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World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) offers so much more than just fake fights and scripted moments. The phrase “WWE is fake” is often tossed around with little understanding of what actually goes into a pro-wrestling performance. Yes, outcomes are predetermined.
Yes, characters and dialogues are scripted — like many other great films, stage plays, and series. Though often brushed off by the public eye as fake and mindless, WWE is, in reality, a carefully crafted blend of athleticism, theatrical storytelling, and cultural commentary that has captivated global audiences for decades.
For those who have never stepped into the world of pro-wrestling entertainment, this list offers an era-by-era breakdown of WWE’s mind-blowing matches as an entry point into a world full of body slams and storylines.
“Attitude” Era (1997 – 2002)
The Attitude Era1 was known for its chaotic, unfiltered, and edgier side of wrestling. Blood, violence, and profanity do sound extreme for first-time viewers, but don’t be afraid of a little blood! This era became one of the most popular eras in pro-wrestling, making it a must-watch for beginners.
There were many reasons that this era was popular, but the main reason was the name itself — way different than what wrestling was about, which was cartoonish personas and a family-friendly image.
The Attitude Era significantly boosted the World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF) (now known as WWE) popularity. With stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kane, Lita, Chyna, and many others decorating the ring area with their skillsets and a touch of violence (and maybe over-the-top blood usage) — doesn’t it sound so fun?
The Undertaker vs. Mankind — Hell In A Cell, “King Of The Ring 1998”
This match is one of the most unforgettable matches in the Attitude Era. Hell in a Cell is a professional wrestling steel cage-based match. It features a large cell structure made from steel mesh chain-link fencing, closing up the ring and ringside area, trapping the wrestlers inside the cage.2
A Hell in a Cell match is often one of the most prestigious and beloved types of matches in the WWE because of its usage of 20-foot steel cages and no disqualifications during the matches — this was rarely seen in your usual matches, making this match very memorable for people.
This match is not the first time The Undertaker and Mankind faced each other, but certainly the most iconic! The intensity of the match was unbeatable, with The Undertaker and Mankind putting their bodies on the line. Instead of starting the match inside the cell, the two of them climbed on top of the cell, giving the crowd a show. Mankind’s plunge off the top of the Hell in a Cell wasn’t just shocking — it captured the brutal and edgier side of the era.
Beneath the brutality, the match was more than just a bloodbath. It was a story of sacrifice and pain, enhancing the ability of storytelling and showmanship in the world of pro wrestling. The amount of pain that they went through, from being thrown from on top of the cage to using thumbtacks as weapons, both The Undertaker and Mankind gave the people a very memorable match, with their rivalry being so iconic that people still talk about it to this day.
“Ruthless Aggression” Era (2002 – 2008)
With the curtains closing over the Attitude Era, came “Ruthless Aggression.” The athleticism offered in this era is unsurpassable, with stars like Kurt Angle, John Cena, Randy Orton, Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, and many other ruthless top dogs — this era was defined by the athletic tone where the in-ring performances spoke louder than catchphrases.
The Ruthless Aggression Era matches are all godly, with the mix of a fresh generation of talent and a brand new start in the WWE universe. It is a whole new era and a subtle shift from the previous era with its over-the-top gimmicks and profanity.
Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels — WrestleMania 21 (2005)
Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 21 is a perfect representation of what the Ruthless Aggression Era was like. The match also represented the shift between the eras. Both wrestlers were known for their peak athleticism, with Kurt Angle being an Olympic medalist and Shawn Michaels as a long-standing presence in the wrestling world.
The Royal Rumble sparked the rivalry between them; the Royal Rumble is a type of match where you eliminate another wrestler in order to win a shot at the world championship in WrestleMania. Michaels eliminated Angle, and Angle returned to the ring in revenge to eliminate Michaels — their eliminations led to their rivalry.
The match was technical, intense, and emotionally layered without needing excessive gimmicks to back it up. It told a story of two wrestlers fighting for legacy and dominance to be the best in the world.
Both wrestlers showcased their strengths, relying purely on their in-ring skills; Angle with his mat wrestling skills and Michaels with his high-flying maneuvers. This is a good entry point for first-time viewers who are more into the sport than the theatrics, but don’t be fooled! It is the WWE after all, you are bound to have theatrical performances!
“PG” Era (2008 – 2013)
Like many other great television airings, WWE was bound to hit the Parental Guidance (PG) Era. The switch to the PG era was to attract younger audiences and gain more sponsorships.3 While it was often dismissed as kid-friendly and toned-down content, the PG Era still managed to produce powerful moments that pushed back against its own limitations.
Being polished down to a more family-friendly product didn’t stop WWE from having amazing matches to watch for first-time viewers. Sure, they didn’t have much blood or peak athleticism, but they had storytelling as their main strength.
CM Punk vs. John Cena — Money In The Bank (2011)
In a very heated night, CM Punk was up against John Cena in Money in the Bank in 2011. The build-up for the match was one for the history books. A battle between the top guy, Cena, and the underdog, Punk, in his hometown — this made this match quite unforgettable and very highly recommended among fans. The match itself was praised as a classic back-and-forth action between the two superstars.
It was more than just throwing punches and significant moves — the crowd chanted out Punk’s name, eager to see his hometown win, causing a heated moment inside the ring. The match itself marked a turning point in WWE’s history, especially between Punk and Cena’s career. Their careers were on the line, with Punk not extending his contract and Cena getting fired if Punk won the match. Everything was tense, from the crowd chanting out names to an unbelievable ending — this one is a must-see for first-time viewers who are looking for a match that shows the heat WWE brings to the world.
“Reality” Era (2014 – 2016)
Authenticity is one word to describe the Reality Era. Intertwining between storylines and real-life events became one of its notable characteristics. It was the polar opposite of the previous era, where everything was tuned down for the sake of being family-friendly — this era was messy and dramatic, much like a reality television show. The Reality Era offered stars like Asuka, Charlotte Flair, Sami Zayn, and others rising from the NXT division, a training ground before they moved up to the main roster.
Sasha Banks vs. Bayley — NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 2015
Despite being an NXT match, where it is a playground for rising stars, this match delivers an outstanding performance by Sasha Banks and Bayley. The rivalry between Banks and Bayley added the touch of reality, sparking a very authentic feeling while you are watching the match. Much like Cena vs. Punk in the PG era, this one was all about the underdog against the bully.
It encapsulated the Reality Era, blurring the lines between kayfabe (the wrestling term for staged events, storylines, and characters) with reality. The crowd was insanely loud, cheering for the superstars and being fully invested in the match. The match had the right mix of spots and storylines, earning a very high rating from critics alike.
It was an emotional, high-stakes match that defied expectations of what female wrestlers could do. Many women wrestlers are often dismissed for their talents, making this match a very special one for WWE’s women’s roster.
Women’s matches were disregarded as a ‘toilet break’ and were not taken seriously. Due to wrestling being a male-dominated field, women were used as just accessories in the past — the mechanical move sets and theatrics brought by the two wrestlers changed the landscape of women’s wrestling.
This is a perfect match that encapsulates what it was like during the Reality Era, blurring the line between what is real and what is not, and no one does it better than Bayley and Banks in this setting!
“New Era” (2016 – Present)
The New Era became a pivotal moment for WWE. It focuses on long-term storytelling and high-quality matches, becoming an outstanding era for the company. Long-term storytelling was the key to this era, with Triple H’s former position as a previous WWE superstar and his current position as the Chief Content Officer, he definitely knew how theatrics work with wrestling.
Layered characterizations, story arcs that stretched across months or even years, the New Era offers superstars like Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan, and many others. Athleticism played a very big part in this era, emphasizing the skills of the performers and the increase in production value. This current era brings wrestling at its best, perfect for first-time viewers.
Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins — Hell In A Cell (2022)
Among the high production matches, this one takes the cake for gaining attention from the viewers. The match itself was highly physical, with Cody Rhodes wrestling with a torn pectoral muscle and Seth Rollins performing high-risk move sets.
Both wrestlers were bringing their best inside the steel cage match, balancing between the drama and strength. Rhodes and Rollins delivered masterpiece performances as wrestlers and storytellers. Rollins even taunted Rhodes by using his late father’s, Dusty Rhodes, signature costume — yellow polka dots.
Hell in a Cell matches tend to be more brutal than others because they have no disqualifications during the match. Both Rhodes and Rollins made sure to use the stipulation to its fullest. The match featured numerous weapons: weight belts, bull ropes, and a kendo stick.
Those weapons were used wholly, since the match had a no disqualifications rule, each wrestlers were allowed to use them during the match. Wrestling with a fully torn pectoral muscle didn’t undermine Rhodes’ talents, and it also didn’t make Rollins be less cruel. This match is the perfect one to showcase the New Era to first-time viewers, with its storytelling and high-production matches.
At its core, WWE is more than just choreographed fights and over-the-top entrances — it’s a theater play, blending emotions, dramas, and character arcs, much like the ones you see in your favorite movies and TV shows. Through complex characters, long-term rivalries, to bloodied matches — WWE has proven that it deserves recognition as art. For newcomers, wrestling might seem unserious at first, knowing that it is all just a play, but that’s part of the magic!
If you love layered performances, dramatic fights, and storytelling, a WWE match is your cup of tea. It’s totally a Shakespeare play with blood and steel chairs. So, get yourself pulled in — you might just end up chanting along with the crowd!
Footnotes
- Contributors to Pro Wrestling. (2025). Attitude Era. Fandom, Inc. ↩︎
- Pro Wrestling Wikipedia Contributors. Hell in a Cell. Pro Wrestling Wiki. ↩︎
- Ali, Hamza. Why WWE Became PG In 2008, Explained. 2023, Mar 27. ↩︎