Due to overexposure, "the Devil's playground" became basic. If every championship match in WWE showed this kind of reverence, no one would ever feel like a loser in the end. Both are the legend of WWE and popular among the fans of WWE family. RYAN MURPHY, The Shield debuted at Survivor Series 2012 and carved a path of destruction that appeared to have no end in sight. 2 title" feel like its most coveted. Mysterio challenged Dragon for possession of the J-Crown, a collection of unified titles that the reigning champion wore to ringside with relish. Very proud of it. It was awesome to see that he could get right back on the bike after four years like hed never left." Despite the fact that both Superstars were (and are) better known for their explosive, OMG-inducing acrobatics, the match quickly turned into a gritty battle of wills, wherein Zayn seemed to correct, one by one, the mistakes that had previously kept him from the title. And Triple H emerged from this match changed forever, while Mick Foley put a blood-soaked exclamation point on his extraordinary career. And you couldn't ask for a better opponent than Angle. He had that whole chip on his shoulder with Triple H where they were best friends, but jealous of each other. "It was a really good action-adventure story, but as much as I love that match, its the one match that leaves me with that what if feeling. "The Dragon" knew how Flairs stylin and profilin was a source of confidence and pride. The competitors wore dog collars that connected them by a long metal chain. There, two of the top competitors of all time battled to a stalemate for 60 minutes. Its hard to tell where one teams madness began and the others ended in this frankly ludicrous, 10-car pileup of a match that saw Edge & Christian retain their World Tag Team Championship against The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Savage and Steamboat wrestled in a fast-paced, athletic classic that never slowed down for even a second during its entire 15-minute runtime. You can watch it as a standalone amazing match and see it unfold. There is no greater test of a wrestler's stamina than an Iron Man Match. The Miz - 2.75 Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan (WWE Raw Women's Championship) - 3.25 "But then you think, 'Hes been away for four years. The focus was rightly on Punk, riding the feeding frenzy of his hometown Chicago crowd, but Cenas defiance in the face of not just one man but an entire city was equally as compelling. If you have guys that just have been working 20, 25 minutes every night, and then you tell them to go out there and do an hour, they may find it difficult. It wasnt until a few years later, when that term came into the wrestling lexicon, that people started pointing out that I hadnt actually had one of those. The 11 minutes of mayhem saw the two future WWE Superstars use everything in their offensive arsenals as well as lots of steel chairs. Wrestlemania X ended with Bret Hart as new WWE Champion celebrating on his friends' shoulders while the New York crowd roared in approval. 'Taker finally granted Michaels his wish, but for a price HBK's career. Don't have WWE Network? He's tough as hell. It also featured an ending every bit as iconic as Hogan slamming Andre, with Austin's screaming in pain, his face a bloody mess, yet refusing to submit to Hart's Sharpshooter. There were even some young stars that would define the 90s, like Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Ultimately, the match ended the only way it could with Michaels' final defeat following two Tombstones. WWE is the most successful pro wrestling (or, as they say, sports entertainment) promotion of all time. Still, Michaels went down swinging (literally slapping 'Taker), but lost the match and his career, in an emotional finale for one of the greatest in-ring workers ever. Michaels refusing to tap to the Sharpshooter as the clock ticked down is still suspenseful, while his out-of-nowhere Sweet Chin Music and post-match celebration always makes the historical highlight reels. So when the two decorated Superstars locked up in Seattle at WrestleMania XIX, it was a meeting of similar styles in a bout that became the ace in a stacked deck of a card. I was in my 40s and he was knocking on the door. Not only did Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns formally debut by going after the biggest, baddest dog in the yard (thatd be Ryback), but their first match was against that same guy, and the most dominant Tag Team Champions since D-Generation X, in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match in WWEs Brooklyn debut. But that wasnt all. That was the question on the minds of many in the WWE Universe throughout the winter of 2014. The Royal Rumble in 2010 is definitely in the latter category. 3 and bamboozled victory in the closing moments of an unbelievable final four dance with Savage, Sid and The Hulkster, himself. "To get to start that match off was awesome. I cant pinpoint why I liked Bret so much. If they still don't get it, pro wrestling isn't for them. 25. Rude had the bout expertly planned out, as he tried to gain an insurmountable lead, going up 3-1 within the first 10 minutes of the half-hour-long contest. The match built from a grinding start to a controversial crescendo that involved a second referee and a split-second decision. DAVID SHOEMAKER. BOBBY MELOK. Brock Lesnar and CM Punk are two of the greatest "Paul Heyman Guys," both in real life and in storyline terms. Subscribe and watch all 100 matches right now. Lock and he got [disqualified]. Lock and made his black-clad adversary tap out. There's more, but that's the beauty of this match. Yet, just like 18 other brave souls before him, Triple H fell to The Undertaker. Unquestionably, watching a Peoples Champion on the verge of electrifying millions through other avenues go toe-to-toe with a sports-entertainment legend who had lost his way to the vices of "Hollywood" and a New World Order is appointment viewing. It's brief, but the actions and decisions really hit the right notes for . A flamboyant, cocky and dastardly grappler that was an expert in his craft and he knew it. At the risk of being interrupted by The Brahma Bull, does it matter? They were so different and so popular, but popular for exactly opposite reasons. Brock Lesnar was the most successful rookie of all time, a 6'3, 290 lbs. It was how the future WWE Hall of Famers seemingly turned back the clock by a decade, delivering some of the most jaw-dropping maneuvers and counters weve ever seen out of the two men. MIKE McAVENNIE. He never dies. In the end, Bret underestimated his baby brother and lost to a rollup. Both would have better bouts against others, but for two of the greatest, this was their best ever against each other. The contest brought fans on an emotional tilt awhirl thanks to a missed spear that left the undefeated Goldberg looking vulnerable for the first time in his career. 1 Many big names have already been revealed, so. Really love wrestling? "You cant predict chemistry. That all changed at Royal Rumble 1992. The Brahma Bull Rock Bottomed him to the canvas for a three-count that was a nanosecond beyond Undertakers disruptive reach. Years before ECW mastered the in-your-face, crash-TV style of wrestling, these two teams introduced it to the world, as the rivalry between The Midnight Express and The Fantastics exploded in a vicious brawl. You can guess at it, but until guys get in the ring, you dont know for sure whether they have chemistry together. While Angle entered the match needing neck surgery, it was Lesnar who left the match injured, following his infamous botched shooting star press. It was a shocking sight that reminded the WWE Universe that The Phenom was most certainly mortal. Kurt helped me and showed me how I can look like a better wrestler, reversing moves and getting out of holds and things of that nature. However, it was their third clash at Starrcade 1992 that truly defined their rivalry. Not convinced that guys took it to the extreme back then? BOBBY MELOK, Guilty as Charged 1999 will be remembered as the event at which Tazz finally won the ECW Championship, but the best match on the pay-per-view was Tajiri vs. Super Crazy. For me to even question my unabashed hero and almost side with whom I viewed as the ultimate enemy, how could one match do that? While WrestleMania III is one of the greatest WrestleManias ever, it relies largely on pure pageantry and feels very much from its era (there was even a six-man tag match featuring Hillbilly Jim and four little people). @JOEYSTYLES, Every Superstar in the locker room is a fan at heart, but Bayley was always a little more outward about it than others. The endgame five Savage elbow drops failing, then three huge shoulder blocks from Warrior to set up the pin was ahead of its time. He was like that anywhere he went, but he stood out like a sore thumb in WCW. When you watch the match, you have a feeling that the only people who truly know its the end are Austin and The Rock. The resilient Steamboat, however, knew that he had it inside him to overcome the odds. In particular, the TLC match consisting of the Hardy Boyz, Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian is arguably one of the most superb matches in WWE history. The challenger ruled the day, but the methods making that result possible set the bar for all of the Cruiserweight competitors who would follow in the footsteps of these larger-than-life fighters. It remains one of the most memorable, energetic and enthralling Cruiserweight clashes of all time, succeeding at raising the profile of Mysterio and Ultimo Dragon as well as the bar for all of sports-entertainment. The buzzards eliminated Dean Ambrose and put Seth Rollins through an announce table before Bray pinned Roman Reigns for the victory and solidified The Wyatts as a dark, commanding presence within WWE. Consider this: the Hell In A Cell match was once the ultimate stipulation. It was a very unique, hard-hitting match. It says a lot about Flair the institution, but the match speaks even more loudly about the potential of Curt Hennig the hero a role which he played here better than he ever did. And when the champion finally prevailed despite a spirited effort by the challenger, they embraced as a sign of respect. Namely, each man's willingness to do anything to win. Kurt Angle was on another level in the early 2000s, reaching the absolute peak of his character work and in-ring abilities, resulting in a feral intensity and storytelling prowess matched by few wrestlers before or since. The best match is up to you, the WWE fan. The match was grueling, with Race targeting Flairs injured neck and Flair battling back valiantly. One night stand 2006 8. What makes it even more impressive is there were no gimmicks (HIAC or Casket) and no stakes (like HBK's career), besides of course, Undertaker defending his streak and the pride of victory. JAMES WORTMAN. I was in denial, but couldnt help but agree with those feelings. Sherri Martel was immaculate, Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan were hitting on all cylinders, and the recurring shots of Miss Elizabeth in the audience were perfectly done. It's one of those magic things where its hard to point out why it worked so well. We looked at each other, smiled and just took it in. Whereas the ECW faithful were all but obligated to applaud Malenko and Guerrero on the night of their sendoff, the standing ovation in response to their half-hour draw felt more organic, less expected, and truly emblematic of the pairs artistic struggle. came to a head at Starrcade 1985 in an "I Quit" Steel Cage Match. It was funny to watch the guys looking at Rey like, 'You gotta be kidding me. The best example of an established star elevating a new star. The crowd was red hot for this feud. It was a great Vengeance in July 2002 and an unbelievable Triple Threat main event that saw WWE Undisputed Champion Undertaker, The Rock and Kurt Angle strike down upon each other with furious anger and with one anothers signature moves, including a Rock-charged chokeslam, an Angle-executed Rock Bottom and an Undertaker-driven Angle Slam. But really, where could it go from here? And it was only fitting that The Ultimate Opportunist himself, Edge, wound up seizing the briefcase in the end by utilizing a steel chair as the decisive equalizer. SCOTT TAYLOR. In his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., Flair put his career on the line against the monstrous Vaders WCW Championship. Not only was Steve Austin vs. The highest-ever rating is seven stars, awarded to Kazuchika Okada vs Kenny Omega at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in June 2018. But whatever followed, we'll always have this match, an expertly paced, old school brawl that had both guys emerge even bigger stars. He seemed to be becoming this main event-caliber guy, which is weird to think about in the perspective of 1991. Meanwhile, Michaels had supplemented the multifaceted, in-ring abilities that made him great in the 1990s, with the superb pacing and storytelling that comes from experience. Truthfully, on paper Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart should have been a top five "best ever." from the opening bell. And Shawn Michaels? Sign up for Peacock to watch. MATTHEW ARTUS. WRESTLEMANIA 35 - Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair A groundbreaking winner-takes-all match for both the Raw and SmackDown women's championships that saw Becky Lynch become the. He had retired and it was very unceremonious and under the radar. The Rock is one of the greatest feuds in WWE history because it featured one-half of the proverbial "Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling." Randy Savage and DDP go hardcore, Ultimo Dragon and Yuji Nagata light up Las Vegas, Chris Jericho endures a struggle with Gedo and the Nature Boy brawls with Mr. Yes, NXT has produced some of the best matches of the past decade, but it has always been positioned as a developmental promotion for the main roster, thus we chose not to include it and focus entirely on the main roster product. Im the oldest in my family and have a little brother. The Rated-R Superstar, on the other hand, had been undefeated in such matches. In the end, the man who would one day become "Stone Cold" used the ropes to steal a win and extinguish "The Dragon," temporarily. And that's how you know you've told a powerful story. He hits a Stunner on Austin while wearing the vest, and when The Rock lands three Rock Bottoms to finish the match, it is a slow, sad three-count. Welp, fans certainly swallowed their words a month later when the three put on one of the greatest WrestleMania main events ever and the best triple threat match of all time. Ric Flair might not have been a good guy, but the fans loved him for it. Newly arrived to WWE, the ever-serious Malenko was a natural foil for the goofy, bucket-hat-wearing, Worm-performing Scotty 2 Hotty. By 2005, Angle had abandoned his dweeby heel persona for a bloodthirsty, one-man wrecking crew willing to do anything to win. CRAIG TELLO, Set aside the ignominious ending for Savage this match was an absolute beauty. The wince-inducing clash established that Hell in a Cell was WWEs most sinister stipulation when both rivals took the fight atop the structure before HBK tumbled off the side of the Cell and through the Spanish announce table. Like jazz music or a delicious dish, you can't quite put your finger on it, you just know it. It was a defining moment for Michaels, who celebrated his last World Championship in his WWE Hall of Fame career. SCOTT TAYLOR. Thankfully, The Ultimate Underdog rose to the occasion against Ultimo Dragon at WCW World War 3 96. Watch every Premium Live Event and get unlimited access to WWE's premium content - available to you anywhere, anytime, on any device. These same fans felt ignored by the WWE for decades and poured their frustrations into CM Punk, who carried their dreams on his shoulders like he was delivering a GTS. Austin tried everything he could to retain the U.S. However, the event was stolen by two veteran wrestlers Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle. I didnt know who I wanted to win, but the moment when Razor climbed up and grabbed both titles became such an iconic moment, especially for me as a kid, because I was there. You might have a brother who always wants to be better. The match feels real at least as real as a fight between two guys forced to climb a ladder as both guys used the ladder as a weapon to win, not as a prop to pop the crowd. Summer slam 1998 13. Perfect at ringside, an incensed Savage lived up to his name by beating, battering and bloodying Flair before winning the title. This wasn't just a mindless gore fest. I said, 'I dont want to miss my kids growing up.' Did we mention the vacated WWE Championship was at stake for the first and only time ever in the Rumble? "Usually a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match doesnt feel like three separate matches, but Austin and Triple H wrestled three separate matches back-to-back, and it wasnt even the main event of the pay-per-view. For another, he was facing AJ Styles, who was 3-0 against Cena as a singles competitor going back to their first battle seven months earlier. Well, he probably was the best ever. They should have pleaded for Ricky to do something about it. After the match, you halfway expected Michael J. The perfect mix of technical mastery and main event-level appeal, Michaels and Jericho traded kip-ups and Superkicks in a fast-paced affair that saw HBK walk away with a big Show of Shows victory. Few title wins have felt like a validation of the people as much as they did the champion, but this one, with Bryan celebrating as confetti and YES! chants rained down around him, certainly did. John Cena vs. CM Punk is not only the best match of either man's careers or even the best match of the 2010s. MIKE MURPHY. Ten years after main eventing the inaugural Starrcade, Ric Flairs legacy nearly came to an end at the 1993 edition of WCWs marquee event. The match stands as a landmark moment in all of their careers. "Believe me, even as the referee was making the three-count, even as I was surrounded by the potpourri of burnt hair, charred flesh and blood, as I was losing, I realized I was having that defining WrestleMania moment." That was the blessing and the curse of the whole thing. By the time Rhyno helped Christian get the titles back for him and his buddy, the WWE Universe was both thrilled to see the champs retain and relieved that the mayhem was finally over. There will be a lot of underdog stories on this list, but few of them were as grueling or as gratifying as Sami Zayns 18-month battle to become NXT Champion, which culminated in this classic between himself and the reigning champion, Neville. Throw in a tag . We were not about to go out there and have a crash-and-burn Ladder Match under any circumstances, so it benefited us that the [rivalry] didnt call for that. WWE Day 1, January 1 Cesaro & Ricochet vs. Ridge Holland & Sheamus - 2.5 The Usos (c) vs. New Day (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship) - 4 Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss - 2.75 RK-Bro (c) vs. Street Profits (WWE Raw Tag Team Championship) - 3.25 Edge vs. ZACH LINDER. How do you possibly top one of the greatest matches of all time, The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels match at WrestleMania 25? SCOTT TAYLOR, Once upon a time, a small organization based in northeast Japan so perfected its intricate and high-flying take on the three-on-three match format that it birthed a genre unto itself called the Michinoku Pro Six-Man Tag. In the midst of complete disorder with bodies flying everywhere, Kane hurled Seth Rollins off the top rope and into the waiting RKO of The Viper. I was fortunate to see some tapes of [Rey Mysterio] from Mexico and matches he'd had in Japan with Psychosis and Juventud Guerrera. 12. Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels in WWE's first-ever televised Ladder Match, becoming the undisputed Intercontinental Champion. But by the time his third match against Ricky Steamboat for the World Title came around, fans just couldnt deny how great "The Nature Boy" was inside the ring. Latest Results. Both men took turns clobbering each other around the arena in a barbaric Texas Death Match, living up to their legendary reputations for being able to inflict and tolerate high amounts of pain. "It was about making the small things mean a lot. Its not every day an up-and-coming competitor gets to challenge for eight unified championships at once. When youre putting in that much time, the thought process behind it is youve got to have a couple guys who know how to do it. Dave Meltzer may give these matches all the stars, but we're looking for matches that stand the test of time. "I wouldn't have necessarily predicted beforehand that Orton and Christian would have been so great together. But the shadow of the epic showdown at King of the Ring has lingered ever since. Picking our favorite ladder match involving The Dudley Boys, The Hardy Boyz, and Edge and Christian is like picking the best Beatles album. 2. Through the duration of the match, Shawn was the underdog, and you didnt know if hed be able to pull it out. Swanton Bombs and Spears off ladders are what everybody remembers; what they forget is that Rhyno, Spike Dudley and Lita all got involved, too, essentially making the match a 9-way affair. When fans chanted "this is awesome," it was awesome. Shawn Michaels, before his 1998 injury, was one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time. He loved Bret Hart just like me, but as the match was unfolding, he started to hate Bret and love Austin. "I knew going into Chicago it would be an unpredictable and hostile crowd, and it really was. Whats Austin gonna do, hit a Stunner and then walk out the cage door? But they do a full-on Steel Cage Match. Bret Hart had better matches, but they were against better opponents.