10 best-ever matches at WWE Night/Clash of Champions

WWE Clash of Champions is less than a week away and the card is shaping up nicely with some highly anticipated matches announced so far. On a night in which all championships are to be defended, there will be many more matches announced in the coming weeks.

Clash of Champions was a long-running series of events produced by WCW, JCP and NWA. The first event was way back in 1988 and ran until 1997. The very first event was shown live on cable television for free. It ran against WrestleMania as Jim Crockett tried to outdo Vince McMahon at his own game.

When the WWF/E purchased WCW in 2001, along with favourites such as Halloween Havoc and Starrcade, Clash of Champions was one of the pay-per-view events fans asked the company to reinstate.

WWE launched and rebranded the event in 2007 as Night of Champions. Under this name, the event ran for eight years until 2016, when the show was changed back to its original title, Clash of Champions.

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There are loads of memorable matches that have taken place at this historic and prestigious WWE pay-per-view. In this article, we will be looking at matches from both Night and Clash of Champions.

#10 AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal (WWE Championship) - Clash of Champions 2017

This was easily Jinder Mahal’s best match so far, and it is all thanks to AJ Styles. The two competitors had an excellent 23-minute encounter that took everyone by surprise.

Mahal was coming off an extremely unpopular title reign. The disdain of the run was primarily due to the low quality of championship matches Mahal had with Randy Orton, Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura.

Jinder’s run as champion was disliked so much, nobody ever wanted to see him near another title match. However, nobody expected this match to be so good.

AJ had surprisingly defeated Mahal for the championship a few weeks earlier on SmackDown Live. The rematch was set for the Clash of Champions main event.

It was an excellent “old school” heel versus face affair. Mahal used his strength to combat AJ’s technical prowess. AJ would play the underdog for much of the match, fighting against Mahal’s grinding offence.

AJ sold all of Mahal’s offence, expertly making him look strong. The result was never in doubt though. The comeback that led to the finish was great, closing a very underrated match at Clash of Champions.

#9 Charlotte vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (WWE RAW Women’s Championship) - Clash of Champions 2016

Charlotte Flair was riding high after becoming the first-ever WWE Women’s Champion at WrestleMania 32. Charlotte had successfully defended the title against Natalya and Paige, before losing it Banks on an episode of RAW.

Charlotte would regain the title at SummerSlam 2016, becoming the first-ever WWE RAW Women’s Champion when the 2016 WWE Draft saw the title renamed.

Banks and Charlotte would continue to feud over the title, then Bayley was added to the mix to set up a Triple Threat match for the pay-per-view. These three women, along with Becky Lynch, were the cornerstones of the Women’s Revolution in WWE and proved why in this match.

The chemistry between all three was on point and made for an excellent three-way match. There were times in the contest that looked as if anyone could walk away with the title. This unpredictability heightened the fan investment and further excitement surrounding the outcome.

The screw finish drew sympathy for Banks and Bayley, while further solidifying Charlotte’s heel status.

#8 Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton (WWE Heavyweight Championship) - Night of Champions 2013

Daniel Bryan was on his way to becoming one of the hottest WWE Superstars in history. His story was fantastic. He was the people’s choice, but the company disagreed and fought against it every step of the way.

When Bryan defeated John Cena at SummerSlam for the WWE Heavyweight Championship, it felt as though the tide had turned in WWE. But then Randy Orton, assisted by The Authority, cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to capture the title and kill the sea change.

In the lead up to the rematch, Bryan had to jump through hoop after hoop. This included a Steel Cage match versus Wade Barrett and a three-on-one Handicap Gauntlet match against The Shield. There were also matches against Ryback and The Big Show. Everything was against Bryan, but he broke through with aplomb.

The match was just what it needed to be. Orton was excellent as the heel and Bryan was even better as the babyface. The end of the match was excellent and the crowd reaction was astounding.

#7 CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy (World Heavyweight Championship) - Night of Champions 2009

Jeff Hardy finally reached the top when he beat Edge for the WWE Heavyweight Championship at Extreme Rules. However, his jubilation was short-lived as CM Punk would cash in his MITB briefcase and capture the belt.

Hardy and Punk would be embattled in a bitter feud that led to two more title matches. The first was a Triple Threat match on RAW, which saw Punk defeat Edge and Hardy to regain the title. The second had Hardy win the match via disqualification when Punk kicked the referee.

Hardy being unsuccessful on both occasions to get his title back added further emphasis to their match at Clash of Champions. Their chemistry was excellent and their legitimate opposite lifestyles made Hardy and Punk the perfect rivals.

The fans were entirely behind Hardy, who played the flawed hero role exceptionally well. Punk was always best as a heel and excelled in his role as the condescending smart-arse by using Jeff's "demons" against him.

The match had a great storyline attached to it, as well as two performers willing to give it their all. This was another great match in a fantastic, passionate and emotional feud.

#6 Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz (United States Championship) - Night of Champions 2010

Back in 2010, WWE NXT was a game show-style wrestling brand, in which mentors would teach their students the ropes in stupid and sometimes humiliating ways. One such student was Daniel Bryan and his mentor, The Miz.

The mentor and student did not get along and continuously butted heads throughout the season. It was a relationship that was never going to work.

The Miz was your prototypical WWE Superstar, whereas Bryan was the indie darling with legitimate wrestling credibility. This dynamic made for compelling programming.

Then Bryan was legitimately fired by WWE for the Justin Roberts necktie incident and the feud seemed to be over. Bryan then returned at SummerSlam 2010 to replace The Miz in Team WWE. This feud between the two not only resumed, but intensified drastically.

Over the next few weeks, Bryan and The Miz would attack one another, leading to the match at Night of Champions for the US title. The fans were fully behind Bryan, as they knew they were witnessing the start of something special.

This was a great match with an enthralling storyline. It truly set Daniel Bryan off on his way to mega-stardom.

#5 John Cena vs. CM Punk (WWE Heavyweight Championship) - Night of Champions 2012

CM Punk and John Cena were no strangers to each other or championship matches. The two biggest stars of the era had been at war with one another for the whole of 2011, and showed no signs of letting up in 2012.

At RAW 1000, they faced each other in the main event. The match ended when The Rock interfered. Punk would drop the “Great One” with the Go To Sleep, turning heel in the process.

Punk was now the top heel in the company and wasn’t going to let anyone, especially Cena, forget it.

Punk retained the title at SummerSlam 2012 in a Triple Threat match against John Cena and The Big Show. The end of the match came when Punk threw Cena out of the ring and stole the pin on a laid-out Big Show. This would set up Punk and Cena’s sixth title match at Night of Champions.

The action was heart-pounding, fist-pumping and breathtaking. Each near fall had every viewer encapsulated. The match was incredible. Punk and Cena had great chemistry together and put on a dramatic, enthralling and exuberant match.

Watch the highlights of the match here.

#4 Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (RAW Women’s Championship) - Clash of Champions 2019

The Man and The Boss put on a stellar match for the WWE RAW Women’s Championship. Both competitors had a lot to prove in this match, and boy did they prove it.

Sasha Banks had just returned to WWE after a six-month hiatus. She instantly turned heel by attacking Natalya, and when Becky Lynch made the save, Banks beat her down with a steel chair. The Boss was back and wanted to get back on top.

Lynch had been champion since she won the Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 35. Since that epic night, The Man only had one real tough challenge for the title in Natalya. It was time she proved herself a worthy champion by beating someone with the credibility of Banks

The match was a wild brawl and had everything a feud like this should; innovative violence, stiff weapon shots and arena-wide fighting. Becky was still riding her incredible wave of popularity, while Banks fought to reclaim her place at the top of the women’s division.

This was Lynch’s best title defence and an excellent pay-per-view return for Banks.

#3 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H (WWE Championship) - Night of Champions 2009

Three of the best to ever to do it put on a match of pure brilliance back in 2009. At the previous pay-per-view, The Bash, Orton had retained the title against Triple H in the brutal Three Stages of Hell match.

Orton was at the height of his heelsihness and had two members of Legacy to back him up. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase had interfered in a No. 1 contender's match between The Game and Cena. This set up the Triple Threat match at Night of Champions.

It was a rematch from their battle at Wrestlemania 24. At that event, Randy Orton defeated Triple H and Cena to retain the WWE Championship. This made the match at Night of Champions even more challenging to pick a clear favourite.

The match was a thrilling experience and took place in front of a red hot crowd. The action was edge your seat stuff too, as all three wrestlers put on an encounter to remember.

#2 Triple H vs. John Cena (WWE Heavyweight Championship) - Night of Champions 2008

This was a match two years in the making. In 2006, John Cena had defeated Triple H to retain the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 22. Two of WWE’s greatest Superstars made Night of Champions 2008 an event to remember.

The two met in a Triple Threat match alongside Edge at the following pay-per-view, Backlash, which Cena won. But this title match at Night of Champions was their first televised singles match since April, 2006.

It was a great match between two of WWE’s biggest stars. The “face vs. face” dynamic really worked because the match was all about pride and, of course, the WWE Championship.

Before the match, Triple H had been drafted to SmackDown while Cena remained on RAW. This meant that whoever won the match would take the championship to their respective brand.

It was an intense affair with a great final few minutes full of counters and kick-outs that had the audience of the edge of their seats. There were many great moments and callbacks from their WrestleMania match, which was an excellent touch.

#1 Sheamus vs. Cesaro (Best of 7) - Clash of Champions 2016

A really great hard-hitting match from two wrestlers that meshed excellently and violently inside of the squared circle. Sheamus and Cesaro had met at Night of Champions in 2014 for the US Championship, but this time was different.

The two heavyweights were battling it out for dominance in a Best of Seven series, which concluded at Clash of Champions. They went into the show tied at three matches apiece.

The match was unbelievable as the two contenders absolutely beat, battered and destroyed one another.

Intense and physical doesn’t do the match and the performers justice. It has to be seen to be believed.

Sheamus and Cesaro pulled out everything in their arsenal, with The Swiss Cyborg even pulling out a 619.

We knew the match would be great from their previous encounters. However, this match was simply phenomenal and further proof that when WWE allows their performers to go out unchained, stellar fights happen. Go and watch it.

Edited by Alex Turk