10 Best WWE Last Man Standing Matches, According To Dave Meltzer

It may be surprising to hear, but there hasn’t actually been too many Last Man Standing Matches throughout WWE history, although there has been a mixture of quality in the matches over time. On paper, it is a gimmick in which rivals take it to the next level to try and incapacitate an opponent.

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Unfortunately, it is a hard match to get right, with the constant referee counts damaging the pacing of the match more often than not. A good way to see which Last Man Standing matches are the best, is by looking at Dave Meltzer’s star ratings.

10 John Cena Vs Umaga, Royal Rumble 2007 (4 Stars)

Before the trope of John Cena overcoming a monster heel was overdone, this match created some real jeopardy around his WWE Championship reign, making for a hot match full of great back and forth moments.

This was unique as it was built around the use of the steel steps, and on paper that doesn’t sound great, but it was done in a really effective way, and it sets this match apart from others. This also featured the iconic ending of Cena using the ring ropes to choke out Umaga, which was a stunning visual.

9 Kevin Owens Vs Sami Zayn, SmackDown 2021 (4.25 Stars)

The rivalry between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens is rich with history, but in 2021 it wasn’t at its hottest point by any means. Regardless, the pair faced off in a match type which suited their previous hatred for one another and it lived up to the billing.

This wasn’t a spot-fest, with there being a lot of build up to certain moves, making them feel much more impactful and meaningful. Arguably, it may have dragged at some points, but they managed to control the pacing fairly well to ensure a brilliant match overall.

8 Dean Ambrose Vs Kevin Owens, Royal Rumble 2016 (4.25)

Whilst the feud between these two going into this match wasn’t anything too special, this match allowed them some freedom to go wild – and that is exactly what they did.

This featured a lot of violence, fun spots, and a brilliant final sequence which saw Owens getting flipped through two tables outside of the ring. The Intercontinental Championship has had some up and down periods, but this was a strong match for the belt.

7 John Cena Vs Batista, Extreme Rules 2010 (4.25)

It took a little while for this match to get going, but when it reached the second half of the action, Cena and Batista threw everything at one another. The sometimes-dragging referee count didn’t feel too detracting here, as there were enough good moments to help carry it along.

The finish of this match was one of the more ingenious in Last Man Standing Match history, as Cena taped Batista’s feet to the ring post, with him unable to move and beat the 10-count. This match from Extreme Rules 2010 was very different and certainly deserves some recognition.

6 Triple H Vs Randy Orton, No Mercy 2007 (4.25)

After opening the show with a WWE Title Match, there was a lot of intensity for this main event, with the pair coming together to battle once again, this time in a Last Man Standing Match. This was more about psychology and targeting the weakened areas of Triple H, rather than being jam-packed with table spots and other big bumps.

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The blood added to the match too, with this feeling like a strong and authentic brawl, with Orton managing to pick up the victory over his former mentor, becoming WWE Champion for the second time in one night.

5 Bray Wyatt Vs John Cena, Payback 2014 (4.5 Stars)

Much like a lot of Bray Wyatt’s time in WWE, his feud with John Cena did no favors for him. The only positive of the entire feud came within this fantastic Last Man Standing Match, which was one of the better versions of the stipulation for quite some time.

This was chaotic, brutal, and featured several great moments such as Cena launching the steel steps at Wyatt, who was standing outside the ring. The Usos and Wyatt Family got involved too, making for a match full of mayhem.

4 John Cena Vs Edge, Backlash 2009 (4.5 Stars)

A few years removed from their great rivalry, Cena and Edge picked things back up in 2009, with them main eventing Backlash in front of a raucous crowd who treated this match like the most important of the night.

This was an extremely well-wrestled, smooth, methodical, and impactful Last Man Standing Match, with the crowd captivated at every moment, even in the slower stretches. Whilst the finish saw Big Show interfering, it didn’t badly affect things, as Cena crashing through an exploding spotlight was a stunning scene.

3 Tommaso Ciampa Vs Johnny Gargano, NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 4 2018 (4.5 Stars)

This match completed one of the most personal and violent trilogies in WWE history, even with it technically taking place within WWE’s developmental brand. Whilst their previous two matches were arguably superior, this one was still very enjoyable.

It featured several call-backs to their previous encounters, and the personalities of both men had been warped to the point where they just wanted to hurt each other, and the crowd responded to that intensity with an electric atmosphere.

2 Triple H Vs Chris Jericho, Fully Loaded 2000 (4.5 Stars)

The rivalry between Triple H and Chris Jericho was hit and miss at times, but this match delivered in a big way, and it was arguably the best of their series.

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This was a bloody affair, and the hatred between the pair was evident throughout, making for a very effective battle. There weren’t any crazy spots, but every big move felt significant, and this match helped push Jericho to even bigger heights in WWE.

1 Becky Lynch Vs Charlotte Flair, Evolution 2018 (4.75 Stars)

This is the highest rated match of this stipulation, and it is easy to see why. The feud between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair back in 2018 helped push Lynch to becoming the most over star in the entire company.

Every moment in this match was met with a huge reaction, and the performances from both women were stellar, making this one of the best women’s matches in wrestling history. The only downside was that this didn’t main event the PPV, but it certainly stole the show.