10 WWE First Blood Matches You Forgot About
Blood in professional wrestling was at one point a money-making tool but has since become over-saturated. Accidental cuts are one thing but the repetitiveness is in referral to planned usage. Nevertheless, in some contests the shedding of blood was just as powerful as a pinfall or submission, that being the First Blood match.
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The only way to win was to make your opponent bleed; a small cut or a scrape was not counted. WWE phased out the match in 2008 after changing its programming to PG but on 10 occasions the match was booked.
10 John Cena vs. JBL
The very last First Blood match in WWE history was booked at One Night Stand in June 2008 between John Cena and John "Bradshaw" Layfield. The two started their 2008 feud from a fallout from being #1 contenders for the WWE Championship but both were unsuccessful at Backlash.
JBL and John Cena previously had a crimson-filled contest years prior at Judgement Day 2005. In their First Blood clash, Cena won the match after applying the STFU with a steel chain wrapped around JBL's neck to make him bleed from the mouth.
9 Triple H vs. William Regal
It may not be very gentlemanly to draw bloodshed in a match but that did not matter to William Regal in January of 2008 when he fought Triple H on Raw. The show took place from the Mohegan Sun Casino and since there was a roulette wheel in the house, "Raw Roulette" took place.
The big wheel was used to determine the stipulations for Triple H vs. Regal which landed on a First Blood match. Following a spine buster, Triple H would mount Regal and would begin to unleash a furry of strikes to the head that would ultimately turn Regal into a bloody mess.
8 Mr. Kennedy vs. The Undertaker
Once a prospect loaded with potential, Mr. Kennedy was paired up with The Undertaker for a rivalry in 2006. The two met in three PPV matches that year with their first being at No Mercy. Their second matchup was a First Blood match at Survivor Series that had a forgotten encounter along the way.
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On a SmackDown leading up to Survivor Series, Undertaker made it rain "blood" on Kennedy. At Survivor Series, MVP interfered in support of Kennedy, wiping away blood Kennedy was dispensing. MVP would hit 'Taker with a chair to bust him open and cost him the match. Following the bell, Undertaker unleashed a wicked chair shot to the head of Kennedy.
7 Kurt Angle vs. John Cena
WWE's first TV event of 2006 was Raw on January 2nd which was main evented with a match between Kurt Angle and John Cena. Six days later, Cena was defending his WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match that included Angle. To heat things up going into the title match, the Angle-Cena match on Raw was First Blood; the first one WWE held in just over four years.
Following interference by Daivari who was in Kurt's corner, Cena would turn around into a chair shot to the head by Angle which caused Cena to heavily bleed while the referee was laid out. Cena would lock Angle in the STFU but the referee would see John and call for the bell, giving Angle the W.
6 Booker T vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
After debuting in WWE in June 2001, Booker T made a big impact on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, literally as a Booker suplex injured Austin. The two split paths for a few months but would reignite their feud in December. Booker and Austin had their infamous supermarket brawl that was seen on an episode of SmackDown.
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A week after the rumble in the dairy section, Booker and Austin met on SmackDown in a First Blood match in the night's main event. Austin would bleed in the match following interference and a chair shot to the head by Big Boss Man while the referee was laid out. Despite Austin making a comeback, the referee would come to and see a bloodied Austin to end the match in favor of Booker T.
5 Kane & The Undertaker vs. Rikishi & Haku
The February 1, 2001, edition of SmackDown was quite unique as it was a special edition being "SmackDown Extreme". The main event was a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship but before that was a first-of-its-kind match. It was a First Blood match but it was a tag team match as well, pitting Kane and The Undertaker against Rikishi and Haku.
The match ended when just one of the wrestlers bled. At ringside, 'Taker would deliver a chair shot Haku's head that would bust him open. The referee would later spot the bloodshed but by that time, Rikishi had begun to bleed himself following a headshot by Kane with the steel steps.
4 X-Pac vs. Chris Jericho
When WWE changes television networks for their programming, typically their first show is very strong to set a good impression. Raw changed networks in 2000 and on September 25, debuted on TNN. One of the bouts that night was a First Blood match between X-Pac and Chris Jericho.
Waltman and Jericho battled throughout the arena but took a turn at ringside when X-Pac bashed Jericho in the head with what appeared to be a glass bottle. The impact made Jericho bleed which ended the match. The war continued after the bell as Jericho made X-Pac bleed with a nunchuck shot to the head and ended the battle with a Walls of Jericho atop the announcers' table.
3 Ken Shamrock vs. Chris Jericho
Almost a full year prior to his match against X-Pac, Chris Jericho fought in another First Blood match at his request on the September 23, 1999, SmackDown. Shamrock and Jericho were booked for a match on PPV a few days later, but the two did not wait. Jericho came out to the ring wearing hockey gear, complete with a helmet, stick, and a Buffalo Sabres jersey.
The move was actually smart by Jericho as his head and body were protected and covered. Curtis Hughes interfered in support of Jericho, distracting Shamrock which allowed Jericho to attack Ken with the hockey stick. Following a top rope splash by Jericho, Shamrock began bleeding from the mouth warranting the match to be ended.
2 The Undertaker vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
The main event of Fully Loaded 1999 had very large stakes. The bout itself was The Undertaker challenging "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the WWE Championship in a First Blood match. In addition to the world title being on the line, Mr. McMahon wagered his on-screen career in favor of The Undertaker. There was also another stipulation: if Austin lost, he would never be allowed to challenge for the WWE Championship again.
On Sunday Night Heat before the PPV, 'Taker attacked Austin backstage and made him bleed. Despite going into the fight with a fresh wound on his head, Austin prevailed thanks to interference from X-Pac who kicked a chair into the face of Undertaker, allowing Austin to grab a television camera and smash it into 'Taker's head which caused him to bleed and subsequently lose. A brawl ensured post-match which ended with Mr. McMahon receiving a Stunner from Austin.
1 Kane vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
The first ever First Blood Match in WWE history was presented with a head-scratching component, making it a must-see. At King of the Ring 1998, Kane challenged "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the WWE Championship in a First Blood match. It would be easy to see Austin bleed who wore trunks, knee and elbow pads, and boots. Kane on the other hand was completely covered from head to toe in black and red, making it virtually impossible to see him bleed.
The match saw interference from The Undertaker and, unbelievably, Mankind who were just coming off their legendary Hell in a Cell match. Undertaker went to hit Mankind with a chair, but the latter would duck, causing Steve Austin to take the chair shot to the head. This would cause Austin to bleed and shockingly lose the match, meaning Kane had just become the WWE Champion.
