Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
Don't worry, Miz, you'll get MOTY next year, I'm sure.
WWE has been through a period of transition this past year with the brand split renewed and a host of new stars taking up the mantle while the veterans took a back seat. The stories in this period were less than stellar.
However, the talent present on the roster have helped make this the most consistently excellent group in the ring in the company's history. The trouble was not finding twenty five great matches. It was whittling it all down to just twenty five.
The following are the twenty five matches that were the most excellent of the year, defining the product even as the writers struggled to give this amazing group of talent stories to perfectly play off their in ring excellence.
However, the talent present on the roster have helped make this the most consistently excellent group in the ring in the company's history. The trouble was not finding twenty five great matches. It was whittling it all down to just twenty five.
The following are the twenty five matches that were the most excellent of the year, defining the product even as the writers struggled to give this amazing group of talent stories to perfectly play off their in ring excellence.
Best of 2016: Films | TV Seasons | Acting Performances
Restrictions: Only one match from each pairing will be included which means that this will not be just a bunch of John Cena vs. AJ Styles and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks matches.
Restrictions: Only one match from each pairing will be included which means that this will not be just a bunch of John Cena vs. AJ Styles and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks matches.
Highlight of 2016: Seth Rollins is dangerous!
Honorable Mentions
I was only planning to have 25 matches on the list, but I felt bad not also naming these three matches as among the best of the year as well as the best performances of three top stars.
Triple H vs. Dolph Ziggler - Monday Night Raw 3/14
When Dolph Ziggler is motivated, he's exciting to watch, and his match with Triple H was Ziggler at his most motivated, fitting even better with HHH than Dean Ambrose did two nights prior. This was easily the strongest showing from Triple H this year.
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor - SummerSlam
It was a true shame to see Finn Balor go down after this match which was his first truly fantastic match since signing with WWE. He matched perfectly with Seth Rollins and showed a physical toughness by looking even better after tearing his labrum.
Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Y2AJ - Monday Night Raw 3/7
In a year of dominance from New Day in the tag team division, their best match was a one-off encounter against AJ Styles and Chris Jericho who were also both hitting their stride at this point. This was a tag team match that rarely let up.
I was only planning to have 25 matches on the list, but I felt bad not also naming these three matches as among the best of the year as well as the best performances of three top stars.
Triple H vs. Dolph Ziggler - Monday Night Raw 3/14
When Dolph Ziggler is motivated, he's exciting to watch, and his match with Triple H was Ziggler at his most motivated, fitting even better with HHH than Dean Ambrose did two nights prior. This was easily the strongest showing from Triple H this year.
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor - SummerSlam
It was a true shame to see Finn Balor go down after this match which was his first truly fantastic match since signing with WWE. He matched perfectly with Seth Rollins and showed a physical toughness by looking even better after tearing his labrum.
Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. Y2AJ - Monday Night Raw 3/7
In a year of dominance from New Day in the tag team division, their best match was a one-off encounter against AJ Styles and Chris Jericho who were also both hitting their stride at this point. This was a tag team match that rarely let up.
Highlight of 2016: Dean Ambrose had a couple good matches for the first time in a while.
25. Baron Corbin vs. Kalisto - TLC
Kalisto was the master this year of putting on great matches that had no right to be as good as they were from his matches with Alberto Del Rio to his feud with Ryback. His best came against Corbin at TLC where the two were the first to legitimize the chairs match with a brutal and creative clash of styles.
24. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Gran Metallik - Cruiserweight Classic Finale
One of the most hyped CWC participants, Zack Sabre Jr., took a while to get into the WWE style with the right opponent, but he truly shined in his last battle with Gran Metallik. This was a perfect clash of styles with both men showing their mastery of the technical side of wrestling.
23. Universal Champion Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins - Hell in a Cell
While Kevin Owens and Rollins have not always clicked together, their Hell in a Cell match was a series of great moments with Rollins putting on one of his strongest performances of the year. Even with too much Chris Jericho interference, this was the crown jewel of this feud.
22. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens vs. Big Cass - Monday Night Raw 8/29
This was a true blockbuster epic showdown as all four men fought with unstoppable fire. Big Cass came out swinging early and looked at home next to three main event stars. Once he was gone, it was a wrestle to a standstill situation where Triple H had to come in and break the tie.
21. WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose - No Mercy
SmackDown was dominated by AJ Styles and his battles with two men: John Cena and Dean Ambrose. Getting to see them all battle together was always going to be great even though this match fell a bit too often into silliness.
Kalisto was the master this year of putting on great matches that had no right to be as good as they were from his matches with Alberto Del Rio to his feud with Ryback. His best came against Corbin at TLC where the two were the first to legitimize the chairs match with a brutal and creative clash of styles.
24. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Gran Metallik - Cruiserweight Classic Finale
One of the most hyped CWC participants, Zack Sabre Jr., took a while to get into the WWE style with the right opponent, but he truly shined in his last battle with Gran Metallik. This was a perfect clash of styles with both men showing their mastery of the technical side of wrestling.
23. Universal Champion Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins - Hell in a Cell
While Kevin Owens and Rollins have not always clicked together, their Hell in a Cell match was a series of great moments with Rollins putting on one of his strongest performances of the year. Even with too much Chris Jericho interference, this was the crown jewel of this feud.
22. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens vs. Big Cass - Monday Night Raw 8/29
This was a true blockbuster epic showdown as all four men fought with unstoppable fire. Big Cass came out swinging early and looked at home next to three main event stars. Once he was gone, it was a wrestle to a standstill situation where Triple H had to come in and break the tie.
21. WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. John Cena vs. Dean Ambrose - No Mercy
SmackDown was dominated by AJ Styles and his battles with two men: John Cena and Dean Ambrose. Getting to see them all battle together was always going to be great even though this match fell a bit too often into silliness.
Highlight of 2016: Cesaro briefly still knew how to do more than uppercut.
20. Kota Ibushi vs. The Brian Kendrick - Cruiserweight Classic 8/31
The Cruiserweight Classic produced so many classics particularly from Kota Ibushi, and he masterfully told a different story with each opponent. Brian Kendrick was a man possessed by frantic desire against a man who could not be stopped in a classic veteran showdown.
19. WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin - Wild Card Finals SmackDown
Styles could not end the year without putting on one more fantastic match. To be fair though, this was not truly Styles' match or Dolph Ziggler's. This was Corbin's main event showcase, proving he can put on a top shelf match with his size and striking power.
18. Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro - Extreme Rules
This fatal four way snuck up on fans at the time, but, looking back, it was obviously going to be great. All four of these men had great in-ring years in 2016, and they had great chemistry. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens put on a fantastic showing together again but alongside great work from Miz and Cesaro.
17. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar - Fastlane
2016 was one of the worst years of Brock Lesnar's WWE run, but he still got in one truly dominant showing for the year in a triple threat with Reigns and Ambrose who had no true answer to his complete destruction.
16. AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro - Monday Night Raw 4/4
This was the night WWE fully announced its intentions to make AJ Styles a lead man, and everyone knew how special this match needed to be. Cesaro put on his best performance the year here, driven by months away. Even Jericho looked younger and spirited here.
The Cruiserweight Classic produced so many classics particularly from Kota Ibushi, and he masterfully told a different story with each opponent. Brian Kendrick was a man possessed by frantic desire against a man who could not be stopped in a classic veteran showdown.
19. WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin - Wild Card Finals SmackDown
Styles could not end the year without putting on one more fantastic match. To be fair though, this was not truly Styles' match or Dolph Ziggler's. This was Corbin's main event showcase, proving he can put on a top shelf match with his size and striking power.
18. Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro - Extreme Rules
This fatal four way snuck up on fans at the time, but, looking back, it was obviously going to be great. All four of these men had great in-ring years in 2016, and they had great chemistry. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens put on a fantastic showing together again but alongside great work from Miz and Cesaro.
17. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar - Fastlane
2016 was one of the worst years of Brock Lesnar's WWE run, but he still got in one truly dominant showing for the year in a triple threat with Reigns and Ambrose who had no true answer to his complete destruction.
16. AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro - Monday Night Raw 4/4
This was the night WWE fully announced its intentions to make AJ Styles a lead man, and everyone knew how special this match needed to be. Cesaro put on his best performance the year here, driven by months away. Even Jericho looked younger and spirited here.
Highlight of 2016: Kota Ibushi sticks around just long enough to convince everyone he's the best.
15. NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival vs. American Alpha - NXT 7/6
The tag team division in NXT has become special, something truly remarkable to watch, as The Revival get better and better. Their strategic chess matches particularly in two-out-three falls matches have been so fantastic with perfect chemistry with American Alpha.
14. Women's Champion Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch - WrestleMania 32
Every year, WrestleMania is a time of celebration where the best wrestlers clash, and WrestleMania 32 was the night of the women as Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch went to war in a triple threat reminiscent of WCW cruiserweight action. They stole the show on the biggest night of the year with ease.
13. AJ Styles vs. John Cena - SummerSlam
The first two thirds of Styles battle with Cena was perfection, a war of two greats who were battling at another level. Even with the final act a bit overdone, you will hardly find a match with this level of epicness in WWE again.
12. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns - Battleground
I had waited a long time to see The Shield battle in a triple threat, and the first time was everything it needed to be. The combination sequences were among the strongest of the year, and each man got a chance to shine brighter than they often had the rest of the year.
11. Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander - Cruiserweight Classic 8/10
Cedric Alexander had his coming-out party in the second round of the CWC, clicking at another level with Ibushi. The two flew around the ring with Alexander in particular a man possessed. It was the type of performance that could one day be seen as the day Alexander became a star.
The tag team division in NXT has become special, something truly remarkable to watch, as The Revival get better and better. Their strategic chess matches particularly in two-out-three falls matches have been so fantastic with perfect chemistry with American Alpha.
14. Women's Champion Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch - WrestleMania 32
Every year, WrestleMania is a time of celebration where the best wrestlers clash, and WrestleMania 32 was the night of the women as Charlotte, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch went to war in a triple threat reminiscent of WCW cruiserweight action. They stole the show on the biggest night of the year with ease.
13. AJ Styles vs. John Cena - SummerSlam
The first two thirds of Styles battle with Cena was perfection, a war of two greats who were battling at another level. Even with the final act a bit overdone, you will hardly find a match with this level of epicness in WWE again.
12. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns - Battleground
I had waited a long time to see The Shield battle in a triple threat, and the first time was everything it needed to be. The combination sequences were among the strongest of the year, and each man got a chance to shine brighter than they often had the rest of the year.
11. Kota Ibushi vs. Cedric Alexander - Cruiserweight Classic 8/10
Cedric Alexander had his coming-out party in the second round of the CWC, clicking at another level with Ibushi. The two flew around the ring with Alexander in particular a man possessed. It was the type of performance that could one day be seen as the day Alexander became a star.
Highlight of 2016: Roman Reigns continued to not know how to wrestle proven by his series of match of the year contenders against a variety of opponents.
10. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles - Backlash
How good is Styles? He brought out a side of Ambrose we have not seen before or since, the technical side of Ambrose that he does best. This match was a perfectly paced showdown with huge moments and chemistry between two men that was undeniable.
9. WWE Champion Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins - Money in the Bank
Few men click better together than Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, both as friends and enemies. This was the longest and most-epic of their battles, and it shined through with that time. The ending only made the match more memorable with The Shield all holding the title in one night.
8. Kota Ibushi vs. TJ Perkins - Cruiserweight Classic Finale
All the build up showed Ibushi to be a man without equal, an unstoppable force of nature. It was a combination of an underdog story and a technical grind as Perkins focused on the neck of Ibushi with desperate abandon in the match that solidified him as the star of the WWE cruiserweights.
7. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommasso Ciampa - Cruiserweight Classic 8/3
There may not have been a better story told this year than in this far-too-brief explosive encounter between Johnny Gargano and Tommasso Ciampa who have been among the best in the company this year and instantly clicked as both friends and rivals.
6. WWE Champion Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles - Extreme Rules
While the earliest signs of Styles' great year to come were his matches with The Miz, it was Styles' two fantastic matches with Reigns that solidified his spot near the top of WWE. Their Extreme Rules match was vicious and high-octane even if interference hampered it.
How good is Styles? He brought out a side of Ambrose we have not seen before or since, the technical side of Ambrose that he does best. This match was a perfectly paced showdown with huge moments and chemistry between two men that was undeniable.
9. WWE Champion Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins - Money in the Bank
Few men click better together than Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, both as friends and enemies. This was the longest and most-epic of their battles, and it shined through with that time. The ending only made the match more memorable with The Shield all holding the title in one night.
8. Kota Ibushi vs. TJ Perkins - Cruiserweight Classic Finale
All the build up showed Ibushi to be a man without equal, an unstoppable force of nature. It was a combination of an underdog story and a technical grind as Perkins focused on the neck of Ibushi with desperate abandon in the match that solidified him as the star of the WWE cruiserweights.
7. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommasso Ciampa - Cruiserweight Classic 8/3
There may not have been a better story told this year than in this far-too-brief explosive encounter between Johnny Gargano and Tommasso Ciampa who have been among the best in the company this year and instantly clicked as both friends and rivals.
6. WWE Champion Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles - Extreme Rules
While the earliest signs of Styles' great year to come were his matches with The Miz, it was Styles' two fantastic matches with Reigns that solidified his spot near the top of WWE. Their Extreme Rules match was vicious and high-octane even if interference hampered it.
Highlight of 2016: Kevin Owens sends Sami Zayn into irrelevancy while Zayn sends Owens into a comedy act masked as a main event performance.
5. Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler - No Mercy
This match was a culmination of the hottest streak either of these two men have ever been on. It was a career-best performance from The Miz and nearly that for Ziggler as well with the only blemish being the somewhat mismanaged finish.
4. Raw Women's Champion Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte - Roadblock: End of the Line
The placement here is not wholly about this one match but the overall quality of the entire feud of Charlotte vs. Banks. I struggled between representing this feud by their first or their last match which were each top tier and nearly perfect but chose End of the Line for its added memorable brutality.
3. Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura - NXT Takeover: Dallas
Shinsuke Nakamura has not wholly fit in NXT so far, but his first outing was absolutely perfection as a blend of two men who made the most of the spotlight. It was Nakamura displaying his ceiling in WWE as a performer and Zayn showcasing his mastery at crafting a match.
2. NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival vs. DIY - NXT Takeover: Toronto
It seemed that The Revival could not find better rivals than American Alpha. Then they met Gargano and Ciampa. Together, these two put on an all-time great tag team match, perfect and unique in its construction with DIY truly earning the tag team titles.
1. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn - Battleground
Stories rarely reach a perfectly satisfying conclusion, but this was the absolute perfect final chapter to a feud that has wholly defined both wrestler's careers in WWE (and before). Zayn came out swinging with reckless abandon and an unstoppable fire.
Meanwhile, Owens reveled in a vicious streak he rarely has tapped into. Together, they masterfully built to a perfect conclusion as Zayn overcame everything his bigger and smarter rival threw at him, only trusting in his speed and his guts.
This match was a culmination of the hottest streak either of these two men have ever been on. It was a career-best performance from The Miz and nearly that for Ziggler as well with the only blemish being the somewhat mismanaged finish.
4. Raw Women's Champion Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte - Roadblock: End of the Line
The placement here is not wholly about this one match but the overall quality of the entire feud of Charlotte vs. Banks. I struggled between representing this feud by their first or their last match which were each top tier and nearly perfect but chose End of the Line for its added memorable brutality.
3. Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura - NXT Takeover: Dallas
Shinsuke Nakamura has not wholly fit in NXT so far, but his first outing was absolutely perfection as a blend of two men who made the most of the spotlight. It was Nakamura displaying his ceiling in WWE as a performer and Zayn showcasing his mastery at crafting a match.
2. NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival vs. DIY - NXT Takeover: Toronto
It seemed that The Revival could not find better rivals than American Alpha. Then they met Gargano and Ciampa. Together, these two put on an all-time great tag team match, perfect and unique in its construction with DIY truly earning the tag team titles.
1. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn - Battleground
Stories rarely reach a perfectly satisfying conclusion, but this was the absolute perfect final chapter to a feud that has wholly defined both wrestler's careers in WWE (and before). Zayn came out swinging with reckless abandon and an unstoppable fire.
Meanwhile, Owens reveled in a vicious streak he rarely has tapped into. Together, they masterfully built to a perfect conclusion as Zayn overcame everything his bigger and smarter rival threw at him, only trusting in his speed and his guts.