10 Best Handicap Matches in Wrestling History, Ranked

Handicap matches are usually time-consuming affairs where fans are forced to watch babyfaces getting manhandled by a bunch of heels throughout the match in the hope of a miracle in the climax. Thus, fans have rarely shown interest whenever WWE or any other promotion announces a handicap match.

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That being said, not every match of the stipulation has proved to be underwhelming. Occasionally, some handicap matches surpass expectations. From The Outsiders to The McMahons, there have been some wildly entertaining matchups with the stipulation.

10 The Shield & Kurt Angle Vs. Braun Strowman, Kane, The Bar & The Miz - TLC 2017

This was a team-up no one saw coming. Fans were excited to watch The Shield reunite after three long years and take on five other superstars in a handicap match. However, tension arose when Roman Reigns was taken out of the match due to medical issues.

He was subsequently replaced by Kurt Angle, who was wrestling in his first WWE match since 2006. While Angle didn't quite fit into the Shield, he left no stone unturned to ensure his team got the much-needed victory.

9 Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman Vs. Edge - Rebellion 2002

While handicap matches are beneficial for the team with more members, at Rebellion 2002 it was the other way around. Brock Lesnar is already one of the most formidable athletes around the globe and adding Paul Heyman sounded more of a liability than an asset.

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Although Paul Heyman spent most of the time out of action, he became an easy target for Edge. Unfortunately for The Rated-R Superstar, it was The Beast Incarnate he was going up against. The future Hall of Famer would go on to lose a hard-fought battle to the alliance of Lesnar and his advocate.

8 Shane McMahon & Vince McMahon Vs. Steve Austin - King Of The Ring 1999

Austin and McMahon collided numerous times throughout their careers including in a handicap ladder match. Hung in the air was a briefcase that contained the 100% ownership of WWE. The co-leaders of the Corporate Ministry gave a tough battle to The Texas Rattlesnake in an exciting match.

A mysterious figure pulled up the briefcase every time Austin came close to it, which resulted in McMahons retaining their control over the company.

7 AJ Styles (c) Vs. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens - WWE Championship Match At Royal Rumble 2018

Royal Rumble 2018 saw AJ Styles defending his WWE Championship in a handicap match against two best friends. It is one of the instances where a title was defended in this stipulation and added with the fact that both Owens and Zayn are almost equally matched to Styles, fans were on the edge of their seats throughout the contest.

Ultimately, Styles did the arduous task by outwitting the two and continued his run at the very top.

6 CM Punk Vs. The Shield - TLC 2013

The Shield debuted as the mercenaries of CM Punk and rose the ranks rapidly leading to this 3-on-1 handicap match against The Second City Saint at TLC 2013. This was an incredible match with everything a perfect handicap match must have.

An already great match added its name to the history thanks to its surprise finish. It was Punk who stood tall in this three-on-one contest due to the tensions between the Hounds of Justice.

5 nWo Vs. The Rock & Stone Cold Steve Austin - WWE RAW

It's breathtaking as to how this WrestleMania main-event worthy matchup took place on an episode of RAW. The biggest stars of Monday Night War locked horns in a handicap match that left everyone stunned.

While the match didn't last long, it still gave what fans had been demanding ever since Vince McMahon purchased the rival promotion.

4 Chris Jericho Vs. Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat & Jimmy Snuka - WrestleMania 25

WrestleMania 25 saw three legends returning and uniting to take on the loudmouth Chris Jericho in a three-on-one handicap match. No one knew what to expect in the match going in. The match however proved to be a surprise standout of the event.

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Ricky Steamboat stunned the world with his remarkable performance. Eventually, it was The Man of 1,004 Holds who stood tall in this unusual match.

3 D-Generation X Vs. Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon & The Big Show - Unforgiven 2006

This was a match where every superstar shed blood inside the devilish hell in a cell structure. Triple H and Shawn Michaels had revived their team and got the chance to face their bosses.

Adding Big Show to the mix was the perfect way to sell to the fans that the McMahons stood a chance of winning. It was an extremely brutal match and one of the best matches Vince McMahon ever partook in.

2 Evolution Vs. The Rock 'n' Sock Connection - WrestleMania 20

WWE did a fantastic job of putting Batista and Randy Orton over by having them face the team of Mick Foley and The Rock, who returned only for this match and would go on a seven-year hiatus after this.

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Ric Flair was the third member in the Evolution which further added to the star power of the match, and gave fans a chance to see The Rock and Ric Flair in action against one another. Evolution eventually managed to get the better of their rivals in an outstanding match.

1 The Outsiders (& Hulk Hogan) Vs. Randy Savage, Lex Luger & Sting - WCW Bash At The Beach 1996

Okay, this was technically a six-man tag team match but Hogan's involvement in the contest was not related to the match but to the grand scheme of WCW's future. This was a three-on-two handicap match for the entirety of the bout where it were the heels who had the odds stacked against them.

They, however, gave the faces of WCW a run for their money. This is also one of the most important matches in the history of pro wrestling which made way for the critically acclaimed Monday Night War.