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One of the biggest complaints about the current WWE product is the repetitive nature around rematches. Fans can go weeks of television seeing the same performers in the ring against one another to the point that it makes the audience not want to see the superstars involved. In the past, the company has shown that they can execute sequels to headline matches better than the originals though.
Whether it be at WrestleMania or any of the other major pay-per-views, huge rematches have been the bread and butter of WWE. There have been occasions where the company has used the original matchup to create bigger stakes for the rematch. There are other times where a new wrinkle is added to create greater interest in two superstars battling it out again.
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With Karrion Kross about to encounter Finn Balor in a NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver rematch on tonight's NXT, it seems like an ideal time to look back on other historic sequel matches from the past. In this article, let's take a look at the seven greatest rematches in WWE history.
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#7 Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker in a Career vs Streak Match (WWE WrestleMania 26)
The first entry is one of the greatest WrestleMania main events in history. At WrestleMania 25, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker put on an all-time classic that is considered among the best in WWE history. The two legends put together a sensational back and forth encounter that exceeded lofty expectations and overshadowed everything else at the event.
This tremendous contest became the catalyst for a fantastic buildup to the following year's WWE WrestleMania 26 main event. Shawn Michaels became obsessed with beating The Undertaker and ending the streak. His desperate pleas and attempts were on full display and captivated the fans on the road to the grandest stage of them all.
After HBK cost The Deadman his World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Elimination Chamber 2010, the Undertaker accepted Michaels' challenge only if he put his career on the line. This set the stage for greater stakes and a masterful main event in Phoenix, Arizona. The two men battled in a compelling saga inside the squared circle.
Shawn Michaels risked everything and put his body on the line to end Taker's streak. In the end, The Undertaker put down the defiant Heartbreak Kid with a climactic Tombstone to end Michaels' career. The only reason this classic ranks so low is because most fans would agree their WrestleMania 25 match is better than this one, but no one can deny this battle's place in WWE history.
#6 Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne for the WWE United Kingdom Championship (NXT TakeOver: Chicago)
In January of 2017, WWE introduced a new brand and championship exclusively for stars from the United Kingdom. As part of NXT's expansion into different regions, the company decided to put together a two-night tournament to determine the first WWE United Kingdom Championship.
WWE used the tournament to make two new stars in "The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne and inaugural WWE UK Champion Tyler Bate. The next step in the eventual introduction of the NXT UK brand was to give their two new stars the platform of NXT TakeOver. In the first TakeOver in Chicago, Bate defended the gold against Pete Dunne in a rematch of the tournament finals.
The two young men put on an absolutely outstanding encounter that blended the traditional UK-style with the more popularized independent wrestling spot-heavy brand of action.
Tyler Bate showed incredible athleticism as well as the underdog fire that made such stars as Daniel Bryan beloved by the WWE Universe. On the other hand, Pete Dunne was cerebral and brutal in his attack on the WWE United Kingdom Champion.
Dunne brought a technical mastery that was more akin to William Regal or Fit Finlay in the way he worked over the joints of Bate and could still keep up with his British Strong Style stablemate's speed. A thrilling finish put this over the top and completely stole the show on the night.
The reason that this contest is among the greatest rematches in WWE history is because of the impact that this match made. This truly put Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne on the map as well as legitimized the NXT UK brand and title.
Bate showed at just 20 years old that he would be a mainstay for years to come, while Dunne went on to have one of the longest title reigns of the modern era.
#5 The Dudley Boys vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Edge and Christian in a TLC Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships (Summerslam 2000)
At WWE WrestleMania 2000, the match of the night was unquestionably the Triangle Ladder Match where Edge and Christian defeated The Hardy Boyz and The Dudleys to win their first WWE Tag Team Championships. Over the course of the next few months, these three teams would mix it up using their particular weapons of choice.
The Hardy Boyz were defined by their extraordinary high flying off of ladders, while the Dudleys truly got over by putting their adversaries through tables. Edge and Christian countered their two rival teams by using steel chairs and inventing the Con-Chair-to. This forced WWE Commissioner Mick Foley to make a rematch with the three teams in a new gimmick match called Tables, Ladders and Chairs.
At WWE Summerslam 2000, the first ever TLC Match set the bar incredibly high in a heart-stopping, high octane contest that amazed the fans in Raleigh, North Carolina. Matt and Jeff Hardy once again produced innovative offense with their use of ladders, including an even taller ladder in which Jeff did a Swanton Bomb off of. The Dudleys brought the brutality, smashing their opponents through tables.
Edge and Christian proved to be the perfect foils for their opponents yet again. They always seemed to be one step ahead of their rivals and used steel chairs to gain control over both the Hardys and Dudleys. The insane ending, where both Jeff Hardy and D-Von Dudley hung off from the WWE Tag Team Titles above the ring, was intense and led to Edge and Christian winning this crazy battle.
The TLC Match would become one of the staple stipulations in the WWE moving forward. These three teams put on an even better encounter months later at WrestleMania X-7, but they somehow were able to improve upon their star making performances at WrestleMania 2000 here. The fact that the TLC Match has now become a yearly pay-per-view shows you how impactful this first contest was.
#4 John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels (WWE Raw April 23rd, 2007)
The main event of WWE WrestleMania 23 saw John Cena defeat Shawn Michaels to successfully defend the WWE Championship. Just a few weeks later, the company headlined the April 23rd, 2007 Monday Night Raw in London, England with the two men clashing in a rematch.
Michaels and Cena's Mania contest was praised for its quality, but no one could have expected what these two superstars would produce in London. For nearly one hour, John Cena and Shawn Michaels battled in a back-and-forth encounter that told an exceptional story.
The Heartbreak Kid tried to wear down the WWE Champion and showcase his technical wrestling prowess. Cena looked to keep up with his more experienced opponent and use his strength to overcome Michaels' advantages over him.
The action was engrossing and compelling, with some close nearfalls that had the fans on the edge of their seats. For 58 minutes, the WrestleMania 23 main eventers improved upon their output at the Showcase of the Immortals and produced a spectacular contest.
It was very rare for WWE to put a match of this length on their weekly television at this point. The two superstars eclipsed the quality of their WrestleMania 23 main event and then some. It is among the best matches of John Cena's career and is remembered as one of the greatest Raw or WWE TV matches of all time.
#3 Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Owen Hart in a Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship (WWE Summerslam 1994)
Often considered the greatest opener in the event's history, Bret Hart and Owen Hart put on a wrestling clinic to kick off WWE WrestleMania X. The two brothers produced a masterclass of technical wrestling, in which Owen beat Bret. However, later in the evening, the older Hart brother would go on to defeat Yokozuna to win the WWE Championship.
1994 would become the year of the Hart family, with Bret reigning as the top babyface of the promotion and his brother Owen as the top heel. Owen further solidified his status by matching his brother's feat from the previous year by winning the King of the Ring tournament. Now known as "The King of Harts," Owen will challenge Bret to a rematch inside of a steel cage at WWE Summerslam 1994.
Bret and Owen used months and months of animosity in a remarkable steel cage clash. Instead of brutality and blood, this was more of a strategic battle here at WWE Summerslam 1994 with the two brothers finding new ways to try to escape the cage. Fans at the United Center in Chicago were on their feet as the two superstars fought tooth and nail to escape.
The Hart brothers traded offense and built incredible drama throughout the half hour of action. The intense ending finished things on a high where Bret left Owen hanging from the cage and escaped before his younger brother for the win to retain the WWE Championship.
This WWE Championship Match is one of the greatest steel cage matches of all time. The Wrestling Observer rated this contest at 5 stars and is often considered the best of Owen Hart's career. This was a fitting end and climax to the saga between the Hart brothers. This rematch is one of the main reasons why the family feud is viewed as an all-time great rivalry.
#2 The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWE Championship (WWE WrestleMania X-7)
From one iconic feud in WWE history to another, there is a rivalry that defined the Attitude Era in many ways. Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock were the two biggest superstars of the most successful period in wrestling. Their first major clash was at WrestleMania 15 with Austin regaining the WWE Championship over The Great One.
Although they would have an even better contest at Backlash 1999, their more memorable rematch took place two years later. In what many fans call the greatest event ever, WrestleMania X-7, the headline encounter was The Rock defending the WWE Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin. The two top babyfaces battled it out to determine who was the top star in the industry.
This was totally different from their WrestleMania 15 contest where both men went at each other with elevated intensity. The clash was made into a No Disqualification Match just minutes prior to the bell, which led to the two WWE legends not holding anything back. Steel chairs were used and every big move in both men's arsenals was on display here.
The crowd in Houston's Astrodome was louder than most crowds in WWE history, which added to the blistering atmosphere. The two men didn't let any part of this match lag with non-stop action throughout.
Austin was an absolute machine and worked aggressively. His facial expressions told their own story and showed a range of emotions very rarely seen.
The Rock put on one of his best performances ever. He bumped around and made Austin look like a world beater for the entire duration. His chemistry with Austin was always amazing, but this match just took things to a whole new level. His determination, facial expressions and body language gripped every viewer into the drama of this main event.
The finish, with Austin turning heel and raining down 16 steel chair shots on The Rock was incredible to watch, as was what happened after the match. This is truly the greatest WrestleMania main event and quite possibly one of the best in WWE history. The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin would close their Mania trilogy two years later in another great clash, but was unable to match this superb battle.
#1 Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission Match (WWE WrestleMania 13)
Stone Cold Steve Austin is viewed as the biggest superstar in WWE history. He is the man often associated with wrestling's peak in the Attitude Era. Austin's star first shined bright opposite Bret "The Hitman" Hart. After a months-long hiatus in 1996, Bret returned to the WWE at the Survivor Series pay-per-view and chose Austin to be his opponent.
The two men put on a spectacular match that stole the show in Madison Square Garden and showed everyone that Stone Cold was destined for bigger things. Their rivalry would only grow hotter as the months went on. Austin cost Bret the Royal Rumble and WWE Championship, which pushed The Hitman over the edge and caused him to snap. The hostilities came to a head in a Submission Match at WrestleMania 13.
This was a completely different Submission Match than what was seen before or after in the WWE. The no disqualification element of this stipulation was used to its fullest potential with the brawl between the two men spilling into the crowd at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. UFC fighter Ken Shamrock was brought in to be the special referee and added to the intense nature of this contest.
Bret tried to break down Stone Cold, attacking his leg to set up for the Sharpshotter, while Austin went into his bag of tricks and pulled out the Million Dollar Dream, looking to make his opponent pass out. The Hitman busted Austin open using the ring bell. The blood across Stone Cold's face would be remembered as the quintessential image of The Texas Rattlesnake's career.
Austin's refusal to submit in the Sharpshotter put him over as the ultimate babyface, while Hart continuing to attack his opponent after he passed out turning him into one of the most hated superstars in the industry. The Attitude Era's pillars were set here and started an incredibly entertaining run of programming for the WWE.
The significance of this encounter cannot be emblemished. This set Austin on a course to become the biggest babyface in wrestling. This Submission Match is often talked about among the greatest in WrestleMania history.
The quality of the match, and its impact on the entire industry, is why Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin is the greatest rematch in WWE history.
