10 Face vs. Face Matches You Forgot Headlined Raw

When WWE schedules a babyface against a fellow babyface, the story is usually a contest between two wrestlers who respect each other. On Raw over the years, while it is uncommon, two top faces have had one-on-one matches. Some of these matches were engaging with a clean finish to boot, while others had interference for storyline purposes.

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These face versus face matches are a combination of forgotten gems and forgotten altogether since Raw has been airing for almost 30 years. Regardless, the matches took the fans on an emotional ride and entertained them for a little while, which is what wrestling is meant for.

10 The Rock vs. Ric Flair (July 29, 2002)

In 2002, The Rock was transitioning from being a full-time wrestler to acting. That summer, WWE booked The Rock to reign as Undisputed Champion for about a month on his way out. On a late July episode of Raw, The Rock and Ric Flair wrestled in that night's main event. The match contained the usual offense both are known for; Flair's knife-edge chops, Rock's People's Elbow, and Flair's Figure-Four Leg Lock. In the end, The Rock hit Flair with a Rock Bottom and pinned him for the win.

After the match, The Rock started to leave the ring, but changed his mind and came back to show his respect to the legend of the business who had just done the favors for him by raising Flair's arm.

9 Shawn Michaels vs. Rob Van Dam (November 25, 2002)

This episode of Raw occurred the night following the Survivor Series, where Shawn won the World Heavyweight Championship in the first Elimination Chamber Match. In that very Elimination Chamber, Rob Van Dam had legitimately injured Triple H's throat with a botched Five-Star Frog Splash, leading to questioning about Triple H being present on this Raw.

Shawn's first defense of the World Heavyweight Title was against Rob Van Dam, and the final moments of this match had some exciting sequences. After a Sweet Chin Music counter and RVD's Rolling Thunder, Michaels briefly fought back with a DDT and his flying elbow drop. After that, RVD hit a backbreaker and his Five-Star Frog Splash and appeared to be winning. However, Triple H interfered to cause a disqualification and hit a back-breaker on Michaels through a steel chair to continue their feud.

8 Goldberg vs. Shawn Michaels (October 20, 2003)

Goldberg was Raw's defending World Heavyweight Champion at this time and in the middle of a feud with Triple H and Evolution. In the meantime, Goldberg defended against Shawn Michaels and this match is better known for the post-match than the match itself.

Goldberg went for his Spear, but Michaels countered and the referee took the Spear instead. After Michael's Sweet Chin Music, with the referee down, Batista of Evolution interfered to cause a No-Contest finish to this match. Since Triple H had introduced a bounty of $100,000 to take out Goldberg to add to their rivalry, Batista took Triple H up on that and smashed Goldberg's ankle within a steel chair via a stomp from the middle rope. The show went off the air with Evolution celebrating and Goldberg writhing in pain in the ring.

7 Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena (April 23, 2007)

This match took plan on a Raw episode in London, England, with John Cena reigning as WWE Champion in the middle of his year-long reign. Shawn and John had been feuding for weeks at this point, with Cena retaining at the prior Wrestlemania. Cena and Michaels wrestled for nearly an hour here and told a very engaging story in the process.

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By the match's conclusion, Michaels and Cena were blown up and Michael's hair dripped with sweat. The finish came when Cena attempted the FU, and Michaels athletically countered by landing on his feet and connected with Sweet Chin Music for the win. This match happened the RAW before the Backlash pay-per-view, and Michael's victory over the WWE Champion gave him some kayfabe momentum into his Backlash title match.

6 John Cena vs. Jeff Hardy (June 2, 2008)

This match was to decide the number one contender for Triple H's next WWE Title defense following Randy Orton taking some time off to recover from a broken collar bone.

Despite a fan jumping into the ring and being dragged out by arena security, Cena and Hardy had a good match here. It was a shorter TV match and contained Cena and Hardy's known moves, including Cena's Throwback that he still did semi-regularly at this time and Jeff missing his Swanton Bomb. The finish saw Cena counter a top-rope cross-body by Hardy into his FU for the win. Triple H came out afterward and taunted Cena with the WWE title to close the show.

5 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (September 13, 2010)

This match occurred prior to the Night of Champions pay-per-view. with Cena and Orton being challengers to the WWE Title. This match was a Tables Match and featured interference from Cena and Orton's other opponents in the Night of Champions Six-Pack Challenge, Edge and Chris Jericho, as well as the Nexus.

The finish to this match saw a very creative sequence, as after the interfering wrestlers were out of the equation, Cena tried the Attitude Adjustment through a table and sort of connected. However, Orton countered mid-move with his RKO through that table. The counter meant that Orton hit the RKO rather than Cena hitting the AA and Orton won as a result.

4 Rey Mysterio vs. John Cena (July 25, 2011)

At this time, CM Punk had been WWE Champion and kayfabe left the company. Therefore, a new WWE Champion was decided in a tournament eventually won by Rey Mysterio. In an interesting twist, John Cena challenged Mysterio to a WWE Title match the night Mysterio won it, which Rey accepted.

Cena and Mysterio fought a good match, with Cena eventually winning following an Attitude Adjustment. This decision could be seen as a bit insulting to Mysterio as he rarely fought for World Titles and had a career milestone be very brief for storyline purposes. Regardless, Cena showed some respect to Rey after Cena's win, at which point CM Punk returned with the original WWE Title to set up an Undisputed Championship storyline.

3 John Cena vs. CM Punk (February 25, 2013)

The Rock was a part-time WWE Champion at this time and Cena and Punk were fighting to decide The Rock's challenger for the WWE Title at the upcoming WrestleMania.

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This match is known for multiple reasons because both Cena and Punk showed some variety in their moves and used their regulars as well. The STF from Cena and Punk's Anaconda Vice were both attempted and countered. Punk hit the banned piledriver and Cena executed a standing hurricanrana as well. In the end, Cena's Attitude Adjustment secured him the victory.

2 Finn Balor vs. Roman Reigns (July 25, 2016)

This match featured Finn Balor in his first night of matches on Raw after being transitioned from NXT and was meant to decide who would fight Seth Rollins for the newly-created Universal Title at Summerslam.

Roman Reigns was very disliked by the fans at this time, despite being a face, and had a very good match here nonetheless. The offense included Finn's double foot stomps and dropkicks, Reigns' powerbomb and Superman Punch, and Finn's Sling Blade. The finish saw Finn connect with his Coup De Grace to secure his chance at Summerslam, handing Roman a rare clean pinfall defeat.

1 Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor (April 30, 2018)

This match featured an Intercontinental Championship defense by Seth Rollins and he and Finn Balor had a very exciting match here. Seth's athletic abilities were on full display, featuring a plancha, the blockbuster neckbreaker from the middle rope, and his superplex. Finn contributed his good share with some double foot stomps, an overhead kick, a somersault senton, and a Falcon's Arrow.

Seth hit the Stomp for the win to continue his string of good matches and retained the Intercontinental Title.