2005's Top 5 WWE Matches

[Carter]

So what was everyones top 5 matches from the year of Cena and Batista's careers taking off?

5. Orton Vs Undertaker: HIAC- Armageddon

While I enjoyed their matches at Mania, summer slam, and no mercy; I thought their match at Armageddon was their best. This was a pretty ok match that ended this year long feud.

4. 1st ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match- Mania

This kicked off what would be a tradition at mania. I have yet to see a MITB that I didn’t like.

3. Angle vs HBK: Mania

I really don’t get the same enjoyment out of matches that I know will be good before the bell even rings compared to matches that shock you in the end because it went above and beyond what was expected. That’s why I picked this match only 3rd.


2. HHH vs Flair: Last Man Standing- Survivor Series

Their has been three feuds in which I HHH played the heel role perfect and I really wanted the underdog to win. 1. HHH vs Foley (Early 2000) I wanted Foley to win so bad at Rumble and No Way out, but sadly HHH won both times, none the less great feud. 2. HHH vs HBK (Late 2002, didn’t care for the feud in 04). And finally HHH vs Flair. While their match at Cyber Sunday was ok this was an amazing match. Very hardcore and I was pulling for Flair for the first time ever here. Sadly HHH picked up the win (like he always does) but it was still a great match.



1. HHH vs Edge vs Beniot vs Y2J vs Orton: Elimination Chamber for the world title-NYR

This was my favorite EC match and with good reason. Their was three things that made this match one of my favorites. First was the match itself. At about 34mins long it was given enough time for plenty of action and a great match. Secondly was the buildup. Going into this match everyone in the chamber had a reason to be in it. Their were some great feuds in it and the epic “will Batista help HHH win or will he try to win it for himself.” Lastly, six of wwe’s best were in this match. Shame Beniot taints anything he is in now, but at the time all big names were in this.

[Woo]

Okay now we are going back in time far enough so that I can remember at least 10 matches I liked. I wasn’t too into this year as I became hooked on TNA and this was when AJ, Joe and Daniels were giving us classic matches every month.


Here’s my top 10.

10. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Triple H, HBK as Special Guest Ref- Elimination Chamber- New Year’s Revolution 2005

So we have a bit of an ‘elephant in the room’ situation with Benoit matches here, but since Flyers included one of his matches I will too.

As Flyers said the storyline between HHH and Batista was really heating up here, as proved when HHH didn’t stop Orton pinning Batty. HHH wanted his gold back, Orton was screwed out of the title months before by HHH while Batty was there to help HHH…. There was also Benoit and Edge fighting for the vacant world title they thought they deserved and Edge also had issues with the ref HBK. Meanwhile Y2J was um…… wait why was he in this match again? Sadly vacating the title was all about giving HHH an extra world title.

9. Taker vs. Orton- Mania 21

This was at the time Taker’s best Mania match imo and I really enjoyed it. The choke slam into the RKO was an amazing spot and this was the only time I thought that Taker might lose at Mania.

8. Triple H vs. Edge vs. Chris Benoit- World Championship- Raw

This was the match that lead to the EC on NYR. At the end Benoit made Edge tap while at the same time Edge pinned Benoit. It was a gripping match with a great ending.

7. John Cena vs. Christian vs. Chris Jericho- Vengeance

Yes this should have been Christian’s big singles match with Cena before Y2J was added for no reason (did he do ANYTHING this year except randomly get added into feuds that had nothing to do with him? Gee no wonder he quit), but you can’t deny that this match delivered.

6. Eddie vs. Rey- Wrestlemania 21

A lot of people were annoyed at Rey’s mask during this match….I wasn’t. Imo the 2nd best opener to Mania ever.

5. Shelton Benjamin vs. HBK- Goldrush Tournament- Raw

Quite possibly the best match in Shelton’s career. The end spot with the springboard-sweet chin music counter is phenomenal.

4. Money In The Bank 1- Wrestlemania 21

Y2J was doing nothing at all (surprise surprise!) so this match was created! I do think now after watching all these MITB’s again that the one at 23 is the best but this has to be second. Shelton once again wows the world by running up a ladder! Outstanding match with 5 of the greatest wrestlers ever in the WWE imo, and Kane.

3. Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle- Wrestlemania 21

This was an outstanding Mania! I did have problems with this match, the fact HBK was a dick for one. Angle his an Angleslam of the top rope, pins HBK right away before Shawn kicks out. Shawn hit’s a Sweet Chin Music, waits for about 50 seconds before pinning Kurt in an attempt to protect his own finisher. And then he makes Kurt’s main finisher look shit by refusing to tap to the Ankle Lock for about five minutes.

2. Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman vs. The Dudley Boys- ECW One Night Stand

This deserves a mention if only for the Sandman’s entrance.



But this match was also outstandingly overbooked. The BWO! Mahoney and Rotten! Kid Kash! The Impact Players! Barbed wire! A cheese grater! A fork! Francine! Beleauh! A FUCKING FLAMING TABLE!!!! The most hardcore match we had ever seen the WWE do up to that point and it was so much fun.

1. Mike Awesome vs. Masota Tanaka- ECW One Night Stand

Joey Styles is a dick. His commentating during this match is the only thing I hate here. I found his comments about Awesome to be uncalled for at the time and now they are unbearable after Mike’s death. I do like to think though that Awesome was able to redeem himself somewhat in the ECW fans’ eyes with this fantastic match. This was just flat out fucking great! JBL’s look at the end where he is like “what…..the…..fuck?” really makes me laugh.