The word ‘great’ is used too often to describe something that is simply good or satisfactory within the wrestling business, and fans should start raising their standards. Wrestling is an industry that relies on hyperbole from promoters, but this has most definitely seeped its way into the fandom when discussing matches, feuds, and shows that are often lavished with too much praise (or criticism).
Related
10 Great Theme Songs Fans Will (Likely) Never Hear Again On WWE TV
These iconic WWE theme songs once sent chills down fans’ spines, but chances are, they’ll never echo through an arena again.
With matches in particular, too many ‘greats’ are thrown around to discuss bouts that are good, even very good, but greatness should reach a higher standard than that. Many beloved wrestlers may have had successful careers with a lot of standout moments but only managed to have one truly great match.
Sammy Guevara (Vs. Cody Rhodes)
Their Ladder Match In 2022 Defied Expectations
- Sammy Guevara failed to live up to his early potential in AEW, where he was one of the ‘Four Pillars’
- He did have one great match with Cody Rhodes in early 2022, which would be the latter’s last match with AEW
- Sammy also competed in the first Stadium Stampede, which was amazing, though it was a multi-person match
The bloom is unfortunately of the rose when it comes to Sammy Guevara in AEW as one of its pushed young stars at the company’s inception, he has failed to reach his potential. His early flashes of promise during his time in the Inner Circle made it seem like he was destined for great things in the company, but this has not worked out for him.
He has managed to accomplish one thing so far in his still young career, though, and that is to have already had one great match. Guevara’s ladder match against Cody Rhodes in early 2022 was exceptional, defying any expectation that fans had of Sammy before or since that night with a superb performance.
JBL (Vs. John Cena)
Their ‘I Quit’ Match Was Brutal
- JBL managed to find some late-career success as WWE Champion on SmackDown, having some violent matches
- He famously fought a very bloody Eddie Guerrero at Judgment Day 2004, but this match was nowhere near great
- JBL had a much better showing against John Cena the following year in an ‘I Quit’ match
Many would point to JBL’s match with Eddie Guerrero at Judgment Day 2004 as evidence of another great match, but their encounter was more of a harrowing watch than an amazing in-ring showing. The former Bradshaw’s best match came a year later at the same show when he faced rival John Cena in an ‘I Quit’ match.
JBL similarly bludgeoned Cena into a bloody mess, but this was done far more effectively than Eddie’s blade-job as the young star still had enough in him to produce a great match. The former WWE Champion developed a reputation for his bruising style in his latter years as a main event talent, which this match displayed better than any other.
Shane McMahon (Vs. Kurt Angle)
They Destroyed Each Other At King Of The Ring 2001
- Shane McMahon has never been a good wrestler but has often thrived in more extreme match stipulations
- Some consider his match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33 to be great, but it most definitely is not
- The only great match he was ever a part of was when he fought Kurt Angle at King of the Ring 2001 in a Street Fight
Shane McMahon did not have a good match with AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33, despite popular belief that their bout is somehow an underrated classic. The match was like any other with Shane McMahon in it, filled with weak punches and poor psychology, but without any plunder to make it good.
Related
Shane McMahon Vs. Stephanie McMahon: 5 Ways They’re Similar (& How They’re Different)
Stephanie & Shane McMahon are similar in many ways, as they both learned from their father, Vince. But they’re also different in more ways than one.
Shane O’Mac’s only great match he has ever had came at King of the Ring in 2001, when he and Kurt Angle put on an absolutely mental Street Fight. Nobody could deny Shane’s dedication to the sport that night as he took several ill-advised drops on his head among other dangerous spots, which did make for a compelling watch.
Britt Baker And Thunder Rosa
Both Women Produced Their Best Effort In The Lights Out Match
- Women have often struggled to reach the same level as male performers in AEW because they do not get the chance
- Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa rose to the occasion in 2021 during their Lights Out match on Dynamite
- Both women have struggled to replicate the in-ring quality that they displayed on this occasion
There have scarcely been a handful of great women’s matches throughout AEW’s history, as the company has always failed to promote its female talent at the highest level. However, Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa shattered expectations of themselves and the entire division through their famous Light Out match on Dynamite in 2021.
The two rivals created magic that night, putting on the best women’s match the company has ever produced. It is also far beyond anything Thunder Rosa or Britt Baker have been able to achieve before or since, as they do not share another great match between them.
Damian Priest (Vs. Bad Bunny)
The Puerto Rico Atmosphere Was Incredible
- Damian Priest has enjoyed main roster success, becoming the World Heavyweight Champion last year
- He has shown quality inside the ring but does not have a lot of notable matches in his catalog
- Priest’s best match surprisingly came against music artist Bad Bunny at the 2023 Backlash event in Puerto Rico
After surviving his first time as a World Champion in WWE last year with a lot of credit still in the bank, Damian Priest is a performer who has shown to be capable of doing a lot of things. He has grown to be good enough inside the ring for WWE’s top tier of talent, but has not produced a wealth of great matches throughout his lengthy career.
Priest’s only truly great outing came under unique circumstances when he faced Bad Bunny in a Street Fight at Backlash 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is one of the best celebrity matches of all-time, and, somewhat bizarrely, is the greatest match in Damian Priest’s entire career to this point.
Dolph Ziggler & The Miz
Both Men Reached Their Peak In 2016
- Dolph Ziggler and The Miz enjoyed similar WWE careers as mostly midcard talents with some main-event success
- The two managed to have the best match of their respective careers, together at No Mercy 2016
- Ziggler put his career on the line to get another shot at the Intercontinental title, winning the match
After breaking into WWE as young stars in the late 2000s, Dolph Ziggler and The Miz’s careers took very similar paths. Both men became World Champions very early into their runs, before settling into more of a midcard role within the company, for better or worse.
Related
10 Wrestlers Who Should Have Never Held The WWE Championship
The WWE Championship has had some truly excellent title holders in its history. However, the following names shouldn’t have held the prestigious gold.
The two managed to combine for an outrageous effort at No Mercy 2016 in what would be both of their only respective great matches. Their Intercontinental title versus career storyline was surprisingly effective during a time when WWE was doing great work on SmackDown, elevating The Miz and Dolph Ziggler to another level on that night.
Dustin Rhodes (Vs. Cody Rhodes)
The Brothers Tore The House Down At Double Or Nothing 2019
- Dustin Rhodes performed as Goldust in WWE for most of his career, before moving to AEW in 2019
- His first and best match for the company came against his brother Cody at Double or Nothing that year
- It showed what WWE may have been missing all along with Dustin, who has enjoyed a good run AEW
After joining AEW in 2019 as an in-ring performer/coaching role, nobody expected Dustin Rhodes to produce what he did against his brother Cody at Double or Nothing that year. The brothers put on one of the most emotional matches of all-time that blew away anything that either man had done to that point during their careers in WWE and beyond.
Cody would go on to have more great matches, whilst Dustin always impresses whenever he is called upon to dance with one of AEW’s established stars. It is amazing that the former Goldust was able to have that moment, which has helped to reshape his legacy in the business by showing what he was capable of all along.
Kofi Kingston (Vs. Daniel Bryan)
‘Kofi-Mania’ Took WWE By Storm In 2019
- Kof Kingston has become an all-time great tag team performer through his work with the New Day
- His individual success has been limited for such a long career in WWE, but he did reach the top in 2019
- ‘Kofi-Mania’ saw Kingston have his best performance against Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35
With the New Day, Kofi Kingston has been part of some very good-to-great matches, which has made him one of the best tag team performers of all-time. However, Kofi has only ever had one truly great singles match, which happened under special circumstances at WrestleMania 35.
‘Kofi-Mania’ was a sensation, and it was befitting that Kingston was facing off with the leader of the ‘Yes Movement’ in Daniel Bryan. The two put on a classic match that was the undoubted highlight of Kofi’s career as he became the WWE Champion with his New Day brethren by his side.
Bray Wyatt (Vs. John Cena)
The Firefly Funhouse Match Was Unique
- Bray Wyatt was a popular character throughout his WWE tenure, but the company often booked him poorly
- The best manifestation of a Wyatt project came at WrestleMania 36 in the cinematic Firefly Funhouse match
- The match was a meta look at John Cena’s career and controversial legacy within the wrestling industry
It was often difficult for Bray Wyatt to translate his supernatural brand of wrestling into the WWE world, which led to disasters like the House of Horrors match against Randy Orton in 2017. However, he nailed it under the strangest circumstances at WrestleMania 36, when he faced John Cena in a Firefly Funhouse match.
Related
Every Wrestler Allied With Bray Wyatt, Ranked Worst To Best
Bray Wyatt was a cult leader who had a number of wrestlers align with him in WWE.
The cinematic outing was tremendous, running down Cena’s career in a brutally honest way in what was one of the best matches of its kind at a time when they were rife due to the pandemic. Wyatt was unfortunately not able to replicate this tone inside or outside the ring throughout most of his career, as WWE often mishandled his creative vision.
Randy Orton (Vs. Cactus Jack)
Mick Foley Gave ‘The Legend Killer’ His Best Match
- Randy Orton is regarded by many to be an all-time great but has only had one truly great match
- His series with Christian in 2011 was critically acclaimed, but the quality of the matches is overstated
- Orton’s best match came early in his career against Mick Foley at Backlash 2004
Perceived by many to be among the greatest of all-time, it is shocking to see how few good singles matches Randy Orton has actually had throughout his career, let alone great ones. ‘The Viper’ had an acclaimed series of matches with Christian in 2011, but even those matches were only heightened in quality due to the relative slop that was being served in WWE throughout this time.
Orton’s best and only great match came near the beginning of his career when he fought Cactus Jack under No Hold Barred rules in 2004. Mick Foley worked magic for Randy that night like he did for so many others, making WWE and its fans believe that Orton could reach this level inside the ring more consistently, but he never has.