Looking at WWE’s 100 Best Matches To See Before You Die

Over the past month, I watched a list provided by WWE.com titled “The 100 best matches to see before you die.” The list was published in November 2014, so some recent matches obviously didn’t make the list, and the list featured only matches that were available on the WWE Network at that time. Since then there has obviously been a lot more classic content added to the Network. I watched the matches starting at 100 and never scrolled down to see what was next until it was time. I wanted to be surprised as I took a trip down memory lane; watching matches that I vividly remember, re-discovering old gems, and viewing classics for the first time.

Here are my random thoughts on the list, the matches, and everything in between.

*The list includes a good mix of great matches, important matches, and a variety of styles. I don’t think Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant from Wrestlemania 3 is one of the 100 best matches of all-time, but the importance of that match cannot be understated. Same goes for Hogan vs. The Rock at Wrestlemania 18.

*One Chris Benoit match. This wasn’t all that surprising, but if this were a true list of the 100 best matches, it would be pretty tough to not include a single Benoit match. The Wrestlemania 20 main event is not only a great match, but it’s also a historic moment. The one Benoit match that made it was the inaugural Money in the Bank match and of course there is no mention of Benoit in the article.

*There was a lot more Mick Foley than I would’ve initially anticipated. It’s not that Foley wasn’t a memorable worker, he did the hardcore style better than anyone, but I was surprised by the amount of Foley on the list as I kept scrolling. Out of 100 matches, Foley had 10 matches on the list. 10% of the list is Mick Foley. For reference, Ric Flair led the list with 14 matches and Shawn Michaels had 12. It’s really a testament to Foley that he created so many memorable moments in matches throughout his career that the constructors of this list found 10 matches that were so different that they felt the need to include all of them. Oddly enough, one of Foley’s more famous matches (The I Quit match against The Rock) did not make the list. I guess they didn’t want to promote THAT many chair shots to the head.

*It should come as no surprise that 23 of the matches were from Wrestlemania. Starrcade housed 8 matches.

*The highest ranked Triple H match was against The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 27. It’s also the worst Triple H match on the list. To me, that match was poorly booked and extremely dull with all of the resting and set ups. Triple H has some great matches on the list, but I didn’t enjoy that one on re-watch. That match highlights my issues of Wrestlemania Triple H. He wants to tell this amazing story and milk every second, but the crowd has no interest in seeing it or responding to it.

*All three matches from the Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat trilogy are in the top 20. I can’t even argue with that.

*Everything involving Flair in the 90’s (the Steamboat match, vs. Luger, vs. Sting, vs. Vader) were all fantastic and held up well. I didn’t care for his 80’s stuff (vs. Race, Rhodes, and Von Erich). They were too slow and dull for me.

*The only women’s match to make the list is Charlotte vs. Natalya from NXT: Takeover. It’s a good match, but is it really the best women’s match in WWE history prior to Sasha Banks vs. Bayley from NXT Takeover Brooklyn? Maybe it is, but that really says a lot about how WWE/WCW/ECW treated female wrestlers prior to NXT.

*Bret Hart had five matches in the top 20. Every single one of them would’ve been better if they didn’t cut to his family throughout each match.

*ECW came in with six matches on the list. Five of them held up surprisingly well. I re-watch some old ECW from time to time and just don’t enjoy it like I remember enjoying it in the 90’s. The only match I didn’t care for was Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow. I would’ve replaced that match with John Cena vs. RVD from One Night Stand 2006. Maybe that doesn’t technically make it an ECW match, but it’s tough to top that atmosphere and moment.

*Seven ladder matches (or a variation of the ladder match, ex. TLC) and eight cage matches (or variations of the cage match, ex. WarGames and Hell in a Cell) made the list. The highest ranked match was the Triangle Tag TLC Match at Wrestlemania 17. My personal favorite is Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell.

*The most surprising ranking for me was Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio at #5. It’s a great match, but I never would’ve expected it to be #5 on the list. Rey’s somersault outside into the hurricanrana spot is still one of the best and most fluid spots I’ve ever seen. They damn near killed the business with that one. Surprisingly, Eddie vs. Brock Lesnar from No Way Out 2004 didn’t make the list.

*Royal Rumble 92 was the only Rumble match to make the list. The past, present, and future star power in that match is something else. However, Bret Hart is noticeably absent.

*I was very surprised that neither Daniel Bryan match from Wrestlemania 30 made the list. Both matches were great, and the main event is a special moment, which should’ve boosted it enough to be in the top 100.

*I thought Michaels vs. Foley from Mind Games and Michael vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell both deserved to be. But I’m also a Michaels mark.

*Samer Kadi and I debate which is better: Michaels vs. Taker at WM 25 or Michaels vs. Taker at WM 26. I still enjoy their second match more because the stakes were higher and they were able to play off the first match. Samer prefers the first match. Both are the absolute pinnacle of professional wrestling. Not only are the matches great, but the stories told leading up to the matches are great.

I advise anyone in a “WWE Network Slump” to go through the list themselves. It’s a good way to pass a lot of hours and watch some of the best matches in wrestling history.

Follow me on twitter @jeremylambert88 for more thoughts on old wrestling. And new wrestling.