The Big Picture
Ranking the ten greatest combat sports and professional wrestling moments of the modern era requires separating fleeting hype from lasting historical significance. We look at the actual in-ring execution, the box-office numbers, and the long-term impact on the industry. Whether reading the subtle momentum shifts in a boxing match or witnessing a massive returns pop, these moments defined their respective years.
The Top 10 Moments
10. Cody Rhodes falls short at WrestleMania 39
At SoFi Stadium on April 2, 2023, Roman Reigns pinned Cody Rhodes after Solo Sikoa delivered a Samoan Spike at the 34-minute mark. The defeat stunned 81,395 fans. They expected Rhodes to finish his story. Instead, WWE delivered a frustrating booking decision that temporarily deflated babyface momentum. While it set up the massive payoff a year later, it remains a controversial choice that felt like a missed opportunity. It ranks below other entries because it was a deflating setback rather than a satisfying climax.
9. Ilja Dragunov ends Gunther's NXT UK reign
On August 22, 2021, at NXT TakeOver 36, Ilja Dragunov forced Walter (now Gunther) to submit after a brutal 22-minute physical war. The victory ended Walter's historic 870-day run as NXT UK Champion. It was the longest title reign in modern WWE history. The violence was shocking. This match ranks at number nine because it provided a clean, hard-fought athletic climax. However, it sits below Jey Uso's victory because the NXT UK brand had a much smaller global audience.
8. Jey Uso pins Roman Reigns at Money in the Bank 2023
Jey Uso pinned Roman Reigns at London's O2 Arena on July 1, 2023, after a top-rope Uso Splash at 32 minutes. The Bloodline tag team match concluded with Reigns' first pinfall loss in 1,294 days. Jey Uso did the unthinkable. This moment earns its number eight spot because it proved the champion could actually be beaten. It ranks above Dragunov's win because of the sheer star power and the deafening reaction from the 18,885 fans in London. Still, it ranks below the Rollins cash-in because it occurred in a tag match without a singles title change.
7. Seth Rollins' heist of the century at WrestleMania 31
At Levi's Stadium on March 29, 2015, Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank contract during the main event. He hit a Curb Stomp on Reigns at 16 minutes and 43 seconds to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The crowd went wild. This ranks at number seven because it was a booking masterclass that protected Brock Lesnar while elevating Rollins. It ranks above Jey Uso's pinfall because it directly decided the biggest title on the grandest stage. It cannot rank higher, however, because it relies on a sudden match-type modification rather than a sustained singles war.
6. CM Punk returns to wrestling at AEW Rampage 2021
On August 20, 2021, CM Punk walked onto a wrestling stage for the first time in seven years at a sold-out United Center. Debuting for AEW, Punk delivered an emotional promo before distributing ice cream bars to 15,316 fans. The pop was historic. This ranks at number six because it was the most anticipated return in modern wrestling history. It ranks above the Rollins cash-in because of the genuine real-world emotion and years of fan anticipation. It stays behind Danielson's Wembley triumph, however, because Punk's return was an entrance rather than a classic, high-stakes match.
5. Bryan Danielson captures the AEW World Championship at Wembley
At AEW All In on August 25, 2024, Bryan Danielson forced Swerve Strickland to submit to the LeBell Lock at the 26-minute mark. Danielson put his career on the line in front of 50,000 fans, winning the AEW World Championship. The stakes were massive. This claims the fifth spot because it combined elite wrestling with a high-stakes narrative involving Danielson's family. It ranks above CM Punk's AEW debut because it delivered a definitive, legendary match that peaked at the perfect athletic moment. It sits below Sting's retirement because Sting's departure marked the absolute end of a four-decade career.
4. Sting retires undefeated at AEW Revolution 2024
On March 3, 2024, Sting wrestled his final match, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks. The 64-year-old icon forced Matthew Jackson to submit to the Scorpion Deathlock at 20 minutes. He retired undefeated in AEW. This earns the number four spot because it gave a legendary figure a perfect, dignity-preserving exit. It ranks above Danielson's Wembley win because of the sheer finality of Sting's retirement after forty years. It ranks below CM Punk's WWE return because Punk's comeback was an industry-shifting shock, whereas Sting's exit was a planned celebration.
3. CM Punk returns to WWE at Survivor Series 2023
At the conclusion of Survivor Series on November 25, 2023, CM Punk walked out in Chicago, sending the crowd into absolute shock. Following a decade of public lawsuits and a turbulent exit from AEW, Punk's return to a WWE ring was considered impossible. The shockwaves were real. This ranks at number three because it shifted the balance of power and generated record-breaking social media engagement. It ranks above Sting's retirement because of the sheer element of surprise and massive business implications. It remains below Usyk's undisputed win because Usyk's triumph was a physical, athletic achievement rather than a promotional surprise.
2. Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury for Undisputed Gold
On May 18, 2024, Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury via split decision in Riyadh to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years. Usyk turned the tide in the ninth round, landing a thunderous left hook that left Fury out on his feet. He nearly finished the giant. This takes the number two spot because it unified the heavyweight titles in a historic sporting achievement. It ranks above CM Punk's return because it represents the pinnacle of real athletic competition and a masterful display of reading momentum shifts in boxing. It sits below Cody Rhodes' coronation because Cody's win was the culmination of a multi-year, global narrative that gripped millions.
1. Cody Rhodes finishes his story at WrestleMania XL
At Lincoln Financial Field on April 7, 2024, Cody Rhodes pinned Roman Reigns after three consecutive Cross Rhodes to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The 31-minute match featured run-ins by John Cena, The Undertaker, and The Rock. Reigns' historic 1,316-day reign was over. This stands undisputed at number one because it is the most economically successful and satisfying climax in modern wrestling history. It ranks above Usyk's victory because of the scale of the live event and the years of intricate storytelling required to execute it. This was the definitive moment of the decade, uniting fans in a shared release of pure emotion.
Honorable Mentions
Several other moments narrowly missed the cut. Swerve Strickland winning the AEW World Championship at Dynasty on April 21, 2024, was a historic victory that made him the first African-American AEW World Champion. Roman Reigns returning at SummerSlam on August 3, 2024, to attack Solo Sikoa drew massive television ratings. Finally, MJF making his surprise return at Double or Nothing on May 26, 2024, injected immediate energy back into the promotion's main event scene.
