2. Brie Bella vs. Stephanie McMahon – SummerSlam 2014
This match had seven-year-old me stressing out, big time. Both women pulled off incredible, memorable performances that are still talked about to this day. This was McMahon’s first match in eleven years, and Bella had garnered a reputation for being lackluster in the ring at this time.
However, neither of these things slowed the women down, and it actually helped play into the story leading into this match. The storytelling in this match was top-tier, and it was rare for women to get a non-title match on a PPV, let alone one of the big four, during this time.
The feud between Brie Bella and Stephanie McMahon was an offshoot of the Daniel Bryan vs. Authority story. McMahon had been targeting Bryan, and Bella had had enough of it. After Brie infamously slapped Stephanie and said she quit, Stephanie put her sister, Nikki, through hell.
Unfair match-types were created for her every week, ranging from a handicap match to having an arm tied behind her back. Regardless, Nikki still showed up every week and fought hard, winning often. Nikki endured it all for Brie, which makes the twist near the end of the match so much more impactful.
