10 best face vs face matches in WWE history

Most pro wrestling matches follow a simple yet time-tested formula: a babyface (good guy) vs a heel (bad guy) in some kind of struggle between good and evil. Sometimes rivalries between opposing sides went to ridiculous extremes in terms of story complexity (The Undertaker vs Kane, for example), or went far beyond two opposing sides deciding which is better inside a wrestling ring (in Austin vs McMahon, for example). Yet despite all these exceptions, the standard format for a wrestling match and its associated feuds/rivalries/storylines is a protagonist vs an antagonist.

Then there are the exceptions to the rule. In some cases, two opposing evil forces will face each other to pursue a storyline. We see these kinds of contest more in New Japan, where allegedly ‘evil’ stables (such as the Bullet Club and Suzuki-gun) face off. In WWE, these matches are few and far between, as the audiences don’t really know for whom to cheer, given that both wrestlers are supposed to be booed (a prime example was the Hell in a Cell Match between the Big Bossman and The Undertaker at WrestleMania XV).

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the rare matches between two forces of good, or face-vs-face matches. These matches tend to be simpler in approach because they feature two wrestlers that the fans like, facing each other in a more simplistic contest of which one of them is better. These have led to some of the best wrestling matches in WWE history, as these matches tend to not only have great drama and excitement but also great crowds that were far more invested in these matches as they wanted ‘their’ hero to beat the other hero.

Here are ten of the best face vs face matches in WWE history.

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#10 The Undertaker vs Batista – WrestleMania 23

Two big men wanting to prove which of them was better

When this match was announced, many people thought it was a bad idea. After all, Taker hasn’t always meshed well with other big men, and fans were growing tired of seeing him in plodding and ‘methodical’ matches with such wrestlers.

Yet this match was refreshingly exciting and intense, with Batista doing a phenomenal job of working with The Undertaker. The match had many exciting spots, including a running powerslam through one of the announcer’s tables and a few moves off the top rope by the 300-pound Batista.

It was easily one of the best matches on the card and solidified both men as impressive workers despite being bigger than most of the roster.

#9 Bret Hart vs British Bulldog – SummerSlam 1992

This was a masterpiece, plain and simple

As mentioned in the introduction, there are some wrestling contests that can tell a simple story and still be great matches. This is one of them, as the British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith took on Bret Hart for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

This match took place at the Wembley Stadium in UK, which meant that the British Bulldog received a monstrous ovation. It was a technical masterpiece, full of intense back-and-forth action that left the audience wanting more.

In the end, this classic tale of family strife and a desire to prove oneself became widely known as the single-greatest wrestling match in SummerSlam history, and for good reason.

#8 John Cena vs Cesaro – US Title open challenge – July 6, 2015

Two powerhouses beloved by the fans...how can you not enjoy a match like this?

2015 was an interesting year for both Cena and Cesaro. The former began wrestling at a level that he had never reached before, putting on fantastic title defense matches on a weekly basis.

The latter, meanwhile, was trying desperately to prove to everyone – especially a critical Vince McMahon – that he was capable of getting a positive reaction from the crowd. On this fateful episode of RAW, Cesaro challenged Cena for the U.S. title for the second time and came even closer to actually winning.

The audience clearly loved both guys, especially Cesaro, who showed both incredible power and agility throughout the match. Although he lost the match, Cena himself praised Cesaro after the show ended, and the match itself was widely hailed as an ‘instant classic’.

This is a must-watch contest between two of the most beloved wrestlers on RAW, to be sure.

#7 Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair – WrestleMania XXIV

It doesn't get any more emotional than this

This was easily one of the most emotional and dramatic matches in recent memory. Despite not being the most impressive from a technical perspective, it was exciting nonetheless.

For many people, Ric Flair was the best wrestler of all time, bar none. For others, that honor belonged to Shawn Michaels. So when these two men clashed in the ring under the stipulation that Flair had to retire if he lost the match, tensions were high and the drama was beyond palpable.

Shawn and Flair worked a great match, with both men selling emotion like consummate professionals. The tears in Flair’s eyes turned this into a masterpiece, as did HBK when he mouthed the words, ‘I’m sorry, I love you’ to Flair before hitting the Sweet Chin Music and ending Flair’s wrestling career.

If you want to see a clinic in telling a phenomenal story with relatively little action while emphasizing facial expressions and minor details, this is the match for you.

#6 Bayley vs Sasha Banks – NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn

Women's wrestling in WWE never looked this good

This is widely regarded as the best women’s wrestling match in WWE history, and for a very good reason. Bayley and Sasha Banks – who were both faces in this match – wrestled at a level that had never been seen before by women wrestlers in WWE.

It featured both women pulling out some truly impressive maneuvers, including a shocking Poisoned Frankensteiner from the top rope by Bayley. It was easily the most technically-impressive women’s match ever seen in a WWE/NXT ring, and served as the match that officially kicked off the ‘women’s revolution in WWE’.

Even if 2015 featured many spectacular matches around the world, this one is up there in the conversation of best matches of 2015 and is still one of the best women’s wrestling matches ever.

#5 ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage vs Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat – WrestleMania III

This legendary bout between two fan favorites set the standard for this type of match-up for decades to come

Many people have called this both the greatest wrestling match in WWE history, as well as the greatest match in WrestleMania history. It was a fast-paced technical masterpiece between two of the greatest workers in WWE at the time.

Incredibly, Steamboat and Savage managed to pack a tremendous amount of action into a match that lasted less than fifteen minutes. The action was crisp and the drama palpable, leaving fans wondering when/how the match would end.

This match has withstood the test of time, which is impressive given how much wrestling has evolved in the past thirty years or so. In fact, many matches have tried to replicate this match in terms of creating a memorable and high-quality face vs face match, but few have managed to do so.

#4 John Cena vs Daniel Bryan – SummerSlam 2013

Daniel Bryan was still wrestling at this time...what a glorious time it was

After his most recent WWE title defense, John Cena chose his own opponent for SummerSlam 2013 and decided on Daniel Bryan. As a result, these two beloved fan favorites faced off in one of the most exciting matches in recent WWE history.

Bryan was the obvious underdog, being someone that WWE’s top brass obviously didn’t think should’ve been in the world title picture, while the fans disagreed vociferously. Chants in support for Daniel Bryan were louder than for anyone else in WWE, even as he took on John Cena, a man who has managed to maintain a sizable fanbase over the years.

These two had a tremendous match together that was centered on Bryan trying to reach the top of the company, despite so many barriers placed before him. Ultimately, Bryan did manage to beat Cena clean and solidified himself as one of WWE’s top stars.

#3 The Undertaker vs Triple H – Hell in a Cell – WrestleMania XXVIII

The End of an Era indeed

This match was billed as ‘the end of an era’ featuring Triple H taking on The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell, a match that both of them had made their careers in. What’s more, the match was made all the more intriguing by adding Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee.

These three men were – and still are – considered legends in WWE, respected and venerated by their peers and fans. And when ‘Taker and HHH clashed inside the Cell, the drama was elevated to extreme levels.

With numerous weapon shots, several finisher kick-outs, and incredible drama involving Shawn Michaels (who showed the entire world just how good he is at selling emotion and shock), this face versus face match left the audience roaring in approval, and all three men received a rightfully-deserved standing ovation once it had concluded.

#2 AJ Styles vs John Cena – Royal Rumble 2017

This match was simply fun to watch, and will still be fun every time you rewatch it

This outstanding match was WWE’s attempt at putting together a match that could eclipse the NJPW match between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada that was rated 6-stars by the Wrestling Observer.

Although the match failed to reach the benchmark, Cena and Styles still managed to put on an absolutely phenomenal match. This match was rated 4.75 stars out of 5 by the Wrestling Observer, which was odd given its incredible quality and how much suspense there was in it.

Cena and Styles proved that they have tremendous chemistry together, and it showed in this match through all of their crisp reversals and amazing sequences. At just under 25 minutes in length, this is one of those action-packed face vs face matches that can be rewatched many times without the viewer ever getting bored.

#1 Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania XXV

This is now considered to be the single-greatest match in WWE - and WrestleMania - history

This match was simply incredible. For over thirty minutes, these two WWE veterans unleashed a torrent of offense on each other that left over seventy thousand people to jump out of their seats with every near-fall. At stake was The Undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated Streak, and Shawn Michaels was arguably the greatest opponent ‘Taker had faced at Mania up to that point.

From an athletic perspective, this match was in a realm of its own. Both wrestlers were well into their forties and their bodies were riddled with injuries. Yet astonishingly, they performed at such an incredible standard, reversing each other’s moves and keeping over 70,000 fans fully invested in their match for over half an hour.

That in itself is a major accomplishment, as the fan reaction was incredible throughout the entire match. Usually, fans quiet down in a long match; but they were involved and loud through 100% of this contest.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that this match was voted 'Match of the Year' by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Pro Wrestling Illustrated, and WWE themselves. This is hands down the best match in WrestleMania history, and also the best face vs face match in WWE history as well.