The Best WWE Match Every Year For The Past 10 Years , According To Dave Meltzer
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WWE has had a few all over years over the course of the past 10 years , with certain ups, for example, 2014 and 2016 , with a few downs as well , with 2018 and 2019 being a very long time to forget for the primary program , for instance . Anyway , inside that time WWE has housed a portion of the top stars and in - ring gifts in the world , implying that even among terrible booking and unfortunate storylines , there can be some great matches . RELATED : 10 Best Ric Flair Matches , According To Dave Meltzer Even in the most terrible of years , there can be one match which stands apart over the rest , and Dave Meltzer's star evaluations are an effective method for seeing which match during a year is superior to the others . 2021 Walter Vs Ilia 2021 - Walter Vs Ilja Dragunov , NXT Takeover : 36 ( 5.25 Stars ) Following a madly lengthy run as NXT UK Champion , Walter at last met his match in one of the most flawless and best instances of the exemplary David versus Goliath saying . Dragunov endured merciless and actual offense , declining to be beaten , with a stunningly bold showcase . The solidness of the strikes , the effect of the moves , and the crude feeling in the two men was sufficient to outperform Dave Meltzer's 5 - star framework , by being appraised 5.25 stars . 2020 - Walter Vs Ilja Dragunov , NXT UK ( 5 )Search Stars ) There was no ThunderDome nor any exhibition place stand - ins at ringside , making this a totally quiet structure beside the hints of kicks , elbows , hacks , and bodies stirring things up around town . Walter and Dragunov figured out how to pull off the unimaginable by finishing a 5 - star match in an unfilled setting , some way or another figuring out how to recount a story while likewise giving a presentation which felt true and excruciating . 2019 Adam Cole Vs Johnny Gargano , NXT Takeover : New York ( 5.5 Stars ) - Stars ) After Tommaso Ciampa got a physical issue , administering him down and out , Johnny Gargano rather fought Adam Cole for the empty NXT Championship . Despite the fact that Gargano's triumph was to some degree unsurprising , the pair figured out how to create endless of the best close - falls in NXT history . The wrestling was liquid , there were an unbelievable number of counters , and Gargano would get his pixie - story triumph in one of the most close to home and endearing NXT Championship wins ever . - 2018 Andrade Cien Almas Vs Johnny Gargano , NXT Takeover : Philadelphia ( 5 Stars )
NXT delivered two or three 5 - star matches in 2018 , however this was maybe the best one . Despite the fact that this extended for around thirty minutes , Andrade and Gargano figured out how to keep the crowd as eager and anxious as can be the whole time , barely truly giving up the speed access this electric championship . The pivotal turning points were fanned out superbly , with a ton of incredible successions , and splendidly coordinated close - falls as well . Keeping Gargano from winning the belt here was the right decision , as it set up him for a great excursion to the top . 2017 - AJ Styles Vs John Cena , Royal Rumble ( 4.75 Stars )This WWE Championship match between AJ Styles and John Cena got colossal praise because of how remarkable it was , with the pair not leaving the ring for the total of their 24 - minute match . Yet again the pair exhibited grand science with each other , with it taking Cena a few finishers to at last put down Styles , which made the previous top dog look perfect , even in shame , with Cena taking his count up to a record - equalling 16 world titles . 2016 - Sami Zayn Vs Shinsuke Nakamura , NXT Takeover : Dallas ( 4.5 Stars ) From the second Shinsuke Nakamura made his entry , obviously this would have been something uniquely great . Nakamura's climate and presence was crazy , with he and Zayn carrying reputation to the now more normal serenade of ' battle forever'.RELATED : 10 Best Kevin Owens Vs Sami Zayn Matches , According To Dave Meltzer Their match had everything , from brilliant spots to firm catastrophes for class close - falls , even with it being genuinely clear that the newbie , Nakamura , was leaving as the victor . 2015 Brock Lesnar Vs John Cena Vs Seth Rollins , Royal Rumble ( 4.75 Stars ) as far as triple danger coordinates , thi there with the absolute best in WWE . Brock
Search there with the absolute best in WWE . Brock Lesnar was made to seem to be a finished beast , conquering a few finishers , twofold groups , and in the wake of taking a major sprinkle through the report table . Seth Rollins spread the word about his presence as a future fundamental eventer , and John Cena added significantly more star capacity to procedures , however he especially embraced a new lease on life , which was something worth being thankful for . This match had such an electric speed and was set out flawlessly . 2014 - Adrian Neville Vs Sami Zayn , NXT Takeover : R Evolution ( 4.75 Stars ) Sami Zayn was the substance of NXT , and match recounted a superb story of him not surrendering to any evil spirits to acquire the NXT Championship , rather utilizing his entire being to win the belt and neatly rout Adrian Neville . The response to him winning was glorious , creating one of NXT's best ever minutes . Neville assumed his part as a babyface champion with a forceful edge , making it muddled whether he would likewise dive profound into his evil presences to keep hold of the belt . Eventually , the two men embraced in an extraordinary second . 2013 CM Punk Vs John Cena , Raw ( 4.5 Stars ) The science between CM Punk and John Cena is something or other which ca educated , and from a simply in - ring viewpoint , this might be their best at any point match . The headliner spot at WrestleMania 29 was on the line , and they put their everything into causing it to feel like the main award on the planet . RELATED : 10 Best World Champion Vs. Title holder Matches In WWE , According To Dave Meltzer Each man dove profound into their stockpiles to attempt to put the other away , with Cena shockingly hitting a hurricanrana , and Punk challenging WWE's standards by hitting a piledriver . Eventually , it was Cena wh triumphant , yet the two men and the fans were champs after this .2012 The Undertaker Vs Triple H , WrestleMania 28 ( 4.75 Stars ) The inclination in this match drove it to being one of the most serious and enamoring exhibitions in WrestleMania history . Following four years of fighting , The Undertaker , Triple H , and Shawn Michaels finished their story together inside Hell in a Cell . It was an actual coordinate with endless seat shots , finishers , and defining moments , all spread out in a stunning manner . This match likewise included maybe the best close - fall ever , when Undertaker removed from a Pedigree and Sweet Chin Music . At last , he would proceed with his undefeated streak , with the three men embracing following the match .2nd point
WWE has had some up and down years over the last decade , with certain ups such as 2014 and 2016 , with several downs too , with 2018 and 2019 being years to forget for the main roster , for example . However , within that time WWE has housed some of the top stars and in - ring talents on the planet , meaning that even amongst bad booking and poor storylines , there can be some good matches . RELATED : 10 Best Ric Flair Matches , According To Dave Meltzer Even in the worst of years , there can be one match which stands out above the rest , and Dave Meltzer's star ratings are a good way to see which match during a year is better than the others . 2021 Walter Vs Ilia 2021 - Walter Vs Ilja Dragunov , NXT Takeover : 36 ( 5.25 Stars ) Following an insanely long run as NXT UK Champion , Walter finally met his match in one of the purest and best examples of the classic David vs Goliath trope . Dragunov withstood brutal and physical offense , refusing to be beaten , with a breathtakingly courageous display . The stiffness of the strikes , the impact of the moves , and the raw emotion in both men was enough to surpass Dave Meltzer's 5 - star system , by being rated 5.25 stars . 2020 - Walter Vs Ilja Dragunov , NXT UK ( 5 )Search Stars ) There was no ThunderDome nor any performance centre stand - ins at ringside , making this a completely silent building aside from the sounds of kicks , elbows , chops , and bodies hitting the mat . Walter and Dragunov managed to pull off the impossible by completing a 5 - star match in an empty venue , somehow managing to tell a story whilst also giving a performance which felt authentic and painful . 2019 Adam Cole Vs Johnny Gargano , NXT Takeover : New York ( 5.5 Stars ) -Stars ) After Tommaso Ciampa received an injury , ruling him out of action , Johnny Gargano instead battled Adam Cole for the vacant NXT Championship . Even though Gargano's victory was somewhat predictable , the pair managed to produce countless of the best near - falls in NXT history . The wrestling was fluid , there were an unthinkable number of counters , and Gargano would pick up his fairy - tale victory in one of the most emotional and heart warming NXT Championship wins of all time . - 2018 Andrade Cien Almas Vs Johnny Gargano , NXT Takeover : Philadelphia ( 5 Stars )
NXT produced a few 5 - star matches in 2018 , but this was perhaps the best one . Even though this stretched for around half an hour , Andrade and Gargano managed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats the entire time , hardly ever letting up the pace in this electric title match . The big moments were spread out wonderfully , with a lot of fantastic sequences , and brilliantly timed near - falls too . Preventing Gargano from winning the belt here was the correct choice , as it set up him for a wonderful journey to the top . 2017 - AJ Styles Vs John Cena , Royal Rumble ( 4.75 Stars )This WWE Championship match between AJ Styles and John Cena received huge acclaim due to how unique it was , with the pair not leaving the ring for the entirety of their 24 - minute match . The pair once again showcased marvellous chemistry with one another , with it taking Cena several finishers to finally put down Styles , which made the former champion look great , even in defeat , with Cena taking his tally up to a record - equalling 16 world titles . 2016 - Sami Zayn Vs Shinsuke Nakamura , NXT Takeover : Dallas ( 4.5 Stars ) From the moment Shinsuke Nakamura made his entrance , it was clear that this was going to be something special . Nakamura's atmosphere and presence was insane , with he and Zayn bringing notoriety to the now more common chant of ' fight forever'.RELATED : 10 Best Kevin Owens Vs Sami Zayn Matches , According To Dave Meltzer Their match had everything , from wonderful spots to stiff blows to class near - falls , even with it being fairly obvious that the newcomer , Nakamura , was walking out as the victor . 2015 Brock Lesnar Vs John Cena Vs Seth Rollins , Royal Rumble ( 4.75 Stars ) In terms of triple threat matches , thi there with the very best in WWE . Brock
Search there with the very best in WWE . Brock Lesnar was made to look like a complete monster , overcoming several finishers , double teams , and after taking a big splash through the announce table . Seth Rollins made his presence known as a future main eventer , and John Cena added even more star power to proceedings , though he very much felt like the third man , which was a good thing . This match had such an electric pace and was set out perfectly . 2014 - Adrian Neville Vs Sami Zayn , NXT Takeover : R Evolution ( 4.75 Stars ) Sami Zayn was the face of NXT , and match told a wonderful story of him not giving into any demons to gain the NXT Championship , instead using his heart and soul to win the belt and cleanly defeat Adrian Neville . The reaction to him winning was magnificent , producing one of NXT's best ever moments . Neville played his role as a babyface champion with an aggressive edge , making it unclear whether he would also dig deep into his demons to keep hold of the belt . In the end , both men embraced in a great moment . 2013 CM Punk Vs John Cena , Raw ( 4.5 Stars ) The chemistry between CM Punk and John Cena is one of those things which ca taught , and from a purely in - ring perspective , this may be their best ever match . The main event spot at WrestleMania 29 was on the line , and they put their all into making it feel like the most important prize in the world . RELATED : 10 Best World Champion Vs. World Champion Matches In WWE , According To Dave Meltzer Each man dug deep into their arsenals to try and put the other away , with Cena sensationally hitting a hurricanrana , and Punk defying WWE's rules by hitting a piledriver . In the end , it was Cena wh victorious , but both men and the fans were winners after this .2012 The Undertaker Vs Triple H , WrestleMania 28 ( 4.75 Stars ) The emotion in this match drove it to being one of the most intense and captivating spectacles in WrestleMania history . After four years of battling , The Undertaker , Triple H , and Shawn Michaels completed their story together inside Hell in a Cell . It was a physical match with countless chair shots , finishers , and big moments , all spread out in a masterful way . This match also featured perhaps the greatest near - fall of all time , when Undertaker kicked out of a Pedigree and Sweet Chin Music . Ultimately , he would continue his undefeated streak , with the three men embracing following the match .
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