The Best WWE Matches of 2025, Ranked

10. Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens - Royal Rumble

This match deserved more praise. Cody and Kevin delivered brutal intensity after an excellent buildup. My son and I were in the stadium that night, and the ladder shot to Kevin’s back is unforgettable.

9. John Cena vs. Logan Paul - Clash in Paris

Love him or hate him, Logan Paul earned respect that night, giving us 26 minutes of pure athletic theater with Cena—no tables, weapons, or gimmicks—just wrestling.

8. Gunther vs. CM Punk - SummerSlam

If you looked up “World Heavyweight Championship match,” this would be the exemplar—pace, brutality, villainy, triumph, and a post-match swerve for the century.

7. IYO SKY vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley - WrestleMania 41

This match lives in a rare stratosphere of matches where time stands still. Bianca Belair hasn’t wrestled since, but she earned the year in 15 minutes. For Rhea and IYO, this was a warm-up to their technically better classic three months later.

6. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens - Elimination Chamber

In a crowded year, this match flew under the radar. Sami and Kevin emptied the tank, and it’s my favorite of their many battles.

5. Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns - WrestleMania 41

If you need to explain wrestling to someone, show them this match. From entrances to the double turn, it’s storytelling at its best.

4. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Street Profits vs. #DIY - SmackDown

Thankfully, this match has received its flowers from the wrestling community. It wasn’t WrestleMania—and that’s precisely why it worked.

3. IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley - Evolution

If not for John Cena, this might’ve topped the list—even before Naomi’s cash-in. After an emotionally packed weekend (the Evolution undercard was stacked, and Goldberg retired the night before), Rhea and IYO reset the crowd with a brilliant performance.

2. John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes - SummerSlam

After the callback hug, Cena and Rhodes quickly erased their WrestleMania 41 misstep. More than a match, this was a true passing of the torch—not only to Rhodes, but to the current generation. Oh, and Brock Lesnar returned afterwards. Talk about unreal.

1. John Cena vs. AJ Styles - Crown Jewel

The ink for this love letter to professional wrestling has already been spilled. Two months before retirement, Cena gave us the best match of the year—and his career.