13 Best Matches Of WWEs PG Era (Ranked)

On twenty second July 2008, WWE programming was labeled as TV-PG for the primary time. This noticed a change within the firm’s presentation as they seemed to market their exhibits in the direction of a youthful viewers, firming down the usage of profanity and extreme violence in favour of a extra child-friendly method during which the babyfaces usually stood tall over the heels in emphatic trend.

Inside the final decade or so, eras have turn into an enormous promoting level of wrestling. From the ‘Angle Period’ to the ‘Ruthless Aggression Period’, time durations are sometimes marked with a reputation to outline particular factors within the firm’s historical past. As such, WWE themselves have used phrases such because the ‘Actuality Period’ so as to add extra separation to its historical past, however the score of their product has remained TV-PG all through the final 16 years. With the PG Period thought of to be over, GIVEMESPORT takes you thru our tackle the 11 finest predominant roster matches of the PG period, together with something from 2008 till WrestleMania 40, when it was declared that we had entered the ‘Renaissance Period’. Listed beneath is how we have put this record collectively.

Rating elements

Wrestling Observer E-newsletter Ranking Cagematch Ranking Total leisure in every respective match.

13 Sasha Banks vs Bianca Belair (WrestleMania 37)

Simply the second-ever girls’s WrestleMania predominant occasion

A historic and emotional match, Sasha Banks vs Bianca Belair was the primary time that two black girls had ever predominant evented WrestleMania, and the importance of that merely can’t be understated. The pair shared a touching second as Bianca was on the verge of tears shortly after the opening bell, however, with the circumstances put to at least one facet, each girls have been at their finest as soon as the motion started.

With the target being to make Belair a star, followers nonetheless keep in mind epic moments equivalent to Bianca whipping Banks along with her iconic hair extension, and The EST lifting her opponent above her head as she walked up the metal stairs.

12 Daniel Bryan vs John Cena (SummerSlam 2013)

The viewers’s religion in Bryan was rewarded with an excellent match

In 2013, WWE’s fanbase knew what they wished and have been unrelenting of their efforts to make it occur. Collectively, an amazing majority of the viewers determined that Daniel Bryan must be the subsequent high man, so viewers have been delighted when John Cena personally chosen the underdog to be his challenger for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.

Bryan had real likability and in-ring means that set him aside from most of his friends, and, consequently, this match excelled. Filled with emotional drama and unimaginable wrestling, the shock of Bryan hitting his well-known working knee and getting the pinfall over Cena is a second that received’t quickly be forgotten. Whereas Bryan didn’t depart the occasion as champion, his efficiency in the principle occasion spot proved that he belonged and ultimately led him to WrestleMania 30.

11 Becky Lynch vs Bianca Belair (WrestleMania 38)

A well-told story involving two of WWE’s greatest stars

Following Becky Lynch’s stunning return and subsequent squash of Bianca Belair at SummerSlam 2021, The EST was out for revenge on the Grandest Stage of Them All. As quickly the bell rang, followers have been teased with the thought of historical past repeating itself, as Lynch countered Belair’s handshake and was in a position to transition right into a Manhandle Slam, however, fortunately for these inside AT&T Stadium, Belair kicked out, and the 2 girls would go on to placed on an absolute basic.

The match featured nice heel work from Becky, together with placing her ft on the ropes and profiting from the referee’s rely, as she performed the proper villain for Belair to beat in an emotional win.

10 CM Punk vs John Cena (RAW – twenty fifth February 2013)

Maybe one of the best match in RAW’s historical past

After CM Punk misplaced his WWE Championship to The Rock at 2013’s Royal Rumble, however, after a disagreement with John Cena, the Chicago-native given one final shot to earn his approach to WrestleMania 29 on the twenty fifth of February version of RAW; and it was top-of-the-line TV matches WWE followers have ever been handled to.

The bout defied expectations in some ways. When tuning into WWE on this specific Monday evening, it’s sure that viewers weren’t anticipating to see Punk bust out a piledriver in a desperation try to search out his approach to the Present of Exhibits. The pair kicked out of every little thing they might throw at each other, till, in the long run, it was Cena who picked up the win after an all-out conflict.

9 AJ Types vs John Cena (Royal Rumble 2017)

The ultimate assembly between Cena and Types made historical past

Two of the best of their technology, AJ Types was already two wins up on John Cena after they met on the Royal Rumble 2017, however their third match noticed them compete for the richest prize within the trade. With the WWE Championship on the road, the trilogy between Types and Cena was capped off with an excellently carried out title bout.

The pair even traded submissions as two wrestling icons seemed to one-up one another on the Alamodome. There have been stable callbacks to their earlier matches and every little thing simply appeared to circulation. Plus, this match is the place John Cena was in a position to decide up his record-equalling sixteenth world championship, including main significance to the event.

8 Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania 39)

Reigns and Rhodes confirmed nice chemistry on the largest stage

When Cody Rhodes earned the best to face Roman Reigns on account of his 2023 Royal Rumble win, The Tribal Chief was already over 880 days into his astonishing run on high of WWE. Nonetheless, The American Nightmare had been driving a wave of momentum since his return at WrestleMania 38, and it seemed as if he’d stroll out as champion.

Now arguably two greatest stars in all of wrestling, Reigns and Rhodes simply clicked contained in the ring as they battled to be the true face of WWE. The match captivated followers for over half-hour, till Solo Sikoa’s interference meant Rhodes suffered a surprising loss at a time when most thought he’d dethrone the corporate’s most dominant champion in many years only a yr after his comeback.

7 Seth Rollins vs Cody Rhodes (Hell in a Cell 2022)

Nobody may imagine that Rhodes went via with the match

When Cody Rhodes made his emphatic return to WWE at WrestleMania 38, he got here face-to-face with Seth Rollins, and their feud rattled on via till Hell in a Cell 2022. Nevertheless, when it got here time to their third match within the sequence, rumours emerged that Rhodes had sustained a torn pectoral muscle in coaching.

Few will neglect the collective gasp of the WWE Universe when Rhodes eliminated his jacket to disclose the purple bruising round his peck, however that didn’t cease The American Nightmare from placing on a present. Offering an apparent goal, the psychology of the match was clear, with Rollins going to the damage at any given alternative, however followers cheered Cody to victory as he put in a heroic efficiency to know the win earlier than having to go on the highway to restoration.

6 Gunther vs Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre (WrestleMania 39)

Gunther was merely plain in California

Following GUNTHER’s one-on-one match with Sheamus months prior, expectations have been extraordinarily excessive for the three-way which noticed Drew McIntyre added to the combo at WrestleMania 39, and it’s honest to say that the match actually delivered.

The Ring Common had two real threats to his Intercontinental Championship, and all three males gave it completely every little thing to return out on high. It genuinely felt that any of the hard-hitting strikes may finish the match, and followers weren’t certain which manner the bout would go till Austrian planted McIntyre with a Powerbomb to get the three-count. Every competitor clobbered the opposite in a conflict that ended up being a real match of the yr contender for 2023.

5 The Usos vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (WrestleMania 39)

Among the finest tales WWE have ever informed

The Usos’ battle with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn was the end result of months of storytelling. Having as soon as been a member of The Bloodline, Zayn having to show to his former buddy and longtime enemy for help offered the framework for a gripping finish to WrestleMania 39’s first evening.

The tag contest was structured completely, with Owens being stored out of the match in order that Jimmy and Jey may deal with the person they used to face alongside. Zayn’s underdog babyface hearth is unmatched and followers couldn’t take their eyes off of the closing stretch because the Canadians constructed sufficient momentum to beat The Usos and turn into Undisputed WWE Tag Workforce Champions.

4 Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 26)

The match that compelled Michaels into retirement till 2018

A yr on from their basic at WrestleMania 25, Shawn Michaels needed to up the stakes. With The Deadman feeling as if The Heartbreak Child wasn’t worthy of one other crack at The Streak, the so-called Mr WrestleMania tried every little thing to get his likelihood at historical past, to the purpose at which he determined to place his legendary profession on the road.

As such, an additional emotional edge was added to the rematch of their iconic ‘Mania 25 match, this time with followers realizing each pin try may imply the top of Michaels’ profession or the ending of The Streak. It was a rollercoaster that solely one of the best wrestling matches can take you on, and one thing that has rightly carried out down in historical past as top-of-the-line matches ever.

3 CM Punk vs John Cena (Cash within the Financial institution 2011)

When actual life circumstances create wrestling magic

The storyline surrounding the WWE Championship at Cash within the Financial institution 2011 was one of the crucial distinctive and fascinating situations heading right into a pay-per-view that the corporate had ever carried out. With Punk’s contract expiring and John Cena threatened with being fired if he misplaced, every little thing made it appear as if there was no manner Punk may win.

But, backed by over 14,000 followers in his hometown of Chicago, the Second Metropolis Saint took the battle to Cena in an environment that was as soon as in a lifetime. Then, after over half an hour of robust wrestling and basic drama, Punk shocked the world by nailing Cena with a GTS and capturing the WWE Championship hours earlier than his contract expired.

2 Gunther vs Sheamus (Conflict At The Fort 2022)

Each males made the Intercontinental Championship look like the richest prize of all

When Sheamus challenged for GUNTHER’s Intercontinental Championship in September 2022, he aimed to tick off the one title that had eluded him all through his illustrious profession. The Ring Common was simply three months into his title reign, however, on condition that this was the UK’s first Premium Stay Occasion in three many years, these in Cardiff allowed themselves to imagine that WWE may mark the event with an enormous championship swap.

Filled with drama, Sheamus and GUNTHER completely leathered one another over the distinguished mid-card title, and it was evident simply how a lot getting the win meant to each males. It was as hard-hitting as something in WWE’s historical past, and, by the point the Austrian secured the pinfall over his opponent, followers have been shocked on the physicality they’d witnessed between champion and challenger.

1 Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 25)

Two of the best lastly clashed on the largest stage

For over twenty years, The Undertaker’s iconic streak stole the present at WrestleMania. Though, not many would’ve anticipated his match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 to be fairly as legendary because it ended up being.

The most effective wrestling matches are those that problem your expectations and make you imagine that completely something may occur. Whereas these in Texas and watching around the globe got here in pondering The Undertaker would win, The Heartbreak Child’s unrelenting kickouts made followers imagine that they have been about to witness historical past. In fact, The Deadman ended up leaving ‘Mania with a document of 17-0, however his first battle with Shawn Michaels left an enduring affect on the trade which continues to be being felt at this time.