The Ultimate Warrior's 5 most epic matches

3. The Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man – Summerslam 88 IC Title Match

Yet another Summerslam match comes in at number 3 on our countdown, and it was the Warrior’s first Summerslam appearance. Summerslam was a new PPV set to make it’s debut in Summer of 1988, and was set to feature and Intercontinental Title match between champion The Honky Tonk Man and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. The two had feuded for the IC belt since around WrestleMania 4 but Beefcake had been unable to capture the title; in the weeks leading up to them match, Beefcake had been attacked and injured by “Cowboy” Ron Bass, which left him unable to compete at Summerslam…this opened the door for a new challenger to the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time.

No new opponent had been announced for the Honky Tonk Man as he made his way to the ring in Madison Square Garden and proclaimed he would take on “anybody.” As the familiar “Ultimate Warrior” theme music hit, the Garden exploded as the Ultimate Warrior hit the ring as The Honky Tonk Man’s new challenger. The Warrior had been building momentum for about a year in WWE and seemed to be the right person at the right time, and the exact person the fans wanted to see.

The Warrior waisted no time in launching his attack – clotheslines, body slams, and flying tackles immediately overwhelmed The Honky Tonk Man and after his signature big splash, The Ultimate Warrior was the new Intercontinental Champion in just 30 seconds! I remember watching this live on PPV and being shocked that we were seeing a new IC Champion for the first time in nearly a year and a half….and in 30 second no less. I believe this was the match that put The Ultimate Warrior on the map and laid the groundwork for him to ultimately become a main event WWE star.