2024 was an incredible year for professional wrestling, especially on the wrestling scene. WWE. Thanks to an announcement about a Netflix deal, a truly electrifying (and often hilarious) Rock return, and a scattered international presence, many wrestling fans will admit that WWE is great again. Most importantly, it’s the games that continue to bring fans back for more.
It’s no secret that the actual fighting in the ring is secondary to the storytelling, specifically in the WWE sports entertainment environment. The most important part of wrestling isn’t always the wrestling. Typically, it’s the WWE promos or soap opera-style storytelling on display. However, 2024 is a rare year in which the wrestling has been as compelling as the cast’s stories. Luckily, WWE was kind enough to upload many of the year’s best matches to YouTube for free.
10
Braun Strowman vs. Bronson Reed – Last Monster Standing
Monday Night Raw September 30, 2024
The end of the summer was dominated by Braun Strowman and Bronson Reed two giants who found creative ways to go viral every weekranging from throwing grown men at each other to sneezing on each other in a two-ton car. The chaos would culminate in an equally chaotic Last Man (Monster) Standing match, which saw the return of Seth Freakin’ Rollins and the return of a familiar ring break spot of a nearly 1,000-pound top rope suplex.
The match divided some audiences, including critics such as WWE Hall of Famer Bubba Ray Dudley, who on Busted Open Radio argued that the match simply didn’t work. However, those who enjoyed it indulged in the spectacle of, as Big E once said it best, big meaty men beating meat.
9
Randy Orton x Je’Von Evans
NXT October 8, 2024
NXT is WWE’s classic developmental system now produced on a high-production, worldwide scale. As has worked in WWE’s past for developmental brands like OVW and FCW, the best way to prepare newcomers for the main roster is to have them wrestle by visiting the main roster talent. Enter Randy Orton, the RKO master. On the first episode of NXT on the CW, The Viper faced first-year NXT competitor Je’Von Evans (who uses a similar Cutter as a finisher) in front of his home crowd in St. Louis.
In the biggest fight of his wrestling career, Evans has a surprisingly good match against the two-decade veteran. True, it didn’t end spectacularly, as an ambitious RKO attempt was botched, but the post-match provided a wholesome insight into not only Orton raising “Bouncy” Evans’ hand out of respect, but being heard forgiving Evans for the false step.
8
Jey Uso (c) vs. Bron Breakker – WWE Intercontinental Championship
Monday Night Raw, October 21, 2024
Jey Uso x Bron Breakker turned into a surprisingly generational rivalry in WWEbuilt on the history of Jey’s Samoan lineage, having never defeated any fighter from Bron’s Steiner family. In a rivalry based on legacy, “Main Event” Jey Uso emerged victorious after defeating Rick Steiner’s son for the Intercontinental Championship a few weeks earlier. This would set up a rematch for the coveted workhorse title.
Bloodline’s never-ending storyline shenanigans prevent this match from surpassing its predecessor (even if it does tease the ensuing dream match of Jacob Fatu vs. Bron Breakker), but the chemistry between Breakker and Uso is still unmissable. It’s an interesting mix of intensity based on family feuds and the mutual respect between two men who have earned it from each other.
7
Rhea Ripley (c) x Nia Jax – Women’s World Championship
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth
This is the type of match Gorilla Monsoon was talking about 40 years ago during one of Andre the Giant’s most iconic matches against Hulk Hogan. This is what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object. Rhea Ripley, with the magnitude of her charisma and the height of her popularity at an all-time high, is facing the literal biggest challenge of her title reign thus far in the form of Nia Jax.
That taking place in Ripley’s home country of Australia it just adds to the electric atmosphere of the event. Both women look the same, often clashing with each other, matching strength for strength, with Nia’s stature sometimes proving to be the X-factor. It’s a rare example of juggernaut Ripley playing the underdog, and thanks to Jax outdoing Ripley, It’s believable to see. It’s a highly captivating fight.
6
Joe Hendry x Wes Lee x Pete Dunne – number one contender’s match for the WWE NXT Championship
NXT August 20, 2024
Many of 2024’s successes have come on WWE’s developmental brand. It also harbors the greatest benefit to WWE’s current working relationship with Total Nonstop Actionas several of TNA’s top tier talents have been appearing week after week in main event angles. Among these talents is the fiery Joe Hendry, who faces the longest-reigning North American champion and the longest-reigning former UK champion in a triple threat. The winner faces NXT Champion Ethan Page (a former TNA star, one half of the longest-reigning TNA Tag Team Champions) at No Mercy.
The match stands out for having a totally creative ending. Hendry is the last person Page wants to defend his title against, so he distracts the referee after Hendry lands his submission. Moments later, Pete Dunne hits the Bitter End on Hendry, but is unable to capitalize while the referee’s back is still turned. Meanwhile, Dunne’s rival Trick Williams enters the fray to land the Trick Shot Knee on Dunne and slip another referee into the match to ensure Hendry’s victory, much to All Ego’s chagrin.
5
Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga vs. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens – Street Fight
WWE Reaction: France
WWE Backlash showed how much WWE having more premium live events overseas has only benefited the atmosphere of its B shows. It certainly benefited this show as the French crowd is still considered one of the best WWE crowds of the year. Such a crowd was much needed to help add legitimacy to Solo Sikoa’s new reign as the uncrowned self-proclaimed Tribal Chief. He had just kicked Jimmy Uso out of the group and added former NJPW rookie star Tama Tonga to the group.
As they faced Bloodline’s longtime opponents Randy Orton and Kevin Owens, they needed to build their credibility with a close match in front of a fierce crowd. It was exactly that, with both teams brawling all over the arena, highlighted by a dream match between Orton and Tama (masters of the Cutter in their respective rights) and KO finding a neck-breaking use for the chairs. This is all before the debut of Tama’s brother, Tonga Loa, albeit with a slightly awry misunderstanding that almost ruins the climax of the match.
4
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles – WWE Championship
WWE Reaction: France
Speaking of games that benefit from a warm French fan basethe night’s main event did even more. AJ Styles vs. Cody Rhodes was always destined to be a great match on paper thanks to the skill of the competitors involved, but the actual investment was questionable as there wasn’t much story going on in the match. They were two babyfaces who respected each other and wanted to earn the right to call themselves WWE Champions.
There’s nothing wrong with babyface vs. babyface matches. babyface, but when crowds love stories, a hyped-up match just on in-ring wrestling was always going to be a hard sell. However, It helped that the crowd was excited about basically everythingmaking everything Styles and Rhodes did in the ring seem even grander than it already was.
3
The Rock and Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes – Bloodline Rules Tag Team Match
WrestleMania XL Night One
In the best use of the two-night WrestleMania concept since WWE implemented it four years ago, Night One of WrestleMania major implications for Second Night’s main event. If Roman Reigns and The Rock won, then the former’s title defense the following night would be under Bloodline Rules. If Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins won, Bloodline would be barred from the ring.
In hindsight, it may have been a little obvious that The Bloodline would win this one, as they have the most attractive and lucrative stipulation for Night Two. Fortunately, that didn’t stop this match from being a delight to watch. Plus the arena-wide brawl between the four men with a classic Attitude Era tonealso goes a long way toward foreshadowing the inevitable Rock vs.thanks to a spear heard around the world.
2
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – WWE Championship Lineage Rules Match
WrestleMania XL Second Night
As exciting as Night One’s main event is, it delivers on what makes Night Two’s main event so great. As many expected on Night One, The Rock and Roman Reigns won, meaning that Cody Rhodes had to endure a no disqualification match where The Bloodline would appear on behalf of their tribal boss. Cody comes prepared, however, as numerous cameos are made in defense of the Rhodes dynasty, including John Cena, Jey Uso and, most unexpectedly, The Undertaker.
Even before the match became so heavy, both men managed to surpass their previous Mania fight with sharp chemistry and a simmering atmosphere. They exchange submissions, steal each other’s submissions and land one counterattack after another, proving that they have both learned from the mistakes of previous encounters. It resulted in one of the best matches of Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes’ careers.
1
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn – WWE Intercontinental Championship
WrestleMania XL Night One
Leaving aside the main event of WWE’s Grandest Stage of Them All, a sleeper pick for the best match of the weekend at Mania was a combination that everyone will agree exceeded expectations. This was a match that everyone considered an afterthought, as fans expected Zayn to be a slim pick for IC Champion for the longest time, especially when everyone would have preferred to have underdog Chad Gable in the mix. Even the plot of Road to WrestleMania had to acknowledge this, as Zayn became increasingly frustrated with everyone expecting him to lose.
I support Zayn’s tenacity, as no one plays an underdog like The Underdog from the Underground. Despite everyone expecting him to lose, his performance has him fighting constantly, fighting desperately from the bottom in a way that makes the crowd believe in the small chance that he can win. THE WWE Universe remained cool from start to finish, especially in the shocking conclusion of Zayn unleashing his old indy finisher – the top rope brainbuster – and a series of Helluva Kicks to end Gunther’s reign on Day 666.