Top 5 WWE Championship Matches

Last week marked the 50^th anniversary of the WWE Championship.  To celebrate this monumental milestone for their premier championship, the WWE decided to put quite a few features about the WWE Championship on WWE.com.  One of the features that caught my attention was the WWE’s Top 50 WWE Championship Matches.  I skimmed through the entire list and it was just okay.  There were quite a few matches on the list such as John Cena vs. JBL from Judgment Day 2005 and John Cena vs. Batista from Over the Limit 2010 that should not have been on the list while some excellent matches such as John Cena vs. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Micheals from Taboo Tuesday 2005 and John Cena vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels from Backlash 2007 that were omitted from the list.  From looking at that list, I was inspired to share what I consider the greatest WWE Championship matches I have ever watched.  It was hard to cut this list down to just five matches, but here are the Silverdome’s Top 5 WWE Championship Matches in honour of the WWE Championship’s 50^th anniversary.

5.  The Rock vs. Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker- Vengeance 2002

When people think of the greatest matches of all-time, they focus more on the one-on-one encounters that the multi-man matches such as Triple Threats and Fatal 4 Ways do not get their chance to shine.  Multi-man matches can be as or more thrilling than singles matches due to the addition of more competitors.  The Triple Threat Match between The Rock, Kurt Angle and the Undertaker over the WWE Undisputed Championship at Vengeance 2002 is among the greatest Triple Threat Matches of All-Time.  The insane pace of the match keeps your eyes glued to the screen and the incredible chemistry these three have keeps you smiling.  It is an incredible match that sees each competitor steal each other’s finishing moves (The Rock executing a Chokeslam and the Ankle Lock, Undertaker performing the Angle Slam and Kurt Angle hitting the Rock Bottom).

4.  CM Punk vs. John Cena- Money in the Bank 2011

Hands down, this match is one of the greatest moments in WWE history.  CM Punk walked into his hometown of Chicago with the entire crowd on his side to challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship.  In less than three hours, Punk’s contract with the WWE was set to come to an end.  The circumstances gave the Straight-Edge Superstar the chance to do the unthinkable, leave the WWE with their biggest prize in tow.  Fans around the globe wanted to see Punk walk out of the WWE with the WWE Championship and all made sure they were able to watch this match just to that moment.  Holding their breath for every near fall, pulling their hair out with every kick out and screaming at every big move hit; the emotion this championship match induced can hardly be matched.  The final jump for joy every wrestling fan in the crowd and at home did when Scott Armstrong’s hand came down for the three count was unforgettable.  CM Punk vs. John Cena from Money in the Bank 2011 is the best WWE Championship match of the Modern Era.

3.  Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart- Summerslam 1994

Bret and Owen Hart worked some of the greatest displays of technical wrestling this business has seen.  When WWE decided to put these two in a Steel Cage for one of the main events of Summerslam 1994, fans were given possibly the greatest wrestling match to take place in the confines of a Steel Cage.  Bret and Owen used the structure of the Steel Cage to the fullest.  This match is what the WWE should use as inspiration for how to put on a Steel Cage match now.

2.  John Cena vs. Edge- Unforgiven 2006

Each era in wrestling has a rivalry that defines it.  Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage in the late 80s, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart in the mid 90s, Stone Cold and The Rock in the early 2000s are only a few examples over the years.  When John Cena stepped up as the Face of the WWE, the WWE needed somebody to counter everything Cena represented.  That somebody was the Rated R Superstar Edge.  John Cena and Edge would put on some excellent matches throughout their entire rivalry, but this TLC Match from Unforgiven 2006 stands out as the best match these two ever put on and one of the best WWE Championship matches of the 2000s.

1.  Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit- Royal Rumble 2003

Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit have put on some of the most spectacular showcases of technical wrestling to grace the squared-circle.  This classis from Royal Rumble 2003 is hands down the greatest showcase that these wrestlers put on.  Countless number of holds, counters, near falls and grueling submissions kept fans in awe of their performance.  From the opening bell to the standing ovation the Boston crowd gives once the match is over, everything about this match sums up the wrestling excellence that the WWE Championship represents.

The Silver Report: April 14-20

As we move farther away from WrestleMania, we move closer to the WWE’s next PPV extravaganza, Extreme Rules.  The fallout from the Biggest PPV of the Year always gets settled at the event where all the rules are thrown out the window.  Programs begin to gear up for big gimmick matches that will either enthrall fans with excitement or alienate them with their absurdity.  Hopefully, WWE can put together a card that has a set of gimmick matches that fans would pay to see like Ladder and Extreme Rules matches rather than Blindfold and Tuxedo matches.  Where WrestleMania has become much more focused on the entertainment side of sports-entertainment, Extreme Rules is WWE’s chance to focus more on sports side.  Keying into what the core fan is looking for could easily make Extreme Rules one of the best PPVs of the year yet again.

Step Aside Cena, Ryback’s Time is Now

The Raw following WrestleMania 29 ended with the image of Ryback standing over a Shellshocked John Cena with WWE Title in hand.  While many fans could care less if Ryback is face or heel as long as he kicks as much butt as possible, the commentators pushed the question of why Ryback would attack John Cena.  The simple answer would be Ryback wants a shot at John Cena, but the WWE decided to go in a different direction.  The WWE decided to construct this John Cena vs. Ryback feud from past encounters between John Cena, Ryback and The Shield.  The taped promo of Ryback explaining his actions was very well done.  It got the point across that Ryback is sick and tired of being held down and is now only out for himself.  The “John Cena turned his back on Ryback” part of the argument would have been a little more effective if the WWE did more to build an actual friendship between Cena and Ryback in the months leading up to WrestleMania other than teaming up on a few occasions.  While there is some nitpicking about Ryback’s new heel persona, I personally believe it is the best direction the WWE can go with the character at this point in time because they have exhausted the options they could go with the Goldberg-lite face persona.  At least, having Ryback work as a heel gives him some more character than his one-dimensional “Feed Me More” act.  With the direction the WWE has gone with Ryback since last October, it is about time to give this behemoth from Sin City a crack at holding the WWE Championship.  Ryback has lost every PPV match he has been in since Hell in a Cell, give the guy a break and let him beat Cena for the WWE Title.  Wrestling fans have seen enough of Cena as WWE Champion so it is time for him to step aside and give a rub to a guy that could possibly be one of the next big stars in the WWE in Ryback.  Love him or hate him, all roads lead to Ryback leaving Extreme Rules as WWE Champion.  If Ryback does not beat John Cena at Extreme Rules, WWE would have buried Ryback deep into a hole that he will never recover from.

Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H, Round 3

Brock Lesnar won the first round last summer in Los Angeles.  Triple H evened up the score at one apiece at WrestleMania 29.  After making a surprise appearance this week on Raw by dismantling 3MB, Brock Lesnar and his manager Paul Heyman made the challenge to Triple H for their third and hopefully final match at Extreme Rules.  This match will not be anything goes or no holds barred like their two previous encounters; Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H III will be set inside the annals of a Steel Cage.  We still have to wait until Triple H officially accepts the match before saying anything is set in stone, but WWE would not waste an appearance by Lesnar if this match was not going to happen at Extreme Rules.  While yours truly has not been very enthusiastic about the last two matches between Brock Lesnar and Triple H, I was caught completely off-guard by this challenge that I am actually looking forward to this match.  Even if this match falls flat on its face, it is a big match that will easily get more buys for Extreme Rules than any other match on the card.  Now WWE just needs to find a way to get Team Hell No and the Undertaker vs. The Shield in some type of gimmick match on Extreme Rules if they really want to see buys for Extreme Rules skyrocket.

The Silver Report: April 7-13

One year ago, The Silver Report debuted here on the Silverdome in the unbelievable aftermath of WrestleMania 28.  Here we are a year later, looking at the aftermath of WrestleMania 29.  While the quality of WrestleMania continues to waver, it is the Monday night after WrestleMania that has become an event just as big as The Show of Shows itself.  As WrestleMania becomes more focused on catering to the casual wrestling fans, the Raw immediately following WrestleMania is a treat for the hardcore wrestling fanatics like yours truly.  Explosive promos, great matches, hot crowd and an electric atmosphere make for easily one of the best Raws of the year.  Personally, I did not find this year’s Raw to be as good as the Raw that followed WrestleMania 28, but it was still one hell of a show.  Even when things were getting a little boring, the unbelievably hot crowd at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey kept you entertained.  In the last few years, the Raw following WrestleMania has become such an integral part of the WrestleMania experience that nobody should skip out on it if they ever get a chance to go to the Show of Shows.

Dolph Ziggler, New World Heavyweight Champion!!

Everybody was hoping to see Dolph Ziggler cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania to win the World Heavyweight Championship because it would have been an insane WrestleMania moment.  Leaving that moment until Raw, where a much bigger audience than WrestleMania is watching, was even better.  Pitting Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter against Alberto Del Rio in a Handicap Match seemed like the perfect set-up for Dolph to cash-in.  Jack worked over Del Rio’s ankle before Alberto hooked in the Cross Arm Breaker to win the match.  Immediately following the Handicap Match, Ziggler would come to the cheers of the crowd and many fans sitting at home.  It was a short match that saw Dolph and Del Rio go back-and-forth.  There was one point where Del Rio hooked Ziggler in the Cross Arm Breaker that made me yell at the top of my lungs, “Don’t you dare tap, Dolph!”  Ziggler escaped the hold by twisting Del Rio’s injured ankle, which set up Ziggler to hit the Zig Zag for the win.  The crowd at the Izod Center exploded in cheers while I jumped out of my seat in pure excitement.  It was easily one of the best Money in the Bank cash-ins I had the honour of watching.  In the span of two minutes, the emotions everybody watching this match went from excitement to frustration then ultimately happiness.  It was emotionally draining to say the least, but the best moments in professional wrestling are.  Easily the best moment of 2013 so far and it will definitely be pretty hard to beat.  Now that Dolph Ziggler is the World Heavyweight Champion, it is time for the WWE to show the world that Ziggler is main event player.

Fandango Becomes a Star

Last year, WrestleMania week changed the career of Daniel Bryan.  In the span of a week, Daniel Bryan went from having the most crushing defeat in his career to being the most over wrestler in the WWE.  The birth of the Yes chants a year ago launched Daniel Bryan’s career into the stratosphere.  No matter where Bryan is on the card, he gets one of the loudest responses of the night.  It is all thanks to the fans in Miami that chose to stand their ground and show WWE who they want to be pushed.  Fandango seems to be this year’s WrestleMania success story.  While the enigmatic dancer did get a huge win over Chris Jericho at WrestleMania, it was the crowd at the Izod Center that got Fandango over.  From humming and dancing along to Fandango’s theme song throughout the night to saying his name in unison, this crowd did everything in their power to get Fandango over to the point that I believe we will not be hearing any “You can’t wrestle” chants directed towards Fandango in the future.  While Fandango has truly made his mark on the WWE and the WWE Universe, Fandangoing seems to be sweeping the inter-webs much like Gangnam Style did last year and the Harlem Shake did earlier this year.  The internet loves the weirdest things, but the rising popularity of Fandangoing will bring good publicity to the professional wrestling and the WWE and further push Fandango as a star in the squared circle.

Best Raw Crowd Ever

Most nights the wrestlers are the stars of the show, but there are a few nights when the crowd is the star of the show.  This past Monday on Raw was one of those nights.  The crowd at the Izod Center was just phenomenal.  The excitement and enthusiasm that they brought to Raw made it that much more enjoyable to watch at home.  Personally, I cannot account for how it was like to be in a rabid crowd like the one at the Izod Center, but I hope to one day experience it for myself.  Apart from Ziggler’s World Title win, the best moment from Raw was when the crowd decided to hijack the show, which began during the boring Randy Orton vs. Sheamus match.  The crowd chanted for the announcers, wrestlers, old wrestling promotions and everything in between.  It was a so surreal that you stopped paying attention to what was happening on  the screen and concentrated on intently listening to whatever crazy chant the crowd decided to start.  It would be awesome to have a crowd like the one at the Izod Center at every show as it would make the three hour marathons the WWE calls Monday Night Raw fly by.  Sadly that is not possible as a crowd like this one only results from the international crowd that comes from all corners of the world to see WrestleMania live.  We will just have wait until next year in New Orleans to see a crowd as rabid as this one, but it will be worth the wait.

The Road to WrestleMania 29 Part 4: Coming Home

Before we start this preview for WrestleMania 29, I want to address the lack of posts these last two weeks.  While I was hoping to be able to sneak in another part or two for The Road to WrestleMania 29 series, it never came to fruition with the amount of work that I had to do for my classes.  Split between working on a presentation and two major papers, I did not have much time or energy to work on anything other than school work.  Getting those projects done and out of the way was so important that this series had to be put on the backburner.  I am sorry that I could not address this delay sooner, but I hope to make up for it with one huge preview for WrestleMania 29.

Personally, I cannot remember a WrestleMania so poorly built as this year’s event.  Watching WWE this last month has been very straining because seeds for feuds that should have been planted all the way back at the Royal Rumble were entirely nonexistent until only a few weeks ago.  WWE missed an incredible amount of opportunities to make this WrestleMania live up to the majesty and grandeur this event demands.  Matches like CM Punk vs. Undertaker and Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar that could single-handedly sell any other PPV have been so poorly built that nobody cares or is remotely interested.  In the shadow of Madison Square Garden, WrestleMania’s true home, you would expect the WWE to pull out all the stops to make this WrestleMania worthy of this grand homecoming especially considering that next year WrestleMania will not be coming from MSG, breaking a WrestleMania tradition.  It is still WrestleMania and honestly this wrestling fan is hoping even with my doubts the WWE can pull together a show to surprise us and live up to the name of WrestleMania or fail gloriously in the process.

Wade Barrett (c) vs. The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship

Not very often do the secondary championships get showcased at WrestleMania.  It feels pretty special when it happens and it stings a lot when this match gets shafted to the pre-show.  It is understandable considering how little build this match has had and the roller coaster WWE creative has sent these two wrestlers on for the last month before settling with this match.  Given enough time, Wade Barrett and the Miz will no doubt put on a good match.  There is a slight possibility that the WWE will give the title to the Miz in order to push his new babyface second-coming of Ric Flair gimmick down our collective throats.  Personally, I am pulling for Barrett to retain the title to hopefully give him and his Intercontinental Title reign more legitimacy.

Prediction:  Wade Barrett retains

Brodus Clay, Tensai and the Funkadactyls vs. Team Rhodes Scholars and the Bella Twins in an Eight-Person Tag Team Match

This match is the definition of a pre-show match.  There is no feud between these teams, no build for this match and no interest from the fans.  To put this match on the main card for WrestleMania would be a travesty.  It is definitely sad to see two young talented wrestlers like Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow in a throwaway match on the Biggest Stage of Them All.  There is no need to watch this match as it will be nothing more than mediocre filler anyway.

Prediction:  Brodus Clay, Tensai and the Funkadactyls win

Team Hell No (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston

Speaking of talented wrestlers going to waste on the Biggest Stage of Them All, we have the Tag Team Title match.  Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler and Kane could have easily been placed in singles matches that would be more appealing than this match.  Team Hell No, while still enjoyable, has gone its course.  If WWE is not going to use Team Hell No to build a tag team division worth caring about, it is time to take Daniel Bryan and Kane in a new direction.  WrestleMania could have easily been the big climactic finale to their long-term feud.  It just feels like a missed opportunity in my opinion.  These guys will probably put on a good tag team match.  Like with many other things with WrestleMania 29, it could have been so much better.

Prediction:  Team Hell No retains

Ryback vs. Mark Henry

Ryback hits the Shellshock on Mark Henry.  Nobody will care about the match; they will only care about the big WrestleMania moment at the very end.  That folks is Ryback vs. Mark Henry in a nutshell.

Prediction:  Ryback wins

Chris Jericho vs. Fandango

While this match should have been Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Jericho, this wrestling fan believes Chris Jericho can put on a good match at WrestleMania no matter who he is paired with.  Considering this match will be Johnny Curtis’ debut as Fandango, the lights will definitely be on this young up-and-comer.  It will be a true test if Fandango is deserving of the push he is currently getting from WWE Creative.

Prediction:  Fandango wins

The Shield vs. Sheamus, Randy Orton and Big Show

The Shield has been seemingly unstoppable during their short time in the WWE.  Superstars step up to challenge this faction of young superstars, but all fall to the Shield of Justice.  The next challengers are a pretty mighty bunch in Sheamus, Randy Orton and Big Show.  This fragile alliance will be severely tested Sunday night as they battle one of the most cohesive groups in WWE history.  This match is one that I am personally most excited for because of how great the Shield’s matches have been and the possibility of a Randy Orton heel turn.

Prediction:  The Shield wins

Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Jack Swagger for the World Heavyweight Championship

The more I think of this match, the more it reminds me of Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle from WrestleMania XX.  I could care less about the storyline between the American-loving Alberto Del Rio and the American Extremist Jack Swagger, it is the match these two technical wrestlers put on that really matters.  Technically this match will be great as you got two technical styles that will work wonderful together.  The match will come down to a showdown between the Cross Armbreaker and the Patriot Lock and that should be a sight to see.  Also I am personally hoping for Dolph Ziggler to cash in the Money in the Bank contract after this match, fingers crossed.

Prediction:  Alberto Del Rio retains

Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H in a No Holds Barred Match with Triple H’s Career on the Line

Looking for an all-out brawl reminiscent to the hardcore matches of eras past than look no further than Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H II.  While their first match at last year’s Summerslam left a lot to be desired, giving these two free reins to beat the living crap out of one another with everything and anything will be a big improvement.  It might seem obvious that Triple H will get the victory over Brock Lesnar to avoid retiring, but that result would be incredibly damaging to the monster the WWE is trying to build in Brock Lesnar.  Brock should not lose a match until the WWE is ready to have him face somebody they want to push to the main event like Sheamus or challenge Undertaker to end The Streak.  Honestly, Triple H does not need to be wrestling anymore, so give Brock Lesnar another win under his belt and a definitive ending to Triple H’s career.

Prediction:  Brock Lesnar wins and Triple H retires

Undertaker vs. CM Punk

There was one point in time when Undertaker vs. CM Punk at WrestleMania 29 seemed like a great idea then we got the last four weeks of WWE programming.  Opinions can quickly change when thoughts on paper turn into reality.  CM Punk and Undertaker tried their best to make the storyline they were given to work with, but it was not enough.  While these guys are great on the microphone especially Punk, the storyline really drew off the death of Paul Bearer, way too soon in my opinion, that it felt quite uncomfortable at times.  There is no doubt that these two will steal the show at WrestleMania.  Some of the excitement that normally surrounds an Undertaker match at WrestleMania is gone thanks to such a horrible storyline.

Prediction:  Undertaker wins

The Rock (c) vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship

Here we are, at the rematch no one asked for—The Rock vs. John Cena II.  For the main event of the Biggest Show of the Year, this match has had less build than Undertaker vs. CM Punk.  That is what WWE gets for wasting two weeks showing the exact same video package about this match.  While this match has been built as John Cena’s redemption, nobody really cares who wins if one of two things happens.  First, Rock and Cena deliver a match that surpasses last year’s match in Miami.  Second, John Cena FINALLY turns heel.  Wrestling fans are getting sick and tired on John Cena’s character because it has not evolved in over six years now.  Cena needs a new direction and why not initiate on the Grandest Stage of Them All where the lights are on bright and the whole world is watching.

Prediction:  John Cena wins the WWE Championship

It is WrestleMania Sunday and there is no hype, no excitement.  Last year, I could not contain my excitement to see Rock vs. Cena, Undertaker vs. Triple H and CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho that I tried to find affordable venue to watch the event to no avail.  This year I have no such inclination to watch WrestleMania live.  It is easier and much more affordable to wait two months and pick up the DVD.  Yes, you miss out on watching it in the moment, but you pay about twenty dollars to have the event forever.  Instead of wasting thirty to fifty dollars only to see if WWE can put an amazing show despite the incredible lack of build and excitement.