✂️ The Barber Shop Incident: Shawn Michaels Turns on Marty Jannetty (1992)

Jannetty and Michaels appear on The Barber Shop

Filmed in December 1991 and broadcast on WWF Wrestling Challenge on January 12, 1992—just one week before the highly anticipated WWF Royal Rumble—the iconic tag team The Rockers, featuring Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty, appeared on the Barber Shop segment hosted by Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. During their appearance, Michaels and Jannetty openly discussed the recent tensions and disagreements that had developed between them as partners in the ring. The segment was elevated by the sharp commentary of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon, whose insights added depth to the unfolding drama. The infamous “Barber Shop Incident” endures as one of the most memorable moments in professional wrestling history—an explosive turning point that not only ended The Rockers, but ignited Shawn Michaels’ ascent into one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time.

Bobby Heenan: "Jannetty tried to dive through the window to escape. Did you see that?"

"The Barber Shop Incident"

WWF WRESTLING CHALLENGE

Aired January 12, 1992

More on Shawn Michaels' amazing rise after the "Barber Shop Incident" can be found in the Pro Wrestling Resource post below:

WWF History: Shawn Michaels in 1992 [50 Videos]

📺 WWF Tag Team Classic Matches: Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs. Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid

Charlie Minn with Shawn Michaels and Diesel

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs Razor Ramon & 1-2-3 Kid

WWF ACTION ZONE

USA Network

Aired on October 30, 1994

🥇 The First WWF Tag Team Appearance of the Hardy Boyz — 1996 [Videos]

On May 28, 1996, during a World Wrestling Federation television taping of WWF Superstars in Charleston, South Carolina, brothers Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy appeared together for the first time as tag team partners in the WWF.

During the taping, the Hardy brothers faced the reigning WWF Tag Team Champions, The Smoking Gunns—kayfabe brothers Billy and Bart Gunn—and also competed in a second match against the pairing of Marty Jannetty and Leif Cassidy as the New Rockers, with both bouts taking place the same night.

The WWF Tag Team Championship match later aired on the June 15 episode of WWF Superstars and was further anchored in WWF history by a commentary team featuring Mr. Perfect, Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Sunny. For the Hardys—hailing from nearby North Carolina—the match represents not only their first national exposure as a team, but the earliest documented step in what would become one of the most influential tag team careers of the modern era.

Listen as Vince McMahon refers to the brothers as The Hardy Boyz on commentary during both of their matches.

The New Rockers vs Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy

WWF Superstars

Aired June 1, 1996

The Smoking Gunns vs "The Hardy Boyz" Matt and Jeff

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

WWF Superstars

Aired on June 15, 1996

The First Five Stars: "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs "Hacksaw" Butch Reed [Videos]

Ric Flair and Gordon Solie in 1982

In the early 1980s, long before star ratings became part of everyday wrestling discourse, two rising stars met in South Florida for a match that would quietly make history. On April 7, 1982, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair stepped into the ring with the powerful and fast-rising “Hacksaw” Butch Reed at a Championship Wrestling from Florida event in Miami Beach. What unfolded that night was more than just a title defense—it was the beginning of a benchmark.

Years later, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer would look back on this bout and award it the first five-star rating of his now-famous match evaluation system, a scale that would go on to shape how generations of fans discuss and analyze professional wrestling.

 

It’s the fact that I live a lifestyle, never ever equaled by any other man.

My man, Sam, right here, and check out this limousine, my own Learjet.

And look what I travel with, the most beautiful women on the face of this earth.

This is why the World’s Heavyweight Champion, not Joe Montana, not Burt Reynolds, not turkeys like that, but a real man, the World’s Heavyweight Champion, that’s what makes me a little different.

- Ric Flair

Ric Flair Promo

Championship Wrestling

April 1982

Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs Butch Reed

NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match

Championship Wrestling

Miami Beach, Florida

April 7, 1982

Butch Reed rips off Ric Flair's suit

Championship Wrestling

Tampa, Florida

Aired May 1, 1982

WWF Championship Match: Bret "Hitman" Hart vs Buddy Landel [Videos]

Monday Night Raw

(DARK MATCH)

Taped December 18, 1995

Newark, Delaware

WWF Mania

Aired January 13, 1996

Alternative commentary

Royal Rumble 2001: The Attitude Era's best Royal Rumble Match

WWF Promotional poster by Mark Romanowski

WWF Royal Rumble

January 21, 2001

New Orleans, Louisiana

The 2001 Royal Rumble Match Entrants: Jeff Hardy, Bull Buchanan, Matt Hardy, Faarooq, Drew Carey, Kane (53 minutes 44 seconds), Raven, Al Snow, Perry Saturn, Steve Blackman, Grand Master Sexay, The Honky Tonk Man, The Rock (38 minutes 44 seconds), The Goodfather, Tazz, Bradshaw, Albert, Hardcore Holly, K-Kwik, Val Venis, William Regal, Test, Big Show, Crash Holly, The Undertaker (10 minutes 47 seconds), Scotty 2 Hotty, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (9 minutes 37 seconds), Billy Gunn, Haku, Rikishi 

John Cena vs. Kurt Angle — June 27, 2002 [Videos]

John Cena making his official WWE television debut, June 27, 2002

John Cena retired on December 13, 2025, having wrestled more matches—and divided more audiences—than almost anyone in professional wrestling history. A record 17-time world champion, he is widely regarded as one of the defining figures of his era.

But none of that mattered on the June 27, 2002, network broadcast of WWE SmackDown!

That night, Cena had one job: survive five minutes with Kurt Angle.

With Cena’s career now complete, his official WWE television debut no longer feels like an introduction. It feels like a thesis statement—one neither the audience nor Cena himself could fully understand until the work was finished. He began his career with a loss, and he ended it the same way, spending the years in between carrying a company, shaping an era, and entertaining millions.

Kurt Angle vs John Cena

SmackDown!

Filmed on June 25, 2002

Aired on June 27, 2002

Chicago, IL

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