With WWE’s upcoming Premium Live Event, Backlash: France going down on Saturday, May 4th, it’s a great time to take a look back at some of the company’s greatest moments that took place outside of the U.S. From Canada to Saudia Arabia, to even as far as Australia, the World Wrestling Entertainment has created some memorable moments for their international fans.
With that in mind, here are 10 of the biggest and best international WWE moments.
10. Finn Balor Wins the NXT Title – The Beast in the East (Tokyo, Japan – 7/4/15)
Before Finn Balor started making waves stateside for the NXT brand, he had made quite a name for himself wrestling in Japan. So it was incredibly fitting that when the WWE went to the Far East for a network special from Tokyo, “The Demon” would mark the event by capturing the NXT Championship.
In a thriller of a match against then-champion Kevin Owens, Balor stood triumphant surrounded by many of the very fans who had seen his ascension firsthand. A special appearance by Japanese wrestling legend Tatsumi Fujinami to congratulate Balor on his win capped off this amazing moment.
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9. Natalya and Lacey Evans Make History in the Middle East – Crown Jewel (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 10/31/19)
WWE’s well-publicized (and extremely lucrative) arrangement to host special events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been received divisively over the years. However, it has also provided them with opportunities to produce some unique and historic moments. Case in point, the match between Natalya and Lacey Evans at Crown Jewel 2019.
What may seem like a routine match on paper actually holds the distinction of being the first women’s professional wrestling match to be contested on Saudi Arabian soil. It was an important moment and an example of the progressive influence the WWE can yield.
8. AJ Styles Wins the WWE Championship in the UK – Smackdown (Manchester, England – 11/7/17)
AJ Styles’ WWE run has been full of sensational moments, which comes as no surprise given the level of talent “The Phenomenal One” brings to the ring. Perhaps one of his greatest highlights has to be when he defeated WWE Champion Jinder Mahal (that’s still strange to say) to capture the gold for a second time.
It was already a rare occurrence for happening on a non-PPV/PLE, but what makes this moment even more unique is the fact that it marks the only time in history the WWE Championship has changed hands outside of North America. A truly distinct accomplishment for a one-of-a-kind talent.
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7. Rhea Ripley’s Homecoming – Elimination Chamber: Perth (Perth, Western Australia – 2/24/24)
There have been a ton of spectacular homecomings in recent years for WWE Superstars (Sami Zayn, in particular, has had two). However, in terms of scope and, well, sheer distance traveled for said homecoming, we gotta give the nod to Rhea Ripley. One of the unquestioned breakout stars of the last few years, she was given a massive spotlight befitting the star she has become.
Defending her Women’s World Championship in the main event against a very game Nia Jax, Ripley received a rapturous reception from her native crowd and showed the world why she had been pegged by many to be at the top of the women’s division for years to come.
6. Bad Bunny Makes His Entrance – Backlash (San Juan, Puerto Rico – 5/6/23)
Celebrity involvement in professional wrestling has a long tradition that is hit or miss. Bad Bunny undoubtedly falls within the upper echelon of this category and his entrance in his native Puerto Rico cemented that fact. Pure electricity from the moment his hit song “Chambea” blared from the speakers, it was an incredible atmosphere that led to a totally solid match against Damien Priest (who deserves a ton of credit).
A longtime fan of professional wrestling, this was one of the biggest pop stars in the world getting to live out his fantasy. And we were all along for the ride.
5. The Hart Foundation vs. Team Austin – In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede (Calgary, Alberta, Canada – 7/6/97)
Do you want to see a prime example of a crowd elevating an event to amazing heights? Look no further than this 10-man tag featuring The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Brian Pillman) taking on the team of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust, and The Legion of Doom.
The Calgary crowd was absolutely nuclear for everything in this match and it added so much to this already heated showdown. Bear in mind, The Hart Foundation were in the midst of a memorable run as villainous heels but the hometown faithful were having none of that. They were ultimately victorious and were joined in the ring by a legion of family and friends (including a young Natalya and Tyson Kidd) to celebrate in grand style.
4. The Ultimate Challenge – Wrestlemania VI (Toronto, Ontario, Canada – 4/1/90)
For WWE fans in 1990, there was no bigger potential matchup than Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior. Hogan, the established top star for the better part of a decade took on Warrior, the upstart fan favorite who had been shooting to the top like a supernova. Foundations for the bout had been set at that year’s Royal Rumble when the two titans went face to face for the first time.
The inevitable match was eventually set to take place at the Skydome in Toronto and fan support was fiercely divided. The two delivered an epic clash with Warrior coming out on top in what was, at the time, a huge passing of the torch to the new face of the company.
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3. The Hitman vs The British Bulldog – SummerSlam (London, England – 8/29/92)
If the long-hoped-for UK Wrestlemania finally comes to fruition, it’s gonna have to present something truly special to top this all-time classic. Real-life brothers-in-law Bret Hart and Davey Boy Smith gave the 78,000+ fans at Wembley Stadium a tremendous main event with the Intercontinental Championship on the line.
Davey Boy received a hero’s welcome from the British crowd and was able to capture the championship in what would be the biggest moment of his career. For Bret, he would be on to greater things as less than two months later he would capture his first WWF World Championship.
2. The Montreal Screwjob – Survivor Series (Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 11/9/97)
Perhaps the most infamous in-ring moment moment in WWE history, the WWF Championship match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels has been discussed and dissected by fans and experts since it all went down. This is the most notable instance of an event going off-script, with WWE owner Vince McMahon preemptively calling for the bell to get the championship off of a departing Hart.
The abrupt ending to this match left fans shaking their heads in disbelief, not knowing what just went down or what to believe. Circumstances that led to this moment and the backstage happenings afterward are the stuff of wrestling lore and will continue to be talked about for decades to come.
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1. Icon vs. Icon – Wrestlemania X8 (Toronto, Ontario, Canada – 3/17/02)
Not just one of the biggest international moments in WWE history, but one of the biggest wrestling moments of all time. Billed as “Icon vs. Icon”, the moment when Hulk Hogan and The Rock stood face to face in the middle of the ring was a colossal spectacle of the highest order. With the Skydome crowd losing their absolute minds around them, the two past and future legends delivered a titanic clash that will be replayed in wrestling clips until the end of time.
They gave us so many indelible images here: the staredown, the test of strength, Hogan hulking up, it was a feast for fans that will stand forever as one of the most legendary matches professional wrestling has ever produced.
