5 best trilogies in WWE history

WWE has a rich history of some of its biggest superstars squaring off in trilogies. It's an often-used trope that has seen the company go through an entire series in a matter of months and sometimes weeks. However, there have been times when WWE crafted compelling stories, helping elevate both individuals involved.

The iconic list of classic trilogies has often transcended elevating those involved, impacting the business for years to come. It can shift how the audience views an entire division or the company as a whole. These trilogies in WWE have created legends.

The best-of-three winners usually live on with the fans. In this article, let's take a look at the five best trilogies in WWE history.

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5. John Cena vs. AJ Styles (WWE 2016-2017)

John Cena was considered the standard-bearer of WWE for well over a decade. Whenever WWE introduces a new character with potential, a feud with the Face That Runs The Place is usually a litmus test for what their future would look like. Many of these superstars, like Nexus, Bray Wyatt, and Rusev, met their doom against Cena.

That's what made his trilogy of matches against AJ Styles so interesting. Styles was gaining popularity with the WWE Universe as a babyface, but the promotion decided to turn him heel and put him in a rivalry with John Cena.

Their first encounter was at Money In The Bank 2016, where AJ used help from Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to defeat Cena. The tainted victory left a sour taste in many fans' mouths, but the rivalry didn't end. The rematch took place at SummerSlam 2016, which had a big match feel.

The two delivered an outstanding encounter that stands as one of the greatest SummerSlam matches in history. Styles won with a second Phenomenal Forearm. With two wins against Cena, Styles would go on to win the WWE Championship and successfully defend against both Cena and Dean Ambrose in a Triple Threat Match.

With the calendar changing to 2017, John Cena finally set his sights on beating Styles and claiming his 16th world title. At Royal Rumble 2017, Cena and Styles put on yet another excellent clash, where they hit big moves and had suspenseful near falls. Cena defeated Styles to win a record-tying WWE Championship. Their trilogy solidified AJ as a top guy and allowed him to shine.

4. The Undertaker vs. Triple H (WWE WrestleMania 17, 27, & 28)

The Undertaker is one of the greatest superstars in WWE history. Whether it be over gold or a personal issue, he has had many memorable trilogies. However, only one man can say they faced The Phenom on the day that he's unstoppable.

The Undertaker's 21-0 WrestleMania undefeated streak claimed many victims. Triple H faced Taker for the first time at WrestleMania X-Seven in a crazy brawl that went all over the arena with The Deadman winning. They didn't meet again until 10 years later, after Taker ended Shawn Michaels' career. The Undertaker beat The Game once again but was stretchered out of the stadium.

The following year, The Undertaker wanted vengeance on the Cerebral Assassin. WWE brought everything together with Taker facing Triple H with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. To add even more stakes, it was inside Hell In A Cell with the moniker of "An End Of An Era." The Deadman defeated Triple H in an epic encounter that lives on in the annals of Mania history.

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3. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, NXT TakeOver: Respect & Hell In A Cell 2020)

Bayley and Sasha Banks were two famed members of the Four Horsewomen with Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. Their roots started in NXT. At the first TakeOver to take place outside of Full Sail University, Bayley defeated Sasha to win the NXT Women's Championship in a contest still considered the most important women's match in WWE history.

At the next major NXT show, they competed in the first women's main event of TakeOver in a 30-minute Iron Man Match. Bayley defeated Banks again to retain the title. They would square off on the main roster on episodes of RAW, but the two didn't meet again on pay-per-view until 2020.

After a successful run as The Golden Role Models holding all the gold in WWE, Bayley turned on Sasha Banks. The Boss looked for revenge by taking her former friend's SmackDown Women's Championship. She did just that at Hell In A Cell 2020 inside the Devil's Playground. This was one of the most innovative and memorable Cell matches of all time and showed why these two are amazing.

2. Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boys (WWE WrestleMania 2000, SummerSlam 2000 & WrestleMania X-Seven)

Six men changed how WWE viewed tag team wrestling for years to come. At No Mercy 1999, The Hardy Boyz defeated Edge and Christian in the first tag team ladder match. The show-stealer put all four men on the map but, when WWE added The Dudley Boys to their roster, things went to the next level.

The three teams faced in a Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000 that blew away everything else on the card. It made all six some of the most popular superstars in the company. The rematch took things even further, with the first Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match. Edge and Christian won both of these encounters, but it'd take more to win the third clash in this trilogy.

TLC 2 took place at WrestleMania X-Seven and saw the company showcase one of their craziest spectacles ever. This was pure insanity with even Spike Dudley, Lita, and Rhino getting involved. Edge hit a massive spear off a ladder to Jeff Hardy hanging above the ring from the titles. It's often the most replayed highlight for WWE.

Edge and Christian pulled out another win over their two rival tag teams with a huge assist from Rhino. These six men elevated the entire tag team division and allowed them to have successful careers years later. The Attitude Era would not be remembered as fondly if it wasn't for this classic series of matches.

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1. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock (WWE WrestleMania 15, X-Seven & 19)

Stone Cold Steve Austin became the face of WWE after beating Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 14. The company had a bonafide megastar on its hands, and the feud with Mr. McMahon helped the promotion win the Monday Night Wars. However, WWE could only go so far if they didn't make another megastar next to him.

The Rock stepped up in 1998 and ended the year as the WWE Champion after winning the Deadly Games Tournament at Survivor Series 1998. He beat Mankind and turned heel, aligning with Mr. McMahon and the Corporation. This set the stage for WrestleMania 15 and a huge showdown against Stone Cold for the gold.

Austin defeated Rock to win the WWE Championship in a very good main event. The next two years saw The Rock go from the top heel to one of the most popular babyfaces in the history of the business. This made a rematch at WrestleMania X-Seven against Austin even bigger.

The two babyfaces clashed in a superbly intense brawl that had passion, blood, and drama. Austin did the unthinkable by aligning with Mr. McMahon to screw The Rock to win the WWE Championship. However, this didn't end their trilogy.

The Rock returned from Hollywood in 2003 but wasn't alone. After leaving the company in 2002, Stone Cold returned to WWE. The two icons would meet one last time at WrestleMania 19. This was everything fans could ask for. It had callbacks to past meetings, intensity, and emotion.

The Rock defeated Austin and was finally able to be victorious against his greatest rival. This trilogy elevated Austin's legacy and gave him the in-ring rival that made him an all-time great. For The Rock, this trilogy etched his name in history. It's the feud that made him a megastar. That's why The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin is the greatest trilogy in WWE history.