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In WWE or the pro wrestling business in general, rivalries with the right amount of animosity between the performers usually win the fans over. Though matches can be built around respect, these clashes typically lack the emotional impact of a conflict between two heated rivals. When fans have clear-cut heels and faces to boo and cheer, they generate an atmosphere of genuine drama.
A global juggernaut like WWE, more often than not, creates its own stars and presents the viewers with some never-before-seen rivalries that become immortal. But sometimes, WWE rivals feuded before they joined the company. Other stars have rekindled their feuds other promotions.
Superstars who have already feuded with each other are arguably in a better position, as they are already aware of each other's abilities and flaws.
Here's a look at five such instances where WWE rivals feuded in other companies. Please share your favorite rivalries in the comments section below.
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#5 WWE Champion Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre had a spectacular rivalry in IMPACT Wrestling in 2016
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley is currently having the best run of his career. He won the title after he defeated The Miz on WWE RAW, and he's on track to have a marquee match at WrestleMania 37. Fans have predicted that Drew McIntyre will challenge to The Almighty, as it was the latter who cost The Scottish Warrior his WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber 2021.
The two stars previously wrestled at Backlash 2020, where McIntyre successfully retained his championship. But McIntyre and Lashley also feuded several years ago, as their rivalry in IMPACT Wrestling became one of the company's best stories during its bleakest days.
The clash between Lashley and McIntyre at Slammiversary 2016, where Lashley defeated McIntyre to win the IMPACT World Championship, was particularly brilliant. Some fans have argued that this bout is even better than their match at Backlash.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if not for their impressive runs in IMPACT Wrestling, Lashley and McIntyre would not be in the position they currently find themselves in. It was during their time in IMPACT Wrestling that Lashley embraced his monster heel persona and McIntyre became a main event caliber performer.
#4 Current WWE Superstars Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn had a memorable feud in Ring of Honor
Since they joined WWE, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn have rarely stayed away from each other for long. While their current career trajectories don't allow much interaction between them, they still had a fun battle at Elimination Chamber 2021.
Most WWE fans are well-aware of their storied rivalry in NXT, where Owens brutalized Zayn at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable and TakeOver: Rival. Likewise, their matches on the main roster, especially the one at WWE Battleground 2016, were highly appreciated by the fans.
The two stars have been feuding since they joined the wrestling business. The first-ever major clash between the two duo came at a Pro Wrestling Guerrilla show in 2004. After that, Owens and Zayn took forward their rivalry to Ring of Honor, where they had some of the best matches in the company's history.
Their bout at Final Battle 2010 was a violent bloodbath that instantly made their feud one of the most personal conflicts in the business. In real life, though, the two men are best friends, and it's a testament to their abilities as performers that they could portray so much hatred between them.
#3 Former WWE Superstars Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose had a fun rivalry in AEW
Former WWE Superstars Dean Ambrose, aka Jon Moxley, and Chris Jericho have a lot of history together. Before they joined AEW and feuded over the AEW World Championship, the two stars had a rivalry in WWE that received a mixed response from the fans. During their feud, Moxley launched "Ambrose Asylum" after he got Jericho's "Highlight Reel" program canceled.
The two men wrestled at Extreme Rules 2016 in the first-ever Asylum match. Though the bout was underwhelming at best, the promo battles between the two were quite fun. The duo also wrestled a few short, fun matches on RAW and SmackDown during their time together.
In 2020, the rivals reignited their feud, and the two had a terrific contest at AEW Revolution. There, Moxley defeated Jericho to win the AEW World Championship. Fans were more than happy to see the two wrestle a match where they had creative freedom.
Though the two have been away ever since that match ended, fans can expect more clashes between them in the future, considering they have no plans of leaving AEW anytime soon.
#2 WWE rivals Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles had a terrific battle in New Japan Pro-Wrestling
When Shinsuke Nakamura won the Royal Rumble in 2018, fans were visibly excited to see him challenge WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34. But much to everyone's disappointment, the match didn't live up to these expectations. The only saving grace was the post-match heel turn by Nakamura, a development that ensured the rivalry's continuation.
Their subsequent matches benefited from a clear-cut face-heel dynamic that gave the rivalry an edge. Their feud-ending clash at Money In The Bank 2018 was a Last Man Standing Match, and it was arguably the best match the two wrestled in WWE by a long shot.
That being said, if one wants to see the best of their chemistry, look no further than their all-time great match at Wrestle Kingdom 10. Nakamura put his IWGP Intercontinental Championship on the line in a 24-minute classic. Though typical NJPW singles matches can run up to 40 minutes, the two packed in a lot of action into the time they had.
A lot of credit for the match's success must also be credited to NJPW's no-holds-barred wrestling style, as it gives wrestlers are given free reign so they can have their best possible encounter. This luxury allowed Styles and Nakamura to deliver a match that outclassed their work in WWE.
# Current WWE NXT rivals Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly had an iconic rivalry in ROH
When Adam Cole joined WWE NXT in 2017, he quickly joined forces with Kyle O'Reilly as part of the Undisputed ERA stable. For almost four years, the duo, along with Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish, dominated NXT. However, at last month's NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day event, Cole turned on Reilly, and the group imploded.
On the subsequent episode of NXT, Cole yet again brutalized Reilly, and the latter is now suffering from a kayfabe injury. A deeply-personal feud has been set-up between the two former allies, and the fans can expect a heated program that should feature multiple matches throughout the year between the duo.
Before O'Reilly returns to NXT, one must check out the string of excellent bout these two stars delivered in Ring of Honor Their clash at Final Battle 2016 is still regarded by fans as one of the best matches of either man's career. Cole and O'Reilly also put on a fun bout at Wrestle Kingdom 11 shortly before they arrived in WWE.
For fans of both the Superstars, these two clashes must-see encounters. They can serve as a nice teaser for the upcoming battles between Cole and O'Reilly on NXT.
