Top 5 WWE matches of 2021

2021 is coming to an end, and like most years, WWE gave its fan base a myriad of thrilling wrestling matches that got everyone talking.

Consistent performers included Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Cesaro, Edge, Daniel Bryan, and Drew McIntyre. NXT also produced stellar matches like WALTER vs. Tomasso Ciampa at NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver. However, this list is only restricted to the incredible main roster encounters.

As this list is far from exhaustive, there are some honorable mentions to note before moving on:

1. Edge vs. Seth Rollins (SummerSlam)
2. Roman Reigns (c) vs. John Cena for the Universal Championship (SummerSlam)
3. Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship inside Hell in a Cell

Let's look at the top five wrestling matches in WWE for 2021.

Disclaimer: This piece represents the views of the author only.

---

#5. Sasha Banks (c) vs. Bianca Belair for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship (WrestleMania 37)

Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair pulled out all the stops at WrestleMania 37

WWE divided the card line-up for "The Grandest Stage of Them All" into two nights like the previous installment. The main event of WrestleMania 37: Night One was a profoundly personal encounter between Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks for the SmackDown Women's Championship. The EST of SmackDown won the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble Match to earn a shot at the Boss' title.

Many fans were expecting the WWE Championship match to go on last, but Vince McMahon gave these two talented women the chance to close the evening. Much to everyone's delight, Banks and Belair delivered a memorable battle that culminated in a career-defining moment for the latter.

It was a back-and-forth encounter between two women who had little remorse for each other; neither star was going to back down, but there had to be a winner. From a breath-taking 450 Splash to a painful Banks Statement, the encounter was filled with high spots. In the match's final moments, Belair whipped the champion repeatedly with her ponytail and executed the "Kiss of Death" for the pinfall.

The EST of WWE had reached the top of the female division, and Banks did a fantastic job of putting the youngster over.

#4. Edge vs. Seth Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match (WWE Crown Jewel)

Edge and Seth Rollins were remorseless at WWE Crown Jewel

WWE gave wrestling fans countless dream matches, but few were as exhilarating and gratifying as the slew of encounters between Edge and Seth Rollins. The Visionary and the Ultimate Opportunist are two sides of the same coin, with both men desperate to do anything to achieve victory. They shared undeniable chemistry in the ring and on the mic, which helped build intrigue around their heated feud.

The Hall of Famer and the Monday Night Messiah first collided at SummerSlam in a brutal encounter that saw the re-appearance of the former's dark side with the Brood entrance. Rollins fell victim to Edge's fury and viciousness that night as he tapped out to the Bulldog Choke.

The former Universal Champion returned the favor in a rematch a few weeks later on SmackDown, leading to a decisive Hell in a Cell match at WWE Crown Jewel.

Edge and Rollins took brutality to another level in Saudi Arabia as the two rivals tore each other apart in a fierce war. The Rated-R Superstar and his foe used various weapons that ranged from a steel pipe to a ladder. Terrific spots included a steel pipe-assisted Crossface on Rollins, and some jaw-breaking Superkicks.

In the end, Edge performed a Stomp of his own on Rollins to score the pinfall and close the rivalry.

#3. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair in a Champions vs. Champions match (WWE Survivor Series)

Another chapter in this amazing rivalry

Whenever WWE wants the women to put on a show, they always call upon two of the division's biggest stars: Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. The Man and the Queen re-defined women's wrestling, and their matches are always must-see.

Lynch returned to WWE from fifteen-month maternity leave at SummerSlam and won the SmackDown Women's Championship. On the same night, Flair regained the RAW Women's Championship. However, the annual draft resulted in the two women exchanging their respective championships, leading to an eventual champion vs. champion match at WWE Survivor Series.

The Queen and the Man didn't budge an inch as they represented their respective brands. Because they knew each other so well, the match swung back and forth. Highlights included Lynch shoving Flair to the floor as the latter was preparing to hit a top-rope Moonsault. Flair also countered the Dis-arm-her with a devastating Powerbomb. As both women were keen to play dirty, they dug deep into their bag of tricks.

The daughter of the Nature Boy rolled up her opponent and used the ropes for leverage, but the referee caught her before the pinfall. However, the RAW Women's Champion was cunning enough to do the same without the referee noticing.

It may not have been their best encounter, but it was enjoyable for the WWE Universe.

#2. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cesaro for the WWE Universal Championship (WrestleMania Backlash)

It was a great wrestling match.

WWE took a chance with Cesaro earlier in the year when they gave the Swiss Superman a mini-push. The King of Swing scored a decisive victory over Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 37, a remarkable feat. A victory over Jey Uso put him in contention for the Universal Championship, and he eventually found himself standing across Roman Reigns.

Reigns and Cesaro had battled several times before their crucial match at WrestleMania Backlash, but the situation was quite different. Reigns had become the "Tribal Chief" and the "Head of the Table." By contrast, the Swiss Cyborg had fully embraced his good side and become a true fan-favorite.

The Universal Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash was highly anticipated, and the two stars lived up to the hype by putting together an excellent wrestling affair. It had the perfect blend of brutality, technique, power, passion, and suspense. The Tribal Chief locked in a handful of submission holds, like the Armbar, which he seldom uses, and focused on his opponent's right arm. This contrasted with the standard, slow, methodical power game he usually employs.

The best moment of the match came when Reigns executed a Superman punch to Cesaro in mid-air as the challenger turned around to perform a European Upper-cut. In the end, the Swiss Superman tried to fight out of the Guillotine, but he passed out, failing to take the Universal Championship from the Tribal Chief.

#1. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Edge vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Universal Championship (WrestleMania 37)

Roman Reigns retained the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 37.

WrestleMania 37 was an auspicious occasion for WWE as it was the first time a live crowd was in attendance since March 2020.

Roman Reigns, Edge, and Daniel Bryan had the opportunity to close out the most significant event of 2021. Reigns had battled cancer; Edge and Bryan had come out of retirement. None of these men were in a position to headline the Showcase of Immortals a few years ago, but they did so this year.

It was an absolute gem as far as the in-ring action and story-telling go. Reigns tried to dominate his opponents using his sheer strength, but the resilient challengers fought back till the end.

Jey Uso was neutralized early on by Edge, who executed an Impaler DDT on the steel steps. Highlights included Reigns destroying the Yes Man with a Powerbomb through the announce table only to be Speared off the steel steps by the Rated-R Superstar.

Fans will never forget the combined Cross-face and Yes Lock on Reigns that had the champion screaming in pain. However, the Tribal Chief took advantage of some interference from his cousin to Spear Edge and then hit a skull-crushing Con-Chair-to. The Head of the Table double-pinned both challengers to retain the championship convincingly.

While the outcome wasn't something fans wanted, everyone knew they had witnessed an absolute classic.