Top 10 best Champion vs Champion matches in WWE history

The best of the best collide in the battle between reigning World Champions 

Greatness is synonymous with champions in the combat sports world. To capture a title is regarded as an incredible feat that many fighters fail to achieve, only a few breakthrough to become champions.

Pro Wrestling is no different in this regard, as many try and fail to achieve the title. However, champions vs champions fights in pro wrestling are very rare. Today we take a look at the top ten of such champion vs champion clashes in the WWE that lit the pro wrestling world on fire.

The prestigious WWE championship was first rewarded to Buddy Rogers back in 1963. Rogers became the inaugural champion after defeating Antonino Rocca in the finals of a tournament in April 1963.

Since then many of the biggest names in the WWE and the industry have had the chance to hold the prestigious title. Some of these names include Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant, Bret Hart, The Rock, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Some of the biggest names in the modern era have also held the title these include John Cena, Triple H, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and CM Punk.

Now we take a look at the top ten best Champion vs Champion matches that have taken place in the WWE.

10. Randy Orton vs Kane

In the RAW vs SmackDown clash, Randy Orton faced Kane with Paul Bearer at ringside for a champion vs champion clash on October 22, 2010, Edition of Smackdown. Kane quickly took over the fight landing uppercuts and closeline on Orton.

In the closing minutes of the fight, Kane goes for the Chokeslam but the light in the arena goes off. As the lights came back Kane looked startled as he turned back into an RKO by Orton. Orton picks up the only Raw win of the night.

9. John Cena vs Booker T vs Big Show

The three Titans went against each other at the third annual Taboo Tuesday/Cyber Sunday pay-per-view. The event took place on November 5, 2006, at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In the main event of the fight the WWE Champion John Cena, World Heavyweight Champion Booker T, and the ECW World Champion Big Show went against each other.

In the closing moments of the fight, Queen Sharmell attempted to hit him with the title belt but Cena performed his move ‘Attitude Adjustment’ to Sharmell. Cena then applied STFU on Booker and went for a pinfall.

However, the referee was attending to Queen Sharmell and Kevin Federline hit Cena with the title belt. Booker then hit Cena with the title belt and won the match by pinfall.

8. Sheamus vs CM Punk

Sheamus took on CM Punk in WWE Main Event on 10/3/2012 with no title on the line. Paul Heyman was ringside for this match.

In the closing moments of the fight, Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick to finish the fight. However, Punk simply ducked under and pulled the other leg down with him, sending Sheamus into the exposed steel. Punk capitalized on this pin Sheamus down to gain victory.

7. Charlotte Flair vs Alexa Bliss

Following weeks of mind games, Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair took on Alexa Bliss at Survivor Series 2017. The event was the 31st annual Survivor Series PPV held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Alexa’s original opponent was Natalya, but was later changed to Charlotte Flair. The decision came after Flair defeated Natalya for the title on the November 14 episode of SmackDown. Flair took control of the fight yelling ‘You will never beat me.’ She then landed a big boot on Bliss to bag the victory.

6. Tazz vs Triple H

For the first time ever, the WWE Champion Triple H faced the ECW Champion Tazz on the 18/04/2000 episode of SmackDown. This clash between the two champions was a non-title match.

Triple H pinned ECW World Champion Tazz after Tommy Dreamer tried to interfere with a chair and accidentally hit Tazz with it, while the referee was knocked down. Triple H hit Dreamer with the Pedigree before making the cover to win the fight.

5. Big E vs Roman Reigns

The 2021 Survivor Series was held on November 21, 2021, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. In the main event of PPV Raw’s WWE Champion Big E faced SmackDown’s Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

After a hard-fought battle, Reigns attacked Big E’s injured knee and performed a second Spear on Big E to close the show. This main event victory gave SmackDown another win. The total score by the end of the night was Raw 5, SmackDown 2.

4. John Cena vs CM Punk

John Cena took on CM Punk in the main event at The 2011 SummerSlam held on August 14, 2011, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Triple H served as guest referee to crown the undisputed WWE Champion. Punk landed two GTS to win the title despite Cena’s foot being on the bottom rope.

3. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vs Chris Jericho

The 2001 Vengeance was the inaugural PPV event by the WWE that took place on December 9, 2001, at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California.

Jericho was aided by Vince McMahon at ringside and during the closing moments  Booker T attacked Austin with the WWF Championship belt from behind in the back of his head, knocking him out. Jericho capitalized on the opportunity, pinning Austin to win the fight.

2. Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair

On November 21, 2021, the WWE descended at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for the 35th annual Survivor Series. Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch took on SmackDown Women’s Champion Flair to open the PPV event.

Lynch picked up the first win of the night for RAW by defeating Flair when she reversed the pin by Flair and used the ropes as leverage to win the match.

1. John Cena vs Randy Orton

World Heavyweight Champion John Cena took on his fierce rival WWE Champion Randy Orton at the fifth annual TLC in 2013. The fight was to unify both the WWE titles.

During the fight, both rivals used various weapons on each other including ladders and chairs in an attempt to unify the belts. Orton retrieved the belts, unifying the titles in the process to win the match. This win made him the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

The 2024 Crown Jewel will be the sixth Crown Jewel and will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther will take on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

The titles are however not on the line the champion vs champion fight. It is for the inaugural WWE Crown Jewel Championship which will be defended each year annually at the Crown Jewel event.

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