It has been f***ing forever since I did a top ten list on my blog, but I got some free time this week, so there's no time like the present. This is my list of my top ten favorite WWE matches. Of course, keep in mind that I only started watching wrestling in 2010, so I can't comment on a huge portion of older matches. Despite that, there's only three matches on this list that occurred after I started watching. As always, these lists are extremely subjective, so keep in mind that you may not agree with parts or all of this countdown. Enjoy!
10. Adrian Neville vs Sami Zayn- NXT Takeover: R Evolution
NXT is a bit of a weird beast these days, in that I'm constantly wondering whether or not I actually enjoy the product anymore. However, back in 2014, NXT was the hottest commodity in wrestling, and I was a huge fan. For me, this was the pinnacle of everything the brand is about. Two of the best young stars in the business, with a great story, an invested crowd and ridiculously high stakes. Had this occurred on a bigger stage, it'd probably be regarded as one of the best ever, but it still finds a spot on my list.
9. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels- No Mercy 2008
When I first started watching wrestling, I adored Chris Jericho. His heel character during mid to late 2008 was some of his finest work in my opinion, and this was the peak of a entire summer of build. Oh yeah, and there was also that Shawn Michaels guy. Both of these men have tons of experience in Ladder matches, and it showed. This match also featured one of my favorite finishes ever, with Jericho escaping with the belt by nothing more than pure luck.
8. Edge vs The Undertaker- WrestleMania 24
WrestleMania 24 is a criminally underrated show. Between Ric Flair's retirement, CM Punk's first Money in the Bank win, one of the best celebrity matches ever and an entertaining triple threat WWE Championship match, this show had a lot going for it. But for me, the highlight of the night came in the main event, when Edge put his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against the Deadman. For all of his legendary status, The Undertaker doesn't have too many 'Mania main events under his belt, which is a damn shame. These two men tore the house down, with one of the best heel/face dynamics you will ever see. Just an excellent capper to a hell of a night.
7. Shawn Michaels vs John Cena- Raw, April 23rd, 2007
Great matches on free television are always a bit of strange beast. This isn't the only one of its kind on this list, but it is one of the best. For all that's been said over the years about John Cena, the guy knows how to entertain, and he and HBK put on one hell of a match. It's also worth pointing out how long this match was, nearly an hour of Raw's two hour timeslot. Not only that, but the psychology involved in this match was absolutely superb, with Michaels wanting so desperately to prove that he could beat this young upstart. John Cena is, in my opinion, one of the greatest of all time, and he proved it on this night.
6. The First Money in the Bank Ladder Match- WrestleMania 21
When you talk gimmick matches, there are plenty of great examples. Hell in a Cell, Ladder matches, Steel Cage matches, the Elimination Chamber, Judy Bagwell on a forklift, etc. One of my personal favorites has always been Money in the Bank, and nothing can top the original. There have been plenty of great Ladder matches in history, I listed one earlier in this list, but few have fully embraced chaos like this one. These six men raised the expectations of this match to the stratosphere, and everyone since has just been trying to keep up.
5. Triple H vs Cactus Jack- Royal Rumble 2000
Other than WrestleMania, 2000 was a pretty great year for the WWF, which is a very weird sentence. I've never been a big fan of the Attitude Era, but even I can go back and truly enjoy what the product was at the time. Although there were some great matches throughout the year, this Street Fight at the Royal Rumble was the one that really stuck with me. Mick Foley did everything in his power to cement Triple H as the man, but take nothing away from The Game, who kept pace throughout. Hardcore matches are rarely regarded as classics, normally due to a lack of story telling and psychology, but that certainly wasn't the case here. It's an ugly gem to be sure, but well worth a watch.
4. Triple H vs The Undertaker- WrestleMania 28
Hey, don't judge me. Just because this was the first pay-per-view I watched live is absolutely not a sign a favoritism. No, you shut up. Look, I really liked this show, fight me. There are plenty of the opinion that this match should've been the end of the Streak, and while I disagree on the Streak ever ending, it would've been a much better final chapter. End of an Era wasn't just a tag line, it was the basis for the entire match, and a statement of intent. The combination of Triple H, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker all in the ring for one last time, with JR on commentary is a throwback of epic proportions. Including the Hell in a Cell to contain all of this nostalgia was a great touch, and turned a great match into a classic.
3. The Rock vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan- WrestleMania X8
For me, it was between this match and The Rock and Stone Cold the previous year, but it was the crowd that put this match over the top. While neither of these guys are regarded as mat technicians, they are two of the most charismatic men in wrestling history, and they have a presence like few other. While this isn't a great match by any means, it's hard to argue against it being a classic, again just based on the reception. The audience is a part of the show, a piece of the spectacle, and this match is absolute proof of that fact. The debut of the nWo may have been a bit of a disaster, but at least it gave us this match.
2. Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle- WrestleMania 21
Hey, it's that Shawn Michaels prick again. Why does he keep showing up? No, it's not weird that I talk to myself. Mr. WrestleMania has had plenty of great matches on wrestling's biggest stage, but this was easily my favorite. There are lots of guys in history that have had great chemistry when in the ring together, and when you combine great chemistry with two of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, you're bound to get a classic. Neither man put a foot wrong, and both took risks that enhanced the match without feeling unnecessary. Kurt Angle was at his peak in the mid-2000s, and he is one of the few guys that can actually keep pace with Shawn. WrestleMania 21 is one of the most underrate shows in history, and this match is a great example why.
1. John Cena vs CM Punk- Money in the Bank 2011
What goes into a great wrestling match? Emotion? Audience investment? Great technical wrestling and outrageously high stakes? This match contained all of that, and more. When I think of what an ideal match should look like, this is what I picture. Two of the best ever, each representing hugely different ideals, battling like their life depended on it. What more could you possibly want? The story heading into this match is completely unique, never to be replicated. And the roar of the crowd in the Allstate Arena when that three count was made is spine tingling. Plus, the WWE Championship was pictured in a fridge. So it also had that going for it.
Did you agree with my list? Feel free to let my of your greatest WWE matches, and stay tuned for my own version of Money in the Bank this Sunday.
10. Adrian Neville vs Sami Zayn- NXT Takeover: R Evolution
NXT is a bit of a weird beast these days, in that I'm constantly wondering whether or not I actually enjoy the product anymore. However, back in 2014, NXT was the hottest commodity in wrestling, and I was a huge fan. For me, this was the pinnacle of everything the brand is about. Two of the best young stars in the business, with a great story, an invested crowd and ridiculously high stakes. Had this occurred on a bigger stage, it'd probably be regarded as one of the best ever, but it still finds a spot on my list.
9. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels- No Mercy 2008
When I first started watching wrestling, I adored Chris Jericho. His heel character during mid to late 2008 was some of his finest work in my opinion, and this was the peak of a entire summer of build. Oh yeah, and there was also that Shawn Michaels guy. Both of these men have tons of experience in Ladder matches, and it showed. This match also featured one of my favorite finishes ever, with Jericho escaping with the belt by nothing more than pure luck.
8. Edge vs The Undertaker- WrestleMania 24
WrestleMania 24 is a criminally underrated show. Between Ric Flair's retirement, CM Punk's first Money in the Bank win, one of the best celebrity matches ever and an entertaining triple threat WWE Championship match, this show had a lot going for it. But for me, the highlight of the night came in the main event, when Edge put his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against the Deadman. For all of his legendary status, The Undertaker doesn't have too many 'Mania main events under his belt, which is a damn shame. These two men tore the house down, with one of the best heel/face dynamics you will ever see. Just an excellent capper to a hell of a night.
7. Shawn Michaels vs John Cena- Raw, April 23rd, 2007
Great matches on free television are always a bit of strange beast. This isn't the only one of its kind on this list, but it is one of the best. For all that's been said over the years about John Cena, the guy knows how to entertain, and he and HBK put on one hell of a match. It's also worth pointing out how long this match was, nearly an hour of Raw's two hour timeslot. Not only that, but the psychology involved in this match was absolutely superb, with Michaels wanting so desperately to prove that he could beat this young upstart. John Cena is, in my opinion, one of the greatest of all time, and he proved it on this night.
6. The First Money in the Bank Ladder Match- WrestleMania 21
When you talk gimmick matches, there are plenty of great examples. Hell in a Cell, Ladder matches, Steel Cage matches, the Elimination Chamber, Judy Bagwell on a forklift, etc. One of my personal favorites has always been Money in the Bank, and nothing can top the original. There have been plenty of great Ladder matches in history, I listed one earlier in this list, but few have fully embraced chaos like this one. These six men raised the expectations of this match to the stratosphere, and everyone since has just been trying to keep up.
5. Triple H vs Cactus Jack- Royal Rumble 2000
Other than WrestleMania, 2000 was a pretty great year for the WWF, which is a very weird sentence. I've never been a big fan of the Attitude Era, but even I can go back and truly enjoy what the product was at the time. Although there were some great matches throughout the year, this Street Fight at the Royal Rumble was the one that really stuck with me. Mick Foley did everything in his power to cement Triple H as the man, but take nothing away from The Game, who kept pace throughout. Hardcore matches are rarely regarded as classics, normally due to a lack of story telling and psychology, but that certainly wasn't the case here. It's an ugly gem to be sure, but well worth a watch.
4. Triple H vs The Undertaker- WrestleMania 28
Hey, don't judge me. Just because this was the first pay-per-view I watched live is absolutely not a sign a favoritism. No, you shut up. Look, I really liked this show, fight me. There are plenty of the opinion that this match should've been the end of the Streak, and while I disagree on the Streak ever ending, it would've been a much better final chapter. End of an Era wasn't just a tag line, it was the basis for the entire match, and a statement of intent. The combination of Triple H, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker all in the ring for one last time, with JR on commentary is a throwback of epic proportions. Including the Hell in a Cell to contain all of this nostalgia was a great touch, and turned a great match into a classic.
3. The Rock vs Hollywood Hulk Hogan- WrestleMania X8
For me, it was between this match and The Rock and Stone Cold the previous year, but it was the crowd that put this match over the top. While neither of these guys are regarded as mat technicians, they are two of the most charismatic men in wrestling history, and they have a presence like few other. While this isn't a great match by any means, it's hard to argue against it being a classic, again just based on the reception. The audience is a part of the show, a piece of the spectacle, and this match is absolute proof of that fact. The debut of the nWo may have been a bit of a disaster, but at least it gave us this match.
2. Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle- WrestleMania 21
Hey, it's that Shawn Michaels prick again. Why does he keep showing up? No, it's not weird that I talk to myself. Mr. WrestleMania has had plenty of great matches on wrestling's biggest stage, but this was easily my favorite. There are lots of guys in history that have had great chemistry when in the ring together, and when you combine great chemistry with two of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, you're bound to get a classic. Neither man put a foot wrong, and both took risks that enhanced the match without feeling unnecessary. Kurt Angle was at his peak in the mid-2000s, and he is one of the few guys that can actually keep pace with Shawn. WrestleMania 21 is one of the most underrate shows in history, and this match is a great example why.
1. John Cena vs CM Punk- Money in the Bank 2011
What goes into a great wrestling match? Emotion? Audience investment? Great technical wrestling and outrageously high stakes? This match contained all of that, and more. When I think of what an ideal match should look like, this is what I picture. Two of the best ever, each representing hugely different ideals, battling like their life depended on it. What more could you possibly want? The story heading into this match is completely unique, never to be replicated. And the roar of the crowd in the Allstate Arena when that three count was made is spine tingling. Plus, the WWE Championship was pictured in a fridge. So it also had that going for it.
Did you agree with my list? Feel free to let my of your greatest WWE matches, and stay tuned for my own version of Money in the Bank this Sunday.
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