{"id":149330,"date":"2025-12-26T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=149330"},"modified":"2025-12-25T21:16:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T02:16:49","slug":"the-high-five-ranking-the-5-best-wwe-matches-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/12\/26\/the-high-five-ranking-the-5-best-wwe-matches-of-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The High Five: Ranking the 5 Best WWE Matches of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the calendar turns and 2025 moves into the rearview mirror, it is time to reflect on the definitive in-ring encounters that shaped the year in WWE. Regardless of the often-discussed issues regarding storyline consistency and build-ups, there were still a number of incredible bouts that kept fans captivated and left social media buzzing for days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With that in mind, let\u2019s rank the top five WWE matches from 2025 that we won\u2019t be forgetting anytime soon.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins – Triple Threat Match (WrestleMania 41)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    While the criticisms towards the creative aspects, specifically the lack of storytelling element, in WWE in 2025 have merit, this match was one that actually delivered when it came to its story. The bout has been praised for its fast-paced action, keeping people on the edge of their seats, and had many incredible spots throughout the matchup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Lasting over 30 minutes, the match spilled into the crowd at one point and was highlighted near the end with a flurry of finishers and a succession of submission holds alternating between all three, leaving fans unsure of who would come out on top.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The history between the three, however, is what stole the show. WWE leaned into the past, reminding the audience about Rollins and Reigns being a part of The Shield, and that the faction had initially been the \u201chired guns\u201d for Punk. In the weeks leading up to the match, fans were reminded that it was a dream of Punk\u2019s to headline a WrestleMania, and witnessed Paul Heyman abandoning Reigns to stand behind Punk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    But there was one moment in the match that upstaged everything that had taken place before it. Heyman, watching the bout from ringside, handed a steel chair to Punk before low-blowing him from behind, shocking everyone and appearing to signal he had returned his allegiance to \u201cThe Tribal Chief\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    After handing the chair to Reigns, however, Heyman executed the same move against him, signaling that he was joining forces with Seth Rollins and helping him win the match. This was easily one of the more stunning finishes to a match this year, making it a shoo-in for inclusion in the top five matches of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      The Street Profits vs. DIY vs. Motor City Machine Guns – TLC Match for the Tag Team Titles (SmackDown, April 25, 2025)\u00a0 <\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Despite the lack of big-name superstars, this was a bout considered by many as the best regular televised match that took place in the 2025 WWE calendar year. It was such a good match that it helped redefine the SmackDown tag team division and had many fans questioning why it didn\u2019t take place during WrestleMania 41. <\/span><\/p>\n

      Had it taken place on the grandest stage of them all, perhaps it would have been even higher on this list, as the match would have drawn far more attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Some of the more memorable spots that took place were the multiple dives onto tables, Johnny Gargano\u2019s leaping flatliner off the ladder, and even Montez Ford\u2019s use of a prosthetic leg from a fan in the crowd to pummel Gargano, brandishing it like a kendo stick. But the most memorable moment from the high-flying action took place towards the end of the match.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Ciampa was hanging on for dear life to the tag titles when Angelo Dawkins from near the top of a ladder performed a spear, causing both men to crash down onto a table. This moment was a direct callback to the iconic TLC bout at WrestleMania 17, where Edge speared Jeff Hardy in a similar fashion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      The relentless pace of the match, as well as the thunderous response from the crowd, allowed the intense momentum to build to a crescendo, emphasizing the pure physicality of the wrestlers involved. Classic elements elevated this match to be included in the top WWE matches of 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn – Unsanctioned Match (Elimination Chamber)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are Canadian, so given the fact that they were performing in Toronto, they wanted to deliver, and boy did they. Had it not been for the following men\u2019s Elimination Chamber bout and the ensuing aftermath with Cena\u2019s heel turn, this match would have stolen the show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Given the two men\u2019s close relationship, it was an emotionally charged matchup that some film fans would compare to Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi\u2019s duel in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Owens had recently turned heel on Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes and viewed Zayn\u2019s refusal to join him as a betrayal of their friendship. <\/span><\/p>\n

        The emotional intensity of the matchup led to the physical brutality that took place inside the ring, a level rarely seen in the WWE today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        Some of the most memorable moments from this match were Zayn wielding a hockey stick to repeatedly hit Owens and Zayn\u2019s use of a barbed wire-wrapped steel chair. In a callback to their nearly 20-year history together, Owens executed multiple Powerbombs to Zayn, reminiscent of Owen\u2019s NXT debut match against him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        The bout ended with Owens pinning Zayn for the victory, and Randy Orton interrupting making his return to prevent Owens from inflicting further damage after the match was over. Another example of WWE drawing on history between two superstars that elevated this match to be included as one of the best of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

        <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair – Women\u2019s World Heavyweight Championship Match (WrestleMania 41)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          The card for this match included three incredibly gifted wrestlers from the women\u2019s division, with all three having lots to prove. Bianca Belair became involved due to her upset win at the women\u2019s Elimination Chamber match. <\/span><\/p>\n

          Rhea Ripley was the former champion, and IYO SKY became involved after scoring a massive upset victory over Ripley just two weeks prior to WrestleMania, where she won the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          The Triple Threat showdown opened Night 2 of WrestleMania 41, and it did not disappoint. The breakneck pace of the bout often involved all three women simultaneously, a feat not often seen, as usually one performer rests while the other two engage in the ring. <\/span><\/p>\n

          It involved moments like Ripley using SKY to deliver a reverse Alabama-Slam, driving her back-first onto an exposed turnbuckle, and SKY delivering a springboard Moonsault to both her opponents, showcasing her highly athletic ability.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          The finish to this match was incredible, with Beliar whipping Ripley with her long braid to then execute a KOD for what many thought would seal the victory. Not to be denied, SKY suddenly delivered an over-the-top Moonsault, crashing onto both women to break the pin that Belair was trying to deliver, and immediately covered Belair to win the match. <\/span><\/p>\n

          A WWE women\u2019s match had never before earned a 5-star rating from Wrestling Observer Newsletter\u2019s Dave Meltzer, but this bout made history as the first to do so. A technical masterpiece well deserving of being considered one of 2025\u2019s best matches<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n

            John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes – Street Fight (SummerSlam)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Following their match at WrestleMania 41, many fans were disappointed with the slow pacing of the bout and the involvement of hip-hop artist Travis Scott in the ending sequence, helping Cena win his record-setting 17th world championship. There were two elements, however, that gave fans hope the sequel would be better than the prequel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            It was announced during their contract signing on July 18, 2025, that the match would be a Street Fight. A no-holds-barred bout is always something fans can get behind, especially between two icons of the sport. <\/span><\/p>\n

            Second, on August 1, 2025, during the SmackDown episode before SummerSlam, Cena randomly turned back face, abandoning his five-month heel run, stating he returned to his \u201cauthentic self\u201d for his bout with Rhodes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            Perhaps due to John Cena wanting to be at his best, he reminded everyone why he is considered the GOAT, and delivered what many would say was his best retirement tour match of the year. <\/span><\/p>\n

            The physical intensity between the two was electric, and turned the entire stadium into a showcase. Cena delivered a Mexican Destroyer outside of the ring, with Rhodes retaliating by Piledriving Cena, a move officially banned by the WWE and as such rarely seen in modern wrestling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            The most iconic moment of the match was the dramatic \u201cCodyvator\u201d sequence, where Cena emerged from beneath the stage carrying Rhodes on his shoulders, then delivering an Attitude Adjustment on the entrance ramp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            Rhodes had his own spectacular mom<\/span><\/p>\n

            \"A
            Photo Credit: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

            ents from the match as he delivered a Cody Cutter through a table, executed a brutal German Suplex onto a steel fence in the crowd, and survived three AA\u2019s, which included the Avalanche AA Cena delivered from near the top rope. <\/span><\/p>\n

            Rhodes would emerge victorious, with Cena handing him the title and raising his arm in what many fans felt was a passing of the torch moment. Brock Lesnar\u2019s music and the shock return of \u201cThe Beast Incarnate\u201d cemented the match\u2019s significance.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Ultimately, while we hope WWE continues to deliver the high-caliber in-ring action seen this year, the true magic lies in the storytelling. Stronger builds do more than just sell tickets; they keep the audience connected with their favorite superstars on a deeper, more personal level and keep us hooked. Here\u2019s hoping for an incredible 2026 filled with moments that we\u2019ll be talking about for years to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013 Stay tuned to the\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a> for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

            You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Netflix<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Raw),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>USA Network<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>The CW<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(NXT),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Tubi<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0<\/i><\/em>A&E<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and\u00a0<\/i><\/em>Peacock<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>\u00a0(WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<\/i><\/em>YouTube<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>, and catch fast-paced action on X (<\/i><\/em>WWE Speed<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a>).<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            As the calendar turns and 2025 moves into the rearview mirror, it is time to reflect on the definitive in-ring encounters that shaped the year in WWE. Regardless of the often-discussed issues regarding storyline consistency and build-ups, there were still a number of incredible bouts that kept fans captivated and left social media buzzing for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5699,"featured_media":133719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,4,3],"tags":[1445,140,98,8442,165,73,3041,77,106,76],"class_list":["post-149330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-bianca-belair","tag-cm-punk","tag-cody-rhodes","tag-iyo-sky","tag-john-cena","tag-kevin-owens","tag-rhea-ripley","tag-roman-reigns","tag-sami-zayn","tag-seth-rollins"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5699"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149330"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":149339,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149330\/revisions\/149339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=149330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=149330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}