Buzz
Inspired by the compilation Top Ten Ultimate Rivalries from The Ultimate Book of Top Ten Lists, this collection highlights ten extraordinary rivalries. Unlike traditional duels, these rivalries uniquely involve three opposing factions, spanning diverse fields such as history, sports, beauty, and business. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of three-way showdowns.
10. PlayStation, XBOX, and Wii
This rivalry represents the latest chapter in a long and intricate history of video game console battles, a topic rich enough to warrant its own top ten list. The 1983 video game crash marked a significant downturn, as arcades and home systems lost their appeal. This collapse was driven by the oversaturation of poorly made, costly games and an overwhelming number of consoles, such as the Wonder Wizard, Magnavox Odyssey, Mattel Intellivision, and the iconic Atari 2600. The industry rebounded in 1985 with the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which revolutionized gaming with hits like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros, bundled with the console.
Nintendo faced its first major competition when the Sega Genesis launched in the late 1980s (1988 in Japan and 1990 in North America), introducing the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The Genesis, a 16-bit console, outperformed the 8-bit NES and Atari in graphics and sound. Nintendo responded in 1990 with the 16-bit Super-NES. The competition intensified as consoles advanced from 16 to 32 bits with the Sega Saturn and Sony’s PlayStation. The battle continued into 64-bit systems like the Nintendo 64, Atari Jaguar, and Sega Dreamcast, the latter two marking the decline of their respective companies. In the early 2000s, Nintendo’s GameCube struggled against the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft’s XBOX. By 2006, Sony and Microsoft had launched their next-gen consoles, the PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360.
Many had written off Nintendo by this point, but the company’s focus on innovation over imitation turned the tide. The Wii, designed for a broader audience and featuring a unique two-part controller (the “Remote and Nunchuk”), became a global sensation. To date, it has sold over 75 million units worldwide, surpassing the PlayStation 3’s 41 million and XBOX 360’s 44 million. However, the PlayStation 2 remains the all-time leader with over 140 million units sold.
9. AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus
In nearly every major soccer league worldwide, there are two iconic clubs locked in legendary rivalries—Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, Boca Juniors and River Plate in Argentina, and so on. Italy stands apart with its trio of historic powerhouses: AC Milan, known as “i Rossoneri” (the Red-and-Blacks); FC Internazionale Milano, or “i Nerazzurri” (the Black-and-Blues); and Juventus FC, called “i Bianconeri” (the White-and-Blacks). Their rivalry is nothing short of legendary.
To begin with, these three clubs are located in close proximity in Northern Italy and have long dominated Serie A, collectively securing 62 national championships—more than half of all titles in the league’s history. As of 2010, Juventus leads with 27 titles, though Inter recently claimed five consecutive wins. Together, they have finished as runners-up 49 times and are the only Italian clubs to proudly display gold stars on their jerseys, each symbolizing at least ten championship victories.
Their dominance extends internationally, with the trio amassing 37 officially recognized international titles, including 12 UEFA Champions League trophies (AC Milan leads with 7), 7 UEFA Super Cups, and 7 Intercontinental Cups. If their sheer success doesn’t highlight the intensity of their matchups, consider this: Mytour.com’s list of top ten soccer club rivalries features both AC Milan vs. Inter and Inter vs. Juventus. For more in-depth insights, refer to that list.
For American readers unfamiliar or uninterested in soccer, don’t worry—something relevant to you is coming up soon.
8. Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors
On June 29, 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower enacted the Federal Aid Highway Act, paving the way for the construction of more than 41,000 miles of interstate highways—the largest public works project ever undertaken. With the infrastructure in place, America needed vehicles to fill these roads. This demand was met by The Big Three: Ford, Chrysler, and GM, all based near Detroit, Michigan.
The rivalry among these automakers is less about overall production or sales, where GM leads, and more about the quality and design of their vehicles. Comparing cars across brands can be challenging due to the industry’s habit of blending categories and targeting niche markets. However, there are plenty of instances where models align closely, such as the Ford Pinto, Dodge Colt, and Chevrolet Vega; the Ford GT, Dodge Viper, and Chevrolet Corvette; and the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, and Pontiac Firebird. Similar overlaps exist in trucks, minivans, and SUVs.
Although their golden era has passed and the trio now struggles to compete with German and Japanese manufacturers, the cars they produced for decades remain iconic symbols of freedom and American identity.
7. Miss Universe Contestants
The Miss Universe Pageant, despite its critics, aims to promote a message of “peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding” globally. Three nations—USA, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico—consistently compete not just to participate but to dominate. The United States, the birthplace of the competition, leads with 7 total wins, 15 top-two finishes, and 54 top-ten placements. However, it has been 13 years since Brook Mahealani Lee from Hawai’i last secured an American victory.
In Venezuela, where the Miss Universe pageant is a national obsession, the country boasts six all-time winners, including two of the last three and the only back-to-back champions. They also have six first-runner-ups, five second-runner-ups, four third-runner-ups, and an unmatched 13 consecutive top-six finishes from 1991 to 2003. Venezuela holds four Best-in-Swimsuit awards, the most of any nation, and in 1993, contestant Milka Chulina achieved the highest-ever interview score (9.843), showcasing both beauty and intellect.
Finally, Puerto Rico, a small island territory with around 4 million people, has claimed the Miss Universe title five times—more than double the combined wins of China and India, the world’s most populous nations. Puerto Rico has also won the Miss Photogenic award five times, second only to the Philippines, and is one of only two countries (alongside Venezuela) to secure at least one victory in each of the last four decades. In 2001, Denise Quiñones from Puerto Rico delivered a historic performance, winning Miss Photogenic, Best-in-Swimsuit, Best Hair, and the coveted Miss Universe title.
6. Florida, Florida State, & Miami
In the realm of American college football, fierce rivalries abound, but one trio stands above the rest. The top three Florida schools—University of Florida (known as “U.F.” or “The Gators”), Florida State University (referred to as “F.S.U.” or “The ‘Noles”), and the University of Miami (called “The U” or “The Canes”)—have fiercely competed for state and national dominance.
Since 1983, these teams have collectively secured 10 AP National Championships and produced 6 Heisman Trophy winners. Miami holds NCAA records for the most consecutive home wins (58) and the longest streak of years with a first-round NFL draft pick (14). Florida claimed the two most recent AP National Championships (2006 and 2008) and the latest Heisman Trophy (2007). In 1999, Florida State became the first team to maintain a wire-to-wire #1 ranking in the AP poll and participated in the first three BCS Championship games.
Many consider the Miami-FSU rivalry the most thrilling, as they compete in the same conference and have played numerous nail-biting games, often decided by missed field goals. The Florida-Miami matchup is the rarest, as Florida tends to avoid scheduling strong opponents, which only heightens the intensity when they do meet. (Despite this, Florida is required by state law to face FSU annually.) A standout year in this rivalry was 1996, when #2 FSU defeated #1 Florida 24-21 in Tallahassee. Florida later avenged this loss with a dominant 52-20 victory in the Sugar Bowl on January 2, 1997, reclaiming the #1 spot.
5. Blondes, Brunettes, and Redheads
Among certain groups of white women, a rivalry exists between blondes, brunettes, and redheads, rooted entirely in stereotypes. Blondes are often perceived as less intelligent but more attractive, leading to the belief that they “have more fun.” Polls suggest most men prefer dating blondes but marrying brunettes, viewing the latter as smarter and more capable. Redheads, the rarest group, add an unpredictable element to this dynamic. They are often described as passionate, impatient, and highly energetic. Interestingly, scientific studies show redheads have a higher tolerance for electrically-induced pain but are more sensitive to heat-induced pain.
4. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades
In Greek mythology, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were three brothers who, after overthrowing the Titans, divided the universe among themselves. Zeus ruled the sky, Poseidon the seas, and Hades the underworld. The earth, however, remained a shared domain, fueling their rivalry. Their clever yet often temperamental interactions with each other and humanity have become legendary, spanning from ancient times to modern pop culture.
Zeus, often called the “father of the gods,” is mistakenly thought to be the father of all deities. In reality, this title reflects his numerous offspring from various liaisons, including Apollo, Athena, Dionysus, Helen of Troy, and Perseus. Poseidon, equally promiscuous, famously had an affair with Medusa, leading to her transformation into a monster. He also fathered figures like Polyphemus and Triton. Hades, less fortunate, is often depicted in tales of abduction and attempted coercion, most notably involving Persephone. The Roman counterparts to these gods are Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto.
3. Big Three Faiths
The rivalry among the three major monotheistic religions—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—tops this list as the most violent and enduring conflict, surpassing all others in scale and intensity.
Tracing the origins of this rivalry is complex. Islam, emerging with the Quran in 610 AD, is the youngest of the three. Long before its inception, tensions between Christians and Jews were already high, beginning with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in 33 AD, ordered by Roman authorities following a Jewish conviction. This animosity deepened significantly after Roman Emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity in 312 AD, an event some historians, like James P. Cook, argue set the stage for centuries of Christian persecution against Jews in Europe.
The roots of this conflict stretch even further back. In 701 BC, the Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, attempted to conquer Jerusalem. Had they succeeded, the unique monotheistic belief of the Israelites might have been erased. Instead, their victory reinforced their faith in one God, which endured even after their conquest and enslavement by the Babylonians. All three religions trace their origins to Abraham, who lived in Ur around 2,000 BC, a time considered the dawn of civilization.
Once Arab Muslims rose to power and captured Jerusalem in 638, the conflict escalated dramatically. History is filled with brutal clashes among these groups, including the Crusades by European Christians, the persecution of Jews, Muslims, and Christians by Spanish inquisitors, and, most infamously, the Holocaust during World War II, where Jews were systematically exterminated by the Nazis, who identified as Christians. The Holocaust, denied by some Muslim leaders, was influenced by earlier atrocities like the Armenian genocide carried out by Ottoman Turks, a German ally during World War I. Other violent acts, such as the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, further highlight the ongoing strife.
As recent as last year, tensions flared when a self-proclaimed Christian pastor in Florida declared 9/11 as “International Burn-A-Koran Day” to mark the WTC attacks. Osama Bin Laden justified these attacks, which killed over 3,000 people of various faiths, as retaliation for American support of Israel.
2. Id, Ego, and Super-ego
In Sigmund Freud’s psychological framework, the Id, Ego, and Super-ego—or in German, das Es (the “It”), das Ich (the “I”), and das Über-Ich (the upper “I”)—are the three components of mental activity. The Id, present from birth, operates on primal desires and seeks immediate gratification, often described as chaotic and driven by instinct. The Ego, in contrast, functions based on logic, reason, and external realities, acting as a mediator between the Id and the external world.
The Ego acts as a mediator between the Id and the Super-ego, the latter representing ideals, aspirations, and the pursuit of perfection. The Super-ego, inherently opposed to the Id, generates feelings of guilt when pleasure is pursued. This internal conflict is a constant battle within the human psyche. It’s worth noting that Freud’s model is just one of three major psychological theories, creating a three-way rivalry in the field of psychology itself.
1. Monster, Dracula, & Wolf Man
This trio earns its legendary status for two reasons: the rivalry between their respective franchises and the conflicts between the monsters themselves. In 1931, Universal Pictures released two iconic horror films: “Frankenstein,” based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, starring Boris Karloff as the Monster, and “Dracula,” featuring Béla Lugosi, adapted from Bram Stoker’s 1897 book. Both films were hugely successful, spawning multiple sequels within five years. The trio was completed in 1941 with the release of “The Wolf Man,” starring Lon Chaney Jr., allowing the characters to cross paths in subsequent films.
In “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (1943), the Monster and the Wolf Man clash in the first-ever battle between the trio (spoiler: both perish by drowning). Later, in “House of Frankenstein” (1944) and “House of Dracula” (1945), the Wolf Man faces off against each titular character. The trio reunited in “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (1948), where Dracula manipulates the Monster to fight the Wolf Man. Chaney, Karloff, and Lugosi often reprised their iconic roles in these films and others.
In the early 1970s, two films, “Dracula vs. Frankenstein” and “Dracula: Prisoner of Frankenstein,” brought the trio together once more. Their appearances continued in “The Monster Squad” (1987), “Monster Mash” (1995), another animated “Monster Mash” (2000) featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks, and “Van Helsing” (2004). The trio’s enduring popularity is evident, and this list barely scratches the surface. A notable twist came with the sitcom The Munsters, where the father is Frankenstein’s Monster, the mother is Dracula’s daughter, and the son is a young werewolf.
