Top 10 Rivalries Of The 2010s
What was the greatest feud of the past decade?
With a pay-per-view seemingly every week, it’s hard to get wrapped up in an arbitrary feud that ultimately means nothing. WWE’s formula makes it even tougher because stories get stretched out to cover different themed events like Hell in a Cell and TLC. Don’t get me started on what Survivor Series has turned into – a forced month-long battle for “brand supremacy” that nobody in the audience could possibly give a shit about.
However, there have been some genuine, money-making, blood feuds over the past decade. From best friends betraying each other to avenging a major loss, these are the universal trials and tribulations that every viewer can relate to. What makes pro wrestling fun is when we can live vicariously through these characters to achieve something elusive in our own lives.
10. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks
This is the feud that fueled the women’s revolution. Before they traded the Women’s Championship back and forth in 2016, Charlotte and Sasha Banks tangled over gold in NXT. Charlotte successfully defended at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution and subsequent rematches, eventually losing the title to Banks in a fatal four way at NXT TakeOver: Rival. In their last battle in NXT, Banks defeated Charlotte before raising her hand in a sign of respect. Of course, that went out the window on the main roster, as they made history competing in the first women’s Hell in a Cell, main eventing Raw in a falls count anywhere match and going the distance in a 30-minute Ironman match.
9. Usos vs. The New Day
The two most dominant teams in WWE over the past decade have clashed over and over again, raising the bar each outing. When The New Day was drafted to SmackDown in 2017, the trio set its sights on the Usos, more specifically, their Tag Team Titles. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods would strike gold at Battleground before losing the titles back on the SummerSlam pre-show – both matches earning critical acclaim. Both teams kicked it up another notch in a Sin City Street Fight followed by an epic Hell in a Cell. Although these warriors respect each other (the Usos forfeited a match against Woods and Big E to help Kingston earn a world title shot), as long as they’re both in the same company, rest assured it’s just a matter of time before they collide again.
8. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte
Best friends always seem to make for excellent enemies. After losing a triple threat for the Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2018, Becky Lynch congratulated Charlotte on once again taking the crown. But instead of playing court jester to the queen as she has done for years, Lynch attacked Charlotte to thunderous cheers from the Brooklyn crowd. While the commentators tried to interpret Lynch’s actions as that of a usual heel turn, the audience in the arena and on social media rejoiced at the Irish Lass Kicker finally sticking it to her privileged friend. They would go on to tear the house down at Hell in a Cell and Evolution, the latter being a brutal Last Woman Standing match.
Forever attached at the hip, Lynch tossed Charlotte out last to win the women’s Royal Rumble and earn a title shot at WrestleMania 35. They made history yet again by closing the show, in which Lynch stood victorious over her ex-BFF and Ronda Rousey. For those keeping score at home, Charlotte got the last laugh, taking the SmackDown Women’s Title from Lynch at Money in the Bank 2019.
7. Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker
April 6, 2014: The night the lights went out on Bourbon Street. In the most shocking finish in wrestling history, Brock Lesnar ended The Streak. We didn’t hear from Undertaker for a year afterward, until the Deadman rose again to defeat Bray Wyatt WrestleMania 31. It seemed like Lesnar was off the hook, but at Battleground 2015, Undertaker costed The Beast the WWE Championship. The next night on Raw, they’d engage in the biggest pull-apart brawl ever on WWE TV, leading to a rematch at SummerSlam. It was a great battle (that included the Undertaker laughing meme) until a controversial finish left fans demanding a true victor. Turning back the clock to 2002-2003, Lesnar and Undertaker went to war in an epic Hell in a Cell, in which the 1 in 21-1 established his dominance yet again.
6. Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Another case of former best friends turning bitter enemies. At NXT TakeOver: Chicago, DIY lost a ladder match to Authors of Pain, failing to win back the NXT Tag Team Titles. After the carnage, Ciampa grabbed Gargano at the top of the ramp and rammed his head into the Titantron. The crowd gasped as years of friendship were flushed down the drain in order for Ciampa to emerge as the hottest villain in wrestling. Ciampa ruptured his ACL in that match, and wouldn’t return until eight months later, whacking Gargano from behind with his crutch.
Then, Ciampa costed Gargano the NXT Title and his career, forcing him to return in an unsanctioned match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, in which Gargano emerged victorious. They’d go on to interfere in each other’s matches, leading to a Street Fight and Last Man Standing match in subsequent TakeOvers, in which Ciampa emerged victorious in both. They were set to continue their feud on the main roster in 2019 until Ciampa was sidelined with another injury. In addition to making NXT the most popular brand in WWE, their rivalry has propelled both men to superstar status.
5. CM Punk vs. John Cena
“I don’t hate you, John. I don’t even dislike you. I do like you. I like you a hell of a lot more than I like most people in the back. I hate this idea that you’re the best. Because you’re not. I’m the best. I’m the best in the world. There’s one thing you’re better at than I am and that’s kissing Vince McMahon’s ass.”
When CM Punk dropped the pipe bomb, he changed the wrestling world. Even diehard fans swore it was off script, an indie darling’s airing of grievances on Vince McMahon’s stage. It catapulted Punk into the stratosphere and cemented him as John Cena’s top rival. Of course, Punk would dethrone Cena as WWE Champion before leaving WWE, albeit for only two weeks. Punk would win the rematch at SummerSlam and then immediately have his momentum derailed by Triple H, Kevin Nash and Alberto Del Rio.
But the feud between Punk and Cena would never really end. Punk was bitter that Cena was the face of the company when he believed he was the better wrestler. During the second half of 2012, Punk would defend the WWE Championship several times against Cena, only main eventing the show when Cena was his challenger (proving Punk’s point). Their final battle took place on February 25, 2013, in one of the greatest matches in Raw history. Punk was finally defeated.
4. Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada
Star ratings became part of the daily wrestling discourse due to this quadrilogy. In their first encounter, a 45-minute marathon at Wrestle Kingdom 11, Kazuchika Okada turned back the challenge of Kenny Omega in what many called (including Dave Meltzer) possibly the greatest match of all time. Less than six months later, they had a rematch that went 60 minutes and ended in a draw. Despite having no winner, many critics (including Meltzer) said that this surpassed their first bout and was truly the greatest match of all time.
A couple months later, they met again in the G1 Climax, under different circumstances: the IWGP Heavyweight Championship was not on the line, Omega needed to beat Okada before the 30-minute time-limit to advance in the tournament and Okada could take the draw to advance. After targeting Okada’s wounded neck, Omega finally vanquished his greatest adversary. This was yet another beloved performance, but mostly because how different it was from the other two bouts, illustrating the creativity, talent and storytelling skill these two athletes possess. Their final battle took place a year after the draw, so this time it was no time limit, two-out-of-three falls. They went over an hour and Omega finally won the title, earning an unprecedented SEVEN STARS from Meltz and universal acclaim from the wrestling world.
3. Daniel Bryan vs. Miz
The difference between pro wrestling and sports-entertainment can be defined by the contrasting styles of Daniel Bryan and The Miz. The former honed his craft on the independent scene, crisscrossing the globe to establish his reputation as a skilled wrestler, competing in high school gyms and VFW halls for a hot dog and a handshake. The latter capitalized on fame from a MTV reality show to get his foot in the door in WWE, gaining notoriety for his interviews and personality rather than his ability in the ring. In the modern era of wrasslin’, when the hottest storylines stem from reality, the feud between Bryan and Miz was as good as it gets.
WWE played it off perfectly by having Miz serve as Bryan’s mentor on the inaugural episode of NXT, instantly enraging diehard fans who couldn’t stomach the hypocrisy. In their first match on Raw, Bryan beat Miz in less than three minutes. At SummerSlam 2010, Bryan returned to WWE, joining forces with top stars like John Cena and Bret Hart against his former Nexus brethren. Miz assumed he would be part of the team, and was furious that his “protégé” stole his spot. They’d collide again at Night of Champions, where Bryan defeated Miz to win the U.S. Title.
The feud reignited in the summer of 2016, as Miz dropped his own pipe bomb on Bryan during Talking Smack. After Bryan criticized Miz for wrestling a “soft style” and “like a coward,” Miz went off, defending his style as being dependable and consistent, whereas Bryan (at the time) was forced into early retirement. When Bryan was cleared to compete in 2018, he and Miz finally went to fisticuffs at SummerSlam, Hell in a Cell and Super Show-Down. Miz won the first two bouts, Bryan won the finale.
2. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
“Fight forever!”
From Kevin Steen and El Generico to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, their love/hate relationship has spanned three different universes. Frustrated after losing to The Young Bucks at Final Battle 2009, Steen kicked his partner in the balls, ending their alliance. Over the next year, Steen taunted and attacked Generico until the luchador could take no more. Generico finally vanquished his foe in a Fight Without Honor at Final Battle 2010, sending Steen out of the company. Of course, nobody ever leaves in pro wrestling. Steen and Generico would battle again and again, culminating in a Ladder War at Final Battle 2012, in which Steen emerged victorious.
Their feud would continue in NXT. On the night Owens made his debut, Zayn won the NXT Championship. As they celebrated, Owens betrayed his former friend, power bombing him on the apron and sending a message to the entire roster. One month later, Owens defeated Zayn by knockout to win the NXT Title.
Then, the feud continued onto the main roster of WWE. They stole the show at Battleground 2016, in which was believed to be their final match. But they would continue to face off on several occasions before Zayn saved Owens at Hell in a Cell 2017, reforming their team on SmackDown.
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
Who is the “Ace” of New Japan?
The answer to that question changed seemingly every time Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada faced off in the squared circle. From their first one-on-one bout in January of 2010 to their most recent encounter in the opening night of this year’s G1 Climax, these stalwarts of puroresu have not only elevated NJPW back to its glory days, but also ushered in a new appreciation for the company by fans in the United States.
They’ve traded the IWGP Heavyweight Championship back and forth five times and have left crowds breathless in over a dozen classic matches over the past decade. They’ve headlined Wrestle Kingdom – NJPW’s biggest event of the year – on three occasions, going back to back 2015-2016. What began as a young lion attempting to dethrone the king has evolved into two peers, both legendary, jockeying for position as the greatest of all time.
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