Best WWE Matches Of All Time
Read update
- Delving into the rich history of matches in WWE always unearths more and more all-time classics. In every era, the top stars in WWE have delivered incredible contests which are among the greatest of all time - both inside and outside of the company. Whether it be violent clashes in the Attitude Era, first-time ever gimmick matches, tireless NXT back and forths, or modern day bouts which continue adding to the extensive list of great matches, there are so many to pick between to determine the very best ever. This will look at even more of those incredible clashes.
For a company with decades of rich history, monthly PPVs since the 1990s, forty years worth of WrestleMania, and housing most of the biggest professional wrestling stars of all time, picking the best matches in WWE history is painfully difficult to do.
10 Definitive Best Last Man Standing Matches In WWE History, Ranked
These WWE Last Man Standing matches got the formula and pacing right, making for entertaining and physical clashes between heated rivals.However, there are some matches which are unanimously among the very best and most elite WWE bouts. Of course, this will perhaps be one of the most subjective topics among WWE fans, but all of these matches have earned the right to at least be in the conversation. WWE has played host to countless classics over the years, with there being many candidates for the top spot.
UPDATE: 2024/03/21 11:30 EST BY ANDREW KELLY
Delving into the rich history of matches in WWE always unearths more and more all-time classics. In every era, the top stars in WWE have delivered incredible contests which are among the greatest of all time - both inside and outside of the company. Whether it be violent clashes in the Attitude Era, first-time ever gimmick matches, tireless NXT back and forths, or modern day bouts which continue adding to the extensive list of great matches, there are so many to pick between to determine the very best ever. This will look at even more of those incredible clashes.
20 Sami Zayn Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, NXT TakeOver: Dallas 2016
Nakamura's WWE Debut Was A Spectacle
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Sami Zayn | NXT TakeOver: Dallas 2016 | 20:07 |
This match was all about the instant aura that Shinsuke Nakamura brought to NXT upon his debut. The audience was wild for this match and ate up everything Nakamura did. The match saw strong style, technical wrestling, and huge near-falls.
The work put in by both Nakamura and Zayn with their instant chemistry was special, but the world-class audience in Dallas really pushed this match into a different stratosphere.
19 The Wyatt Family Vs. The Shield, Elimination Chamber 2014
Two Great Factions Went Wild In 2014
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Wyatt Family defeated The Shield | WWE Elimination Chamber 2014 | 22:28 |
The Shield and The Wyatt Family brought their two contrasting styles to a hugely entertaining, chaotic, and wild match at Elimination Chamber 2014, in a bout which saw all six men thrive and showcase their talents.
The Wyatt Family picking off each member was great, and it was certainly their peak as a group in WWE when they decisively defeated The Shield, who had been presented as such a dominant force.
18 Mankind Vs. The Undertaker, King Of The Ring 1998
One Of The Most Infamous Matches In Wrestling
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
The Undertaker defeated Mankind | King Of The Ring 1998 | 16:00 |
This was not a technical masterclass, this did not have controlled structure, and this was not a storytelling epic. However, this is still one of the most thrilling spectacles in WWE history. The Undertaker throwing Mankind both off the Hell In A Cell and through the roof are still, to this day, two of the most insane spots in wrestling history.
The fact that the match continued on, showing Mankind's crazed grit, was jaw-dropping. The atmosphere surrounding this match is like nothing ever seen before, and likely will never be seen again in WWE.
17 WALTER Vs. Tyler Bate, NXT TakeOver Cardiff 2019
WWE's Best David Vs. Goliath Match
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
WALTER defeated Tyler Bate | NXT TakeOver: Cardiff 2019 | 42:12 |
For over 40 minutes, WALTER and Tyler Bate went to war for the NXT UK Championship in one of the best examples of the David versus Goliath formula ever. WALTER beat the holy hell out of Bate, who just kept getting up, sending the crowd into a frenzy every time he did so. Bate showcased his crazy strength too, managing to use both power and speed against a much larger opponent.
10 Definitive Best WWE WrestleMania Main Events, Ranked
The biggest matches in WWE history have headlined WrestleMania. Which main event from WWE's Grandest Stage Of Them All tops the list?In the end though, WALTER was simply just too dominant for Bate to overcome, finally being put to bed after an epic encounter in front of a raucous UK crowd.
16 Razor Ramon Vs. Shawn Michaels, WWE WrestleMania 10
The First Ever Ladder Match Was Fantastic
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels | WWE WrestleMania 10 | 18:47 |
Even though ladder matches would go on to feature crazier spots, higher risks, and memorable moments, the first ever ladder match will be hard to ever top. The use of the ladder felt more direct, focused, and logical, utilizing it as the central focus of the match.
Ramon and Michaels were the perfect two competitors to bring this match to the spotlight, stealing the show with a classic.
15 Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker, Bad Blood 1997
First Hell In A Cell Match In WWE History
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Shawn Michaels defeated The Undertaker | Badd Blood 1997 | 30:00 |
The first-ever Hell in a Cell match set the precedent for what quickly became an all-time classic WWE gimmick match. Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker went to war in a physical match which utilized the Cell structure wonderfully.
Big moves, falling off the side of the Cell, and the unforgettable debut of Kane led to this being an all-time great match in WWE for a variety of different reasons. It is still up there with the very best Hell in a Cell matches of all time, if not the very best.
14 The Revival Vs. DIY, NXT TakeOver Toronto 2016
A Thrilling Tag Team Clash In NXT
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
DIY defeated The Revival | NXT TakeOver: Toronto 2016 | 22:18 |
The black & gold era of NXT had some of the best matches in WWE history in front of the most passionate and raucous fans that the company has witnessed in decades. The Revival took on DIY for the NXT Tag Team Championships in a brilliant 2 out of 3 falls match at TakeOver Toronto.
The Revival’s incredible tag team psychology to cut down the underdog babyfaces was a perfect dynamic, and it made for some thrilling watching. These two teams had insane chemistry, perhaps better than any other two teams in WWE history, and it was fully on display here.
13 Triple H Vs. Cactus Jack, Royal Rumble 2000
Violent Masterclass Between Attitude Era Rivals
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Triple H defeated Cactus Jack | WWE Royal Rumble 2000 | 26:55 |
Triple H and Cactus Jack had an iconic feud, and their Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2000 was the best match in their series. It was glorious violence which saw the use of barbed wire, handcuffs, and thumbtacks.
10 Definitive Best Hell In A Cell Matches In WWE History, Ranked
WWE's most demonic structure, the Hell In A Cell, has hosted many bloodbaths and instant classics!The closing spot alone made this iconic, with Triple H delivering a pedigree face-first into the tacks on Foley in an insane moment. It felt like an authentic and personal war between two sworn enemies every step of the way. This also marked the first time that anybody had ever kicked out of the Pedigree. In an era where kicking out of finishers was a rarity and not the norm, this cemented just how much of a never-say-die babyface Mick Foley was.
12 Kurt Angle Vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 21
Dream Match Which Delivered At WrestleMania
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Kurt Angle defeated Shawn Michaels | WWE WrestleMania 21 | 27:28 |
Two of the all-time best stepped into the ring together at WrestleMania 21 in a dream match and it delivered. In truth, it could’ve probably been even better, which just goes to show how good this one was that it still gets a mention.
It was fluid, there were a load of counters, and each man delivered all their moves to a crisp perfection. The closing stretch was electric, and this fit the bill of a “WrestleMania match” for sure. Michaels' selling in the final Ankle Lock sequence is some of the most emotional and heart-wrenching of his entire career, and that's saying something from HBK.
11 Gunther Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Sheamus, WrestleMania 39
2023's Best Match Was A War Between Powerhouses
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Gunther defeated Drew McIntyre & Sheamus | WWE WrestleMania 39 Night Two | 16:40 |
Before this match took place, fans were already expecting a hard-hitting affair. However, nobody quite expected it to be one of the greatest triple threat matches in WWE history - and that is exactly what it was.
These three men went to war in a stiff contest where every man brought their most vicious and destructive side. They beat the hell out of one another for over 20 minutes, living up to the stage and making the Intercontinental Title feel like the most important belt in the company.
10 Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Jericho - WrestleMania 19
Storied Rivals Put On A WrestleMania Clinic
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Shawn Michaels defeated Chris Jericho | WWE WrestleMania 19 | 22:35 |
If you want a match to prove how beautiful professional wrestling can be, then this is the match to show someone. The masterful control of the crowd, the gradually built up pace, the psychology and storyline elements incorporated in, all made for a perfect match-up.
10 Definitive Best Steel Cage Matches In WWE History, Ranked
There have been some amazing WWE matches that took place inside the steel cage!Michaels and Jericho’s match at WrestleMania 19 may even be underrated by some fans, but it is arguably up there with the greatest WWE matches of all time. It was two incredible wrestlers going at it with expert preciseness and wonderfully executed in-ring ability.
9 Sasha Banks Vs. Bayley - NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 2015
One Of The Most Important Women's Matches In WWE History
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Bayley defeated Sasha Banks | NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 2015 | 18:22 |
In terms of women’s wrestling in WWE, this is one of the most important and pivotal matches of all time. A heated storyline led to this having a red-hot crowd, elevating an already wonderfully wrestled match.
This is one of the best examples of a babyface vs. heel matchup, with Banks playing the vicious, violent heel, and Bayley playing the plucky hero who needed to reach down deep to find an extra level to score the win. It was fast-paced, back-and-forth, and this was the match that truly kicked into gear the women’s revolution in the company.
8 Edge & Christian Vs. Dudley Boyz Vs. Hardy Boyz - WrestleMania 17
The First Ever TLC Match Was A Car Crash For The Ages
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Edge & Christian defeated The Hardy Boyz & The Dudley Boyz | WWE WrestleMania 17 | 15:50 |
Chaos, never-before-seen spots, and death-defying moments all played into making this triple threat Tag Team Championship match one of the best ever. The second official TLC match was a hugely important spectacle, redefining “spot fests” and bringing a style of wrestling to WWE that had never been seen before.
These six men made this match type famous here, with this having a highlight reel of some of the best WrestleMania moments ever, all within just one match.
7 Johnny Gargano Vs. Tommaso Ciampa, NXT TakeOver: New Orleans 2018
The Most Violent And Hard-Hitting PG Era Match
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Johnny Gargano defeats Tommaso Ciampa | NXT TakeOver New Orleans 2018 | 37:06 |
In 2018, NXT was really experiencing its boom period as one of the most exciting brands in WWE history, providing a style of wrestling and storytelling that many had longed for.
The feud between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa was a piece of excellence, and this match felt like an all out war at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. It was insanely violent, feeling like a throwback to a bygone era, and it featured so much excitement, back-and-forths, and wonderful character work from both men.
6 Bret Hart Vs. Owen Hart, WrestleMania 10
WrestleMania's Greatest Opening Match
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Owen Hart defeated Bret Hart | WWE WrestleMania 10 | 20:21 |
In what may be the best WrestleMania opener of all time, Bret Hart and Owen Hart had arguably the greatest ever brother vs. brother match in professional wrestling history.
The storyline, the nuances, and the technical brilliance of this match were all wonderfully done. Owen’s desire to bring more of a physical battle contrasting to Bret’s more calm approach to keep his head was very well done, and the upset win for Owen only added to how memorable this bout was.
5 The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 26
Two Legends Went Back To Back With Classic Matches
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels | WWE WrestleMania 26 | 24:00 |
The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels had several classics throughout their multi-era feud within WWE, though their match at WrestleMania 26 may have been the most emotional one.
Michaels’ obsession with breaking the streak to the point where he put his career on the line led to a fast paced fight with physical back-and-forths, great near-falls, and the crowd on the edge of their seats. This was certainly one of the best WrestleMania main events of all time, if not the very best.
4 WALTER Vs. Ilja Dragunov, NXT UK December 2020
No Crowd? No Problem
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Walter defeated Ilja Dragunov | NXT UK 10/29/2020 | 25:09 |
The empty arena pandemic era match between WALTER and Ilja Dragunov was one of the most special, breathtaking works of art in WWE history. Using the empty arena to highlight the sheer brutality and violent sounds of this match was truly a spectacle.
10 Definitive Best Ladder Matches In WWE History, Ranked
The Ladder Match is one of wrestling's most popular gimmicks, with some of WWE's biggest stars having put on quite a few classics!For nearly half an hour these two went to war in a mega matchup. There is no coincidence as to why this match is rated higher than any other WWE bout on cagematch.net, and that is due to it genuinely being a masterpiece.
3 John Cena Vs. CM Punk, Money In The Bank 2011
A Historic Match And A Star-Making Victory
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
CM Punk defeated John Cena | WWE Money in the Bank 2011 | 33:44 |
The Money in the Bank 2011 match between CM Punk and John Cena was the first for over a decade to receive a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer (per profightdb.com) and it is no surprise as to why.
A thunderous crowd and unteachable chemistry between Punk and Cena made for a masterclass in professional wrestling. Their wrestling was fluid, Cena was brought up to a higher level than usual, and the final sequence with Punk winning and leaving the company with the WWE Championship was absolutely iconic.
2 Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin, WrestleMania 13
The Best Double Turn In WWE History
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
Bret Hart defeated Steve Austin | WWE WrestleMania 13 | 22:05 |
Perhaps the most wonderfully executed double turn of all time came with this bloody and brutal submission match between two of the greats in Bret Hart and Steve Austin.
It was a brutal match with each man methodically and systematically trying to take each other down. The selling, the trash talk, the feeling of true animosity between the pair, and the occasion of WrestleMania were perfect ingredients for a thrilling matchup that is so very nearly the best of all time in WWE.
1 The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels, WrestleMania 25
The Most Perfect Match In WWE History
Result | Event | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
The Undertaker defeated Shawn Michaels | WrestleMania 25 | 30:44 |
Whilst there may be some who disagree, this is the greatest WWE match of all time. The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels put on something special here, with it being one of the most beautifully executed matches ever.
Incredible sequences, huge moves, stunning near-falls, and an electric audience set the stage for these two legends to create something truly special. The rivalry going into the event was perfect, and it was so good that WWE had to do it again a year later.
