Any long time fans knows the highs and lows of professional wrestling. WWE is packed with incredible moments that can make you laugh or cry. Here's ten moments that had you sobbing in front of your television screen.
Mankind Beats The Rock - RAW January 4, 1999
This match turned the tide in the WCW/WWE rating wars. Foley didn’t look like your stereotypical WWE wrestler, so it’s no surprise that Vince McMahon didn’t see much in the WWE Hall of Famer. Jim Ross had to desperately convince the former WWE CEO to hire him.
Even then, the only reason that Mr. McMahon finally gave Foley a chance was because he wanted JR to understand what it's like for a talent to break his heart. He was convinced that Foley would be a flop. Thankfully, he was wrong.
Mankind’s feud with The Undertaker quickly got him over. But It wasn’t just the amazing matches that endeared fans to the three faces of Foley, his character work was top-notch. Three years after his debut, Mankind finally won the WWE Championship, with some assistance from Stone Cold Steve Austin.
It isn’t the most convincing win that a babyface should get, but fans were invested in Mankind. It was a huge crowning moment and the celebration after the match made it feel really special. It’s a shame that Mankind’s title run only lasted a few weeks, but even then, it doesn’t take away from this well-deserved and heartwarming moment that also turned the tide in the WCW/WWE war.
Kofi Kingston Beats Daniel Bryan - WrestleMania 35
Kofi Kingston’s title run will be looked back on as a missed opportunity. However, it should be commended that WWE pivoted their original plans once they saw the fan reaction following Kofi’s loss at Elimination Chamber.
Kofi Kingston’s big title win was 10 years in the making. Originally, he was on the verge of a huge push in 2010. His first major feud was against Randy Orton, but Kofi made a mistake and reportedly, Orton was pissed, notably shouting, “Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!” to Kingston during the segment. Immediately, Kofi was pushed back down the card and he was stuck there until 2019.
Kofi always had the potential to be a main event star; He’s a charismatic and gifted talker. Plus, his matches are rarely below good. And Kofi’s easily a babyface that fans can get behind. So when the referee hit the three count after Trouble in Paradise, seeing him and The New Day celebrate together made for a heart-wrenching moment. Again, WWE did an excellent job of capitalizing on the huge momentum Kofi had and it’s one of the best WrestleMania moments in the company’s history.
Eddie Guerrero beats Brock Lesnar - No Way Out 2004
It’s a shame that this match wasn’t made for WrestleMania because everything here was perfect. No Way Out may not exist as a regular pay-per-view anymore, but it does have a rich history of creating exciting moments.
Eddie Guerrero’s shocking title win is in the top three. Hell, there’s an argument to be made that it’s number one. The dirt sheets weren’t so notable during these days so many fans didn’t know that Lesnar was on his way out. Most fans automatically assumed that Guerrero was Lesnar’s next victim.
Eddie is a big reason why the WWE mid-card scene was so strong. His storyline with Chyna remains iconic, but his U.S. and Tag Team title runs showcased just how gifted of a performer the WWE Hall of Famer is.
The build to the match itself was excellent and Eddie’s final promo was one of the best go-home promos ever. When Goldberg laid out Brock Lesnar with a spear, the possibility of Eddie Guerrero winning increased.
Then he got that three count, and Eddie immediately jumped into the crowd before getting the belt, showcasing just how much the title meant to him. Fans love an underdog story, and to see Eddie Guerrero beat his demons and climb to the top of the mountain was a joy to watch.
Bret Hart beats Ric Flair - October 12, 1992
Bret Hart beating Ric Flair represented more than just a moment. It changed the scope of wrestling and opened the opportunity for smaller guys like Shawn Michaels to become top WWE stars.
Now Flair didn’t have the stereotypical pro wrestler body that Vince McMahon likes either, but the “Nature Boy” was already a proven star before he made his way into the WWE.
Bret cutting an emotional promo about achieving his dreams only added to the special moment of seeing a man who’s stolen the show on numerous occasions finally become the number one guy in the biggest wrestling promotion in America.
Cody Rhodes beats Roman Reigns - WrestleMania 40
They say the journey is often greater than the destination.
That case can be made for Cody Rhodes. The third-generation star was in a dead-end gimmick before his departure in 2016, and once he was finally released, nobody knew just how big the Undisputed WWE Champion would get.
The big thing is the freedom Cody had on the indie scene, which allowed him to evolve as a character and grow as a performer. It was fun seeing him pop up in places like New Japan, Impact Wrestling, and Ring of Honor; and him joining the Bullet Club came at the peak of the popular faction.
When Cody came to AEW, he was already a star. The “American Nightmare” proved that he didn’t need the WWE machine to be a success in pro wrestling, but, WWE remains the biggest wrestling company in the business, so that itch to be the face of the promotion was still there.
Give credit where it’s due, Vince McMahon and Creative did an incredible job booking Cody. He was the biggest babyface on the planet in 2023, and it was only a matter of time before he dethroned Roman.
While the “finish the story” angle had a few missteps, the two-year journey of finally seeing Cody topple Roman Reigns was well worth the wait. It was a combination of how hot the Bloodline saga was and how genuine of a person Cody came across.
The third-generation star proved that a classic Blue Collar Babyface can succeed in the modern era of wrestling. The string of emotions that came from the announcers to Samantha Irvin, and the crowd showcased the power of what great storytelling can be.
Trish Stratus beats Lita for the WWE Women’s Championship - Unforgiven 2006
We watched as Trish Stratus went from an inexperienced valet into one of the best female professional wrestlers on the planet. When she announced her retirement, it made sense because the former seven-time women's champion had accomplished all that she could in WWE.
Having her final title match against her long-time rival was perfect booking. Lita and Trish grew up in the WWE together and we’ve watched them evolve as performers both in and outside the ring.
Seeing their rivalry come full circle in Trish’s hometown showcased just how far the division had come since their early days in the business. Their Unforgiven match remains one of the best women’s matches of all time and the chef’s kiss was Trish finishing off Lita with the sharpshooter.
Trish’s final match was the end of an era for the women’s division, a bittersweet moment that capped off a remarkable career for the WWE Hall of Famer.
Chris Benoit beats Triple H and Shawn Michaels to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship - WrestleMania 20
It’s hard to look back on Chris Benoit’s career and celebrate the former World Heavyweight given the circumstances surrounding his death. It’s understandable why WWE goes out of their way to pretend that this match never happened.
However, while we certainly don’t condone the man outside of the ring, there’s no denying the performer who captivated audiences every time he stepped into the square circle. This match remains the best Triple Threat match at WrestleMania.
The build-to it was fantastic as intertwining the Triple H/Shawn Michaels saga, with Chris Benoit’s historic Royal Rumble win made for a complex story that made all three competitors compelling. But like so many names on this list, watching Benoit finally win the world title after busting his ass for decades was a touching moment for fans who have followed him since his New Japan/WCW days.
It was hard to not cry watching the show go off the air with both Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero celebrating as top champions of their respective brands. Sadly, the moment is tainted, and understandably, plenty of fans would never rewatch this classic triple-threat match again, but the impact and emotional weight this had on everyone at the time can’t be denied.
Daniel Bryan beats Batista and Randy Orton to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship - WrestleMania 30
This may have not been the first time Daniel Bryan won a world title in WWE, but it sure felt like it. Daniel Bryan became the hottest babyface in the world and WWE tried to fight it at first because Vince believed that Bryan was a B+ player. However, the company could no longer deny the popularity of the American Dragon.
So Daniel Bryan had the tall task of fighting Triple H to even get into the main event. Once he did, the layout of the match did an excellent job of yo-yo-ing with the audience's emotions on whether WWE would actually strap the rocket onto Bryan.
Once Batista tapped, the moment was surreal. Watching a sea of fans doing the Yes chant as Bryan is fighting back tears while he’s also doing the Yes chant felt like a real change that the promotion needed at this time.
Babyface or heel, Daniel Bryan had proven for years that he was always an A+ player and to witness his hard work finally paying off made WrestleMania 30 worth the price of admission.
Zack Ryder beats Dolph Ziggler for the United States Championship - TLC 2011
Vince McMahon hates Zack Ryder.
After the former WWE star’s stint in Edge’s faction was over, he was mainly used as a jobber on the main roster. Ryder wasn’t happy with his position, so he started a YouTube web series called Z! True Long Island Story.
That got him over in a big way and fans started chanting “We Want Ryder” for weeks. More importantly, his merchandise sales were going through the roof, so after being hesitant, WWE finally gave Zack Ryder a push that resulted in him winning the U.S. title. Him going over and hugging his father made the moment even more special.
To see Ryder go from a barely used jobber to one of the most popular acts winning the U.S. title temporarily put WWE in fans' good graces because they actually listened to what THEY wanted. Of course, the following weeks after Ryder’s huge win does not leave a question on whether Vince was genuine in giving Ryder a push. Or was he simply trolling them? Either way, his massive downfall after TLC doesn’t take away from an unforgettable night where Zack Ryder, Daniel Bryan, and CM Punk stood tall.
Bayley beats Sasha Banks to win the NXT Women’s Championship - NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn
Bayley and Sasha Banks arguably had the greatest women’s match of all time. During an era where the Black and Gold version of NXT sparked the beginning of the women’s revolution, Sasha Banks and Bayley put on a clinic in their first match at NXT TakeOver.
Bayley was the best babyface in WWE during this time, and while her hugger gimmick may have sounded silly, it was a massive hit to fans because Bayley came across as a genuinely likable person. A perfect match that gave the underdog the much-deserved win. The celebration also emphasized the importance of Bayley silencing her critics by winning the big one.