'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter's editor Dave Meltzer is a widely respected member among the pro wrestling community. He has been an avid fan of the program from the 80s and is still one of the best analysts going around. One of his popular innovations in professional wrestling is the star rating. Every high profile matches around the world is rated from a scale of 0 to 5.
The recent epic between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada was rated 7 stars. WWE's first ever 5-star match was at Wrestlemania X in 1994 when Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon had a brilliant ladder match for the Intercontinental championship. Till now WWE has had nine 5-star matches, with four of them coming in 2018 alone from NXT. The last 5-star match from the main roster was between CM Punk and John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011.
Trending
However, WWE had many matches over the years that deserved a 5 star but narrowly missed out. Even though the star rating is majorly the opinion of one guy, one would find it baffling that these classics were rated less than the perfect score. In this thread, we will be taking a look at five WWE matches that should have got a 5 star, but missed out. This was a tough list to compile, and probably will see a sequel.
#5. AJ Styles vs. John Cena - Royal Rumble 2017.
AJ Styles and John Cena have tremendous in-ring chemistry. They proved that in both of their previous one on one meetings at Summerslam 2016 and Money in the bank 2016. So when Cena was announced as the number 1 contender for AJ Styles' WWE championship at Royal Rumble, fans expected it to be a classic - and they got just that.
John Cena and AJ Styles topped off their previous bout with an absolute stunner of a match. Both of them countered each other's moves, had various near falls, and some last second kick-outs.
Finally, Cena performed a double AA on Styles to capture his 16th world title. Mauro Ranallo's commentary and the great crowd reaction were the icings on the cake. Even though the match received 4.75 stars, we definitely think this match deserved a solid 5-star.
#4. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels - Monday Night RAW 2007
This was arguably the best TV match WWE ever had. At Wrestlemania 23, Cena defeated Michaels to retain his WWE championship. Michaels then had a non-title match against Cena on RAW. This match lasted 55 minutes and was worth every second. The match had intense action and various counters. Michaels even faked his sweet chin music for a surprise pin.
The ending was perfect for a 55-minute classic. Cena lifted Shawn Michaels for the AA, but Michaels landed on his feet. He superkicked Cena and fell on to him for the pin in one sweet transitional motion. The London crowd was all into this match.
#3. Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - Wrestlemania 26
Another Shawn Michaels match makes into this list. This one was HBK's last match in his career. The storyline, ramifications and the in-ring psychology were absolutely beautiful in this match.
HBK was obsessed with breaking Taker's streak. Undertaker would not accept Michaels' challenge. Agitated by this, the showstopper cost the dead man his world heavyweight championship by interfering at Elimination Chamber. Thus the Undertaker - Shawn Michaels rivalry was reborn, with HBK's career at stake.
The match was excellent. There were many close finishes and moments when we actually believed the streak was over. But Taker kept on kicking out of the superkicks. Michaels kept working on Taker's legs but it wasn't enough to hold the phenom down. The best spot of the match was Michaels' moonsault from the top rope to the announcer's table.
After Kicking out of two tombstones, Michaels didn't have enough to fight back. He slapped Taker hard, angering Taker in the process. The dead man picked up Michaels and delivered a vicious Tomb Stone to end an illustrious career.
#2. Triple H vs. The Undertaker - Wrestlemania 28 - Hell in a Cell match
The Undertaker's streak was the biggest selling point of Wrestlemania at this point. Triple H's best friend Shawn Michaels tried 2 times in a row to end the legendary streak, but he could not. Now it was the game's turn. Triple H had already lost the previous WrestleMania match against the phenom in 2011. But now, they are locked inside a cell with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee.
Triple H wanted to end the dead man' streak. He repeatedly punished the deadman with a chair, asking him to quit. But the best part of the match was the X-mark on Undertaker.
Shawn Michaels superkicked the Undertaker, who was then pedigree-ed by Triple H. The subsequent pinfall was probably the best near fall professional wrestling history has ever seen. Undertaker kicked out at the very last second to keep his streak alive.
Finally, Undertaker tombstoned the game for the win to end his another classic Wrestlemania match.
#1. Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker - Wrestlemania 25
"Sometimes it is hell, trying to get to heaven" - The Undertaker, 2009
This was the pinnacle of a wrestling match. From the entrances of both superstars to the final bell, everything was PERFECT. Undertaker was the devil ascending from hell and Michaels was the angel descending from the heaven.
What we then saw was 30 minutes of epicness. Both Taker and Michaels gave their everything in this match. Taker's over the top rope suicide dive looked brutal. Undertaker crashed on his head as the "cameraman" was a little far to break his fall. Michaels was so desperate to get the win that he asked the referee to count the phenom out.
The ending sequence saw Michaels attempt a moonsault on Taker. However, the dead man caught the showstopper in mid-air, executed a tombstone for the win.
This was easily the best match in Wrestlemania (or even WWE) history. But this was not given the perfect rating by Dave Meltzer for reasons unknown.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
