The 30 Best WWE Matches in 2022

2022 has seen so many brilliant matches in so many different places. This list contains 30 must see matches from this year in WWE.

Bron Breakker VS Joe Gacy: NXT In Your House (04/06)

We start with a matchup from this year’s NXT: In Your House. Bron Breakker put his NXT Championship on the line against a sadistic Joe Gacy who could win the championship by just getting Bron disqualified. The story played off of this and multiple times Breakker nearly crossed a line that would have cost him the NXT Championship. The bit when Gacy pretended to be hit by a chair and another referee had to come down to the ring and tell the main ref what had happened was excellent. Breakker ended up retaining his championship and overall, it wasn’t amazing in-ring action but the storytelling was top draw. Both men came out of this looking a lot better than they did beforehand.

Axiom VS Nathan Frazer 1: NXT 2.0 (06/09)

Axiom took on Nathan Frazer in their first match of a potential best of 3 series. This match showcased what brilliant highflyers the two are and how likeable they are. It was also awesome to see the fans split between the two as usually, it’s always cheer one, boo the other. After a great back and forth matchup, Axiom got the win with the Golden Ratio to take the lead in the series. All I’ll say is this isn’t the last time you see these two on this list.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins VS Matt Riddle: Clash at the Castle (03/09)

Seth Rollins and Matt Riddle were involved in a heated and personal storyline and their match at Clash at the Castle made their story even better. Rollins showed everyone just how brilliant he is whilst Riddle was at the top of his game. Seth Rollins got the win in the end with a Stomp from the middle rope which was awesome but the best part about this was how protected Riddle was. Rollins had to hit the Broderick, the Pedigree and 2 stomps before he could put the Original Bro away. This is one of multiple matches from Clash at the Castle that have made this list.

Imperium VS The Creed Brothers VS MSK: NXT Stand and Deliver (02/04)

WrestleMania weekend saw Imperium put their NXT Tag Team Championships on the line against the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic the Creed Brothers and MSK. This match was a lot of fun, Imperium are an amazing team and this was a real breakout performance for the Creed’s (if they hadn’t already broken out). I still remember Brutus Creed hitting a diving cannonball to the outside it was that good. Everyone also expected the Creed’s to win so it was a massive but also cool surprise that MSK managed to pick up the win. This was an even bigger win given what happened just a few weeks later.

Bron Breakker VS Tyler Bate: NXT Worlds Collide (04/09)

The NXT Champion took on the NXT United Kingdom Champion in a winner takes all match. This was a match between Bron Breakker; a guy NXT has pushed to the moon against Tyler Bate; the heart and soul of NXT UK. The fans were fully behind Bate in this match and both men weren’t able to get the job done after hitting their finishing manoeuvres. In the end, Breakker got the win by hitting his deadly spear. It was awesome to see two good guys do battle and like I said at the time, Breakker winning was the right booking decision. Well worth the watch.

Bron Breakker VS Santos Escobar: NXT Vengeance Day (15/02)

Wow, Bron Breakker has done pretty well so far! The main event of another NXT special “Vengeance Day” saw Bron Breakker defend his championship against Santos Escobar. I remember fully expecting Bron to win given the fact he was the new champ but that all changed when out of nowhere, Dolph Ziggler superkicked the “Young Pup” and Escobar covered him for a super close near fall. I genuinely thought Escobar had done. This match was also significant in Mexican Wrestling history as it was 18 years to the day that Eddie Guerrero won the WWE Championship. The crowd were behind Escobar but unfortunately, he missed the frog splash and Breakker managed to get the win. Really good main event.

Axiom VS JD McDonagh: NXT (08/11)

After JD McDonagh took the mick out of Nathan Frazer’s injury, Axiom challenged McDonagh to a match and boy, it was a good one. Axiom used his quick speed to get back into the match against JD but the Irish Ace targeted the leg so bad, it got to a point were Axiom couldn’t hit his highflying offense effectively. Also, to have McDonagh win due to referee stoppage continued to prove that JD McDonagh has a case to be in the superstars of the year category.

Ricochet VS Santos Escobar: SmackDown World Cup Final (02/12)

As I’m writing this, this match happens to be the most recent wrestling I have seen. Does that help it get into this group, potentially but it was so good that I think it would have made it in regardless. USA took on Mexico in the SmackDown World Cup final as the one and only Ricochet took on the Emperor of Lucha Libre Santos Escobar. This was a match that will hopefully elevate both of these guys stocks and it was proof as to why Ricochet and Escobar are too special talents that will be hard to replace down the line. Just watch the match, I can’t do this enough justice.

Carmelo Hayes VS Cameron Grimes: NXT Vengeance Day (15/02)

Carmelo Hayes put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Cameron Grimes. At this point, Hayes was starting to grow into a megastar whilst Grimes wanted the victory he felt he deserved. The two had an excellent back and forth encounter and the crowd behind a super over Grimes. Cameron was rolling but unfortunately for him, the interference of Trick Williams was enough to see him lose to Melo. I loved this match, Hayes and Grimes were on a different level at that point in time.

Big E VS Bobby Lashley VS Seth Rollins VS Kevin Owens VS Brock Lesnar: Day 1 (01/01)

Originally, Big E was meant to defend his WWE Championship against Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley and Kevin Owens. However, Universal Champion Roman Reigns tested positive for Covid-19 meaning he was unable to defend his title against Brock Lesnar. The solution to this was to put Brock Lesnar in the WWE Championship match meaning it was now a Fatal 5-Way. What followed was an amazing, high paced action fest. Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens reminded everyone why they are two of the best in the business and when it came to Bobby Lashley, he looked insane. Every time he battled Brock Lesnar, he came on top. At some points, he literally had him beat. WWE Champion Big E also looked right at home in the main event scene but in the end, he got hit by the F5 meaning Brock Lesnar was the brand new WWE Champion. Even though Brock winning was a bit disappointing, the match itself was a bucket load of fun.

Gunther VS Shinsuke Nakamura: Friday Night SmackDown (12/08)

My very first wrestling review on this website was the 12th of August edition of Friday Night SmackDown and in the main event, Gunther defended his Intercontinetal Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura. They put on a hard hitting contest that was so good to watch. Gunther looked like a star whilst Shinsuke showed everyone that he really is the King of Strong Style. This was also the time were Triple H was starting to turn the Intercontinetal Championship into a big deal which made this even better. The Ring General got the win in the end to raise his stock to an even higher level.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: NXT Deadline (10/12)

The Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge consisted of NXT’s finest over the past 12 months. JD McDonagh and Axiom started the match whilst Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller and Joe Gacy all came out after 5 minute intervals. This was a fantastically fun match that showed that this new concept is worth keeping. All five men put on a hell of a show and in the end, the Arrogant Aussie Grayson Waller got the victory to make him the number 1 contender for the NXT Championship.

Charlotte Flair VS Ronda Rousey: WrestleMania 38 Night 1 (02/04)

Charlotte Flair returned to WrestleMania to put her SmackDown Women’s Championship on the line against the winner of the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble Ronda Rousey. Both women excelled in this match and in my opinion, this might be Rousey’s best ever WWE match. I certainly can’t think of another one. Charlotte getting the win was also a big surprise and it fully put her on the pedestal as the greatest Women’s Wrestler in history.

The Usos VS The Brawling Brutes: Friday Night SmackDown (23/09)

The Main event of Friday Night SmackDown saw the Usos put their tag team titles on the line against the Brawling Brutes’ Butch and Ridge Holland. This was an excellent match and in my opinion, this was the best tag team match of the entire year. The Usos perform at a level that not many people will ever reach and this match was basically the emergence of the Brawling Brutes as a good tag team. They even could have won the match but the interference from Imperium stopped that from happening. If you’re a fan of tag team wrestling, this is the match for you.

NXT North American Championship Ladder Match: NXT Halloween Havoc (22/10)

The vacant NXT North American Championship was on the line in a ladder match as Carmelo Hayes, Von Wagner, Wes Lee, Oro Mensah and Nathan Frazer all aimed to take home the gold. This match was entertaining from start to finish. Oro Mensah showed that he deserved to be in that match whilst Nathan Frazer continued his run as one of the breakout stars in 2022. Carmelo Hayes put on another clinic whilst Von Wagner looked the best he has ever been. It’s worth noting that the spot where Wagner throws Lee onto the announce table from inside the ring is arguably the most ridiculous spot of 2022. In the end, Wes Lee got the victory which was a really nice moment. A very fun match all-round.

Roman Reigns VS Seth “Freakin” Rollins: Royal Rumble (29/01)

The Royal Rumble kicked off with Roman Reigns defending his Universal Championship against Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Seth Rollins came out to the old Shield music and he even wore his old Shield gear which was brilliant. Rollins had Reigns stunned to start with and he came close to winning the belt after hitting the stomp. Reigns then got back into it but neither man was able to get the victory. In the end, Rollins ended up winning by Disqualification after Reigns refused to let go of the guillotine. This match was superb, the in-ring quality was good but the storytelling was even better. This match was a fantasy bookers dream.

Men’s War Games Match: Survivor Series War Games (26/11)

The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens all teamed up to take on the Bloodline in the first ever male War Games match on the main roster. This match told a brilliant story between Jey Uso and Sami Zayn and in the end, Zayn cost Kevin Owens the victory before he handed the win on a plate to Jey Uso. This was a brilliantly told story that showed everyone that the Bloodline are the number 1 thing in professional wrestling.

Wes Lee VS Carmelo Hayes: NXT (22/11)

Wes Lee defended his North American Championship for the first time ever against the former A Champion Carmelo Hayes. This was an amazing match between two very talented performers and this showed why Carmelo Hayes is hyped as a star. In the end, Wes Lee got the win after hitting this ridiculous kick and then a Michinoku Driver to get the win. Like I said in my full review of this match, this was a standout performance from Wes Lee, let alone a standout win.

Seth “Freakin” Rollins VS Cody Rhodes: WrestleMania 38 Night 1 (02/04)

Seth “Freakin” Rollins came out with a choir singing his song. He waited to see who his WrestleMania opponent was and it was revealed to be Cody Rhodes. The crowd went mental and they were then treated to an amazing match between the two. This was a proper back and forth contest and Rhodes was only able to get the win after hitting his finisher about 4 times. The craziest thing is that the match wasn’t even the biggest part of this. The fact we got one of the main guys in AEW taking on one of the biggest stars in WWE added to the already amazing spectacle.

Tiffany Stratton VS Wendy Choo: NXT 2.0 (23/08)

Tiffany Stratton and Wendy Choo battled in a lights out match that actually main evented the show. This match was so much fun and this was definetly my favourite women’s match of the year. Both women leaned into their characters in this match so much and put on a performance that was worthy of making this list. Tiffany Stratton showed that she is one of the best women’s performers on the entire NXT roster whilst this was a breakout performance for Choo.

Cody Rhodes VS Seth “Freakin” Rollins: Hell in a Cell (05/06)

Cody Rhodes VS Seth “Freakin” Rollins inside Hell in a Cell was already a pretty big deal but it became even bigger when it was revealed that Cody Rhodes had torn his pectoral muscle. When he took his jacket off to reveal the swelling, it was pretty crazy to think that he had been cleared for this match. Anyway, the match happened and it was fantastic. Rhodes was determined to show why he deserved to be in the main event of a WWE PLE whilst Seth Rollins reminded everyone why he is one of, if not the best in the world at what he does. Rollins was also wearing the Dusty Rhodes polka dots which made it even better. In the end though, Cody Rhodes picked up the win after hitting Seth Rollins with the sledgehammer. This was a fantastic match that told an amazing story. It was the sort of performance that proved why Rhodes coming back to WWE was a good thing.

Carmelo Hayes VS Ricochet: NXT Worlds Collide (04/09)

NXT World’s Collide kicked off with NXT’s Carmelo Hayes defending his North American Championship against SmackDown’s Ricochet. This was a top quality contest between two of the best in the world. Ricochet is called the “One and Only” for a reason, he does things that are stupendous yet we’re just used to seeing it out of him whilst Carmelo Hayes showcased why he has been the number 1 guy on NXT 2.0. In the end, the interference from Trick Williams allowed Carmelo Hayes to get the roll-up victory to retain his A Championship. Melo Don’t Miss!

Pat McAfee VS Austin Theory: WrestleMania 38 Night 2 (03/04)

Pat McAfee made his WrestleMania debut against Mr. McMahon’s protégé, Austin Theory. Pat McAfee came down to the crowd singing along to “Seven Nation Army” and this was a hell of a match. I’ve seen how good Pat McAfee is in the ring and he showed the wider audience this too with some amazing feats of speed and agility. Michael Cole was also on commentary cheering him on and we have to give credit to Austin Theory as he proved why he is the future of this company. In the end, Pat McAfee was able to pick up the victory with the roll-up meaning the crowd went absolutely mental. There was other stuff after this but if we just focus on the match, it was easily one of the matches of the entire year in terms of entertainment.

Roman Reigns VS Brock Lesnar: Summerslam (30/07)

The Main Event of Summerslam saw Roman Reigns take on Brock Lesnar in a Last Man Standing Match. A lot of people were not very happy at the fact that Reigns and Lesnar were doing battle however, this match made us forget about that fact as it was so much fun. Brock Lesnar came down to the ring on a tractor and he then jumped off of the digger thing and onto the Tribal Chief in the ring (who had literally caught a microphone without even looking just a few seconds before). Pretty much every weapon in Wrestling was used and the amount of times people went through the table was ridiculous. The most “STUPENDOUS” part came when Brock Lesnar lifted up the ring and Roman Reigns went flying down to the outside area. The ring was ruined as was the ringside area and at one point, Theory came down to try and cash-in his Money in the Bank briefcase but he was quickly stopped by Brock Lesnar. Lesnar even hit an F5 onto Paul Heyman who went flying off of the table before Reigns and the Usos destroyed Brock but somehow, he just kept getting up. In the end, Reigns got the win after the Bloodline pilled basically everything they could find onto Lesnar. This match was one of the most ridiculous things I think I have ever seen. I recommend this match if you need something to laugh about.

Bron Breakker VS JD McDonagh VS Ilja Dragunov: NXT Halloween Havoc (22/10)

The Main Event of NXT Halloween Havoc saw Bron Breakker put his NXT Championship on the line against the number 1 contender JD McDonagh and the former NXT United Kingdom Champion Ilja Dragunov. This match was truly amazing, everyone performed on such a high level and my biggest compliment to this match was that all 3 men looked like they could walk out as NXT’s top Champion. Dragunov showed everyone why he is so highly regarded whilst this was a proper breakout, no standout performance from JD McDonagh. The spot were he catches the referee’s hand before it hits the mat for 3 was definetly one of the best spots of the entire year. As for Bron Breakker, he retained his NXT Championship and even if you think his reign has been dull, this list clearly shows that he knows how to have a hell of a match.

Roman Reigns VS Drew McIntyre: Clash at the Castle (03/09)

The Main Event of WWE’s first stadium show in the UK for 30 years saw the Head of the Table Roman Reigns take on the Scottish Warrior Drew McIntyre. This match was an amazing spectacle were the crowd was fully behind Drew McIntyre in his quest to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. At one point, Austin Theory’s music hit and it looked like he was going to try and emulate Seth Rollins’ cash-in from WrestleMania expect Tyson Fury decided to knock him out. Back in the ring, Drew McIntyre met Reigns with a Spear and a Claymore and it looked like he was going to win but he was stopped by the Street Champion, Solo Sikoa. This was an awesome debut and this ended up leading to Roman Reigns getting the win and retaining his Championship. Even though a win for Drew would have been awesome, Reigns winning was probably the right call. A fantastic showcase of two of the best in the past 3 years.

Axiom VS Nathan Frazer 3: NXT (11/10)

Axiom and Nathan Frazer were tied 1 apiece going into the final match in their trilogy and this match topped their previous two encounters which was hard to do. Both Axiom and Frazer showcased that they are good at so many different styles, both men are quick, both men are good strikers, both men are tremendous highflyers and both men are also technically sound. This was an amazing match that deserves to be at the top of this list and in the end, Nathan Frazer managed to get the win with a roll-up. A brilliant, brilliant match between two of the best breakout stars in 2022.

Sami Zayn VS Johnny Knoxville: WrestleMania 38 Night 2 (03/04)

Sami Zayn took on Jackass star Johnny Knoxville in the greatest celebrity match ever. This was 14 minutes of absolute ridiculousness: bowling balls, tasers, giant hands and mouse traps were all used in this insane contest. Also, fellow Jackass stars Pontius, Party Boy and Wee Man made it even better. Wee Man body slamming Sami Zayn was arguably the spot of the entire year. In the end, Johnny Knoxville managed to get the win by trapping Sami Zayn in a giant mouse trap. This isn’t a match that only wrestling fans should watch, this is a match that anyone should watch if they want to have a good time. Explaining this match doesn’t really give it any justice.

NXT North American Championship Ladder Match: NXT Stand and Deliver

WrestleMania weekend fully kicked off with a ladder match for the NXT North American Championship. Carmelo Hayes came in as the A Champion but it was a tough ask for him to retain his championship given the fact that Legado’s Santos Escobar, Grayson Waller, Solo Sikoa and Cameron Grimes all wanted that title. What followed was one of the best wrestling matches I had seen in a very long time, everyone showcased why NXT still has top tier wrestling. Solo Sikoa was great, Santos Escobar reminded everyone why he was once called the Cruiserweight Champion whilst Grayson Waller once again went viral. Also, Sanga, Trick Williams and Legado Del Fantasma all got involved on the outside so this was a proper, chaotic multi-person match. Carmelo Hayes put on another terrific finish but he was taken out of the match by a Phantom Driver from Santos Escobar which then allowed Grimes to hit the Cave-In onto the Emperor of Lucha Libre, climb up the ladder and become the NXT North American Champion. Him winning was the icing on the cake of both an amazing year of booking and a world class match.

Gunther VS Sheamus: Clash at the Castle (03/09)

Coming into Clash at the Castle, Gunther VS Sheamus was the match I was most looking forward to. I knew it was going to be good, I just didn’t know it was going to be this good. Both men battered one another for 20 minutes and by the end of it, both men had nothing left and their chest’s were destroyed. Gunther is an incredible wrestling but somehow, Sheamus can match his brutality which is a sentence I shouldn’t be saying. In the end, Gunther got the win to retain his Intercontinetal Championship after hitting both a powerbomb and a lariat. Overall, this was incredible. The match itself was amazing so when you add in the story of the Intercontinental Championship being the only title that Sheamus hasn’t won and the match taking place in the UK, Sheamus’ homeland and a place that Gunther had ruled over for nearly 900 days, this was just perfection.