Passing of the torch is a term often used in professional wrestling to suggest that a previous generation ushers in a talent from the current generation as the flagbearer of the future.
While arguments are often conveyed on who is or isn’t willing to put talent over, what has happened throughout wrestling history is that, in the time-honored history of professional wrestling, wrestlers will often lose on their way out as a way to bestow that this man or woman is a person that fans energy, time, and money should be all put behind.
Here are 15 notable examples of wrestlers passing the torch to the next generation through clean losses, endorsements, or symbolic handoffs in marquee matches across promotions (primarily WWE/WWF, some WCW/AEW). These elevated the recipient to the top star, in no particular order.
15 Career Defining Passing The Torch Moments
Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 33, 2017)
On this night, Roman Reigns hands The Undertaker his second loss at WrestleMania. While Roman Reigns hadn’t ended the Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak, he had provided him with his only other WrestleMania loss.
For a number of years, the WWE had positioned Roman Reigns to be the heir apparent in the company. The next in line to lead the company and serve as its face moving forward.
Reigns had an apparent, and while public opinion on the match was mixed, it was considered by many in the industry as a badge of honor to face the Undertaker at WrestleMania. Reigns was pushed as the heir.
However, the fan backlash hurt, despite the result. At that moment, after Reigns defeated the Undertaker, it was believed that he had retired.
While Undertaker’s retirement ultimately didn’t happen here, it was still considered a means of passing the torch to the younger Reigns.
Hulk Hogan vs. André the Giant (WrestleMania III, 1987) – The Original Template
For fans of the WWF upon the emergence of the Rock n Wrestling era in the early to mid-1980s, the feud between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant symbolized a legitimate passing of the torch.
Not only would a win be a threat to Hogan’s championship, but it would also legitimize Hogan’s place in wrestling history.
Andre’s health has long been documented as deteriorating, and the opportunity to threaten Hogan’s title and capture it was enough to interest him in competing and headlining an event.
But what it also did was represent these two long time allies who had faced each other countless times (although that was never advertised and this was as a ‘first time ever’ match) proved to be more symbolic than a battle that showcased an array of different holds and moves.
Hogan defended the WWF Championship against the undefeated André the Giant before 93,173 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome, in Detroit, Michigan.
André controlled early on with chops and bearhugs. Hogan hulked up, bodyslammed the 500-plus-pound Giant, and hit the leg drop for victory.
As Hogan would later recount André requested it: “Tonight’s the night… pass the torch.” The moment drew mainstream attention.
It established Hulkamania’s peak while elevating the WWF nationally. André’s health decline made it poignant. Long-term success: Very high—Hogan carried WWF through steroid era.
Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior (WrestleMania VI, 1990): – The Ultimate Handoff
At the Royal Rumble 1990, Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior came face-to-face in the ring, and the feeling immediately from the crowd was that something was an era-defining moment between the two.
What ultimately resulted was a match at WrestleMania VI in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the SkyDome between Hulk Hogan, the then WWF Champion, and the Ultimate Warrior, the then WWF Intercontinental Champion.
While the match wasn’t built on being a highly technical affair, it was a showcase of two larger-than-life champions who had embraced the accolades and admiration of fans around the world.
The result would have Hulk Hogan drop the WWF Title to Warrior in front of nearly 68,000 people in a 20-minute clash of titans.
The Ultimate Warrior gorilla-pressed Hogan. Hogan sold the “power of the Warrior” before a clean loss. Fans popped huge.
Hogan endorsed Warrior post-match. At the time, it was considered a passing of the torch to the next star emerging in the company.
Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock (WrestleMania X8, 2002): – Icon vs. Icon
After years of being away from the WWF as part of World Championship Wrestling, Hulk Hogan had returned to the company that he helped gain notoriety and helped make him a household name.
Hogan was a beloved on-screen characters that millions of fans loved around the world. While it appeared that his popularity was waiting that wasn’t evident during his first time ever matcha against the Great One at WrestleMania X8 at the Skydome, in Toronto, Ontario Canada.
In the very same stadium that Hogan helped to usher in the rise of the Ultimate Warrior more than a decade earlier he would once again be part of a moment that celebrate the next generation’s star in The Rock.
What began as a match of Hogan the heel against The Rock as the face quickly turned in front of the Toronto crowd. Fans would cheer Hogan resoundingly throughout the match.
The Rock defeated Hogan in Toronto’s SkyDome. Hogan hulked up to massive cheers but The Rock won clean. It drew 68,237. Both men elevated—The Rock who received the rub from Hogan’s nostalgia run.
Ric Flair vs. Sting (Great American Bash 1990)
It appears that 1990 was a prominent year for established stars to usher in the next generation and pass the torch.
This case would involve the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Sting. The two had battled each other countless times after this date. In fact, the two were aligned together as part of the Four Horsemen at one point.
But on one night, these two would face each other in what could be easily seen as Flair’s bestowing his trust in Sting as being the “next one” in the WCW.
The two battle and battle, and in the end, it would be Sting who would defeat Flair at the Great American Bash and, in turn, have the ‘torch’ passed on to him.
Much like Harley Race did for Flair years prior it was Flair that saw a quality in Sting that was unlike others where he could see he could carry a match, feud and a company.
Flair dropped the NWA Title to Sting in the cage. Flair elevated Sting perfectly. Sting became WCW’s “franchise” star for years to come.
Shawn Michaels vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (WrestleMania XIV, 1998): –
The Attitude Era Launching Pad
As WrestleMania XIV was approaching, it was clear that fans were clearly behind ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. From the rise of Austin 3:16 to getting in the face of ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson and Vince McMahon, Austin was doing everything he could to ensure that he wasn’t going to be upstaged.
The significance of the match went beyond a mere title change. As the subheading suggests ushered in the era of Austin 3:16 as the face of the WWF’s Attitude era.
With Michaels injured going into this match, the timing made sense to elevate the most popular talent on the roster. It shifted WWF to Attitude Era dominance.
After his win, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin carried the company through countless wars. After this match, Michaels wouldn’t compete for the company for 4 years. The torch as the face of the company being passed was perfectly executed and had a massive impact.
Triple H vs. Batista (WrestleMania 21, 2005): The Ruthless Aggression Shift
When Triple H was planning to form a new faction, Dave Batista wasn’t who he originally had in mind. While Ric Flair would represent the past, and Randy Orton was the future, it was in fact Mark Jindrak who was earmarked as the fourth man in the faction, Evolution.
However, as fate would have it, they would ultimately settle on Batista being the fourth member of the group. Batista’s growth within the group would ultimately lead to him challenging Triple H for his title and, in the process, signalling the end of Evolution.
Fans would soundly get behind Batista and, in the process, show their support to a new world heavyweight champion.
As Batista, Batista-Bombed Triple H, became the new heavyweight champion and had the torch passed in the process.
Batista became the face of the new generation. A long reign followed. A clean win with a storyline payoff. Batista thrived in Hollywood later.
The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2002) – The Next Big Thing Arrives
While the idea of passing the torch is often tied with being a respectful acknowledgement from a past generation to a present one, it wasn’t in this case.
When The Rock faced Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2002, the mood in the air was very different. Fans were soundly behind the most electrifying man in sports entertainment and all that came with that.
But what was lurking in the shadows was the next big thing. Brock Lesnar, who had Paul Heyman by his side, would run through everyone and anyone in order to get to the top.
With that said, when Lesnar and The Rock faced one another, the time was right to elevate the future ‘Beast’. The Rock was a multi-time champion of his generation.
When Brock Lesnar F-5’d The Rock and pinned him clean, the result was a new heavyweight champion and the Great One passing the torch to Brock Lesnar. In this instance, Lesnar was the byproduct of a star-making moment.
Mick Foley vs. Randy Orton (Backlash 2004) – From ‘Legend Killer’ to Legend
When the Hardcore Legend faced the Legend Killer, fans were fully aware that the stage was being set between the two.
What would unfold was a hardcore match that was commonplace for Mick Foley but uncharted territory for the Legend Killer.
In a match that saw barbed wire and thumbtacks all over the ring, it was clear that if Randy Orton was going to walk out victorious, it would be the most brutal match of his career at the time.
As it would turn out, Orton bled and bled and bled. In the process, it also earned Mick Foley’s respect. With a back full of thumbtacks, Randy Orton would ultimately win the match.
In the process, Orton would earn the legend’s respect in a match that was a staple in the career of Foley, who, in the end, put over Randy Orton and passed on the torch to the next generation.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Beginning Feb 12th, 2012) – From Ace to Rain
Often referred to as “the ace” of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Hiroshi Tanahashi had long been considered the face of the promotion.
Regularly competing with a warrior spirit, Tanahashi faced a man he had previously faced: Kazuchika Okada. But something was different this time, however, on this night.
In a match that was just over twenty minutes in length, a shocked and silenced crowd in the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan, watched as Kazuchika Okada would hit his rainmaker finisher and pin Tanahashi, forcing him to lose the IWGP World Title to Okada.
The result wasn’t just a win for Okada but would ultimately usher in the era of the Rainmaker in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The Rock to John Cena: WrestleMania 29, April 7, 2013, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ, WWE Championship). – Once in a Lifetime
On April 7th, 2013, The Rock defended the WWE Championship against John Cena at WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The year prior was billed as “Once in a Lifetime” yet the following year they revisited the following year. The year prior, The Rock’s non‑title win over Cena at WrestleMania 28 provided bragging rights between the two generational talents.
Their rematch framed Cena as a former top star looking for redemption after a year defined on screen by personal and professional setbacks, while Rock entered as a part‑time champion and mainstream crossover figure.
The build emphasized respect layered over lingering resentment from their previous encounter. In the main event, both relied heavily on finishers and counters, presenting the bout as a clash between eras.
Cena’s clean victory over Rock to regain the WWE Championship functioned as a symbolic torch‑passing moment, reaffirming him as the company’s central, full‑time standard‑bearer.
‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper to Bret Hart: WrestleMania VIII, April 5th, 1992, Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana ( WWF Intercontinental Championship).
On April 5th, 1992 at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper defended the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Bret Hart at WrestleMania VIII.
The match followed Hart’s loss of the title to The Mountie and Piper’s subsequent short reign, setting up a clash between a beloved veteran and a rising technician.
Built on mutual respect and family ties frequently referenced in promos, the story hinted that Piper might revert to his old rule‑breaking tendencies when pushed.
In the bout, Piper’s brawling contrasted with Hart’s technical style, culminating in a sequence where Piper considered using the ring bell before choosing to fight clean.
Hart then countered Piper’s sleeper hold into a pin, regaining the Intercontinental title and marking a clear torch‑passing moment from established star to future main‑eventer.
Bruno Sammartino to Superstar Billy Graham: April 30, 1977, Baltimore Civic Center (Baltimore, MD, WWWF Championship).
On April 30th, 1997. Bruno Sammartino defended the WWWF Championship to “Superstar” Billy Graham, at the Baltimore Civic Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
The bout came at the end of Sammartino’s second, long title reign, during which he had been positioned as the company’s hard‑working, blue‑collar babyface centerpiece.
By 1977, Sammartino had mounting injuries and was signaling a desire to reduce his schedule, creating space for a new champion.
Graham, a charismatic, bleach‑blond rule‑breaker with a heavily promo‑driven style and a bodybuilder look, represented a shift toward a more flamboyant, entertainment‑oriented presentation.
Their match ended with Graham using leverage with his feet on the ropes during a pin, protecting Sammartino’s aura while still effecting the title change.
Although Graham was a villain on screen, the result functioned as a torch‑passing moment, moving the championship from Sammartino’s traditional powerhouse image to Graham’s more modern, personality‑driven main‑event style. The championship win by Graham ushered in a new era in the WWWF.
Harley Race to Ric Flair: November 24th, 1983, Starrcade 83, Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, NC).
On November 24th, 1983 Harley Race defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair in a steel cage main event at Starrcade ’83, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The event was marketed as “A Flair for the Gold,” signaling Flair as the promotion’s chosen next standard‑bearer.
Race, a multiple‑time world champion, had been presented as a rugged veteran determined to prevent Flair’s rise, even placing a bounty on Flair’s head in the lead‑up to the show.
The storyline emphasized Flair’s comeback from injury and his pursuit of a second world title. The cage stipulation and the presence of guest referee Gene Kiniski framed the match as a decisive conclusion rather than another touring title defense.
Flair’s clean victory with a cross‑body off the top rope marked a clear torch‑passing moment, shifting the NWA’s championship identity from Race’s old‑guard toughness to Flair’s modern, charismatic main‑event style.
