WWE Classics 24/7 recently debut a show called "10 Count" where host Matt Striker counts down a Top 10 on whatever the topic is that month. This month was "Top 10 WWE Matches of the Decade." They were selected based on crowd reaction, historical impact, excitement, and in-ring skill. They were:
10.) Edge vs. John Cena from Unforgiven 2006
9.) Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley from Backlash 2004
8.) Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle from Vengeance 2005
7.) Steve Austin vs. HHH-Three Stages of Hell from No Way Out 2001
6.) Brock Lesnar vs. Eddie Guerrero from No Way Out 2004
5.) HHH vs. Cactus Jack from Royal Rumble 2000
4.) Rock vs. Hulk Hogan from Wrestlemania 18
3.) Edge & Christian vs. Hardys vs. Duddley Boys- Summerslam 2000 TLC match
2.) Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker- Wrestlemania 25
1.) Rock vs. Austin- Wrestlemania 17
They also gave an honorable mention/11.) spot to Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels ladder match during their 2008 feud.
So what do you and your readers think? I personally think the Lesnar/Guerrero match is overrated and HBK/Angle puts me to sleep for some reason (they also showed their 30 minute Smackdown Iron Man match in the Shorties section this month and it did the same thing). But otherwise it's a good list.
10.) Edge vs. John Cena from Unforgiven 2006
Never seen it, heard it’s good.
9.) Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley from Backlash 2004
I was there! The main event was better that night by far, though. Personally I think Foley’s match with Edge holds up better, though.
8.) Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle from Vengeance 2005
Wrestlemania was better, but it’s hard to argue either way.
7.) Steve Austin vs. HHH-Three Stages of Hell from No Way Out 2001
Fucking awesome match.
6.) Brock Lesnar vs. Eddie Guerrero from No Way Out 2004
I agree, overrated. Not BAD, but certainly on the lower end of Eddie’s main event work. His match with Angle from Wrestlemania 20 was better, for instance.
5.) HHH vs. Cactus Jack from Royal Rumble 2000
One of my favorite matches of all time. HHH ripped the heart out of MSG and built his career on that match.
4.) Rock vs. Hulk Hogan from Wrestlemania 18
Really? #4?
3.) Edge & Christian vs. Hardys vs. Duddley Boys- Summerslam 2000 TLC match
Not much argument from me.
2.) Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker- Wrestlemania 25
I still feel like it’s too early to be judging it in these sorts of lists, especially since it wasn’t for a title and the rematch likely will be.
1.) Rock vs. Austin- Wrestlemania 17
Yes, it’s a near-perfect match, but it also marked the point at which the peak of the WWF came to an end, so if you’re going by history as well as ring work, it’s a pretty clear #1.
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`Tags: 2000, 24, 24/7, Chris Jericho, Edge, HHH, Hulk Hogan, Impact, John Cena, MSG, No Way Out, Randy Orton, Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels, Smackdown, Steve Austin, Undertaker, Wrestlemania, WWE, WWF
Rock-Austin is probably my favorite match ever.
The Cactus Jack-HHH match was actually the rematch from No Way Out 2000 in Hartford–Hell in a Cell. (They did have the entire Royal Rumble 2000 ppv earlier in the month.) Either way–both matches were awesome.
That sir is incorrect. The No Wat Out match was the re-match. It was the career vs. Title match that ultimately was Foley’s last match. Well it WAS a retirement stipulation and he did lose…
Uh, maybe you misunderstood me. I was talking about what match was actually shown on the LIST during this Classics on Demand broadcast. Sorry, if I wasn’t clear.
Yes I misunderstood. Once I read it all again I figured it out. Anyway the Rumble match was better I believe.
Lists like these will always be taken with a grain of salt thanks to their decision to strike Benoit from the record.
His matches with Angle at RR04, with HHH and HBK at WM20 and Backlash and with Jericho at take your pick all deserve to be on this list.
Excuse me, I mean RR03. Though, since I botched up and mentioned it anyway, the 2004 rumble match deserves a place on this list as well.
And Benoit/Austin from Smackdown! in Edmonton from May of ‘01 was spectacular as well.
Rock vs Austin can only be top.
I think Rock v HHH Backlash should be here personally as it was a pinnacle moment in WWF popularity, booking and Rock/ HHH were at their peaks as main event stars. Rock v HHH as a rivalry gets vastly underrated all the time I just don’t get why.
That match was amazing live but I don’t think it holds up well enough to be in the top ten of the decade. But maybe that’s just me.
I would pick the HHH/Rock Ironman match- maybe not the greatest technical Ironman, but a match where I was solidly entertained and involved for the whole 60+
I think it’s funny that even with WWE trying to convince everyone that the current product holds up to the past, they still could only find one match in the past 4 years to put on the list and 4 out of the 10 matches were from the first 2 years of the decade.
It’s even more amusing since WWE usually can’t wait to declare the 9000th Cena/Orton match an ‘instant classic’, and yet the follow-up to what many consider to be one of the best matches of the last ten years was both guys disappearing for months, virtually no mention of the match on TV during that time, Shawn coming back via a wacky comedy skit to feud with Legacy and Taker returning in an even goofier fashion to feud with Punk. And we’re only now getting any sort of follow-up months after the match has likely faded from the memories of most casual fans.
I’m that guessing part of this had to do with bruised egos (especially since they overshadowed the ‘real’ main event), but after a year of WWE screwing around with guest hosts and midgets and failed attempts to build up anything meaningful for the biggest show of the year they’ve apparently bowed to public opinion and are hoping to recapture that magic. Because honestly, if not for that, I don’t think this match would have made the list. It’s like when Vince did a 180° turn on The Wrestler after the critcal buzz reached a fever pitch and he realized he could make money off the deal.
“…after the critcal buzz…”
Probably should be another ‘i’ in there somewhere….
“2.) Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker- Wrestlemania 25
I still feel like it’s too early to be judging it in these sorts of lists, especially since it wasn’t for a title and the rematch likely will be. ”
Well, the rematch is also going to be outside of the decade being judged.
Either way, I think it’s earned it’s spot on the list. Not necessarily number two, but definitely in the top ten. It’s one of the best matches I’ve ever seen, and five years of perspective isn’t going to change that. A good match is a good match, even if it’s very much the product of its time (a la Flair/Steamboat or Steamboat/Savage – to me, they hold up but I can absolutely understand why they put some people to sleep).
I didn’t like the ending to Rock/Austin. Not so much the heel turn, but just how it played out. I would have liked it better if McMahon hit Rock with a chair, Austin followed up with the Stunner to win, and then he beat him down with the chair. The match sort of came to a halt so Austin could turn heel before it officially ended. I just hate that ending to an otherwise great match.
I liked Angle/Michaels at Wrestlemania better. I wonder if they just would rather showcase the match where HBK won, and not current TNA Superstar Kurt Angle won?
I’d put HBK/HHH from Summerslam 2002 on there. Nobody was expecting much from that match. HHH hadn’t had a good match in a while, and nobody knew if HBK had anything left. Most people thought he didn’t and wouldn’t be able to do much with the back injury. He tore the roof off the place and was easily better after four years off than most guys have ever been on any night in their career. It’s historically significant to with it being Shawn’s comeback match. Again, don’t love the ending, as the Superkick would have been a more fitting finish for a street fight match. This match, and Shawn’s match at Wrestlemania with Jericho were weird in the way they ended. It’s like they didn’t really want to put Shawn over, so they had him win both times with a roll up type move, and then get laid out immediately afterwards.
Rock/Hogan was amazing to be in attendance for. The heat was just insane. It wasn’t a great match, and it wasn’t all that memorable from a historical perspective either. Rock won and was pretty much done as a full time wrestler immediately afterwards, and Hogan’s comeback only lasted a little over a year, and less if you consider the time he took off during that year. He was only around until July and only came back after that from February until May I think. Fun to be there for, and memorable for the “legend vs legend” thing, but didn’t really mean much over all.
Being in Toronto for Rock/Hogan is one of the highlights of my life. I saw a decent amount of Hogan swag walking from my hotel to Skydome but GODDAMN was his pop bigger than anything I’ve ever heard.
Screwy finish aside, HHH/Rock Iron Man Match was one of the more fun wrestling matches I’ve ever watched. I had no idea how those two could fill up an hour, but with a lot of falls and some smart psychology, they really did it. The booking with the falls (”scoring”) was almost like watching a really fun, back and fourth sporting event.
Kind of off topic, but someone mentioned how today’s wrestling compares historically to the old days, and it made me wonder about Edge.
Where do you think he fits in terms of “legends” in wrestling? He went from a lower card guy, to tag team champion, to IC champion, and into the main event, where he has multiple (if not memorable) title reigns. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels followed this same path and we consider them legends. Is Edge in the same category?
Time and perspective are an important thing. Edge has only been gone through injury less than a year and people can’t wait for his return and talk of his greatness. Yet a year ago many people were saying he had got stale etc.
I’d think Edge is a fantastic worker but due to the large number of stars ‘above’ him in the pecking order I don’t think he’ll ever be considered on Hart/HBKs level. Both those guys were carrying the company at some point as the ‘face’ of the wwe something Edge has never done… but this only really came about due to the lack of talent in the WWE in the mid 90’s.
I think Jericho has the same problem as Edge in that no matter how talented he is, the way booking has worked and how the company has used him has effected his overall legacy. BOTH
Oh, how I love thee, JD 2000. Actually, that was a great card top to bottom; sort of reminded me of Canadian Stampede in how good everything was. But that Iron Man, still my favorite out of them all, for all the reasons you mentioned. It never ever “feels” like an hour, much like the Flair/Steamboat Clash match, though for different reasons.
I agree with Eddie/Brock being overrated a tad, but the moment was so great it’s hard not to put it in one of these lists. I’m biased though because I was there and Eddie jumped right on top of me.
The list, for the most part, was pretty poor. Obviously all benoit matches are out, but for completeness, the benoit matches that were better than 6/8/9/10 on this list:
Benoit/Jericho Ladder Match Royal Rumble
Benoit/Jericho vs. Austin/Triple H
Benoit/Austin in Edmonton (10 germans)
Benoit/Angle Royal Rumble
Benoit/Michaels/Triple H wrestlemania
Not including benoit, it is a joke that cena/edge, foley/orton, lesnar/eddie got ahead of these matches (they are putting hogan/rock in for different reasons):
Triple H vs. Foley Royal Rumble
Triple H vs. Rock Iron Man Match
Triple H vs. Jericho Fully Loaded Last Man standing (man that triple h dude was good what ever happened to him, and this match is one of the most forgotten GREAT matches)
Austin vs. Angle Summerslam ‘01, An AWESOME match
Jericho vs. Rock No Mercy (jericho wins wcw title)
Michaels vs. Angle WM (a joke vengeance match got in ahead)
Michaels vs. Jericho Ladder Match (they included as an extra on the list)
I’m sure several more, but i stopped watch consistently around 2002
Benoit/Jericho vs. Austin/Triple H
Benoit/Austin in Edmonton (10 germans)
Did the infamous tag team title match ever make it on tape/DVD? Same question with the Edmonton match?
Have to agree… I don’t want to get the same arguments started, but the WM20 Three way is one of the best matches ever and should be, at least in the top 5. IMO
I think one made it to the 2001 Best Matches tape/DVD but not both. whichever one didn’t make it, I remember Scott being pissed off about it missing the cut.
7. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit vs. Two Man Power Trip (RAW 5/21/01 – WWF Tag Team Championship
Yeah found it on the WWF Best of 2001 Viewers Choice DVD/VHS listing. Looks like it is the TNN special and shows the top 10 matches – albeit very clipped.
Also for those interested, someone reposted it about 8 months ago. Its in two parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiyY9XkFEkU
I know that it’s not the PC answer these days but if I had to pick a match of the decade, I would say the unquestionable winner has to be the 2004 Royal Rumble Match. Yes, it was very micro-managed and at times slow, but I challenge anyone to find an hour long match that was more perfectly booked and executed from start to finish.
This is from a post Scott put up on November 22, 2009…
“Undertaker/HBK is ridiculously high. Sorry, but a year of perspective isn’t enough to declare it the best match of the decade yet. My vote would go to HHH v. Cactus or HHH/HBK/Benoit. Brock v. Eddie isn’t even in the same universe as most of the rest of the top 10. Plus I think the HBK-Angle rematch from Vengeance 2005 was ***** and thus better than the original WM match.”
LOL Apparently Mr. Keith cannot make up his mind regarding the Michaels/Angle matches and really, who can blame the guy, as the both reek of awesomeness
Still preferred Angle/HBK at WM as it was more important. I think I might be the only person who really thinks Taker/HBK is vastly overrated. I’d go **** at best, the last 5 mins or so just felt like finisher kick out.. finisher kick out.
nope. same here. I think it’s a fantastic match but not the ***** best of match for years it is said to be.
I don’t have a problem with Rock/Hogan at #4. For a list like this, obviously more weight is put on the crowd and the entertainment factor….and no match in the 2000s got a crowd more worked up. The reaction Hogan got when he was hulking up still gives me goosebumps. Whatcha gonna do Rock!?! I know it’s not a great technical match but I have yet to tire of watching it.
Good list given the criteria. Main surprise is that HBK/HHH from Summerslam 2002 isn’t in there
Both HHH & HBK probably don’t like it as much now. It’s not as good as their match on the last RAW of 2003 was anyway.
I might be the minority but frankly as a match I liked HHH/Foley HITC from No Way Out 2000 better than the RR street fight. It had a better flow and featured wrestling + brawling, whereas the street fight was broken down into distinct segments and was all brawling. But then both are ***** matches so maybe that’s just picking nits.
Cmon Scott, give us the Top 20 of 2000’s! Add about 8 Benoit matches to that list & 2 more HHH ones and you’re good to go. And that’s just going by star ratings. Matter of fact just going by star ratings (and counting Benoit) the top 10 automatically are:
Benoit/HHH/HBK from WMXX
2004 Royal Rumble
HHH/Foley Street Fight from RR 2000
HHH/Foley HITC from No Way Out 2000
Benoit/Jericho vs. Austin/HHH from Raw May, 2001
Benoit/Austin (feat. the Ten Germans) from Smackdown May, 2001
HBK/Undertaker from WMXV
HHH/Rock Iron Man Match from Judgement Day 2000
HHH/Austin 3 Stages of Hell from No Way Out 2001
Benoit/Angle from RR 2003
Oh and almost forgot:
HHH/HBK from last Raw of 2003
AND Austin/Rock from WM17
OK Top 12 then :3
If anything, Rock/Hogan should be higher. Biggest moment of the decade no doubt.
I’ll also get shit for this but any Top of the Decade list should include HBK/Flair from WMXIV. Obviously not for match quality (thought I still think it was a good match and far more watchable than Hogan/Rock), but just for story and emotional & historical (well, WWE history anyway) impact. If Hogan/Rock goes on the list, so does this, even if Flair flushed all the goodwill away directly after like an idiot.
Actually just typing that now and realizing he could be doing exactly what he’s doing on TNA in the WWE still right now saddens me like you wouldn’t believe. He’s not even with the right GUY in TNA! McGuinness is better suited for the Flair protege’ role.
I think Flair/HBK is an obvious top 10, top 5 moment of the decade…but the match itself…I don’t know. It was so obvious HBK was winning and so obvious that Flair couldn’t keep up…I don’t know, it seemed too sad to me. All I fondly remember is Flair’s entrance and the Shawn’s tearful cover along with the post-match stuff.
Compare that to Rock/Hogan, where the actual match is what stands out. The match gets an added historical bonus because it began the trend of smart fans overpowering marks and booing the shit out of the supposed face. It had happened before, but never like that. Now Cena gets it all the time.
Now wait a minute. Who says the “smart fans” were booing Rock and the “marks” were cheering him? I’m not really sure about that, and might even argue the opposite…
I don’t know, I think what you’re referring to is that WWE booked Rock to be the face and Hogan the heel in the weeks before that, and the crowd clearly went against that (as they do with Cena). But I think the line between smart and mark is a little more complex than that, and that’s all I have to say on this subject because the terms “smart” and “mark” annoy me anyway.
I love Rock/Austin to death, even with the screwy finish.
But, there are a few matches I’d put ahead of it. Some of them are Benoit matches, which won’t get inclusion on a WWE list (and I’m FINE with that, btw… no need for WWE to be putting over a child-murderer).
HHH/Austin 2-out-of-3, HHH/Cactus, and Michaels/Taker would all rank above it, for me personally.
Michaels/Taker is definitely my number 1. I don’t get the “we need more time to pass before we can judge it” argument. It’s been almost a year. I just watched the match again a couple weeks back, and let me tell you — It’s still AMAZING. My favorite Mania match of all time, and possibly even my favorite match ever.
Also, Rock/Hogan may not be a technical classic, but I have ZERO problem with it being on this list. There’s something to be said for a match just being really fun and INSANELY heated.
So when will we discuss the worst matches of the decade?
I think that begins and ends with that Raw match with Jackie Gayda and Trish Stratus when Trish was visibly upset afterwards about how Jackie had literally botched every single move in the match.
Well, I meant from all promotions so the Jenna Morasca/Sharmell anti-classic from TNA would qualify as well. Anyone else got any suggestions?
The Booker T vs. Marcus Bagwell match from RAW after Vince bought WCW is infamous.
Just saw the Mark Henry vs. Kurt Angle match from one of the Royal Rumbles and it’s terrible in every way.
That diva battle royale from WM 25 has no redeeming value whatsoever.
How about the Sting vs. Jake Roberts Halloween Havoc match.
The Stevie Richards/Tyson Tomko match from Unforgiven 2004 is horrible too, if memory serves.