The Big Picture
The wrestling world moves at a breakneck pace. With WrestleMania 41 just three days away and AEW building toward Double or Nothing next month, it is easy to get caught up in the immediate future.
But taking a step back reveals just how absurd the last few years have been. We have seen industry-shaking returns, masterclass storytelling, and a few booking decisions that still baffle the mind. Here are the top 10 moments that defined this modern era of professional wrestling.
10. MJF Betrays Cody Rhodes (Full Gear 2019)
The towel throw heard around the world. Cody Rhodes was battling Chris Jericho for the AEW World Championship when MJF threw in the towel, costing Rhodes the match.
The post-match low blow cemented MJF as the top heel in the company. It was a perfectly executed turn that set up a multi-year arc for the young star.
Yet, looking back, the stipulation that Cody could never challenge for the world title again booked AEW into a corner they never truly escaped. It was a short-sighted decision that eventually contributed to Cody leaving the company entirely.
9. Steve Austin Returns (WrestleMania 38)
Nobody thought it would actually happen. Nineteen years after his last match, Stone Cold Steve Austin main-evented WrestleMania against Kevin Owens.
Austin took bumps on the concrete and delivered a genuine brawl that exceeded all expectations. Owens carried his end perfectly, bumping like a madman to make the Texas Rattlesnake look like he hadn't lost a step.
The only downside was the subsequent night's segment with Vince McMahon, which featured the worst Stunner sell in wrestling history. Still, the match itself was pure magic. A 57-year-old man with a bad neck stole the weekend.
8. Hangman Page Wins the Big One (Full Gear 2021)
This was long-term storytelling at its finest. Hangman Adam Page's multi-year journey from an anxious millennial cowboy to AEW World Champion culminated in an emotional victory over Kenny Omega.
The match featured multiple call-backs to their time as a tag team, ending with Page hitting two Buckshot Lariats to secure the pinfall. The crowd reaction was deafening. It validated AEW's commitment to a slow burn over instant gratification.
Unfortunately, Page's actual title reign never quite matched the brilliance of the chase. He was often overshadowed by incoming ex-WWE talent, making his run feel like an afterthought.
7. Sami Zayn Strikes Roman Reigns (Royal Rumble 2023)
The Bloodline storyline peaked at the Alamodome. After months of trying to fit in, Sami Zayn finally snapped when ordered to attack a defenseless Kevin Owens with a steel chair.
Instead, Zayn turned around and smashed Roman Reigns in the back. The pop from the crowd was visceral, arguably the loudest reaction of the decade. It was the emotional climax of a story that had captivated fans for nearly a year.
The execution was flawless, even if the eventual payoff at Elimination Chamber left some fans wanting more. For one night, Sami Zayn was the biggest star in the world.
6. Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson (Grand Slam 2021)
When Bryan Danielson arrived in AEW, fans immediately demanded a match with Kenny Omega. Tony Khan didn't wait. He booked it for Dynamite: Grand Slam in Queens, and they wrestled to a 30-minute time-limit draw.
It was a masterclass in pacing, striking, and crowd manipulation. Danielson proved he could still go at the highest level after his WWE run, and Omega reminded everyone why he is considered a generational talent.
As PWInsider noted in their recent Dynamite video recap, AEW still relies heavily on the foundation built by matches like this. It remains the gold standard for television wrestling.
5. CM Punk's WWE Return (Survivor Series 2023)
Hell froze over in Chicago. Just months after being fired by AEW with cause, CM Punk walked out at the end of Survivor Series to a thunderous hometown reaction.
The static hit, Cult of Personality played, and the internet exploded. It was a secret kept remarkably well in an era where everything leaks to dirt sheets within minutes.
The visual of Punk standing on the WWE stage, almost a decade after his acrimonious departure, felt surreal. While his subsequent injury issues derailed some immediate plans, the shock value of that singular moment cannot be overstated.
4. Sting's Final Match (Revolution 2024)
Retirements in wrestling rarely stick, and they rarely end well. Sting broke the mold. Teaming with Darby Allin, the 64-year-old icon went out on his own terms in a chaotic, blood-soaked Tornado Tag match against The Young Bucks.
Sting jumped off balconies, took glass bumps, and locked in the Scorpion Death Lock one last time. It was a reckless, beautiful mess that perfectly encapsulated his AEW run.
He retired undefeated in the company, a rare sign of respect for an aging legend. It set a new benchmark for how a wrestling career should end.
3. The Rock Turns Heel (WrestleMania 40 Build)
When the fans rejected The Rock replacing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, WWE pivoted brilliantly. Instead of forcing a babyface run, Dwayne Johnson leaned into the hate and became the Final Boss.
His promos on SmackDown were vicious, blurring the lines of reality and dominating the television screen. The parking lot beatdown of Rhodes in the pouring rain was a cinematic masterpiece.
It salvaged a storyline that was on the brink of disaster due to WWE's initial misread of the audience. The Rock proved that, when motivated, he is still the most charismatic performer on the planet.
2. Cody Rhodes Finishes the Story (WrestleMania 40)
The main event of WrestleMania 40 was an over-booked, chaotic spectacle, and it was absolutely perfect. John Cena, The Undertaker, Seth Rollins, and The Rock all got involved in the Bloodline Rules match.
Ultimately, Cody Rhodes hit three Cross Rhodes on Roman Reigns to finally capture the WWE Championship. It ended Reigns' historic 1,316-day title run and brought closure to a multi-year saga.
The post-match celebration in the ring, surrounded by the roster, felt like the true start of a new era under Triple H. It was sports entertainment at its most grandiose.
1. The CM Punk and MJF Dog Collar Match (Revolution 2022)
This is modern wrestling perfection. CM Punk and MJF spent months building a deeply personal feud, trading verbal masterclasses on the microphone week after week.
It culminated in a brutal Dog Collar match that bled emotion and violence. The turning point came when Wardlow refused to help MJF, sliding the Dynamite Diamond Ring to Punk instead.
Punk hitting the GTS wrapped in the steel chain was a stunning visual. The storytelling before, during, and after the bell was flawless. It remains the absolute peak of AEW's creative output, a feud that delivered on every conceivable level.
Honorable Mentions
Edge's return at the 2020 Royal Rumble was a medical miracle, though the empty arena era quickly blunted its impact. Becky Lynch winning the main event of WrestleMania 35 deserves a nod, even if the botched finish left a sour taste.
Finally, Jey Uso pinning Roman Reigns at Money in the Bank 2023 was a massive shock that shifted the entire Bloodline dynamic.
