2024 was a present to wrestling followers for a lot of members of the WWE Universe. It was successfully the yr that the corporate and its product returned to the mainstream, thanks largely to a monumental cope with Netflix and the return of Hollywood star The Rock. The yr supplied some unbelievable moments for WWE viewers, nevertheless it additionally supplied some unbelievable matches.
The yr 2024 gave the general public loads of matches to select from within the Match of the Yr division, lots of which narrowly missed the minimize. Liv Morgan vs. Iyo Sky, WarGames, NXT's Iron Survivor, Friday Night time SmackDown Triple Risk Ladder Match, Ludwig Kaiser vs. Sheamus vs. Bron Breakker and Randy Orton's match with Gunther in Berlin are examples of honorable mentions. Nonetheless, the video games that left a mark on the minds of the WWE Universe are really unmissable.
10
Bronson Reed x Braun Strowman - Final Monster Standing
Uncooked, September 30, 2024
Braun Strowman and Bronson Reed have collided for weeks in among the most harmful moments on Monday Night time Uncooked. After Bronson Reed brought on a devastating tsunami on high of a automotive, it was determined that this metropolis was not sufficiently big for King Kong and Godzilla to co-exist on the identical time, resulting in what was promoted as Final Monster Standing.
This may very well be the contender for 2024's most controversial match of the yr. Not all viewers got here away from this match loving it, together with one WWE Corridor of Famer who was disenchanted, however It's arduous to disclaim the spectacle of the battle. The massive hype surrounding what was promoted as a automotive crash ready to occur ended up being a sport that audiences, whether or not they cherished it or hated it, couldn't take their eyes off.
9
Ricochet vs Ilja Dragunov – King of the Ring Match Match
Uncooked, Might 6, 2024
In 2024, WWE introduced again the celebrated King of the Ring match, with one of many first spherical matches between Ilja Dragunov and Ricochet. The previous NXT champion was lower than a month away from being known as as much as the principle roster, this being solely his second battle after his debut. In the meantime, Ricochet, along with being close to the tip of his contract, had a stagnant WWE profession after shedding the Intercontinental Championship to Gunther, by no means really regaining his momentum afterwards. In your personal manner, each males had one thing to show, and within the eyes of the WWE Universe, they delivered.
Dragunov's gross sales skill is very uncovered, demonstrated in a second when, exhausted by a superkick, he falls onto the shoulders of a tilted Ricochet, who after a break up second of realization (noticed in his facial expressions) turns him right into a roll. firefighter transport rip-off. There's quite a lot of spontaneous forwards and backwards, and for a TV match, it's electrifying.
8
Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi - WWE Ladies's Championship Triple Risk Match
WWE Response: France
Popping out of WrestleMania, Bayley's first large problem as the brand new PLE WWE Ladies's Champion got here at Backlash, when she confronted an outdated pal, Naomi, and a brand new enemy in latest NXT call-up, Tiffany Stratton. Naomi had beforehand defeated Stratton to earn the primary contender spot, however asserting himself because the Heart of the Universe, Stratton interfered, inflicting a No Contest within the April 19 singles title match on SmackDown, resulting in this match.
This had the identical impact as Seth Rollins' efficiency towards John Cena and Brock Lesnar on the 2015 Royal Rumble. A hungry challenger making a reputation for himself towards two veterans for his or her division's most prestigious belt, resulting in an exhilarating three-way dance (as known as within the ECW days). It's definitely among the finest matches of the yr and nearly took the crown for WWE's greatest triple menace match of the yr. Nearly.
7
Dijak - NXT North American Championship Triple Risk Match
NXT Stand and Ship 2024
Yearly, WrestleMania weekend options a number of wrestling occasions around the globe. Each the massive leagues and independents are attempting to capitalize on the season when followers are hungriest to seek out wrestling. As a result of Mania is so large, it's straightforward to disregard something that isn't WrestleMania, however WWE's NXT developmental model nearly stole The Present of Exhibits' thunder. All because of the battle for the NXT North American Championship between present champion Oba Femi and two robust opponents.
The result's three giants, every weighing about 300 kilos, transferring sooner and sooner than any man of that measurement ought to transfer. They always use their energy to taking pictures at one another at a pace that shouldn't be humanly attainable. This contest was awarded by WWE for being NXT's Match of the Yr of their year-end awards, whereas many followers reward it as one of the best triple menace of the yr.
6
Sami Zayn vs. Gunther – Intercontinental Championship Match
WrestleMania XL
This storyline had loads to beat, as followers totally supported Chad Gable being the one to face, and hopefully defeat, Gunther for the IC belt as a result of their compelling rivalry from the earlier yr (which boasted, in itself, a contender MOTY for 2023). As a substitute, Sami Zayn was The Ring Normal's primary contender. Gable's identify hung like a darkish cloud over the rivalry heading into this match, hurting fan funding, particularly when everybody assumed Gunther was holding again.
Sami Zayn works greatest in an underdog place like this, and by leaning into the preventing spirit facet of his character, he received over the group. He always appeared outnumbered as Gunther attacked and pummeled him, however small bursts of comeback, like an eye-popping Brainbuster from the highest rope, made followers explode in disbelief. Followers stopped wanting him to win and began believing that he actually it might defeat the undefeated champion, resulting in a stunning twist and interesting second at WrestleMania.
5
Bayley vs IYO SKY - WWE Ladies's Championship Match
WrestleMania XL
Some thought of the rivalry between then-WWE Ladies's Champion Iyo Sky and Royal Rumble winner Bayley disappointing. Viewers eagerly waited to see the previous chief of Harm CTRL lastly break up from the group, as had been teased for months, however the break up and betrayal that happened on SmackDown after the Rumble might have been too quickly to tug the set off, main for many padding within the center. Happily, the match made it definitely worth the wait.
Bayley is a technical wrestler who can provide wonderful chemistry with anybody, whereas Iyo's pace and agility are sometimes a stark distinction to any type. This created fascinating chemistry, as Sky introduced Bayley as much as her stage by focusing on her knee in the course of the match, forcing Bayley to wrestle on the underside because the NXT underdog everybody fell in love with in 2015. A stunning reversal within the Rose Plant e-book ended an excellent match with a feel-good second.
4
IYO SKY x Bianca Belair – Singles Match
Uncooked, September 16, 2024
The week earlier than, an unintended distraction by WWE Tag Group Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill price Harm CTRL a match towards former champions, The Unholy Union. With a legitimately injured Kairi Sane sidelined, a livid Iyo confronts Belair backstage, resulting in an impromptu match.
Iyo defends the 2024 MVP, having a number of spectacular matches all year long with a bevy of opponents (together with Liv Morgan, as her WWE Ladies's World Title match in Saturday evening's fundamental occasion is a notable honorable point out). That is no totally different, as It's a case of agility versus pure energy. That is particularly evident by way of an exhilarating end the place WWE's The EST lifts Sky onto the turnbuckle's shoulders, just for the Genius of the Sky to reverse right into a small package deal help pin.
3
AJ Kinds vs. Cody Rhodes – WWE Championship match
WWE Response: France
As a result of present push to decide to long-term storytelling in WWE, followers admittedly weren't very invested within the early levels of the feud between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and AJ Kinds as a result of it merely wasn't a feud. Earlier than issues obtained worse for the I Give up match at Conflict on the Fort, this was between two babyfaces who had the utmost respect for one another, hoping to name themselves one of the best wrestler on the planet by claiming probably the most prestigious wrestling title on the planet. world.
Not probably the most convincing foundation for a rivalry, however these are really two of one of the best wrestlers on the planet, committing to among the greatest in-ring work of the yr. The story of the battle itself is that the 2 males are always jockeying for place, one counterattack after one other, attempting to outdo one another to show their "higher fighter" declare, however slowly, every transfer carries an much more intense bravado. . each males work tougher to contemplate themselves champions. The match was additional enhanced by undoubtedly the most popular viewers of the yr in WWErivaled solely by these at WrestleMania.
2
CM Punk x Drew McIntyre - Hell in a Cell Match
Unhealthy Blood 2024
Few would have imagined that an actual damage suffered by CM Punk on the Royal Rumble, adopted by the oft-memed second of Drew McIntyre admitting he "prayed for it, and it occurred", might have transpired into probably the most compelling rivalry of 2024. It might finally culminate in Unhealthy Blood's October, serving because the pair's tiebreaker for his or her trilogy of matches. Solely the grueling and ugly Hell in a Cell might put an exclamation level on their rivalry.
It is a dangerously shut quantity two within the Recreation of the Yr class, and actually, some may argue strongly that it's primary. It's a dispute with first place, as a result of the brutality of the match personified a brutal rivalry. McIntyre's missed Claymore try, sending him crashing into unforgiving metal steps, together with the inclusion of actual blood (a rarity for WWE's PG programming) turned this into an immediate, unforgettable traditional.
1
Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns - Lineage Guidelines - WWE Championship Match
WrestleMania XL
Followers couldn't have imagined {that a} WrestleMania fundamental occasion rematch a yr upfront might have greater stakes, however the addition of The Rock and Seth Rollins helped breathe new life into this rivalry and the general storyline of Bloodline. In line with the ramifications of the earlier evening's fundamental occasion, the rematch happened beneath free-for-all circumstances, including a brand new edge to the battle that included Avengers-style cameos and recent aggression between two heated rivals.
It's arduous to argue with this being the sport of the yr, because it supplied one of many largest moments of the yr, in addition to ending a narrative This had already been completed for many years. It turns into much more tough when you think about that when misunderstandings and mischief are eradicated, Cody and Roman's chemistry within the ring was as clear because it was at WrestleMania 39. WrestleMania 40 supplied their greatest match collectively, together with WWE better of 2024.