Top Five Best Opening Seconds of a Match in the History of WWE 

The opening seconds of a WWE match decide the course of everything that follows and therefore it’s considered crucial for every wrestler to dominate the bout in the opening seconds of the match. The history of WWE has witnessed numerous memorable, goosebumps-inducing and record-breaking opening seconds of a match that have kept the audience hooked and have set the tone for the whole show. 

In this article we will take a look at the top five best opening seconds of a match in the history of WWE. 

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  The Rock vs Hulk Hogan – WWE WrestleMania 18 

“The Rock vs Hulk Hogan” is still hailed as one of the most popular and influential bouts of the WWE WrestleMania 18 and was also dubbed as “Icon vs Icon”. The clash between the ultimate wrestling icon of the 80s & 90s era, Hulk Hogan and the legendary figurehead of the Attitude Era, The Rock was nothing short of a wrestling spectacle and the opening seconds of the match made it an even more stimulating experience for the WWE fans. 

With a crowd of over 70,000 hardcore fans cheering out loud for their favorite iconic wrestler, the atmosphere inside the Toronto SkyDome during the opening seconds of the match was indeed electrifying. Although Hulk Hogan dominated The Rock in the opening seconds of the match, the latter clinched the match ultimately and defeated Hulk Hogan. 

• Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar – WWE Survivor Series 2016 

The WWE Survivor Series 2016 marked an iconic comeback for Goldberg and he undoubtedly used the opportunity well enough to recreate his legacy in the annals of WWE. The opening seconds of the match between Goldberg and Brock Lesnar at the WWE survivor series 2016 witnessed an incredible wrath from Goldberg who literally squashed Brock Lesnar under a span of first 120 seconds of the match. Goldberg punched Brock Lesnar straight in the face, pushed him on the ground of the ring and kept punching Lesnar until he could not stand up back again for a few seconds. Goldberg undoubtedly made a fuming comeback and his bout against Brock Lesnar still remains to be the most iconic ones. 

• Rey Mysterio vs Kurt Angle – WWE SummerSlam 2002 

Perhaps there’s no match more intense and spine-chilling in the history of SummerSlam than this one! The opening seconds of the match witnessed a non-stop throttle by Rey Mysterio as he pinned down Kurt Angle, one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWE company at that time with his signature high-flying move over the top rope. Although Rey Mysterio’s action-packed sequence in the opening seconds wiped out Kurt Angle for a while, the latter soon made a comeback and ended up brutally defeating Rey Mysterio in the match. Although Rey Mysterio couldn’t win the match, he undoubtedly established himself as one of the most fierce and stiff opponents in the format. 

• CM Punk vs Eddie Kingston – AEW Full Gear 2021 

On the fourth spot in our list of top five best opening seconds of a match in the history of WWE we have the iconic AEW Full Gear 2021 bout between CM Punk and Eddie Kingston who apparently had a strong rivalry even outside the ring which further fueled their feud inside the ring. The opening seconds of the match witnessed Eddie Kingston smashing Punk with a hard blow dropping him on the mat of the ring  immediately. However, Kingston proved his “best in the world” title right after he made a roaring comeback against CM Punk and ultimately defeated him in the bout. Driven by action-packed annihilating moves and hard-hitting encounters, this bout undoubtedly witnessed the most iconic opening moments in the history of WWE. 

• Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega – AEW Dynamite : Grand Slam 2021 

On the fifth spot on our list of top five best opening seconds of a match in the history of WWE we have Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega at the AEW Dynamite : Grand Slam 2021. Often hailed as one of the most anticipated bouts in the history of WWE, it was Bryan Danielson’s debut match in the AEW ring. Although new in the ring Bryan Danielson proved his mettle and wrath right in the opening seconds of the match as he caught Kenny Omega off-guard and wasted no time in pinning him down on the mat. The bout lasted for thirty long minutes and even featured Bryan Danielosn’s signature “LeBell Lock” move. Although the match was a “draw”, it showcased Bryan Danielson’s dominance and fury in the ring. 

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