The era of relentless aggression is one of the most prolific and iconic eras of WWE history. During this period, the company had to deal with a mountain of expectations, as the Attitude Era is not easy to follow. Not to mention, with mainstays like The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin heading out the door, it was game for anyone to grab the proverbial brass ring to become the next big star.
It really seemed an entirely new landscape was forming before everyone’s eyesand it was exciting television, not just in terms of moments, but also in terms of matches, as some of the best matches in WWE history took place during the Era of Relentless Aggression. With new stars like John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, veterans who could still go like Shawn Michaels and Undertaker, and in-ring maestros like Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle in their prime, this was to be expected. Unfortunately, this also means that some matches have been overshadowed or completely forgotten over time. Here are some examples of matches that are worth a second look.
10
John Cena and Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker and Batista
Doubles match – No Way Out 2007
In one of the more unique Roads to WrestleMania, a main event was scheduled a month before the show where the World Heavyweight Champion and his challenger would face the WWE Champion and his challenger for Mania. It was promoted as something that had never happened before and would never happen againand that slogan was more prophetic than WWE realized at the time.
The match features a brief collision between The Undertaker and John Cena, and is one of the only times the two men face each other while still at the height of their careers. This rare encounter alone is worth the price of admission, but it’s also worth it to see four of Ruthless Aggression’s greatest main eventers sharing the ring when, because of the brand split, that would be a rarity in this era. They would have a rematch six days before WrestleMania 23 on Raw.
9
Batista x Undertaker
Singles Match – Cyber ​​Sunday 2007
Batista and Undertaker had one of the best rivalries WWE has ever had. It certainly gave WWE the rivalry of the year and match of the year in 2007, by far. The rivalry yielded one of Undertaker’s best WrestleMania Streak matches, a shockingly violent Last Man Standing match, and one of the best Hell in a Cell matches of all time. Even the Steel Cage match televised on SmackDown is very good.
That being said, fans tend to forget that these two had a straight match on Cyber ​​Sunday with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee, as voted by the fans. Despite the referee stipulation, there are no noteworthy antics, and the two have a great fight in the ring. It may not be better than the tough Mania match, but it’s an underrated gem within a great rivalry.
8
Sabu x Rey Mysterio
Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship – ECW One Night Stand 2006
WWE’s first two One Night Stand shows featured exceptional in-ring action, with or without the need for barbaric weaponry. Matches like Masato Tanaka vs. Mike Awesome and RVD vs. John Cena maintain a lasting legacy in the eyes of viewers, but one match that often goes unnoticed is Rey Mysterio defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Sabu.
On paper, this is a dream combination between two great drivers from very different eras and companiessomething some thought they would never see. The match doesn’t disappoint, until the anti-climactic ending, where the Extreme Rules match ends in a no contest. As is the theme of most matches in Rey Mysterio’s first world title campaign, neither he nor his matches were well booked, and This hurt the memory of the overall match for many people.
7
Mickie James x Beth Phoenix
Women’s Championship Singles Match – Monday Night Raw, April 14, 2008
On April 14, 2008, Raw returned to the 02 Arena in London, England, a year after an hour-long main event between John Cena and Shawn Michaels destroyed the venue’s roof. Although tonight’s main event – Triple H vs. JBL – couldn’t be as memorable as the previous year’s contest, it was the Women’s Championship match on the undercard that surprisingly stole the show.
Women were still firmly in the Divas Era, but this match looks like an anomaly in retrospect. Phoenix and James spend a surprisingly decent amount of time in the ring, as the crowd treats them with respect without the need for any “puppy” talk from Jerry Lawler. This match wouldn’t look out of place on a 2024 card.
6
Carlito x Johnny Nitro x Shelton Benjamin
Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat Match – Vengeance 2006
When fans discuss what the best Triple Threat match in WWE history is, one match that often comes to mind is another match from this era, The Rock vs. However, this Vengeance 2006 match can be mentioned in the same discussion as the other, which is a testament to its quality considering the star power of the participants in the 2002 match.
While the first was an example of three main event talents innovating the Triple Threat concept, these were three young talents, all primed for greatness and ready to steal the show. Vengeance 2006 was a night where DX returned, Sabu had a rare match against John Cena and RVD defended the WWE Championship against Edge. However, it was this fight for the Intercontinental Championship that unexpectedly ended up being the fight of the night, stealing the show.
5
Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero
No Disqualification Match – SmackDown, September 26, 2002
Edge wasn’t always the Rated-R Superstar he is today, as much as this gimmick hit home for Adam Copeland. He first gained notoriety for being a lovable meathead opposite Christian, and then moved on to being a white-fleshed babyface. While searching for a defined character in singles competition, Edge struggled to connect with fans, but luckily, he had a capable dance partner to help him overcome it: Eddie Guerrero.
Latino Heat was one of Edge’s first singles rivalries, even though most people don’t remember their matches. In a rematch at SummerSlam’s DQ, the two had a unique match that showcased their skills and creativity. While they technically had any weapon at their disposal, their attack revolved around ladders and creative ways to inflict punishment on them.
4
Rob Van Dam x Christian
Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match – Monday Night Raw, September 29, 2003
Speaking of ladders, a year later, C in E&C found themselves competing for the Intercontinental Championship in an often forgotten Ladder Match against Mr. Monday Night himself. Christian made a name for himself competing in some of the most celebrated tag team ladder matches in the company’s history, but no one really mentions the singles ladder matches he had as a solo star. This is one of those times where Christian tried to prove he could be a singles star, just like his former partner Edge.
A lot of the discussion surrounding the 2003 Raw tends to revolve around Triple H’s dreaded Reign of Terror, but not enough is said about the upper midcard of the Raw roster at the time, full of competitors eager for a chance at greatness. Both Christian and RVD were on the verge of stardom, and this match helped catapult their momentum further into the public eye.
3
Trish Stratus vs.
Women’s Championship Hardcore Match, Survivor Series 2002
One of the best female rivalries in WWE history is between Trish Stratus and Victoria. The kayfabe story is that Victoria and Trish had pre-WWE careers working together as fitness models until Trish left to pursue a wrestling career. Feeling betrayed and even jealous of her former friend’s success, a bitter Victoria trains hard to be a fighter strictly for the chance to debut, get revenge, and win the women’s title from Trish. It’s a crazy setup for a match by today’s standards, but it certainly captivated audiences at the time.
Taking place at a time when women (or Divas, at the time) didn’t have the time or respect in the ring like they do now, its plot was surprisingly well structured and compelling by female narrative standards. A hardcore match between female competitors was a rare thing to see, but Trish and Victoria proved why they are still remembered today as some of the best performers of their generation, leaving their blood and soul in that ring.
2
RKO vs. RKO Rating
World Tag Team Championship Match – New Year’s Revolution 2007
This is one of the bloodiest tag team matches Ruthless Aggression has ever seen. Which, honestly, says a lot because the era got pretty bloody regularly, but for a rivalry that had been ongoing since the fall, it was appropriate. After months of two-on-two confrontations, plus years of history with each other as individuals, both DX and Rated RKO were ready to go to war.
The visceral intensity of the match is felt from bell to bell, with Randy Orton and Edge’s World Tag Team Titles on the line. Unfortunately, Triple H legitimately injures his quadriceps mid-match, forcing the competitors to improvise a new submission, which in itself is impressive. Had the match ended more clearly, perhaps this would have been seen as one of the best matches on all four men’s CVs.
1
HurriKane x Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy x Christian and Chris Jericho x The Dudley Boyz
TLC match, Monday Night Raw, October 7, 2002
The setting is Las Vegas, Nevada, where Eric Bischoff institutes one of his best ideas: Raw Roulette. The concept is simple: the Raw General Manager spins a wheel and competitors have to comply with any type of match. For the main event, roulette lands on tables, stairs and chairs, at a time when the type of game is still in its infancy. HurriKane is expected to defend his World Tag Team Championship against Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy, Christian and Chris Jericho and the Dudley Boyz.
However, with Furacão being attacked before the match, Kane had to fly alone, opening up the opportunity to The Big Red Machine will shine as a one-man army in one of the best forays of his career. Kane looked like he was worth a million dollars, but all the men involved left it all out there. This was only TLC’s fourth match in history, and it was on Monday Night Raw, but it felt like a PPV main event. It truly showcases how deep the WWE roster was during the Ruthless Aggression era.