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Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Best Wrestling Matches 2000-2004

So a few weeks ago I made a list of matches between 2011 until 2016 for newcomers and returning WWE fans and a second list of matches between 2005 until 2010 and it got a good amount of responses on it so I made a follow up list between the years of 2000 until 2005. Hope you enjoy the list and the little details I've given next to each. Also I'll try adding links to matches within the next day or so, like the last two lists I made I also added the amount of matches each wrestler had and also compared my ratings of the matches compared to Meltzers I look forward to your opinion on these ratings.
2000:
2001:
  • Chris Jericho Vs Chris Benoit Ladder Match – Royal Rumble 2001 – These two would feud periodically throughout 2000 and 2001, but this time they’d face in a one on one affair for the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match. This is one of the best one on one-ladder matches of all time and it’s just so fantastic the chemistry that these two have with each other. Albeit this another one of those brutal matches, including a fantastic walls of Jericho on top of a ladder spot, which I squirm at every time at I see it.
  • Triple H Vs Stone Cold 2 Out of 3 Falls Match – No Way Out 2001 – This was the build up for over a year, it dates back to when Triple H arranged the hit and run of Stone Cold Steve Austin back in 1999. It’s one of my favourite Stone Cold matches, and was quite interesting to see Triple H actually win two straight falls for two big reasons. One reason being that Triple H was the heel, therefore most people expected Stone Cold to finally get his comeuppance on Triple H, and the second reason was Stone Cold was in the main event for Wrestlemania 17; so most people expected he would win to build him up for that match.
  • Edge & Christian Vs The Hardy Boyz Vs The Dudley Boys Table, Ladders and Chairs Match – Wrestlemania 17 – We’re back again with these six men, and you might think by this time it’s the same old thing, they can’t top what they did last time. But that’s what they did. They topped it yet again. This is my favourite match from this Wrestlemania; it’s just so brutal and fun to watch.
  • Stone Cold Steve Austin Vs The Rock – Wrestlemania 17 – These two men were competing in a rematch from Wrestlemania 15, two years prior to this. To get this Wrestlemania 17, Austin returned from almost a year away from to win the 2001 Royal Rumble, and The Rock had to defeat Kurt Angle the month prior to this at No Way Out. This is miles ahead better then their former ‘Mania match, these two were the two top men in the attitude era. Fun match, with what is arguably one of the best Wrestlemania’s of all time a complete stacked card. Only thing I would do different is the ending.
  • Chris Benoit Vs Kurt Angle – Backlash 2001 – Two of the greatest all around wrestlers of all time in a ‘30 Minute Ultimate Submission Match’. These two men put on a clinic and it’s a reason that they both show up so much on this list. That’s all I’ll say about this match.
  • Bradshaw & Faarooq Vs Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn Vs Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley Vs Justin Credible & X-Pac Vs Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy Vs Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho Vs Christian & Edge Tag Team Turmoil Match – Judgment Day 2001 – Chris Benoit would pull double duty this night as he would have a two out of three falls match earlier against Kurt Angle. Interesting to see how Benoit/Angle would feud with each other for most of their WWF runs up until this point, that the people who were booking decided to tag these two together. There’s been many tag team turmoils in WWE history, but I believe this is the only one that has actually gone well and to plan correctly. It keeps the excitement of all the teams by mixing them up and having teams face other teams they’ve never faced. Highly recommend, fun watch. If you get the chance as well watch the match from the next night Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit Vs Triple H & Stone Cold Steve Austin, as well as their TLC Match on the following Smackdown.
  • Kurt Angle Vs Shane McMahon Street Fight – King of the Ring 2001 – Kurt Angle had competed in 2 matches prior to this match against Shane. This is the epitome of a brutal match, so violent, so ‘unsafe’. Memorable moments from this match: Kurt Angle trying to belly-to-belly suplex Shane though the glass, Shane McMahons shooting star press from the turnbuckle and Kurt Angle angle-slamming Shane McMahon from the top of the turnbuckle. Here’s a video of Shane and Kurt discussing the match.
  • Jeff Hardy Vs Rob Van Dam Hardcore Match – Invasion 2001 – This was somewhat a dream match for fans to see happen. Jeff Hardy risk-tasking psycho vs Rob Van Dam another risk-taking psycho. I wont say much, this is fun and this is great. If you get the chance watch them follow it up at Summerslam.
  • Kurt Angle Vs Stone Cold Steve Austin – Unforgiven 2001 – This was a rematch to their Summerslam match, and it was absolutely great. It was a feel good moment for wrestling fans, and a feel good moment for Americans as Kurt Angle in his hometown of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania would go onto win another WWF Championship, as it was just a few weeks after the whole 9/11 Terrorist Bombings. Taking away from that, these two men work very well with each other and it’s a very back and forth match.
  • Edge Vs Christian Ladder Match – No Mercy 2001 – Two former best friends (or brothers at the time) were competing for the Intercontinental Championship match. This was a match everyone was excited to see, they wanted to see how these two men would go in single runs. Much like all the other ladder matches involving these men, they are instant classics.
  • Chris Jericho Vs The Rock – No Mercy 2001 – This was one of Chris Jericho’s first main event matches, and it was against The Rock for the WCW Championship. These two honestly have magic between them, ignore a bit of a screwy finish, that doesn’t take away that it’s a great match. This was the first hint at Chris Jericho becoming a major player and also a multiple time world champion.
  • Team WWF (Chris Jericho & Kane & The Big Show & The Rock & The Undertaker) Vs Team Alliance (Booker T. & Kurt Angle & Rob Van Dam & Shane McMahon & Stone Cold Steve Austin) – This was the end to the Invasion feud, and honestly no one was really disappointed about that. But nonetheless it’s still a very fun match to watch, but most people going into this show knew there was no way Team WWF losing. Watch the unedited promo if you can find it, it will honestly make you so hyped for this match.
  • Chris Jericho Vs The Rock/Chris Jericho Vs Stone Cold – Vengeance 2001 – This was the night Jericho was waiting for, he waited so long and was rewarded with the grandest prize in history – the undisputed championship. Jericho had back-to-back matches against the two top stars of the Attitude Era… and beat them. No one in history can say they beat Stone Cold and The Rock in the same night, except Chris Jericho and trust me he doesn’t let us forget it.
2002:
  • The Undertaker Vs Ric Flair No Disqualification Match – Wrestlemania 18 – The Undertaker was left without an opponent for Wrestlemania 18, so it’s only fitting that the dirtiest player in the game would step up and face him. Flair didn’t have a lot of great matches upon his return to WWE, but he did have this match. Two of the greatest of all time, in an underrated Wrestlemania match.
  • The Rock Vs Hulk Hogan – Wrestlemania 18 – Legend Vs. Icon. Listen to that crowd. That’s all.
  • The Undertaker Vs Jeff Hardy Ladder Match – Raw – ‘Climb the ladder kid make yourself famous’ – truer words have never been spoken by Jim Ross. These two put on one of the best Raw matches from 2002, Jeff Hardy would also earn the respect of The Undertaker, and in doing so would turn him face.
  • The Rock Vs Kurt Angle Vs The Undertaker – Vengeance 2002 – This is arguably one of the best triple threat matches of all time. This match is at the start of the turn WWF to WWE, and that also means that many attitude era stars were leaving the company, the big one missing was Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Rock as a face, Kurt Angle as a heel and Undertaker as a newly tweener was just a perfect combo between each other. The addition of these men stealing each others signature and finisher moves make this match even better.
  • Kurt Angle Vs Rey Mysterio – Summerslam 2002 – This was Rey Mysterio’s PPV Debut, and he had the challenge of facing Kurt Angle in the opening match of quite possibly one of the best PPV’s. Very fun match, short and exciting.
  • Triple H Vs Shawn Michaels Unsanctioned Matched – Summerslam 2002 – The whole Summerslam 2002 itself is actually one of the best PPV’s of all time and I recommend you watch it. But this match was very special, it was Shawn Michaels first match back again in 4 years against his ‘former’ best friend Triple H in a straight up street fight brawl.
  • The Rock Vs Brock Lesnar – Summerslam 2002 – This was a real passing of the torch, and putting a younger talent over. Brock Lesnar in one of the fastest debuts in WWE history would win the King of the Ring, thus earn him self a shot at the WWE Championship and he would win that too. This was the rise of Brock Lesnar; it was also the fall of The Rock’s career.
  • Chris Benoit Vs Kurt Angle – Unforgiven 2002 – These two must’ve loved fighting with each other, because here we are again discussing one of their matches, although this time I would say this match is less known to most fans. It’s still as good as their previous matches against each other, but what helps it more is that it leads to them becoming tag team partners with each other in the next couple of months.
  • Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle Vs Edge & Rey Mysterio – No Mercy 2002 – This was the final match in the tournament for the Smackdown Tag Team championships quite frankly its one of the best matches from the Smackdown brand in 2002. The mix of these four wrestlers styles works so good with each other, the endless possibilities of what they could do with each other is unfathomable. If you’re watching for the first time it’s very hard to pick who will win this match, highly recommend.
  • The Undertaker Vs Brock Lesnar Hell in a Cell – No Mercy 2002 – One of the most vicious matches in the Ruthless Aggression Era matches, watch how much blood The Undertaker loses in this match. It covers the mat with crimson red. I’d argue this is one of favourite Cell matches in the era; it’s hard for me to find one that’ll beat it. Great work by ‘Taker putting over Lesnar to make him look like one of the best of all time.
  • Chavo Guerrero & Eddie Guerrero Vs Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle Vs Edge & Rey Mysterio – Survivor Series 2002 – That’s right the Smackdown Six all in one big tag team elimination match to determine who would be the new WWE Tag Team Champions for Smackdown. Just like the No Mercy match its fun, it’s quick and very memorable. It showcases the best abilities from all six of the wrestlers and goes to show why all (but Chavo) would go on to be World Champions again or for the first time.
  • Triple H Vs Shawn Michaels Vs Booker T Vs Kane Vs Chris Jericho Vs Rob Van Dam Elimination Chamber Match – Survivor Series 2002 – This match is significant for two stand out reasons, one being that it was the first Elimination Chamber Match in WWE history, the other reason being that it was Shawn Michael’s first World Championship reign since 1997. Albeit that the reign lasted less than a month, it is still one of the most memorable moments in Survivor Series and Elimination Chamber history with the celebration of confetti falling from the sky for Shawn.
  • Chris Benoit Vs Eddie Guerrero – Armageddon 2002 – Another two former wrestlers who came from companies such as NJPW, ECW, WCW who would go on to have some of their greatest matches with each other. Unfortunately this match usually gets unrecognised by most WWE historians purely because there wasn’t a big storyline going into the match and because it’ll most likely never be brought up by WWE ever again. But two best friends competing in the WWE, putting on a fantastic match, who can complain with that.
2003:
  • Chris Benoit Vs Kurt Angle – Royal Rumble 2003 – This to me is Chris Benoits best match in WWE. These two had wrestled many, many times (hell if you’ve actually read the list you’ll see they’re listed several times.) I love these two mens wrestling abilities, two technicians giving their absolute all in a close to 30-minute match. This is the perfect 5 star match to me, and if you don’t agree with me, rewatch the match and be the judge for yourself. Also watch after the match finishes when Benoit finally gets to his feet and you can hear the crowd give Benoit a standing ovation for his performance. This match goes to show that WWE saw Benoit as one of their future World Champions.
  • Chris Jericho Vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania 19 – This was Jericho’s dream match growing up, and you could see that as he tried to emulate most of Michaels maneuvers. This is a great match and universally loved. Give these two 25 minutes and they put on a classic. Only thing I wish I could change would be what happens after this men.
  • Stone Cold Vs The Rock – Wrestlemania 19 – Now if you ask me too choose my favourite Rock/Austin match; I’d honestly pick this one. No championships on the line, just a straight up brawl to see whom the greatest of all time was. The Rock had to win, he couldn’t lose three times to Austin at Wrestlemania, but also Austin had to win, he couldn’t lose to The Rock after he walked out on the WWE in 2002, and made a return in 2003. The final Rock Bottom to Austin is the full stop to Austin’s Career, as it turns out that Austin would need to retire after this match due to injuries.
  • Goldberg Vs The Rock – Backlash 2003 – This was Goldberg’s first WWE match, he wasn’t the greatest wrestling but oh boy was he a sight to see. Good match between the two of them, probably could’ve been a little bit shorter to really prove how good Goldberg was to the WWE audience, but that’s just nit-picking. This is also Rock’s last match until Wrestlemania 20.
  • Triple H Vs Ric Flair – Raw 2003 – This was a special night for Flair, as he was turning face for one night only to face his friend Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship just around the corner from his home. It brings out the best in both opponents and if you get the chance watch the Ric Flair appreciation after the match.
  • Shawn Michaels Vs Ric Flair – Bad Blood 2003 – The Dream match, generation vs generation - 80s vs 90s. Entertaining match, Shawn & Flair get all their moves and spots out wonderfully and it shows the best from each men, five years before Flair’s retirement match against Michaels at Wrestlemania 24.
  • Eddie Guerrero Vs Chris Benoit – Vengeance 2003 – These two are best friends, who just love professional wrestling, staggering throughout tiny promotions, all the way to the big wrestling world of Japan, back to America in companies such as ECW & WCW finally to make it to WWE. This match was the final for the tournament for the inaugural WWE United States Championship. This is close to five stars for me, if this match didn’t include a screwy finish I would award it that. But don’t disregard that as anything bad at all. I actually made a post discussing this match a few months ago, feel free to look at it here if you’d like.
  • Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin Vs Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio – Vengeance 2003 – During 2003 the tag team division on Smackdown was dominated by The Worlds Greatest Tag Team - Charlie Hass & Shelton Benjamin. This is just one of their great matches, and it also makes me upset that Kidman & Mysterio couldn’t tag more in WWE.
  • The Undertaker Vs John Cena – Vengeance 2003 – The American Bad Ass Vs The Doctor of Thuganomics, ‘Taker would help make Cena look a million bucks. Cena was given a shot against Lesnar a few months prior for the WWE Championship he didn’t seem to ready for it, but against ‘Taker he was definitely ready. Major respect to ‘Taker for pushing Cena to his limit against him in a back and forth match.
  • Randy Orton Vs Shawn Michaels – Unforgiven 2003 – Early on in Randy Orton’s career he started the nickname for himself as ‘The Legend Killer’, one of his first targets was Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels, the old dog, makes Randy Orton, the new dog; look absolutely great in this match. Despite a reverse decision at the end, it’s nice to Michaels put Orton over.
  • The Undertaker Vs Kurt Angle – Smackdown 2003 – To be quite honest Undertaker from mid-2002 (except his Lesnar feud) up until the point onwards was well. boring. He didn’t have much memorable matches, or feuds quite honestly. The matches he did have were very slow and same-old, but this was one of his first matches that really incorporated his MMA style wrestling. The opponent of Angle, really brings out the best of ‘Taker and despite a disqualification finish, it’s one of the best Smackdown matches in 2003. They would have a great match a few years later at No Way Out 2006. (Discussed in previous post)
  • Kurt Angle Vs Brock Lesnar 60 Minute Iron Man Match – Smackdown 2003 – During the original brand split it’s easy to say that Smackdown was winning. Great storylines. Great matches. But in 2003, they made the decision to have the first ever 60 minute Iron Man Match on television. It would be for the WWE Championship against two of the greatest all around professional wrestlers Brock Lesnar & Kurt Angle. This is the final match in their trilogy of matches.
  • Team Bischoff (Chris Jericho, Christian, Mark Henry, Randy Orton & Scott Steiner) Vs Team Austin (Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Rob Van Dam & Shawn Michaels) – Survivor Series 2003 – I really do love this match, and it’s a shame that it’s never talked about. Essentially the stipulation for this match was that if Austin’s team lost he would be fired as Raw General Manager. Shawn Michaels’ ability to get you on the edge of your seat and to root for him and overcome the odds plays a huge factor in this match. The final 10 minutes of this match are honestly some of my favourite moments as a wrestling fan.
  • Triple H Vs Shawn Michaels – Raw 2003 – This was the first time either men would wrestle each other for the World Championship in a year, and it is honestly probably one of their best matches together. It’s definitely the best Raw match for that year. Ignoring that double pin finish, it allows both men to continue feuding throughout the next year in multiple memorable matches.
2004:
  • 30 Men Royal Rumble – Royal Rumble 2004 – This match helped build up two of WWE’s biggest stars at the time, Chris Benoit and Randy Orton. They entered as number 1 and number 2, and Orton lasts more than half of it and Benoit would actually go on to win this match from the number one position, the only person to do it since Shawn Michaels. But it’s a 30 men royal rumble match, not a 2 men royal rumble match, so credit goes to everyone involved it’s a very good match and is one of the more funner Royal Rumbles to sit back and revisit.
  • Eddie Guerrero Vs Brock Lesnar - No Way Out – Dreams do come true, and that was true for Eddie Guerrero. Eddie Guerrero wins the big one against Brock Lesnar. Ignore the interferences and all that nonsense; this is just a special moment for everyone who saw Eddie Guerrero overcome his addictions.
  • John Cena Vs Big Show – Wrestlemania 20 – Significant, as this was Cena’s first Wrestlemania match, and it was against a The Big Show for the United States Championship. Man, it was great to hear the crowd be 100% behind Cena.
  • The Undertaker Vs Kane – Wrestlemania 20 – This match sucked. So why is it on this list? Purely because of the promo setting up this match and because of the entrances of the returning Dead Man Undertaker and also his and Kane’s father, Paul Bearer. Kane’s selling of The Undertaker being alive after he had buried him alive is some of the greatest of all time.
  • Chris Benoit Vs Shawn Michaels Vs Triple H – Wrestlemania 20 – It’s a shame that WWE can’t really talk (and show for that matter) about how great this match is, and the post-match celebrations were. For rightfully reasons I guess, but I digress this isn’t a ‘WWE should show and talk about Chris Benoit’ post. This is probably my favourite Triple Threat match of all time, these three men just work so well with each other. This also has one of my favourite Wrestlemania moments, and that’s the post match celebrations. Eddie Guerrero as WWE Champion and Chris Benoit as World Heavyweight Champion embracing each other in a WWE ring to end Wrestlemania 20. Emotional, perfect and very fitting.
  • Randy Orton Vs Cactus Jack Hardcore Match – Backlash 2004 – Cactus Jack/Mick Foley comes out of retirement yet again to face Orton in one of the most hellacious matches of all time. Foley puts Orton over, 4 years after he did the same with Triple H. If you can’t deal with pins/thumbtacks penetrating a human body, than this one might not be for you.
  • Chris Benoit Vs Shawn Michaels Vs Triple H – Backlash 2004 – This was a rematch to their Wrestlemania 20 match, and by all means it holds up as just as great as this. They say most rematches can’t live up to what we first saw, but this is definitely exceptional to the rule.
  • John Bradshaw Layfield Vs Eddie Guerrero Texas Bullrope Match – The Great American Bash 2004 – Significant, as it’s the start of JBL’s near-year reign as WWE Champion. Personally, I think their Steel Cage match on Smackdownis better so I’ll link that too.
  • Chris Benoit Vs Triple H 60-Minute Ironman Match - Raw 7/26/04 – Triple H yet again has a 60-minute iron man match, this time against Chris Benoit, one of the best pure wrestlers of all time. This match really doesn’t get noticed much because of the whole ‘Benoit murder/suicide’, but if you get a free hour or so watch this on the WWE Network.
  • Chris Benoit Vs Randy Orton – Summerslam 2004 – This is Chris Benoit’s swan song as World Heavyweight Champion. He had a decent run as champion with some great matches with some of Raw’s top talents including: Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair and Kane. But this was the first of Randy Orton’s World Championship win; he really has the crowd behind him during this match. This was the start of WWE’s first time trying to build Orton as the face of the WWE, and he certainly earned the respect of Benoit after the match.
  • Billy Kidman Vs Paul London – No Mercy 2004 – The cruiserweights were somewhat on slow decline in, but these two men would go on to showcase how great they both were when they stole the show at No Mercy.
  • Randy Orton Vs Ric Flair Steel Cage – Taboo Tuesday 2004 – Randy Orton at this point, had been kicked out of Evolution, and had lost his World Heavyweight Championship and was feuding with his former Evolution partners. This match is major throwback to the old 1980’s NWA Steel Cage match. In a weird turn of events both men would shake hands after the match, yet Flair would turn on him the night after.
  • Edge Vs Triple H Vs Chris Benoit Raw 2004 – One of the final Raws for 2004 saw these three men wrestle for the World Heavyweight Championship. It’s a very well done triple threat match, with a fabulous laid out draw finish. I’ve always held this match in high regard it’s worth the watch. This match would lead into the Elimination Chamber at New Years Revolution, which you can read on my other list.
WrestlerNumber of Matches (not including Royal Rumble)
Shelton Benjamin1
Mark Henry1
Scott Steiner1
Paul London1
Scotty 2 Hotty1
Grand Master Sexay1
Rikishi1
Farooq1
Justin Credible1
Hulk Hogan1
Chavo Guerrero1
Goldberg1
Charlie Hass1
Perry Saturn2
Bradshaw2
X-Pac2
Shane McMahon2
Big Show2
Billy Kidman2
John Cena2
Dean Malenko2
Booker T3
Kane3
Cactus Jack4
Matt Hardy4
Rob Van Dam4
Ric Flair4
Rey Mysterio4
Brock Lesnar4
D-Von Dudley5
Bubba Ray Dudley5
Eddie Guerrero5
Christian6
Jeff Hardy6
Randy Orton6
Stone Cold Steve Austin7
Edge8
The Undertaker9
Shawn Michaels9
Chris Jericho12
The Rock13
Kurt Angle14
Triple H17
Chris Benoit17
So there we have it the third list of matches for newcomers of the WWE Product or returning WWE fans, thanks for taking the time read it. Do you agree with this list? Do you disagree with it? What matches would you remove or include?
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