

WrestleMania XXX represented something of a wrestling rollercoaster, treating fans to some dizzying highs and devastating lows.

Of the highs, none were higher than Daniel Bryan, the people's champion and a man who found himself in the position he was in thanks in large part to audience persistence, first beating Triple H in the opener and then making Batista tap out (in a triple threat match also featuring Randy Orton) to win the WWE Heavyweight Title.

In the jubilant post-match scene, D-Bry took the time to embrace Connor Michalek, the terminally-ill eight-year-old fan who had captured the heart of the man he idolised and, just writing about it, I feel as though my non-existent allergies are acting up.

Michalek passed away less than three weeks later.

Though not comparable to that very real tragedy, the ending of The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak at the hands of Brock Lesnar had many fans feeling a sudden sense of loss.

The most infamous result in wrestling history, the plethora of different reactions showed the true range of emotions that fans inside the Superdome were feeling, from sadness and confusion to shock and anger.

7. WrestleMania XXX

WWE.com

The night after the 2014 Hall of Fame induction ceremony was also a very emotional one.

WrestleMania XXX represented something of a wrestling rollercoaster, treating fans to some dizzying highs and devastating lows.

Of the highs, none were higher than Daniel Bryan, the people's champion and a man who found himself in the position he was in thanks in large part to audience persistence, first beating Triple H in the opener and then making Batista tap out (in a triple threat match also featuring Randy Orton) to win the WWE Heavyweight Title.

In the jubilant post-match scene, D-Bry took the time to embrace Connor Michalek, the terminally-ill eight-year-old fan who had captured the heart of the man he idolised and, just writing about it, I feel as though my non-existent allergies are acting up.

Michalek passed away less than three weeks later.

Though not comparable to that very real tragedy, the ending of The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak at the hands of Brock Lesnar had many fans feeling a sudden sense of loss.

The most infamous result in wrestling history, the plethora of different reactions showed the true range of emotions that fans inside the Superdome were feeling, from sadness and confusion to shock and anger.

6. Ric Flair's Farewell

WWE.com

WrestleMania XXIV saw the last (WWE) match of Ric Flair, as one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots bowed out with a classic opposite Shawn Michaels at the Showcase of the Immortals.

Blubbering as soon as the three was counted, it was apparent that this was an emotional moment for the Nature Boy, as he waved goodbye to his fans, shared a moment with his family at ringside and then took one long, final walk up the ramp.

The next night on Raw was the Ric Flair show, as WWE gave the Hall of Famer a considerable chunk of time to make his farewell address. Building up to the address, WWE played clips of some of the best moments from Flair's long and illustrious career, as well as messages from the likes of Dusty Rhodes.

The Dirtiest Player in the Game gave a typically impassioned speech and looked set to leave, before Triple H made his entrance and informed him that he and many others wanted to pay their respects to him before he goes.

Following that, everyone from Michaels and Ricky Steamboat to the Four Horsemen and Batista came out to give him a hug and a kind word.

To cap it all off, the locker room emptied and gave him a standing ovation, as the fans chanted 'thank you Ric'.

After the show went off the air, Vince McMahon and the Undertaker also emerged to join the heartfelt festivities, leaving the 'Naitch a blubbering mess.

6. Ric Flair's Farewell

WWE.com

WrestleMania XXIV saw the last (WWE) match of Ric Flair, as one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of boots bowed out with a classic opposite Shawn Michaels at the Showcase of the Immortals.

Blubbering as soon as the three was counted, it was apparent that this was an emotional moment for the Nature Boy, as he waved goodbye to his fans, shared a moment with his family at ringside and then took one long, final walk up the ramp.

The next night on Raw was the Ric Flair show, as WWE gave the Hall of Famer a considerable chunk of time to make his farewell address. Building up to the address, WWE played clips of some of the best moments from Flair's long and illustrious career, as well as messages from the likes of Dusty Rhodes.

The Dirtiest Player in the Game gave a typically impassioned speech and looked set to leave, before Triple H made his entrance and informed him that he and many others wanted to pay their respects to him before he goes.

Following that, everyone from Michaels and Ricky Steamboat to the Four Horsemen and Batista came out to give him a hug and a kind word.

To cap it all off, the locker room emptied and gave him a standing ovation, as the fans chanted 'thank you Ric'.

After the show went off the air, Vince McMahon and the Undertaker also emerged to join the heartfelt festivities, leaving the 'Naitch a blubbering mess.

5. Brodie Lee Celebration Of Life

All Elite Wrestling

The death of Jonathan 'Brodie Lee' Huber completely stunned the wrestling world.

Brodie was young, had wrestled on television just a few months beforehand and nobody outside of a small circle knew about his illness or the severity of it.

There was an immediate outpouring of grief for a devoted family man who was beloved by many, and AEW - the organisation that employed him at the time of his passing - decided to dedicate the December 30, 2020 episode of Dynamite to him, calling it the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life.

The matches, as usual on shows like this, were largely inconsequential, but did feature all the members of the Dark Order stable that Lee was the leader of and were uplifting in their way.

It was the moments that tugged on the heartstrings, whether it was the video testimonials from his colleagues, the incredible tribute video or Tony Khan awarding Brodie's son the TNT Title belt and naming him 'TNT Champion for Life'.

An exceptionally classy tribute to a talented performer and, by all accounts, a great guy.

5. Brodie Lee Celebration Of Life

All Elite Wrestling

The death of Jonathan 'Brodie Lee' Huber completely stunned the wrestling world.

Brodie was young, had wrestled on television just a few months beforehand and nobody outside of a small circle knew about his illness or the severity of it.

There was an immediate outpouring of grief for a devoted family man who was beloved by many, and AEW - the organisation that employed him at the time of his passing - decided to dedicate the December 30, 2020 episode of Dynamite to him, calling it the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life.

The matches, as usual on shows like this, were largely inconsequential, but did feature all the members of the Dark Order stable that Lee was the leader of and were uplifting in their way.

It was the moments that tugged on the heartstrings, whether it was the video testimonials from his colleagues, the incredible tribute video or Tony Khan awarding Brodie's son the TNT Title belt and naming him 'TNT Champion for Life'.

An exceptionally classy tribute to a talented performer and, by all accounts, a great guy.

4. The Post-9/11 SmackDown

WWE.com

Sticking to the old maxim 'the show must go on', WWE taped SmackDown on September 13, 2001, just two days after the horror of 9/11.

The first mass gathering of any kind in the United States since the attack on the World Trade Center, WWE abandoned storylines for the evening and put on a show in Houston, Texas in a bid to take the nation's mind off the tragedy.

It began with Vince McMahon addressing the audience before he joined every member of the WWE roster, as well as referees, crew and office personnel, on the stage as Lillian Garcia delivered a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, setting the tone for what was to come.

Throughout the evening, many WWE superstars gave their to-camera thoughts about what had happened and sent out messages of defiance and hope to those watching at home, as well as their prayers to the victims.

In an unprecedented situation, WWE attempted to do what they do best and offer a bit of respite in incredibly trying times, while also showing another, more human side of their superstars.

Fittingly, American Hero Kurt Angle beat Rhyno and led the audience in chants of 'USA'.

4. The Post-9/11 SmackDown

WWE.com

Sticking to the old maxim 'the show must go on', WWE taped SmackDown on September 13, 2001, just two days after the horror of 9/11.

The first mass gathering of any kind in the United States since the attack on the World Trade Center, WWE abandoned storylines for the evening and put on a show in Houston, Texas in a bid to take the nation's mind off the tragedy.

It began with Vince McMahon addressing the audience before he joined every member of the WWE roster, as well as referees, crew and office personnel, on the stage as Lillian Garcia delivered a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, setting the tone for what was to come.

Throughout the evening, many WWE superstars gave their to-camera thoughts about what had happened and sent out messages of defiance and hope to those watching at home, as well as their prayers to the victims.

In an unprecedented situation, WWE attempted to do what they do best and offer a bit of respite in incredibly trying times, while also showing another, more human side of their superstars.

Fittingly, American Hero Kurt Angle beat Rhyno and led the audience in chants of 'USA'.

3. The Eddie Guerrero Tribute Shows

WWE.com

Many active wrestlers had passed away before, but not many of them had died while still in their prime as one of the top stars in the world's biggest wrestling company.

Eddie Guerrero's tragic passing at the age of 38 was something that nobody saw coming, especially since he had worked so hard to turn his life around and beat the demons that threatened to take it from him years earlier.

Latino Heat was due to work later that night at a combined Raw/SmackDown television taping, meaning the entire roster was there when the news broke.

Faced once again with a big decision, Vince McMahon decided to press on with two tribute shows after speaking with Eddie's nephew Chavo, who assured the boss that this is what his uncle would have wanted.

The pain and sadness was evident on everyone's face during the opening ten bell salute, with many of Eddie's nearest and dearest openly weeping, most notably his best friend Chris Benoit, who was shaking uncontrollably.

During the course of the Raw and SmackDown episodes many people gave emotional testimonials and shared their fond memories of Guerrero, while some of the matches presented had special meaning to them.

Chavo went over Eddie's old nemesis JBL with the Frog Splash, while Benoit pinned Triple H before being joined in the ring by 'third amigo' Dean Malenko at the close of the show.

3. The Eddie Guerrero Tribute Shows

WWE.com

Many active wrestlers had passed away before, but not many of them had died while still in their prime as one of the top stars in the world's biggest wrestling company.

Eddie Guerrero's tragic passing at the age of 38 was something that nobody saw coming, especially since he had worked so hard to turn his life around and beat the demons that threatened to take it from him years earlier.

Latino Heat was due to work later that night at a combined Raw/SmackDown television taping, meaning the entire roster was there when the news broke.

Faced once again with a big decision, Vince McMahon decided to press on with two tribute shows after speaking with Eddie's nephew Chavo, who assured the boss that this is what his uncle would have wanted.

The pain and sadness was evident on everyone's face during the opening ten bell salute, with many of Eddie's nearest and dearest openly weeping, most notably his best friend Chris Benoit, who was shaking uncontrollably.

During the course of the Raw and SmackDown episodes many people gave emotional testimonials and shared their fond memories of Guerrero, while some of the matches presented had special meaning to them.

Chavo went over Eddie's old nemesis JBL with the Frog Splash, while Benoit pinned Triple H before being joined in the ring by 'third amigo' Dean Malenko at the close of the show.

2. Roman's Revelation

WWE.com

Roman Reigns may have had his detractors, those who didn't like his style or character or booking or whatnot, but nobody wish the Big Dog anything other than the absolute best when he made an unexpected announcement on the October 22, 2018 episode of Raw.

Opening the show, Roman revealed that leukemia, which he had initially been diagnosed with in 2008, had returned.

Relinquishing the Universal Title, Reigns dropped character and addressed the audience as 'Joe', explaining his history with the disease he thanked the fans for their support, letting them know that he was going home to focus on his health and family and that he would be back soon.

He was then met with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins of The Shield, the three men emotionally hugging at the top of the ramp.

Roman's speech was optimistic in nature and helped turn what could have been an incredibly sad moment into something of a triumphant one, but it was still tough to listen to knowing how serious the situation was.

At the end of the show, things become emotional in a different storyline way, when the Lunatic Fringe turned on the Architect, just moments after the pair won the Tag Team Titles.

In an era where it had become hard to surprise a somewhat jaded audience, the moment he hit Dirty Deeds took all the air out of the arena as there were notable gasps at the sight of the unexpected attack.

2. Roman's Revelation

WWE.com

Roman Reigns may have had his detractors, those who didn't like his style or character or booking or whatnot, but nobody wish the Big Dog anything other than the absolute best when he made an unexpected announcement on the October 22, 2018 episode of Raw.

Opening the show, Roman revealed that leukemia, which he had initially been diagnosed with in 2008, had returned.

Relinquishing the Universal Title, Reigns dropped character and addressed the audience as 'Joe', explaining his history with the disease he thanked the fans for their support, letting them know that he was going home to focus on his health and family and that he would be back soon.

He was then met with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins of The Shield, the three men emotionally hugging at the top of the ramp.

Roman's speech was optimistic in nature and helped turn what could have been an incredibly sad moment into something of a triumphant one, but it was still tough to listen to knowing how serious the situation was.

At the end of the show, things become emotional in a different storyline way, when the Lunatic Fringe turned on the Architect, just moments after the pair won the Tag Team Titles.

In an era where it had become hard to surprise a somewhat jaded audience, the moment he hit Dirty Deeds took all the air out of the arena as there were notable gasps at the sight of the unexpected attack.

1. Raw Is Owen

WWE.com

Whether WWE did the 'right thing' in continuing the show after Owen Hart's tragic accident at Over the Edge is, at the very least, highly debatable.

The next night on Raw, however, WWE did everything they could to honour Owen with an emotional tribute show.

Stories and rivalries were put aside for the evening and every performer was given the option of whether or not they wanted to wrestle.

It began with a ten-bell salute, with the roster gathered on the ramp, followed by a tribute video, narrated by Vince McMahon. Throughout the show, wrestlers spoke about Owen and what they meant to him. Particularly difficult viewing was Owen's tag partner, Jeff Jarrett, who was quite clearly devastate just 24 hours removed from seeing his best friend pass away.

What shone through while watching everyone say their bit was just what a good person Owen Hart was, and how he cared about his family, particularly his wife and children, above everything else.

The show closed with Steve Austin, a man who had previously had issues with Owen after their SummerSlam 1997 match gone wrong, toasting The Rocket as the show went off the air with an 'In Memory Of' graphic.