Let's Try This Again: WrestleMania 20

As fond as people seem to be of 2004 in the WWE and especially WrestleMania 20, there were plenty of flaws to be picked at. The midcard and undercard lacked depth and was poorly booked with the talent that was there, the main event scene seemed to go in circles a bit, and they struggled a bit to push newer guys to the top. And for as much praise as WrestleMania 20 has received in the past, I feel that quite a bit of that comes from the two fantastic main events, and not much thought is put into the weakness of the lower card. For a five hour event, this is almost unbearable to sit through in its entirety, which tends to be the case with any five hour wrestling show or any five hour show in general. What I hope to do with this post is simply put out some ideas to think about, obviously just a "what if" scenario, like I did back in January for WrestleMania 18. I'd like to hear feedback on whether or not my version sounds better than the version that actually happened, as well as whether or not I should potentially continue booking my revisionist version of the 2004 PPVs, if that's something people might be interested in. Just let me know on twitter @SaveUsY2Jake or leave a comment on this post. Anyway, here we go with the new and (hopefully improved) version of WrestleMania 20.

Opening Match

The Rock 'N Sock Connection def. Ric Flair and Batista 

Obviously this is just a change of a handicap match to a tag team match by removing only one person, but it is probably the person who was most vital to this storyline in real life. So, in order to make up for other changes later in the card, I had to remove Randy Orton from this match. Orton had been targeting Mick Foley for weeks as part of his Legend Killer gimmick. But when The Rock returned to even up the odds, Orton bowed out from this match. So, by virtue of being a huge kiss up to Eric Bischoff, he is removed from the match, with the reasoning being that Foley "hasn't earned an opportunity to get his hands on Orton yet". The Rock 'N Sock Connection wins as Foley pins Flair, leading to Foley finally getting his hands on Orton the following month at Backlash.

Womens Championship Match

Victoria (c) def. Trish Stratus w/ Chris Jericho

While the Hair vs Title match that happened in real life between Victoria and Molly Holly was fine, I'd like to use this match as a storyline building opportunity for, let's face it, a more important match that's occurring later in the night. Midway through the match, Jericho is attacked by an invading Christian. Their brawl distracts Trish, who is left vulnerable to be hit by the Widow's Peak and pinned. Victoria retains as Jericho and Christian are separated at ringside. 

Cruiserweight Championship Match

Chavo Guerrero Jr. (c) w/ Chavo Classic def. Rey Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon & Billy Kidman

Although the talent pool as far as the Cruiserweight division was concerned was possibly as deep as it had ever been within the WWE at this point, I would try and narrow it down to who I felt were the four most popular of the bunch. I appreciate what WWE tried to do in fitting anybody and everybody onto the WrestleMania 20 card, but I wouldn't do it at the risk of actual show quality, and this match would be better I think than the complete clusterfuck of a Cruiserweight Open that happened in real life. Chavo wins with help from Chavo Classic and leaves with his Cruiserweight Title intact.

World Tag Team Championship Tables Match

Booker T and Rob Van Dam (c) def. The Dudley Boyz

In yet another title match where the titles don't change hands, RVD and Booker T defeat The Dudleys. As I said earlier, I appreciate what WWE was going for by just cramming people into the card, but I'd much prefer a straight tag team match here, as I was never a huge La Resistance fan and Jindrak and Cade were useless. In front of a MSG crowd that would be crazy hot for this match, the champions retain with a Five-Star Frog Splash through the table.

Stone Cold Steve Austin def. Brock Lesnar

Bear with me here. I am booking with the benefit of hindsight. And the benefit of hindsight tells me that Goldberg vs Lesnar, no matter how logical it would have been at this point in their storyline, CAN NOT HAPPEN. So, as a bit of an ad-lib, this is its replacement. Bischoff, as punishment to Austin, tells Lesnar, who doesn't want to face Goldberg because he's unsure if he'll win (but doesn't say that, it's just implied) that he can face Stone Cold instead since he's the one that sent Goldberg to No Way Out to cost Lesnar the WWE Championship in the first place. Here's the catch with this match: Stone Cold Steve Austin was not in good enough physical shape to have an actual wrestling match. So here's what happens: Austin comes to the ring in his wrestling gear, over as hell. Lesnar comes out and is booed out of the building. Brock and Austin have a staredown, Lesnar is clearly rattled by the fans. Austin flips him off. Lesnar, in a fit of rage, swings at Austin (Sheriff Austin is still not allowed to attack a superstar unless physically provoked to do so, remember) Austin ducks the strike, catches Lesnar with a Stunner. Brock is quick to get back up, and gets Stunnered again. He works his way back to his feet, and eats a third Stunner to a thunderous pop. Austin covers him for three and drowns himself in beer as MSG goes nuts, sending Lesnar off in shame.

United States Championship Match

John Cena def. The Big Show (c)

In what was the opening match of the real show, nothing really changes here except for its placement on the card. It could very easily still be the opener as well. This match did its job wonderfully as far as getting Cena over is concerned, and it was just a good match overall. I mostly moved this match from the opening spot so as to spread out the Evolution matches on the card.

Christian def. Chris Jericho w/ Trish Stratus

In another match that really doesn't change whatsoever, Christian defeats Jericho with help from Trish. The only thing that changes here is Trish has more motivation for her turn, as she pins the blame on Jericho for costing her the Womens Championship earlier in the night.

WWE Tag Team Championship Match

Too Cool (c) def. World's Greatest Tag Team

At first, I had planned on leaving the WWE Tag Team Titles off the card entirely. But, on a five hour show, there's really no point in leaving any of the belts off the card without a good reason to. So in another short match, Too Cool retains. WGTT beats up on Scotty until Scotty is able to hit The Worm and pop the crowd, hot tag to Rikishi, a few thrust kicks and one Rikishi Driver to Charlie Haas later, Rikishi and Scotty retain the titles as Shelton was soon to be drafted to RAW and thus WGTT was soon to be disbanded, as much as I'd like to put the titles on them here.

Intercontinental Championship Match

Randy Orton (c) def. Goldberg

In a continuation from the earlier Austin/Lesnar situation, when Bischoff forces Austin into a match with Lesnar, Sheriff Austin says that he should then be allowed to put Bischoff into a match of his choosing. Bischoff obviously refutes this, but Vince McMahon intervenes and agrees with Austin's assessment of the situation. He chooses to put Bischoff into a match with Goldberg on RAW. Before the match, though, Austin announces that it is a number one contender's match for the Intercontinental Championship, as he's pissed at Orton for backing out of the match with Rock 'N Sock Connection. Goldberg is about to win the match when Orton runs in and decimates him with a chair. Orton thinks he's dodged a bullet in this situation, but realizes his mistake when Goldberg is announced to have won the match by disqualification. Orton runs scared from Goldberg for weeks to come until he manages to retain his title over Goldberg, who could be considered a "legend" at this point in 2004 to continue on with Orton's Legend Killer gimmick. Orton wins with help from Flair and Batista, and Goldberg is out of the company for good. I do think that the "smart" MSG crowd would flip a little and cheer for Orton in this one, but that's a risk I'm willing to take for the sake of getting Lesnar vs Goldberg the fuck off the card.

World Heavyweight Championship No Holds Barred Match

Triple H (c) def. Shawn Michaels

Now here's where my card may get controversial. Chris Benoit is not in this match, despite the fact that he won the Royal Rumble, and that will be explained in a bit. But what's important for this match is that HBK and HHH had been engaged in a blood feud for the better part of two years at this point, without a real payoff. Instead of delaying that payoff to a non-title HIAC at Bad Blood three months later, this match is that payoff. At Royal Rumble, these two fought to a no contest in a Last Man Standing match. This match is booked to ensure that an end is put to this feud, as it's less of a no holds barred match in the sense that it'll be riddled with weapons and more of a no holds barred match in the sense that somebody has to win by pinfall or submission. Triple H pulls out the victory with the use of his sledgehammer, and HBK receives a standing ovation as he exits the arena after yet another amazing WrestleMania performance.

Streak Match

The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer def. Kane

I would've preferred to put Undertaker in a different match, but with the inherited storyline heading into Mania 20, there's really not much I could have done to change this match. Everything stays the same, in a match that isn't a popcorn match but it is definitely slower paced and a bit of a break for the crowd before we get to the main event.

WWE Championship Match

Chris Benoit def. Eddie Guerrero (c) and Kurt Angle

So let me break ALL of this down. The night after No Way Out, with both World Champions set heading into WrestleMania, Chris Benoit is allowed to make his decision on which World Title to challenge for. It seems like a no-brainer he'll choose Triple H, which he intends to do in his in-ring promo. Until Shawn Michaels comes out, that is. HBK pleads his case to Benoit, imploring The Rabid Wolverine to allow The Showstopper to challenge for the title at WrestleMania, as he claims that the match at Royal Rumble was unfinished business between him and Triple H that needed to be settled one-on-one. He tries to convince Benoit by pointing out that he could headline WrestleMania with his best friend in Eddie Guerrero since Eddie had won the WWE Title at No Way Out. Benoit says he'll sit on it for a week and answer the following Monday on RAW. Eddie comes out on SmackDown and also makes a case for Benoit to challenge him for the WWE Title. Benoit comes out on RAW and officially challenges Eddie Guerrero for WrestleMania. This enrages Kurt Angle, who defeated John Cena at No Way Out to earn a WrestleMania WWE Title shot. Angle takes out his anger with repeated sneak attacks on Eddie Guerrero while Benoit continues to compete on RAW. On the go-home episode of SmackDown, Benoit finally appears, engaging in a stare down with Angle and Eddie that results in Angle being trapped in the Crippler Crossface and hit with the Frog Splash, leading in a stare down between Benoit and Eddie, each of them holding on to one end of the WWE Championship. That brings us to this match, which would be absolutely incredible. Benoit wins the title for the first time, which does make Eddie's reign incredibly short, but he hadn't been handling the pressure of being champion very well in real life anyway. The post-match moment between Benoit and Eddie happens regardless to end the show.

So there it is, revisionist WrestleMania 20. Once again, let me know what you thought of this compared to the actual events of WrestleMania 20, and whether or not you'd be interested in reading a rebooking of the rest of 2004.

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 5-1

#5

WWF Championship Street Fight

Triple H (c) vs Cactus Jack

Royal Rumble 2000

 
This is the match that "made" Triple H. While he had been long established as a top-level talent and a phenomenal professional wrestler prior to this street fight with Cactus Jack, he wasn't the Cerebral Assassin before this. He wasn't The Game, The King of Kings, or any of the other million nicknames Jim Ross bestowed upon him until this match. And while he almost certainly would have reached the top whether this match occurred or not, this absolutely accelerated the process. Both Foley and Triple H put it all on the line in Madison Square Garden in front of a red hot crowd. As the first PPV match coming off what I find to be one of the worst years in WWE history in terms of the quality of the product, this match and this event got 2000 off to a good start that they would maintain throughout the year.

#4

The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

WrestleMania 19

 

While this may not have been the best wrestling match of their three WrestleMania encounters, it was far and away the most entertaining. The spectacle of it being Stone Cold's last match and the story presented within it as The Rock is desperate to achieve the one thing that's evaded him in his career made for an incredible atmosphere surrounding the match, and although Austin had a nervous breakdown the night before, he delivered to the highest degree. With The Rock up to his typical antics and Austin playing his character to a tee, the match became an instant classic and my favorite match on a loaded WrestleMania 19 card.

#3

WWE Championship Match

Brock Lesnar (c) vs Eddie Guerrero

No Way Out 2004

 

Even if the quality of this match hadn't been as high as it was and is, this would be considered a classic simply due to the fact that it was Eddie Guerrero's finest moment. And although that absolutely does help the rating of this match, it was simply a fantastic match that just so happened to be the first and only World Title victory for one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. With Brock playing his part as the monstrous heel that he does so well and Eddie being the underdog fighting for his life, it told one of the most classic and most effective stories that there is to be told in wrestling. Complaints about this match typically boil down to it being "overbooked" with ref bumps and a Goldberg run-in, but I'm just not somebody who lets things like that hurt my enjoyment of a match, as long as they make sense in the context of the match and the storyline, which they all did. Eddie lies, cheats, and steals to win the big one.

#2

Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker

WrestleMania 25

 

I think I preferred the storytelling and emotion in the second match. But when it comes to spots, when it comes to unpredictability, and when it comes to the performances by both competitors, it's very hard to top the first Undertaker vs HBK match. This was probably one of the final matches in which Undertaker displayed his agility that he had shown all throughout his career for a man of his size, and HBK delivered another WrestleMania performance the caliber of which we had come to expect from him since his return in 2002. In what was one of the most highly anticipated WrestleMania matchups of all time, it met and even exceeded expectations. It's not often that a match is almost unanimously viewed as one of the 5 greatest WWE matches or just wrestling matches in general of all time, but this one is. That speaks to the quality of this match and both of the performers in the match.

#1

Interpromotional Match

Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle

WrestleMania 21

 To the surprise of nobody, my number one pick is also a Shawn Michaels match. I've got probably 10-15 HBK matches scattered throughout this countdown, and for good reason. Michaels is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest professional wrestler of all time, and the quality of his matches prove that point. HBK and Kurt Angle put on a match that covered almost all the styles of professional wrestling. They did submissions, they did catch wrestling, they mat wrestled, they had high-risk, high-impact moves, they were stiff with one another, it was just the perfect mix of everything we love about pro wrestling. And when the final moments arrived, with Kurt Angle grapevining his legs around the Ankle Lock and finally forcing The Showstopper to submit, nobody felt as though there was any more that either of these men could have given to this match. It was two perfect performances combining to create my favorite wrestling match of all time.

 

 

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 10-6

#10

World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match

Chris Jericho (c) vs Shawn Michaels

No Mercy 2008

 

When I said earlier that Mania 19 wasn't my favorite encounter between Y2J and HBK, this is the match I was talking about that I enjoyed better. While their unsanctioned street fight at Unforgiven was more brutal and intense, this match combined the great technical aspects of their WM19 bout and added one of the greatest stipulations in wrestling history, the ladder match. I also enjoyed how they stayed away from using a billion ladders like some more recent ladder matches, and kept it to the basics. It was more like a wrestling match that just so happened to have a ladder available to the wrestlers than anything else, and it was fantastic. The finish was also something that while many people have done in the past, has never been executed as well as it was in this match. The belt tug-o-war has been featured in quite a few ladder matches, but I've never thought one was as good as the one at the end of the match. Keeping with the simplicity theme of it, a meager headbutt did HBK in. Perfect.

#9

Intercontinental Championship Hardcore Match

Randy Orton (c) vs Mick Foley

Backlash 2004

 

Following the theme of basically every Mick Foley match on my list, this was just hardcore enough for my tastes. Out of all the classic moments of Randy Orton's Legend Killer run, this has to be my favorite. There's almost no matchup in wrestling better than when a young, egotistical pretty boy (2004 Orton in a nutshell) has to step out of their element to face a crusty old brawler who is at the advantage because it's their signature match type (2004 Foley in a nutshell). This took Orton to a whole new level as far as his stock as a superstar is concerned. The bump he took onto the thumbtacks was sickening, and with the lunacy that Foley brought out of himself to put into this match by, you know, having to be told by Eric Bischoff that the Fire Marshall will shut down the show because he's about to light a barbed-wire wrapped baseball bat on fire, added a lot to the overall story and atmosphere of the match.

#8

Streak vs Career Match

Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker

WrestleMania 26

 

I tried not to include matches that contained the same people against each other in the same era. I really did. But it was impossible to leave either HBK vs Undertaker WrestleMania match off this list. While I did enjoy WM 25 better (SPOILER), this match was just about as amazing. It was less about the actual in-ring action and more about the emotionally-charged story that they were able to tell with the addition of the Streak vs Career stipulation. In what has remained Shawn Michaels' last wrestling match, I can't imagine a better way for The Heartbreak Kid to go out but in defiance, as he slaps The Deadman in the face before receiving a vicious leaping Tombstone Piledriver to put the proverbial nail in the coffin on Mr. WrestleMania's career.

#7

TLC II

The Dudley Boyz (c) vs The Hardy Boyz vs Edge and Christian

WrestleMania 17

 

Although many of the spots in this match were inevitably similar to their encounters from WrestleMania 2000 and Summerslam 2000 in the first TLC match, the real gamechanger in this match compared to those two was the inclusion of Rhyno, Spike Dudley and Lita's outside interference. Turning this TLC match into essentially a triangle trios TLC match created a new element that gave an opportunity for new spots to be integrated into the match as well as creating a new level of unpredictability. And although E & C won for the third time in three matches, you never really knew who was walking away with the titles.

#6

WWE Tag Team Championship Elimination Match

Edge and Rey Mysterio (c) vs Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit vs Los Guerreros

Survivor Series 2002

 

I feel like this is the only match in my Top 10 that's some sort of "hidden gem". This isn't a match that I see come up in conversation a lot, but it is my favorite tag team match in professional wrestling... ever. I mean, just the fact that it contains the ENTIRE SmackDown Six should be a dead giveaway that this match is insane. The tense dynamic between Angle and Benoit makes for countless awesome spots, particularly their attack on the other superstars after they've been eliminated from the match. Add that with the fact that Edge/Mysterio and Los Guerreros are two of the best tag teams that have ever existed, and how could it be anything less than spectacular?

 

  

  

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 15-11

#15

Hardcore Match

Mick Foley vs Edge

WrestleMania 22

 

This match probably pushes the limits of my personal hardcore tastes more than any match in this list, except for maybe the Edge/Foley/Lita vs Dreamer/Funk/Beulah match. But it took the hardcore elements of the match and matched it with creative spots and great storytelling, all building to perhaps one of the most memorable endings to a match in WrestleMania history. While this match was just buried in the middle of a really good WrestleMania 22 card, it stole the show for me. It went a long way in establishing Edge in his Rated R Superstar persona, as well as revitalizing some fire (no pun intended) for Mick Foley.

#14

NXT Women's Championship Match

Sasha Banks (c) vs Bayley

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

 

You've all heard the match and seen everything possible to be said about it. I'm really not sure what I can add here. Sasha Banks is my favorite wrestler alive, period, and Bayley is a tremendous talent in the ring. Not sure what more there is to be said about this match. Go watch it again.

#13

WWF Championship Match w/ Special Guest Referee Shane McMahon

Triple H (c) vs The Rock

Backlash 2000

 

If you took every Attitude Era main event, took all the best parts out of them, put them in a blender and made a wrestling smoothie, it would look like this match. Special guest referee set in place by authority figures to screw the top babyface? Check. Steel chair shots? Check. Nefarious heel tactics? Check. A multitude of run-ins? Check. Spanish announce table spot? Check. Like 15 storylines shoved into one match? Check. It had everything. And when the match is between two people as immensely talented as Triple H and The Rock, it was a given that it was going to be special. This exact match should have been the WrestleMania 2000 main event. Like, this exact match. Every spot.

#12

WWE Championship Match

John Cena (c) vs CM Punk

Money in the Bank 2011

 

I'm not sure it would have even mattered how good the match was from an in-ring perspective (it was great). The atmosphere from the crowd was electric, and while I don't typically endorse contrarian crowds, it made perfect sense in this instance. Punk in his hometown, threatening to leave the company, up against the WWE's white meat, plucky, unstoppable machine of a babyface. This match really launched a bit of a change in Cena's character, or at least in the way that character is positioned as being more vulnerable than before, and it began a historic run for Punk that established his spot at the top of the WWE.

#11

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Triple H (c) vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit

WrestleMania 20

 

Triple H's white boots aside, there's really not much negative to be said about this match. The fact that it isn't even Top 10 speaks more to the quality of the matches on this list than anything else, as this was one of the most perfect WrestleMania main events of all time. At the tail end of a FIVE HOUR show that seemed to drag on and on with pointless four-corner tag team matches and divas getting naked, this match coupled with Eddie Guerrero vs Kurt Angle, which narrowly missed the list, turned WrestleMania 20 into a memorable show, even if I do think it is pretty heavily overrated by some people. Regardless, it's always nice to see a deserving guy get their WrestleMania moment, which Benoit certainly did here. Well, it was nice to see. Until, well, you know.

  

  

  

  

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 20-16

#20

WWE Championship Match

Kurt Angle (c) vs Chris Benoit

Royal Rumble 2003

This is one of the few matches near the top of my list that doesn't benefit from some great storyline. This was simply a picture-perfect display of technical wrestling between two of the very best of all time. Angle and Benoit hit each other with their fair shares of stiff strikes, swapped submissions and mat wrestled to the best of their vast abilities. This is one of the most "pure" professional wrestling matches I've ever seen in my life.

#19

Street Fight

Brock Lesnar vs CM Punk

Summerslam 2013

 

My favorite match of Lesnar's run since his 2012 return, both he and Punk were at the very top of their game on this night. As great as the match would have been under normal rules, the street fight stipulation allowed for more brutality as well as more involvement from Paul Heyman, who was the driving force behind the story of the match. Punk's persistence ultimately led to his downfall, as Lesnar brutalized him with a steel chair before connecting with an F5 for the victory. This was Brock's first real big win upon his return, and it began his run towards becoming the completely unstoppable machine we know and love today.

#18

Elimination Tag Team Match

The Shield vs Evolution

Payback 2014

 

If I really wanted to, I probably could have included both Shield/Evolution contests. But I decided that they were too similar to include both of them, and in deciding which one to use for the list, I had to take this one. The clean sweep victory for The Shield put them over even further than they had already been put over. It also gets the benefit of being a special moment, for it was the final Shield match before their breakup the following night. The storytelling in this match was superb, and the moments are very memorable. The Passion of Roman Reigns, Rollins' stage dive, and the final sequence with Triple H trying to use his sledgehammer to gain the upper hand only to be thwarted by the young up-and-comers. If this ends up being The Shield's last real match as The Shield, there were worse ways for them to go out.

#17

Career Threatening Match

Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair

WrestleMania 24

 

If you took away the rest of this match and made it just the ending, it would still be right where it is on this list. There is nothing more that needs to be said about this match than the moment where Shawn Michaels tells Naitch "I'm sorry. I love you." Before kicking his teeth down his throat and effectively ending his career... kinda. Even though Flair has completely ruined this storyline by wrestling elsewhere, this moment by itself is incredible. If you've never cried while watching this match you are soulless and I don't like you.

#16

Street Fight

Kurt Angle vs Shane McMahon

King of the Ring 2001

 

WWF/E's brand of hardcore wrestling has always been drastically different than that of, say, an ECW or CZW style hardcore match. While they aren't quite as brutal, they find other ways to make up for it. This match is a perfect example. The match didn't have a million different weapons, no light tubes, no glass tables. But the use of the environment and the unique KOTR stage set led to one of the most iconic moments in WWF history, as Kurt Angle fails to suplex Shane through the glass, and Shane insists on being thrown through it twice. Shane was always great at making up for his lack of wrestling prowess with great moments and better storytelling, and there are instances of that all the way throughout this match, like when he denies Kurt's invitation to mat wrestle with him, and simply punts him in the ribs. This was definitely my favorite Shane match, and hopefully we get to see him back in a WWE ring one day (probably not for a match). 

  

  

  

 

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 25-21

#25

WWE Championship Match

John Cena (c) vs Daniel Bryan

Summerslam 2013

  

This match was the start of Daniel Bryan's megapush to the top, which ultimately culminated at WrestleMania 30. But as for a start, going over John Cena clean was the ultimate rub for Daniel Bryan. But more than just the finish and the match and what the match led to, this was just an amazing show of ability by two of the best wrestlers alive today. While I've never thought of Cena as a bad wrestler, in 2013, it wasn't often that we got to see him wrestle these kinds of matches against smaller, more technically proficient guys like Bryan. And in this big match environment, both performers flourished. With Bryan and Cena pulling innovative offense out of absolutely nowhere, combined with the shocking finish and Daniel Bryan's new finisher, this match had plenty to bring to the table.

#24

WWE Championship Match

John Cena (c) vs Shawn Michaels vs Randy Orton vs Edge

Backlash 2007

 

In what was definitely the greatest Fatal 4 Way match in the history of WWE, John Cena solidified his 2007 World Championship match by following up a great defense against Shawn Michaels with this absolute gem of a match. It wasn't quite as fast paced as the match from No Way Out 2001 that I highlighted earlier in the list, but it made up for a slower pace with well-timed and well-thought out spots and an incredible finish. Orton and Edge working as a tag team throughout the match was a nice touch, doing wonders as far as developing the story of the match. All in all this match took all the positive elements of a Fatal 4 Way and executed them to the very highest degree.

#23

Unsanctioned Street Fight

Triple H vs Shawn Michaels

Summerslam 2002

  As far as return matches go, this has to be in the upper echelon of them all. After taking four years off wrestling for a combination of a broken back and reinventing himself as a person outside of the ring, HBK came back better than ever. In his first match back, he was already engaged in a personal rivalry with his real-life best friend, Triple H. And I couldn't imagine a better match for his return. The entire match was intense and emotional, and even beyond the end of the match it maintained that emotion, as a bloodied-up Triple H breaks a sledgehammer over HBK's back, and the final shot of him laughing at The Showstopper being stretchered away is one of the greatest visuals in professional wrestling history.

#22

WWF Championship Match

Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs Kurt Angle

Unforgiven 2001

 

Many may prefer their Summerslam bout from the previous month, but to me, nothing compares to the emotions that made this match amazing. Austin's desperate attempts to hold on to his Championship coupled with the rarely-seen rage that Kurt Angle displayed in his hometown were a perfect storm on this night, on the first PPV after 9/11. While Kurt's submission victory (Austin's only tap out in the last 5 years of his career) may have been entirely a sympathy win for a feel-good moment, as he lost the title just weeks later on RAW, the moment on this night felt special, especially when Angle's family rushed the ring after the match to celebrate.

#21

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

Brock Lesnar (c) vs John Cena vs Seth Rollins

Royal Rumble 2015

 

This match was originally supposed to be a not-very-highly-anticipated fourth contest between John Cena and Brock Lesnar. The addition of Seth Rollins turned it into so much more. Each wrestler brought something different to the table. Cena, as the big brawler, Lesnar, as the unstoppable machine, and Rollins as the athletic, smarmy pest. Lesnar took more punishment than possibly anyone I've ever seen take in one wrestling match just for the purpose of getting over even more before his WrestleMania match with Roman Reigns. This match showcased Rollins' abilities on a higher level and proved that he can indeed hang with the company's main eventers. 

  

  

  

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 30-26

#30

Hell in a Cell Match w/ Special Guest Referee Shawn Michaels

Triple H vs The Undertaker

 WrestleMania 28

At the time at least, this match was more of a spectacle than anything else. With the benefit of hindsight, we know that it didn't really end any eras. Undertaker still wrestles, Triple H still dabbles in the ring and is a constant on-screen presence. But what has also changed about this match with the benefit of hindsight is just how great of a match it was. This embodies what an Undertaker Streak Match should be. The false finishes, the story, the brutal attack on Undertaker all made you subtly doubt if he was going to escape with his streak intact. The two of them "went out" in the best way possible, until they didn't go out anymore, that is. But regardless, the atmosphere on the night of and the incredible work these legends put in combined to create an amazing match.

#29

Intercontinental Championship No Holds Barred Match

Rey Mysterio (c) vs Chris Jericho

Extreme Rules 2009

 

As we get higher up on the list, it's becoming a more common theme that these better matches typically are more storyline-driven, and that's absolutely the case for Mysterio vs Jericho. The whole storyline portrayed perfectly just who 2008/09 Chris Jericho was, and tugged at the heartstrings of young Rey Mysterio fans. And this match, while managing to be an incredible in-ring contest, still told a tremendous story, especially in the finish where Jericho manages to rip Rey Mysterio's mask off in order to win the match. That moment was not only difficult to pull off, but vital to the grand scheme of the match, the feud, and the characters of both Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho at the time.

#28

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Kurt Angle (c) vs The Undertaker

No Way Out 2006

  Plenty of times before, we had seen Kurt Angle take on The Undertaker's American Badass persona. But Kurt Angle vs The Deadman is an entirely different beast. In a match that probably should have taken place at WrestleMania 22, Angle and The Undertaker made the last turn into the Road to WrestleMania a sharp one, as Kurt and Taker put on an absolute professional wrestling clinic. It's to be expected when two all-time greats step into the ring together, but not necessarily two who have what some would consider clashing styles like Undertaker and Kurt Angle. On this particular night though, the intense submission wrestling style of The Olympic Hero and the brawling style of The Deadman meshed to make magic. 

#27

Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels

WrestleMania 19

  This is in my top 30, and it isn't even my favorite match between the two of them. That's the kind of chemistry that Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho shared in the ring. It's almost a shame that we didn't get to see them wrestle one another more often! But when they did get to face off in the ring together, they never disappointed. This was only chapter one in what would become a longer rivalry, and for The Showstopper's first WrestleMania match in 5 years, it certainly wasn't a letdown. 

#26

WWF Tag Team Championship Match

The Two Man Power Trip (c) vs Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit

RAW May 21st, 2001

  In what I consider the greatest free TV match of all time, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit faced The Two-Man Power Trip. This match was nearly perfect. It had so many classic moments, none that are remembered more than Triple H tearing his quad, and even taking the Walls of Jericho on the announce table afterwards. In what was The Game's final match for eight months, both him and Austin did everything in their power to turn Jericho and Benoit from the very top of the midcard to the main event. Both Jericho and Benoit were on the top of their game, and it was part of Austin's incredible 2001 as far as match quality goes. It was a recipe for perfection, which all four men were able to achieve on that night.

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 35-31

#35

WWF Tag Team Championship Triangle Ladder Match 

Edge and Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz

WrestleMania 2000

 Much like Rock/Austin in my previous post, this is my 2nd favorite of the series of three-team ladder/TLC matches between Edge and Christian, the Hardyz, and the Dudleyz. This one may lack the range of weapons that was included in TLC I and II, but being that this was the first match of this type, it was incredibly innovative. Every spot was something new, something that hadn't been seen before in a wrestling match. Therefore, simply for the level of innovation that was showcased in this match, I have to put it ahead of one of the TLC matches.

#34

The Rock vs "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan

WrestleMania 18

 Naturally, this wasn't some sort of technical masterpiece. It was, in fact, basically the bare minimum of a wrestling match. The moves were basic, mostly punches and kicks until the signature moves came into play, but the atmosphere surrounding it was what made it so special. It's not often that you get to see a real-life fantasy match take place right before your eyes. That's exactly what this was. Hogan wasn't necessarily in his "prime" here, but even in that prime he wasn't a great worker. This match was two of the best at working the crowd doing just that, they had the audience in Toronto eating right out of the palms of their hands, brother.

#33

TLC Match

The Shield vs Ryback and Team Hell No

TLC 2012

  There's nothing better to me than a well-executed brawl in wrestling. Not "brawl" in the Attitude Era sense, where it was nothing but punches and kicks as they worked their way through a crowd of people trying to cop a feel, elbowing their way past dudes in Austin 3:16 shirts and eventually making it back to the ring just to go back to ringside and continue throwing each other halfheartedly into the steel steps. This was chaos at its very best. Spears, chokeslams, submissions, weapons, a table bump off a ladder that nearly shoot kills Seth Rollins, Ryback is unstoppable, you know, the usual. For a first official match in WWE, this was a great way to introduce The Shield to the audience.

#32

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

Brock Lesnar (c) vs Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins

WrestleMania 31  

 For whatever reason, there were a lot of people that thought the match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar would be awful. Those people are what I like to refer to as wrong. Reigns and Lesnar had the hoss fight to end all hoss fights for 25 minutes, only for that snarky, multi-colored hair having prick Seth Rollins to swoop in and win the title. This was one of the best post-cash in sequences of all time as well, as Lesnar's refusal to stay down off the Curb Stomp followed by Reigns' Spear being the move to ultimately take him down, but that Spear also leaving Reigns vulnerable to be Curb Stomped for the victory brought uncertainty to a cash-in that you'd typically think would be successful.

#31

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Batista (c) vs The Undertaker

WrestleMania 23

  On the subject of hoss fights... I mean, Jesus. There's nothing better in wrestling than two gigantic dudes just hitting each other repeatedly, picking each other up and dropping each other on their heads, maybe even smashing each other through stuff. That was a brief synopsis of this match. Batista and Undertaker, easily two of the three or four biggest stars in the WWE at the time, took their opportunity to have a WrestleMania World Championship match and, at least in my opinion, overshadowed John Cena and Shawn Michaels, which was also a great match, by the way.

 

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 40-36

#40

 World Heavyweight Championship TLC Match

Jeff Hardy (c) vs CM Punk

Summerslam 2009

 

CM Punk's first real chance as a heel in WWE came in his 2009 feud with Jeff Hardy, where he made light of Jeff Hardy's issues with drug abuse, accused the audience of being enablers, and claimed to be able to "heal" them of their addictions. While all of this was despicable, the real highlight of his feud with Jeff Hardy had to be the series of matches they had in the middle of 2009, ultimately culminating with this TLC match for the title at Summerslam. The defending champion, in a match he helped create, has to defend against an evil preacher of sorts. It was the perfect conditions for a classic match, and the action didn't disappoint. Punk put on one of his best showings of all time, and the match instantly became one of my favorites of his. Plus, the surprise at the end makes me mark out every single time.

#39

Edge vs Shawn Michaels

Royal Rumble 2005

  It's almost a guarantee that a match between two wrestlers the caliber of Edge and Shawn Michaels is going to deliver to the highest degree, which this match certainly did. But oddly, I never see it mentioned as either of one of these two wrestlers' best matches. This could definitely be due to the fact that both of them have such impressive in-ring credentials that it's simply lost in the shuffle, but it really is a fantastic match. Both guys at their top condition, wrestling at an incredibly high level. Everything was crisp, all the spots were well thought out, the right guy won, and as an opener to a strange but good PPV, it did its job perfectly in warming the crowd up.

#38

Winner Enters The Main Event

Daniel Bryan vs Triple H

WrestleMania 30

 

 What more could possibly need to be said about this match? While some may prefer Daniel Bryan's performance in the main event against Batista and Randy Orton, this match remains my 2nd-favorite WrestleMania opening match of all time. It got the crowd rabid for the rest of the show, and managed to be, to me, the best match on that entire card. Triple H proved he hadn't lost a single step in the ring since "retiring", and Bryan reaffirmed once again why he deserved to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that night. This match got knocked down a few spots because Triple H got to sit on a throne surrounded by NXT Diva servants and I didn't.

#37

Sami Zayn vs Cesaro

NXT ArRival

 Storyline aside, this was just a tremendous wrestling match. And there's definitely room for that, especially in the first ever "NXT Special Event" match, on a brand new Network that is attempting to showcase this product for people who were unfamiliar. This introduced not only Sami Zayn to the majority of WWE viewers, but also the NXT product as a whole and what it has to bring to the table. Now, with the product not quite as hot as it was early this year, but still incredibly hot, NXT has a lot to thank both Sami Zayn and Cesaro for with this match.

#36

WWF Championship No Holds Barred Match

The Rock (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

WrestleMania 17

 

In the every-other-year series of WrestleMania matches between Rock and Austin, this one holds the title of being my second favorite. While I may have enjoyed the entertainment aspects of their WrestleMania 19 encounter more, this match brings something entirely different to the table. It's hard hitting, it's gritty, and it's one of Austin's greatest performances in my opinion. Not to mention the fact that the turn at the end launched Austin into my favorite era of his, as the Bionic Redneck and with the Two Man Power Trip. The Rock was vulnerable as we'd ever seen him to that point, and Austin more vicious than we knew he could be. It was the platonic ideal of an Attitude Era main event, and some would even consider it THE main event of the Attitude Era. As in, the final match of the Attitude Era. If that is the case, it certainly wasn't a bad way to go out.

  

Top 50 Matches Since 2000: 45-41

#45

Gold Rush Tournament

Shelton Benjamin vs Shawn Michaels

RAW May 2nd, 2005

  

Before the match even begins, when Shawn Michaels is announced as Shelton's surprise opponent for the Gold Rush Tournament, the fans already know what they were in for, and the match certainly didn't disappoint. In one of the greatest free TV wrestling matches of all time, Shelton and HBK put on an absolute clinic from bell to bell. The amazing athleticism and catch-as-catch-can technical aspects culminate in one of the most unforgettable finishes in wrestling history. This is just the first of MANY HBK matches to come on this list.

#44

Last Man Standing Match

Kane vs Shane McMahon

Unforgiven 2003

  

When you see two names like Kane and Shane McMahon, you should know to expect nothing less than a brawl, a real Attitude Era-style match, especially with the Last Man Standing gimmick strapped to it. But this match was so much more than the numerous dull crowd brawls that took place throughout the Attitude Era. This match had crazy spots, such as Shane McMahon almost shoot dying from a leap off the stage, but also great storytelling, with Shane trying to get revenge for Kane hitting a Tombstone Piledriver on his mother. (LINDA TOOK A TOMBSTONE ON THE STAGE IN 2003)

#43

Light Heavyweight Championship Match

Dean Malenko (c) vs Scotty 2 Hotty

Backlash 2000

 In what is undoubtedly one of my favorite PPVs of all time, Backlash 2000, this match is one that is often overlooked in favor of Jericho vs Benoit, Angle vs The Showster or the classic main event between Triple H and The Rock. But this match brought something to the table that was very rare for the WWF in the late 90s and early 2000s, and that was actual good light heavyweight or cruiserweight wrestling. It seemed for a bit like they would try to go in this direction in order to compete with the WCW, whose only real claim to victory over the WWF at this point was their exciting cruiserweight division (which they criminally misused), but that's another story. This match goes to show that when the WWF put their minds to it, they were perfectly capable of putting on light heavyweight matches that showcased athleticism and psychology all bundled into one perfect package. But unfortunately, this would be the last defense of the Light Heavyweight Championship on PPV until King of the Ring 2001, where Jeff Hardy would defeat X-Pac.

#42

WWE Championship Chicago Street Fight

CM Punk (c) vs Chris Jericho

Extreme Rules 2012

 

While I may not be the biggest fan of CM Punk as a person, there's absolutely no denying his ability between the ropes. But this match wasn't about technical wrestling, it was simply two guys who are great at what they do (best in the world, even? *wink*) having an all-out brawl. The atmosphere of Punk's hometown crowd combined with the real street fight aesthetic they brought to the table by wearing jeans and taping their fists added a ton to the match as a whole, and the rest was history from there. These two tore the house down on what, in hindsight, was a pretty stacked card. This match completely overshadowed their WrestleMania outing, and rightfully so. A match doesn't always improve with the addition of weapons, but at the level these two went to create an actual street fight feeling, it was hard for it to be topped by any regular match they could have had.

#41

Money In The Bank Ladder Match

Edge vs Shelton Benjamin vs Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit vs Christian vs Kane

WrestleMania 21

 

When the idea for the Money in the Bank ladder match originally came about, it was hard not to be excited about it. Some of the greatest wrestlers of all time, all in one ladder match, for a gimmick that was fresh and intriguing, that being the Money in the Bank contract. Ultimately, this match helped catapult a fair amount of careers to the next level, namely Edge, Seth Rollins, Rob Van Dam, Kane and The Miz. But as it pertains to this match in particular, the first Money in the Bank remains my favorite. The action was nonstop, and they didn't resort to the trope that we see in almost every modern MITB match, where two guys fight in the ring and everyone else sells on the outside until it's their turn to run in the ring and either take a bump or hit a spot. This match kept the chaos consistent, and it's hard not to love that.