Ruthless Aggression Era: Every WWE Championship Match On A Big Four PPV, Decisively Ranked

The WWE Ruthless Aggression Era is often remembered for its weird transitional vibes – post-Attitude but pre-PG, full of talent yet once again trying to find its voice. But if you strip away the marketing fluff and 2000s awkwardness (Diva Search, anyone!?), what you’re left with is one of WWE’s most stacked eras for bell-to-bell quality. From 2002 through 2008, WWE leaned heavily on ring work to carry the product, and the WWE Championship scene was almost always the centerpiece. Whether it was defended in gritty classics, chaotic multi-man matches, or weird booking experiments, the big title anchored the company through a time of major change – and it delivered far more often than it didn’t.

RELATED ARTICLE: Attitude Era: Every WWF Championship On A Big Five PPV, Decisively Ranked

So we’re diving in and ranking every WWE Championship match that took place on a Big Four PPV (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series) throughout the era. We’re following the same criteria of the previous articles, ranking the matches based on in-ring quality, crowd reaction, in-ring psychology and storytelling. As always, some were incredible bouts that fans still talk about today, while others are… well, sh-t! All of them matter in painting the full picture of an era that quietly built the foundation for WWE’s modern style – and gave us a few all-timers along the way.

Note: for the purpose of this series, we already included King of the Ring 2002 in the Attitude Era article, since that was the last edition of the King of the Ring PPV so I decided to get it out of the way already. I know it was already part of the Ruthless Aggression Era, but whatever… it’s not that serious! Anyway, with that said, this will go from SummerSlam 2002 until WrestleMania 24, as WWE would turn PG in July 2008.

Another note: the World Heavyweight Championship was introduced in September 2002 in WWE, but the series will continue to be exclusively about the WWE Championship. We can do something similar about other titles in the future if you’re interested!

22. Brock Lesnar Vs. Hardcore Holly (Royal Rumble 2004)

• Match Quality Rating: 2/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 5/10
• Psychology Rating: 2/10
• Storytelling Rating: 5/10
• Overall Rating: 17/40

Hardcore Holly had plenty of motivation heading into this match. After all, Brock Lesnar had accidentally broken his neck back in September 2002 on SmackDown, sidelining him for over a year. That real-life injury gave the feud a strong backstory, and to WWE’s credit, they didn’t shy away from it. The problem? Holly had spent the better part of a decade in the midcard, and his sudden leap into a WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble felt odd. The crowd didn’t buy it, and the match never came close to changing their minds.

SCOTT KEITH REVIEWS: WWE Royal Rumble 2004

Holly did try to bring some fire, and the crowd responded in a polite “we’re in Philly but we’re not monsters” kind of way. But the fire didn’t last long, as there was no drama, no urgency, and certainly no sense that the title might change hands. It was the kind of match that felt more like a “thank you” from the office to Holly than anything else. As Lesnar moved on to a classic with Eddie Guerrero at No Way Out and a featured showdown with Goldberg at WrestleMania 20, this was quietly memory-holed by the next episode of SmackDown. Holly… went back to Velocity. It wasn’t really awful per se, just super random and unnecessary, honestly.

21. JBL Vs. Booker T (Survivor Series 2004)

• Match Quality Rating: 5/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 7/10
• Psychology Rating: 4/10
• Storytelling Rating: 4/10
• Overall Rating: 20/40

In theory, this should’ve been one of JBL’s better title defenses. Booker T was still over, the SmackDown crowd was firmly behind him, and the build had been passable if unspectacular. But the execution just didn’t click. While the crowd in Cleveland stayed with them for most of the match, the in-ring action never felt like it left second gear. JBL’s style, deliberate and bruising at best, came off flat here – and Booker, for all his fire, didn’t seem like he was working with someone who could match his tempo.

The finish didn’t help either. A cheap shot with the title belt immediately after Booker had delivered the Bookend to Orlando Jordan closed things out in familiar JBL fashion. By this point, fans were already growing numb to the formula. This wasn’t a disaster, but it ended up feeling like just a match when it could’ve elevated JBL’s WWE Championship reign. Just okay – and in the Ruthless Aggression Era, “just okay” wasn’t good enough.

20. JBL Vs. The Undertaker (SummerSlam 2004)

• Match Quality Rating: 4/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 5/10
• Psychology Rating: 5/10
• Storytelling Rating: 6/10
• Overall Rating: 20/40

You’d think putting JBL across the ring from The Undertaker at SummerSlam would guarantee something memorable. Instead, we got a plodding, uneven match that felt more like an extended SmackDown main event than a true blockbuster title clash. The story wasn’t bad – JBL surviving against all odds while clinging to his WWE Title (in his first title defense on pay-per-view) was a tried-and-true heel trope – but the execution was sluggish. There were bursts of intensity, but they never added up to much.

The DQ finish didn’t help either. Taker cracked JBL with the belt, giving JBL the win and making the entire match feel like a setup for a rematch rather than a real payoff. The crowd was moderately into it but never fully invested, and JBL’s lack of credibility next to Undertaker didn’t help sell the drama. A functional title match that advanced the story, sure – but in the grand scheme of SummerSlam WWE Championship bouts, this one’s firmly near the bottom. According to JBL, Undertaker wanted to put him over clean at SummerSlam, but Bradshaw refused. Here’s what JBL had to say in a post on his Facebook page back in 2011:

I was fortunate to be at Summerslam in 2004 against the Undertaker for the WWE Championship which I held at the time. Undertaker, the ULTIMATE professional, offered to put me over clean-1, 2, 3 right in the middle. I disagreed.

I felt that if I won anything that I would start to lose my ability to be a heel, people would see that I could win matches and some would start to cheer for me. This is why I never had any merch of my own-I never wanted anyone to buy something and other fans see that I had fans. I had a shirt come out once and quickly had it killed. (h/t Cageside Seats)

19. JBL Vs. John Cena (WrestleMania 21)

• Match Quality Rating: 4/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 7/10
• Psychology Rating: 5/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 24/40

This was less about the match and more about the moment. John Cena’s first WWE Championship win should’ve felt like the coronation of a generation-defining star – and in many ways, it did. The crowd in L.A. was clearly behind him, the buildup had been solid, and JBL had real heat after nearly a year of clinging to that title like his life depended on it. But bell-to-bell? It would’ve been too basic for an episode of SmackDown, let alone a WWE Title bout at a WrestleMania. What we got was a short, safe, underwhelming match with the right winner.

SCOTT KEITH REVIEWS: WWE WrestleMania 21

The psychology wasn’t bad at all: JBL played the cocky bully, Cena sold just enough to make the payoff satisfying, and the finish – Cena ducking the Clothesline from Hell and landing one final FU – was exactly what people wanted to see. But it never reached that extra gear. It was competent and meaningful, but nowhere near epic. This was a passing-of-the-torch moment done with minimal flash and even less sizzle. Cena and JBL proved they could put on a great matchup in their violent I Quit Match at Judgment Day.

18. Brock Lesnar Vs. Big Show (Survivor Series 2002)

• Match Quality Rating: 2/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 7/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 26/40

In terms of pure in-ring work, this was nothing to write home about. But as a moment? It’s a different story. Survivor Series 2002 was the night WWE pulled the trigger on Brock Lesnar’s first face turn and his first loss on the main roster – and it came via a shocking loss to Big Show in under five minutes. The match was more of a glorified angle, but the New York crowd was completely locked in. When Paul Heyman turned on Lesnar and helped Show get the win, the fans couldn’t believe what they’d just seen.

The psychology and storytelling here are elevating the overall match rating. Lesnar came in undefeated but vulnerable due to a rib injury he suffered during the brutal Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker at No Mercy. This was less about Big Show and more about introducing vulnerability into Brock’s monster run – and it worked. Quick, chaotic and controversial, this match is more important than it is good. But in the context of Lesnar’s rookie year? It’s a turning point that still holds weight.

17. John Cena Vs. Kurt Angle (Survivor Series 2005)

• Match Quality Rating: 6/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 4/10
• Storytelling Rating: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 26/40

In a lot of ways, this match felt like things coming full circle. Just over three years after John Cena’s debut against Kurt Angle on SmackDown, they were now headlining a major event with the WWE Championship on the line. Cena was still finding his footing as a top guy, and the always-intense Angle was the perfect foil. But while the atmosphere was off the charts, the match itself was something of a mixed bag. The chemistry was obviously there, but the execution wasn’t always crisp, and the constant involvement of Daivari as the special guest referee ended up being more of a distraction than anything.

Angle did everything in his power to make Cena look like a credible champion – and Cena, still very much in his transitional phase between rapper and company poster boy, held up his end decently enough. The storytelling was there (Cena overcoming stacked odds), but the psychology felt off. It wasn’t clean, it wasn’t pretty, and it was far from their best match against each other. But the heat and energy elevated it just enough to make it feel like a big-time title defense, even if it wasn’t a classic.

16. Edge Vs. John Cena (Royal Rumble 2006)

• Match Quality Rating: 5/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 8/10
• Psychology Rating: 5/10
• Storytelling Rating: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 27/40

In January 2006, Edge proved that a title reign doesn’t need to be long to be great – it just needs to matter. After cashing in the very first Money in the Bank briefcase at New Year’s Revolution, Edge kicked off a 21-day run that became one of the most memorable in recent history. Between the infamous live sex celebration that popped one of the highest Raw ratings in years and a wild TLC defense against Ric Flair on Raw, Edge made the absolute most of his short stint at the top. But the honeymoon ended quickly when Cena got his contractually obligated rematch at the Royal Rumble.

The match itself wasn’t bad – just a little cold. Having to follow the actual Royal Rumble Match never helps, and the crowd in Miami came down noticeably once the entrances wrapped. The psychology and storytelling were solid enough: Edge played the opportunistic heel champion, Cena worked from underneath, and the finish – Cena hitting an FU and immediately locking in the STFU – brought things to a decisive close. But it never hit that next level. Cena and Edge would have better matches together a few months later.

15. JBL Vs. Big Show Vs. Kurt Angle (Royal Rumble 2005)

• Match Quality Rating: 7/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 8/10
• Psychology Rating: 6/10
• Storytelling Rating: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 28/40

This match had no business being as fun as it was. JBL’s reign was already starting to wear thin by early 2005, but sticking him in a triple threat match with two wrecking balls like Kurt Angle and Big Show gave the match a lot of energy. It wasn’t exactly a clinic, but it was chaotic, creative, and had a live crowd that was way more into it than anyone probably expected. Big Show looked like a monster, Angle added intensity and urgency, and JBL played the perfect cowardly champion just trying to survive the carnage.

The match also did a good job weaving in the bigger WrestleMania picture. With JBL barely escaping with the title thanks to interference from The Cabinet, you could already see where things were heading. It wasn’t clean and it wasn’t elegant, but it was effective storytelling with three very different styles somehow clicking together. Not a classic, but definitely one of JBL’s best matches during his title run – and a great example of how to use smoke and mirrors to elevate a match beyond expectations.

14. Randy Orton Vs. John Cena Vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 24)

• Match Quality Rating: 7/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 6/10
• Storytelling Rating: 6/10
• Overall Rating: 28/40

This one often gets forgotten in the grand scheme of WrestleMania title matches, but it was very good. Orton had lost the aggressiveness of the previous year, getting intentionally disqualified in many major title matches against the likes of Cena, Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho. The build was cluttered – Cena had just returned early from injury and cashed in his Royal Rumble win before Mania for whatever reason, so Triple H won Raw’s Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out to get the title shot… only for Cena to still get another opportunity at WrestleMania. But once the bell rang in Orlando, all three delivered a tight, energetic triple threat that played the crowd perfectly.

SCOTT KEITH REVIEWS: WWE WrestleMania 24

The surprise? Randy Orton actually walked out with the title when no one expected it. The match wasn’t layered with psychology or rich storytelling; it was more about momentum shifts and clean execution. Cena got his signature power spots, Triple H anchored the structure, and Orton picked his moments like a seasoned heel. The finish – Orton punting Triple H as he was pinning Cena after delivering the Pedigree – was shockingly clean and left the crowd buzzing. It’s not an all-time classic, but it delivered and it was refreshingly unpredictable. For a match many expected to be a coronation for either Cena or The Game, Orton crashing the party made it way more interesting.

13. John Cena Vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 22)

• Match Quality Rating: 7/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 10/10
• Psychology Rating: 7/10
• Storytelling Rating: 4/10
• Overall Rating: 28/40

This match is remembered less for what happened in the ring and more for what happened in the crowd. Chicago absolutely ate John Cena alive from the opening bell, giving Triple H thunderous babyface reactions despite him doing nothing to earn them. The energy in the building was unreal and that white-hot atmosphere helped boost what was a very solid, well-worked WrestleMania main event. Cena and Triple H had good chemistry, the finish was clever, and the structure hit all the right beats for a big title match.

But the storytelling? A total miss. The build made little sense: Triple H arrogantly claimed this would be the “easiest match of his career”, completely brushing off the fact that Cena had basically been WWE Champion for a year with many wins over legit names like Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Edge, and others. Fans were already viewing Cena as “Super Cena” which led to them turning on the champion to begin with, yet the narrative tried to cast him as an underdog again – even though nothing about the situation supported that framing. The match was strong, the crowd was unforgettable, but the story WWE wanted to tell just didn’t line up with the reality they had created.

12. Randy Orton Vs. Jeff Hardy (Royal Rumble 2008)

• Match Quality Rating: 6/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 4/10
• Storytelling Rating: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 29/40

With one of the hottest builds of the Ruthless Aggression Era, capped off by Jeff Hardy delivering a jaw-dropping Swanton Bomb off the stage onto Randy Orton on Raw, expectations for this match were sky-high. Hardy had all the momentum in the world since he was coming off an impressive win over Triple H at Armageddon 2007. Fans were completely behind him, and for the first time in his career, it felt like he might actually win the big one. But once the bell rang, the match never quite reached the level fans were hoping for. The crowd stayed hot, but the pacing was uneven and the structure felt a little too safe considering the stakes.

That said, the storytelling was still strong. Orton played the methodical champion to perfection, and Hardy sold the desperation of a man chasing his dream. The finishing stretch had solid drama, but it ended with one abrupt RKO that felt more deflating than decisive. Having said that, great Twist of Fate reversal into the RKO, though. It wasn’t a bad match – far from it – but after such an intense buildup, it just didn’t deliver the emotional payoff fans were craving. Still, the match helped solidify Hardy as a main eventer. He lost the first of many battles, but he’d end the year celebrating.

11. John Cena Vs. Chris Jericho (SummerSlam 2005)

• Match Quality Rating: 8/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 7/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 32/40

This was John Cena’s first real test as the face of Raw, and he couldn’t have asked for a better dance partner than Chris Jericho. The build was pretty straightforward: Jericho didn’t respect Cena, thought he was beneath the title, and wanted to put him in his place. And in the ring, they delivered. Jericho brought his A-game as usual, while Cena – still evolving from SmackDown’s Doctor of Thuganomics to Raw’s top star – showed he could hang with one of the best technicians in the company.

The crowd in Washington, D.C. was hot for the whole match, split in all the right ways, and totally locked in from bell to bell. The psychology was clean, the transitions were smooth, and the finish felt earned. It wasn’t a match-of-the-year contender, but it was a sharp, confident title defense that helped legitimize Cena’s reign just a few months in. Jericho would be gone from WWE after losing a loser leaves town bout against Cena the next night on Raw, but this was a strong way to go out. A smartly worked, well-paced match with just the right amount of drama.

Did you know Jericho signed a brief contract extension in early August 2005 so he could work SummerSlam and finish the program with Cena before actually leaving WWE?

10. Edge Vs. John Cena (SummerSlam 2006)

• Match Quality Rating: 6/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 8/10
• Storytelling Rating: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 33/40

Edge and John Cena were in full swing by the time this match rolled around, and with Rob Van Dam out of the picture, the WWE Title scene belonged entirely to them. Their rivalry had resumed earlier that summer, including a deliberately unsatisfying DQ finish at Saturday Night’s Main Event. But here at SummerSlam, the stakes were raised: if Edge got himself disqualified again, he’d lose the title. Add in the fact that the match was taking place in Cena’s home state of Massachusetts, and you had all the ingredients for a red-hot main event. And for the most part, they delivered.

SCOTT KEITH REVIEWS: WWE SummerSlam 2006

The match started slow, and it took a while for the crowd to fully lock in, but once the pace picked up, it turned into a strong, character-driven fight. Lita’s involvement added some spice, especially as she kept tossing weapons to Edge, only for him to remind her mid-match that he couldn’t use them without losing the belt. In the end, Edge bent the rules just enough to get what he wanted: using brass knucks behind the ref’s back and knocking Cena out cold for the win. It was a great heel move, a smart finish, and a solid step forward in what would become one of WWE’s best rivalries of the era.

9. John Cena Vs. Randy Orton (SummerSlam 2007)

• Match Quality Rating: 7/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 10/10
• Psychology Rating: 8/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 33/40

This was the beginning of the endless John Cena vs Randy Orton feud that recently ended… we think! By the summer of 2007, Cena and Orton had been circling each other for years on separate brands, but this was their first major one-on-one encounter for the WWE Championship – and it felt like a big deal. The Continental Airlines Arena was buzzing all night, and by the time the bell rang, the atmosphere was electric. Orton came in with something to prove, and Cena (11 months into his third WWE Championship reign) looked every bit the dominant champion. The dynamic was simple, but incredibly effective.

The match was paced smartly, letting Orton control most of the action while Cena built up steam for the comeback. Orton’s calculated, methodical offense made him look dangerous without ever slowing things down too much, and the crowd stayed hot for literally everything both men did. Cena eventually pulled out the clean win with the FU, but it didn’t feel like a definitive end – more like the opening chapter of a rivalry that was just getting started. I’d call this one of the best matches of their feud, arguably the best without any kind of wild gimmicks or stipulations.

8. The Rock Vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2002)

• Match Quality Rating: 7/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 8/10
• Storytelling Rating: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 33/40

The main event of SummerSlam 2002 was more than just a title match, it was essentially a passing of the torch. Brock Lesnar had only been on WWE’s main roster for five months, yet here he was, headlining WWE’s second biggest show of the year against The Rock. The atmosphere in Long Island was electric, but not in the way WWE probably hoped. The crowd turned on Rock hard and fully embraced The Next Big Thing as the new destroyer in town. To his credit, Rock adjusted mid-match, shifting his body language and pacing to lean heel, which gave the match an added edge.

The result was a brilliantly improvised, psychology-driven bout that perfectly captured the end of one era and the birth of another. Rock took the crowd reaction in stride and focused on making Lesnar look like a legitimate unstoppable threat. The finish was clean and decisive – a huge F5 that crowned Lesnar as the youngest WWE Champion in history. It may not have been the most technical main event of all time, but as a story, as a moment, and as a tone-setter for the years to come, it absolutely delivered.

7. John Cena Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 23)

• Match Quality Rating: 8/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 8/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 33/40

By 2007, John Cena was well into his run as the face of WWE, but he still hadn’t earned full respect from the hardest-to-please fans. Facing Shawn Michaels in the main event of WrestleMania 23 gave him a golden opportunity to prove he belonged, and he absolutely delivered. This was classic big-match WWE: crisp pacing, a hot crowd, and two stars who understood exactly how to work the WWE main event style. Michaels brought the drama, Cena brought the intensity, and together they told a story of mutual respect, tension and desperation.

SCOTT KEITH REVIEWS: WWE WrestleMania 23

While their chemistry would peak a few weeks later in a near hour-long Raw classic, this WrestleMania bout was still a major achievement. Cena forcing HBK to tap out to the STFU felt like a true “arrival” moment, not just because of the win, but because of how it happened. There was no fluke, no outside help. Just a clean submission finish against one of the most iconic performers of all time. It wasn’t flashy or overbooked, just two pros delivering on the biggest stage possible. A worthy main event and a huge feather in Cena’s cap.

6. Brock Lesnar Vs. Kurt Angle (SummerSlam 2003)

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• Match Quality Rating: 8/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 7/10
• Storytelling Rating: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 33/40

Whenever Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle shared the ring in 2003, magic happened, and their SummerSlam clash was no exception. Coming off a brutal return from neck surgery, Angle looked as sharp as ever, while Lesnar had fully embraced his role as a merciless, Vince McMahon-backed heel with something to prove. The result was a hard-hitting, athletic, and at times downright gritty encounter that showcased just how good both men were when the pressure was on.

This match had it all: intensity, clean execution, and a red-hot crowd that was locked in from the opening bell. The psychology wasn’t quite as layered as some of their other encounters, but the storytelling – with Lesnar getting increasingly desperate and frustrated – was spot-on. Angle winning via submission felt like the perfect payoff, a rare clean loss for Lesnar that further established Angle as SmackDown’s anchor. Not as famous as their WrestleMania 19 bout or the Iron Man match on SmackDown less than a month later, but still a top-tier title fight in its own right.

5. John Cena Vs. Umaga – Last Man Standing Match (Royal Rumble 2007)

• Match Quality Rating: 7/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 9/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 33/40

By the time Royal Rumble 2007 rolled around, John Cena was deep into his longest title reign, but few expected a match this brutal from a guy often criticized for playing it safe. What followed wasn’t just a great brawl, it was a full-on war. The Last Man Standing stipulation gave both Cena and Umaga the freedom to go beyond their usual styles, and the result was one of the most physical, unrelenting WWE Championship matches of the entire Ruthless Aggression Era.

The psychology was spot-on from the start: Cena fought from underneath, selling the sheer force of Umaga’s animalistic offense like he was fighting for his life, while Umaga remained a towering presence who wanted to do more and more damage. The finish – Cena choking Umaga out with a broken ring rope in a last-ditch act of desperation – was creative, dramatic and perfectly in character. It wasn’t just about Cena winning, it was about surviving. A match that overdelivered in every way and helped redefine both men’s legacies.

4. Randy Orton Vs. Shawn Michaels (Survivor Series 2007)

• Match Quality Rating: 8/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 10/10
• Storytelling Rating: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 34/40

This match doesn’t get talked about enough, but it’s a masterclass in psychology. The stipulations were simple but brilliant: if Shawn Michaels used Sweet Chin Music, he’d be disqualified. If Randy Orton got DQ’d, he’d lose the title. That one wrinkle forced both men to adjust their styles and dig deep into their arsenals – especially Michaels, who told an incredible story by pulling out submissions, roll-ups, and even a Crossface (just a few months after Chris Benoit’s death) in an attempt to win clean. It was a refreshing change of pace for a main event title match in an era often defined by formula.

The crowd in Miami was hot throughout, fully invested in the drama as The Heartbreak Kid tried to outsmart Orton without crossing the line. The finish was perfectly executed, playing right into the psychological cat-and-mouse game that defined the match. Michaels went for Sweet Chin Music out of pure instinct, but stopped at the last second, opening the door for The Legend Killer to hit a sudden RKO for the win. It may not have had the epic feel of a WrestleMania main event, but as a contained story with clear stakes and flawless execution, this was one of the most underrated WWE Championship matches of the Ruthless Aggression Era.

3. Eddie Guerrero Vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 20)

• Match Quality Rating: 9/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 8/10
• Psychology Rating: 9/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 34/40

At No Way Out 2004, Eddie Guerrero beat Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship in what was one of the most emotional title wins of all time. Fans were happy to see Eddie finally win the big one after years of hard work and dedication, while battling serious personal demons at the same time. Less than three years earlier, Guerrero had hit rock bottom, and now he was WWE Champion. Kurt Angle turning heel at that particular time, right after Eddie’s big championship win, was perfect and added a lot of heat to their title bout at WrestleMania 20. As two of the greatest wrestlers on the roster, their match had everything from smooth trade-offs and reversals, to great intensity as the match progressed, to perfect character work from both men.

The fans were tired when it began, as Angle vs Eddie was the tenth match on a twelve-match card, but it didn’t take long for the two legends to win them over. Near the end, the Ankle Lock became the focus of the matchup, with Guerrero selling the leg brilliantly while Angle went after it like a shark smelling blood. But every time Eddie Guerrero was in the ring, it was only a matter of time until even a shark ended up getting a taste of its own medicine! And that’s exactly what happened to our Olympic Hero. After escaping the Ankle Lock by sending Angle to the outside, Guerrero untied his boot and waited for Angle to apply the submission hold again. As Angle applied it with even more pressure, the boot suddenly came off! Guerrero capitalized with a quick inside cradle and used the ropes to pick up the win. Eddie Guerrero lying, cheating & stealing his way to victory was a fantastic ending to their awesome title match.

2. Kurt Angle Vs. Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania 19)

• Match Quality Rating: 9/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 9/10
• Psychology Rating: 9/10
• Storytelling Rating: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 35/40

There had been plenty of great WrestleMania main events until 2003, but none felt as legitimate as this one. Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar was a true dream match: two wrestling machines turned WWE megastars colliding for the top prize on the grandest stage. The presentation was serious and all business – no overbooking, no smoke and mirrors. Just pure wrestling competition between two of the most intense athletes in the history of the company. The fact that Angle wrestled this physical match with a broken neck makes me appreciate it even more.

SCOTT KEITH REVIEWS: WWE WrestleMania 19

Angle wrestled smart, targeting Lesnar’s midsection and throwing him with relentless suplexes. Lesnar sold everything with exhaustion and frustration, building sympathy and suspense with each kick-out as the babyface. Despite the scary Shooting Star Press spot that could’ve easily ended in tragedy, Lesnar still found the energy and the power to put Angle away with one final F5 and regain the WWE Championship. This match was simply badass, and even with its imperfections, it remains one of the most hard-hitting and exciting WrestleMania title matches of all time.

1. Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit (Royal Rumble 2003)

• Match Quality Rating: 10/10
• Crowd Reaction Rating: 10/10
• Psychology Rating: 10/10
• Storytelling Rating: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 40/40

Kurt Angle had already built a Hall of Fame career by early 2003, Chris Benoit had long been known as one of the best wrestlers in the world, and they’d had awesome matches against each other in 2001 and 2002. Needless to say, expectations were high heading into their WWE Title bout at Royal Rumble 2003, but it’s safe to say they somehow managed to surpass those expectations! Angle and Benoit didn’t just deliver a great WWE Title match, they put on one of the most technically flawless matches ever, period. Even though Angle was clearly headed towards a WrestleMania main event feud with Brock Lesnar, none of that mattered once the bell rang. For 20 glorious minutes, the focus was entirely on two masters going hold-for-hold, strike-for-strike, in front of a respectful Boston crowd that loved every single second of it.

The sequences in this match were absolutely unreal. Every counter felt sharp. Every submission attempt had weight. The final stretch, where both guys scrambled to lock in their finishers, was pure wrestling poetry, with Angle finally trapping Benoit in the Ankle Lock and refusing to let go until he got the tap. What really cemented this as an all-timer, though, was the crowd reaction. They gave both men a standing ovation after the match ended. That’s when you know you’ve done something special. It wasn’t about the outcome, it was about the effort, the craft, and the respect it earned. No bells, no whistles. Just pro wrestling at its absolute best. This was the best WWE Championship match of the Ruthless Aggression Era… and quite possibly the best WWE Championship match of all time.

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