The 10 Best WWE PPV Matches In 2022, Ranked
From Day 1 to Survivor Series WarGames, 2022 was filled with several memorable matches on a WWE pay-per-view. Every competitor wants to showcase their best skills, especially at significant pay-per-view events. Of course, not every match is going to be a 5-star epic, but there have been some exceptional matches that occurred in 2022.
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From curtain-raisers to high-stake championship bouts, the best matches on WWE pay-per-views in 2022 were the ones with exceptional storytelling, and fantastic in-ring action. An honorable mention goes to The Brawling Brutes and Imperium's six-man tag team match at Extreme Rules and The Bloodline's six-man tag team contest with Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro for failing to cut.
10 The Bloodline Vs. Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, And The Brawling Brutes - Survivor Series WarGames
Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, and The Brawling Brutes had a slender advantage in their WarGames match with The Bloodline spearheaded by the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at Survivor Series WarGames. This was a fantastic match with the storytelling exceptional.
The Tribal Chief was the final participant to enter the match, and in the closing stages, he was on the cusp of sustaining his first pinfall loss in three years. That was until Sami Zayn proved his loyalty to The Bloodline by grabbing the referee's hand. Zayn low-blowed Owens, and nailed him with the Helluva Kick. Jey Uso connected with the Uso Splash to secure a handy win for The Bloodline.
9 Bianca Belair Vs. Bayley - Crown Jewel
Bianca Belair and Bayley squared off in a Last Woman Standing match for the Raw Women's Championship at Crown Jewel. The Role Model was looking to add some more gold to Damage CTRL after Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai regained the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship earlier on in the night.
There were some superb spots with Bayley connecting with the Bayley-to-Belly on the floor. Bayley introduced a golf cart into the match, and the EST of WWE drove Bayley down the aisle with Bayley on top of the golf cart. Belair powerbombed Bayley through a table, and Bayley attempted Rose Plant on the chair but Belair countered it with KOD onto a chair. The leader of Damage CTRL came up short once more as Belair trapped Bayley in a ladder with Belair retaining the Raw Women's Championship.
8 Roman Reigns Vs. Logan Paul - Crown Jewel
Roman Reigns and Logan Paul closed out Crown Jewel in a barnburner of an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match. Of course, the Tribal Chief was the overwhelming favorite to prevail, but the match was not one-sided as many believed it was going to be.
Credit has to be given to Paul for picking up wrestling as fast as he has. Paul had coolness personified as he grabbed a mobile phone from the crowd and filmed himself putting Reigns through a broadcast table with a frog splash. However, there was outside interference from Reigns' cousins The Usos and Solo Sikoa, and Jake Paul gave his brother a helping hand. Ultimately, Paul lost his concentration for a split second which was costly as Reigns remained as champion with a devastating spear.
7 Cody Rhodes Vs. Seth Rollins - WrestleMania Backlash
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins had the honor of opening up WrestleMania Backlash, and they were always going to hit a home run to get the show off to a great start. The Visionary was the aggressor, and he had a remarkable outing here.
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Rollins was desperate to get a win over Rhodes, and he did everything in his power to accomplish that. The American Nightmare executed Cross Rhodes but Rollins managed to put his foot on the rope. However, Rollins' plans backfired as he attempted to roll-up Cody but Cody reversed it and he pulled Rollins' tights to register a second consecutive win over him.
6 Roman Reigns Vs. Drew McIntyre - Clash At The Castle
The atmosphere was electric in the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales with Drew McIntyre challenging Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in the main event at Clash at the Castle. The action was off the charts with the British crowd desperate for McIntyre to bring the gold back to the UK.
McIntyre survived everything that the Tribal Chief threw at him, and it looked like the defending champion ran out of ideas. He was close to losing his championship in the dying embers of battle, but Reigns' cousin Solo Sikoa made his main roster WWE debut. Reigns took advantage of Sikoa's interference, and he departed Cardiff to a chorus of boos.
5 Cody Rhodes Vs. Seth Rollins - WrestleMania 38
It may have been predictable, but Cody Rhodes' return to WWE after a six-year absence to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 38 was one of the best returns in WWE history. This was a blockbuster match, between two exceptional wrestlers, and the pendulum swung back and forth.
Rollins thought that he had spoiled Rhodes' comeback with a Pedigree but the American Nightmare kicked out. Rollins showcased his resiliency by kicking out of the Cross Rhodes. However, a further hat-trick of Cross Rhodes' was enough for Rhodes to get over the line and re-opened his WWE career with a superb victory.
4 Roman Reigns Vs. Brock Lesnar - SummerSlam
A lot of Roman Reigns' tussles with Brock Lesnar have been underwhelming, but their meeting at SummerSlam for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a Last Man Standing match is unquestionably their best encounter. The Beast Incarnate was in cruise control in the early stages of the match, but Reigns saw an opening by putting Lesnar through a table with a Samoan Drop.
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Their hard-hitting match exceeded expectations, and Lesnar got on his tractor and he hoisted the ring off the ground. The Usos sensed their cousin was in danger, and he gave them a helping hand. Austin Theory's attempted Money in the Bank cash-in failed, and Reigns retained his championship after he and The Usos buried Lesnar with several items that prevented him from getting up.
3 Becky Lynch Vs. Bianca Belair - WrestleMania 38
The showdown between Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair over the Raw Women's Championship was outstanding, and arguably the women's match of the year. Big Time Becks was looking to prevail in her first WrestleMania match in front of a live crowd in three years, but Belair had other ideas.
Neither woman was willing to back down in this high-quality match, and Lynch cinched in the Dis-Arm-Her on Belair but Belair fought out of it. Ultimately, Belair put the humiliation from SummerSlam 2021 behind her as she had the last laugh as she defeated Lynch for the Raw Women's Championship with KOD.
2 Gunther Vs. Sheamus - Clash At The Castle
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart was in attendance to see Gunther and Sheamus slug it over for the Intercontinental Championship at Clash at the Castle. This hard-hitting contest was the match of the night, and it was an instant classic. Before the match began, Giovanni Vinci rejoined Imperium, and they brawled with The Brawling Brutes whilst Gunther and Sheamus remained unmoved.
There were some relentless chops to the chest by Gunther to Sheamus, and there was unrelenting brutality dished out between the pair. Sheamus craved the Intercontinental Championship to complete his set as a Grand Slam Champion, but it was more heartbreak with the Ring General hitting Sheamus with a wicked lariat for the win.
1 Cody Rhodes Vs. Seth Rollins - Hell In A Cell
The third match in a trilogy between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match was in serious jeopardy as the American Nightmare tore his pec. When he unveiled his jacket, the severity of his injury was shown to the world.
Cody showed professionalism at the highest order to even compete with an injury like that. Nevertheless, this was a five-star match with the Visionary showing how evil he can be as he repeatedly attacked Rhodes with a kendo stick to the injured area. Ultimately, Rhodes nailed Rollins with a couple of Cross Rhodes, and a sledgehammer shot to the face was enough to seal the deal.
