Must Watch Matches: WWE 2010-2014

With the current unprecedented lockdowns/cancellations etc. caused by the coronavirus wrestling is needed more than ever. That’s why we are here to recommend some good ole professional wrestling matches to fill your time and give you your fix. This is a time when the streaming services like the WWE Network, Powerslam TV, and IMPACT Plus among others come into great use for you to go back and find some classics. This is the “Must Watch Matches” series, in this edition we explore the must-watch main roster matches for the WWE in the early 2010s.

Note: This is not necessarily based on anything except wrestling matches that can bring any fan pure joy to any fan at any time. We hope you enjoy the list and check out these matches in this time of difficulty. Enjoy!

2010: Streak vs Career No DQ Match – Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 26)

The match at WrestleMania 25 between these two is considered one of, if not the greatest match in the history of WrestleMania. But one year later, the stakes were higher and the two competitors delivered all over again. Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker has gone down as one of the greatest rivalries in WWE history and for good reason. Go back and watch the night where it was streak vs career. A perfect send-off for Shawn Michaels, who put on yet another beautiful performance in the squared circle as he faced The Undertaker. Mr WrestleMania showed the world that win or lose, that’s exactly who he was.

2011: WWE Championship – John Cena (c) vs CM Punk (Money in the Bank)

Some will look at this list and instantly stop here to enjoy the magic that was had that one night in Chicago in 2011. John Cena and CM Punk were the perfect duo to deliver a jaw-dropping, emotional story in the middle of the ring. Add in the fact that Punk is in his hometown of Chicago, on the last night of his contract, and fighting for the top prize in the company, and you have perfection. There’s no such thing as a perfect match, but this was darn near close. Cena’s emotion shined through as he could not figure out how to get Punk down, while Punk hit a number of moves that got the Chicago crowd on their feet thinking git was the end. The atmosphere that night has not been matched in this company since, making this a must-see in every way possible.

2011: World Heavyweight Championship – No Holds Barred Match – Christian (c) vs Randy Orton (SummerSlam)

The rivalry between Punk and Cena ruled in 2011. But SmackDown had one of the best overall rivalries of the entire decade between Randy Orton and Christian for the World Heavyweight Championship. Their final match of the rivalry was a No Holds Barred war between the two that perfectly highlighted the greatness of the feud. One of the most underrated matches of the decade will have you on the edge of your seat to see these two veterans beat the life out of each other for the World Heavyweight Championship.

2012: The Rock vs John Cena (WrestleMania XXVIII)

“Once in a Lifetime” was something worth a year build. The Rock vs. John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII delivered. The first time these two megastars went head to head felt huge and for good reason. The pre-match promo for the match and what followed was pro wrestling at its finest, especially WWE’s style. If you aren’t looking for a technical classic and just a fun battle, this is the one to go with.

2012: WWE Championship – CM Punk (c) vs Daniel Bryan (Over The Limit)

Next up is the opposite of the one above. This is a technical masterpiece between two of the biggest indie darlings of the past 20 years. CM Punk defended his WWE Championship against an unhinged Daniel Bryan. AJ Lee began to come between the two, only furthering the rivalry more. This was one of those matches that you can go back time and time again and it will simply hold up every time.

2012: TLC Match – The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) vs Ryback & Team Hell No (Kane & Daniel Bryan) (TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs)

The debut of the three men that would own WWE for the rest of the decade. The Shield aided CM Punk a month earlier at Survivor Series and made rivals in Team Hell No and Ryback. So how about complete mayhem for a debut match? TLC, but the winner would need to pin their opponent in the middle of the ring. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose quickly made it clear that they were the men for the future of the WWE in their debut bout.

2013: WWE Championship #1 Contendership – John Cena vs CM Punk (Raw, February 25th)

The last time these two went into singles action against each other was another classic. CM Punk saw his WWE Championship reign end at 434 days and could not defeat The Rock in their rematch at Elimination Chamber the following month. So what did Punk do? Got one more shot by facing John Cena with Cena’s spot in the WrestleMania 29 main event being on the line. This match included an unexpected piledriver and more pro wrestling bliss from these two rivals. One of the best Raw matches you will ever see.

2013: The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) vs Randy Orton & Team Hell No (Kane & Daniel Bryan) (SmackDown, June 14th)

The first time The Shield suffered defeat in their career and the building point to the explosion of Daniel Bryan’s popularity. With those two factors included, it was one incredible night that may be forgotten in WWE history with what has happened since.

2013: WWE Tag Team Championships – The Shield (Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) (c) vs The Usos (Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso) (Money in the Bank Kickoff)

A match that goes incredibly under the radar is one that you can’t actually find on the WWE Network, but instead WWE’s YouTube channel. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns were an excellent combination as a team while Ambrose ran the singles mid-card scene. There is a good chance that many haven’t seen these two Shield brothers take on The Usos, so here is your chance to do so. One of the best Kickoff/Preshow matches WWE has had since they started doing them.

2013: No DQ Match – Brock Lesnar vs CM Punk (SummerSlam)

David vs Goliath can always be a good style of a match in pro wrestling, and this one takes the cake. Brock Lesnar vs CM Punk is everything you want in that type of match, with Lesnar being the beast who no one wants to see win and Punk back in the mindset as ‘The Voice of the Voiceless’ and trying to get to Paul Heyman. Many people’s match of the year for 2013, and one of the best matches since Lesnar’s return to wrestling.

2013: WWE Championship – John Cena (c) vs Daniel Bryan (SummerSlam)

Daniel Bryan was the hottest superstar of the 2010s in the WWE. CM Punk had one heck of a 2011 and 2012, but Bryan was over and then some. The fans got on the side of Bryan to get him in the main event of WrestleMania 30. But before that was his WWE Championship match against John Cena at SummerSlam. With the YES! Movement behind him, it was another dose of pro wrestling at its absolute best. Make sure to keep watching after the match to get the entire experience of that night.

2013: Cody Rhodes & Goldust w/ Dusty Rhodes vs The Shield (Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) w/ Dean Ambrose (Battleground)

If we are picking favourites from the main roster, this may be it for this writer. Cody Rhodes and Goldust were fighting to get their jobs back. They were also trying to make sure their father, Dusty Rhodes, kept his in NXT. Unfortunately for them, The Shield stood in the way of them finding their jobs and moving on with their careers in a positive direction. This should have been the coming out party for Cody Rhodes as a babyface, but that’s a complaint for another day. If you want to get all the feels from a wrestling match, this is the perfect selection to do exactly that.

2014: The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns) vs The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper & Erick Rowan (Elimination Chamber)

The Shield owns this list. When the two biggest factions of the decade go head-to-head, you know the fans would be cheering from the start. “This is awesome” rang through the arena before The Wyatt Family and The Shield ever even touched. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it now. Even if you have, relive one of the best matches of the decade between two of the most popular factions in recent history.