Nostalgia always feels amazing when looking back. In wrestling that generally means looking back fondly on the classic matches that have been generally considered as such. But often nostalgia for wrestling matches is filled with rose-colored glasses. For example, if you try to rewatch the near hour-long original Survivor Series matches, they’re a bit of a slog to get through.

Related: Bret Hart's Final 10 WCW Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best

Wrestling podcast mogul Conrad Thompson has stated on his shows that nostalgia equates to a 10-year window of your youth where you are most impressionable. Unfortunately, even some of wrestling’s greatest matches or at least the matches that perceived as classic don’t stand the test of time.

10 Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania 12

Bret-Hart-Vs-Shawn-Michaels-WrestleMania-12

For over 60 minutes, two of the greatest wrestlers, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels captivated the WWE Universe. To some it was a technical marvel. To others, it was just a long marathon that was hard to get invested in. Bret and Shawn’s Iron Match is actually both of those things.

Yes two of the greatest superstars of the 90s were able to put on a clinic, but it is a long match to get through, and both men have had a lot more exciting matches throughout their careers.

9 Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre The Giant - WrestleMania 3

Andre Challenges Hogan WrestleMania 3

At WrestleMania 3, over 90,000 fans jam-packed The Pontiac Silverdome to witness what was then the biggest event in sports entertainment.

Related: Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre The Giant: 10 Things Fans Forgot About Their Rivalry

The event was headlined by the biggest match in WWE history, the match that truly kicked off Hulkamania and The WWE as we knew it - Andre The Giant challenging Hulk Hogan for the WWE title. While the image of Hulk Hogan slamming Andre is iconic, the match itself was one of the worst in WWE history.

8 The Undertaker Vs. Mankind - SummerSlam 1996

Mankind Vs Undertaker Boiler Room Brawl

One of the first big matches in the storied saga of The Undertaker and Mankind was the first ever Boiler Room Brawl. The first half of the match was a pre-taped…well, a brawl inside the boiler room of The Gund Arena. Then the live portion would feature both men fighting towards the ring to grab the Urn from Paul Bearer.

If you were in the audience that night, there were no giant monitors, and you had to try to watch the match on TVs that were rolled out. That made a strange match even stranger, not to mention the feed going out during the match as well.

7 The Ultimate Challenge - WrestleMania 6

Hulk Hogan Vs Ultimate Warrior WrestleMania 6

Just because Pat Patterson was able to craft and create one of the best matches of both Warrior and Hogan’s careers doesn’t mean that it was a very good one either. While Hulk Hogan was capable of and had better matches during his storied career, he was usually led by people far better than he was.

Warrior on the other hand, did better when being led by guys like Rick Rude. It was certainty a unique match, but two big plodding guys trading bear hugs and mercy locks for several minutes does not a decent match make.

6 Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels - Survivor Series 1992

Bret Hart Vs Shawn Michaels Survivor Series 1992

One of the first televised singles matches between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart was indicative of wrestling at that time - two midcard guys trying to wrestle 'big' because they were on the main event at the time.

Related: Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Their Rivalry

Because of that, the two master technicians who were changing the game wrestled didn't quite wrestle their kind of match, which made it a bit more slow paced then you'd expect. But at least Santa came out to celebrate with The Hitman.

5 Jake The Snake Roberts Vs. The Model Rick Martel - WrestleMania 7

Jake The Snake Vs Rick Martel

One of the more fun matches that took place at WrestleMania 7 was between Jake The Snake Roberts and The Model Rick Martel. The storyline set up was perfect - months earlier, Jake was blinded by The Model’s Arrogance cologne.

After months of treatment, Jake was able to see again and challenged The Model to a Blindfold match. While the match was a testament to how great of a worker both superstars were (working the crowd in the world’s largest game of hot and cold), the blindfold aspect of the match didn’t lend itself to an actual wrestling match.

4 Shawn Michaels Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania 14

Shawn-Michaels-Vs-Stone-Cold-Steve-Austin-WrestleMania-14

After suffering a career altering back injury at The Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels did all he could just to make it to WrestleMania 14 to headline against The Texas Rattlesnake. That meant a lot of bed rest and a lot of pain pills.

For years on the house show circuits, Austin and Michaels were tearing the houses down. But with Michaels now racked with injuries, the match that kicked off The Austin Era was a bit of a dud.

3 The Ultimate Warrior Vs. Macho King Randy Savage - WrestleMania 7

Randy-Savage-Vs-Ultimate-Warrior-WrestleMania-7

Plenty of old school fans get teary eyed at the long awaited reunion of The Macho Man and Miss Elizabeth and the end of the career of The Macho King (at least for a little while). But while that moment might still be the most endearing and emotional moment in WWE history, can anyone remember the actual match?

The big move came when Randy Savage dropped about 80 elbows on The Ultimate Warrior, and he still kicked out. Perhaps this was the beginning of finishers becoming wasted.

2 The Undertaker Vs. Jeff Hardy - Raw July 1, 2002

Undertaker Vs Jeff Hardy Ladder Match Raw 2002

One of the seminal moments in Jeff Hardy’s career came during the end of a Ladder match that he challenged The Deadman to a ladder match for the WWE Undisputed Championship.

Related: 10 Wrestlers We Can't Believe Defeated The Undertaker In A Singles Match

As he gritted his teeth and climbed the ladder, Jim Ross exclaimed one of his great calls to make The Rainbow Haired Warrior's ascent all that more gripping. But the match was nothing more than an Attitude Era glorified squash match.

1 Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre The Giant - Saturday Night’s Main Event - February 5, 1988

Andre The Giant

For nearly a year after WrestleMania 3, Andre The Giant was essentially the uncrowned WWE Champion, or at least he thought he was. Meanwhile, Ted DiBiase wanted to actually try and buy the WWE title from Hulk Hogan.

Those were the hallmarks that led to one of the greatest, if not the biggest angle in WWE history. But the match was another in the line of poor matches from this era, due in part to Andre’s inability to move.