10 Major Shows Missing From The WWE Network

2. WWE Showdown at Shea 1980

Described by WWE themselves as the precursor to WrestleMania, the company’s shows at New York’s Shea Stadium in the 1970s and early 80s are an important part of its history.

Of all the Showdown at Shea events, the one from 1980 is probably the most interesting and the one that should definitely be on the Network.

Attracting a not-too-shabby 36,000 people, the card was headlined by a super-personal Steel Cage match between Bruno Sammartino, former mentor to his opponent, Larry Zbyszko.

It was a hell of a fight and a great way to cap off what had been a superior show.

Other highlights include Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales winning the Tag Titles from the Wild Samoans, a decent Intercontinental Title affair between Ken Patera and Tony Atlas, some cutting-edge Junior Heavyweight action courtesy of Chavo Guerrero and Tatsumi Fujinami, an appearance from another Japanese legend, Antonio Inoki and an early meeting between Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan.

Clips of select matches are on WWE’s website and you can see Inoki’s bout on the Network as a Hidden Gem, but the rest of the show is AWOL, despite the complete version airing on WWE 24/7 (with commentary by Mick Foley and Michael Cole).

Perhaps WWE want to preserve the myth that the Hulkster only slammed Andre at WrestleMania 3 and not here, seven years earlier, but it really ought to be available to subscribers.