10 of the best WWE matches in 2018

#5. Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar, Champion vs. Champion

Daniel Bryan stretches Brock Lesnar with the Labell lock

The Time: Sun, Nov 18th 2018

The Place: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

The Stakes: Brand vs. Brand pride as the WWE's Raw and Smackdown big belt holders faced off.

Match Rating (Via Wrestling Observer Newsletter): 4.5

Brock Lesnar, the Beast Incarnate, is a man who generates a lot of controversy. First, there was his verbal taunting of Frank Mir in the UFC, in which Lesnar directed a very non-PG at the former UFC Champion.

Then there's the fact that he enjoys a protected place in the WWE, wrestling essentially only a few dates a year and holding the Universal title for a record run. While some fans are critical of Lesnar, the fact remains he is a top-tier athlete and is capable of putting on stellar wrestling matches with the right opponent.

That opponent was Daniel Bryan. While many expected a squash, the match was actually much more competitive than many of Brock's title defences, with Daniel Bryan seemingly achingly close to defeating the Beast on several occasions.

Highlights include Bryan delivering stiff kicks to Lesnar, Bryan taking a trip to Suplex city, and Bryan locking in a cross face that nearly made Lesnar tap out.