Top 10 Major Shows Of The 2010s
What was the greatest pro wrestling event of the past decade?
Oversaturation has been a major issue over the past decade.
WrestleMania has reached the length of most people’s work days. The amount of new content available from every company each week is staggering – nobody could possibly watch all of it. Therefore, most shows are easily lost in the shuffle.
It takes something special to stand out. An event with such a loaded lineup, such exciting matches, such compelling drama and such a satisfying conclusion that you won’t ever forget it. These are those shows.
(Editor’s Note: I don’t follow New Japan close enough to have seen all of its PPVs from the decade.)
10. Final Battle 2010
Years before their rivalry reignited in NXT and WWE, Kevin Owens (Steen) and Sami Zayn (El Generico) culminated their year-long feud in a hellacious Fight Without Honor that saw Generico send his ex-best friend out of the company. Although Steen would appear in Ring of Honor a few times afterward, he wouldn’t actually wrestle until one year later at Final Battle 2011. In addition to this glorious war, Roderick Strong successfully defended the ROH World Title against former No Remorse Corps partner Davey Richards in the type of championship match that the company built its reputation on. Plus, the Briscoes and their Papa defeated the Kings of Wrestling and Shane Hagadorn in a great blend of wrasslin’ and sports-entertainment.
9. NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia
As soon as you heard Paul Heyman’s voice in the opening video, you knew this show was going to be special. The Undisputed Era and The Authors of Pain showcased tag team wrestling in the best light. Velveteen Dream exploded as an even bigger star. Shayna Baszler established her dominance, albeit in losing fashion. Aleister Black and Adam Cole did ECW proud. And then the main event – Andrade retaining the NXT Championship against Johnny Gargano – shook the wrestling world to its core, gaining Match Of The Year praise despite happening in only January. Oh, and don’t forget Tommaso Ciampa whacking Gargano from behind as it went off the air.
8. Ultima Lucha 1
Lucha Underground went all out for its first season finale, presenting a two-night version of WrestleMania, in which all of its feuds and storylines culminated. Brian Cage stomped Willie Mack’s face into a cinder block. The Disciples of Death Angelico, Ivelisse and Son of Havoc in the first title change in the promotion’s history. (Angelico also leapt from the top of Dario Cueto’s office to the ring with an insane crossbody!) Melina came out of nowhere to help Johnny Mundo beat Alberto El Patron, who then tossed Mundo through Cueto’s window. Mil Muertes dethroned Prince Puma as Lucha Underground Champion. And best of all, Vampiro revealed he was Pentagon’s master after their brutal battle that put the company on the map.
7. Slammiversary 2019
Impact Wrestling will never get the credit it deserves, but even its harshest critics would be enthralled with this thriller. It has two MOTY contenders: Rich Swann and Johnny Impact tearing the house down in one of the greatest X-Division Title matches ever, and Brian Cage defending the Impact World Title against Michael Elgin in a hoss fight that would be J.R.’s wet dream. Plus, there’s a crazy women’s Monster’s Ball and a historic main event featuring Sami Callihan and Tessa Blanchard.
6. Extreme Rules 2012
The Beast comes home! In his first WWE match in eight years, Brock Lesnar mauled John Cena in the closest thing to a legit fight you’ll ever see in WWE. (Of course, Cena still won…) The two world title matches were also tremendous: hometown hero CM Punk beat Chris Jericho in a Chicago Street Fight and Sheamus retained against Daniel Bryan in a two-out-of-three falls match that cleansed everybody’s palette after their WrestleMania squash.
5. WrestleMania 26
If only Shawn Michaels would have kept his word and declined that blood money from Saudi Arabia. Oh well, we’ll always have his classic rematch with Undertaker, in which the Deadman put the nail in the Heartbreak Kid’s coffin. John Cena and Batista had another great match, and Chris Jericho surprised everybody by retaining the World Heavyweight Title against Edge. Don’t forget Jack Swagger winning the Money in the Bank in the biggest upset in MITB history!
4. NXT TakeOver: New Orleans
ESPN calls it “the night that changed NXT forever.” After nearly a year on the shelf, Tommaso Ciampa made his long-awaited return to fight ex-partner Johnny Gargano in an incredible main event. Aleister Black ascended to the top of the mountain, winning the NXT Championship from Andrade in a sensational bout. Roderick Strong shocked the system by joining Undisputed Era. Shayna Baszler forced Ember Moon to pass out, winning the NXT Women’s Championship. And all of that was after the insane opener of six-way ladder match!
3. SummerSlam 2013
With two all-time classics and a major angle to close the show, SummerSlam 2013 is one to re-watch over and over again. In what could be both men’s greatest match, Brock Lesnar clashed with CM Punk in the ultimate David vs. Goliath story. Then, after another remarkable performance, Daniel Bryan pinned John Cena clean to win the WWE Championship. Just when you thought it was over…special guest referee Triple H pedigrees Bryan, allowing Randy Orton to cash in and win the title, kickstarting The Authority and the road to WrestleMania XXX.
2. All Out
Although All In set the stage for AEW, All Out has been the company’s best outing to date. The ladder match between The Young Bucks and Lucha Brothers was so epic that Dave Meltzer argued it should have closed the show…going on after the company crowned its first champion! While not the spot fest that AEW fans adore, Chris Jericho’s old-school fight with “Hangman” Adam Page was certainly enjoyable. That’s on top of an enthralling six-man tag opener, Kenny Omega’s shocking loss to PAC and a vintage Arn Anderson spinebuster.
1. WrestleMania XXX
From Hogan, Austin and Rock sharing a few beers to Daniel Bryan finally overcoming The Authority to The Streak ending, it was an emotional roller coaster I still haven’t recovered from.
It’s fascinating because a month or so beforehand, this show looked ho-hum on paper. Randy Orton and Batista were slated to main event, but everybody was dying for Bryan to get his shot at the title. (Mick Foley even smashed a TV with a baseball bat in frustration.) When Bryan finally forced Triple H to grant him his wish (a match against The Game to earn a spot in the title match), WrestleMania finally had life breathed into it.
Similar to Bret Hart’s journey at WrestleMania X, D-Bry bookended the evening by outwrestling Triple H in a fantastic opener and then achieving the Miracle on Bourbon Street by forcing Batista to submit to win the WWE Championship. It was the ultimate feel-good moment that WrestleMania is supposed to end with, reaffirming that the hero wins in the end and reminding us why we fell in love with pro wrestling.
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