Ruthless Aggression Era (2002-2008)

new_WWE_logo

2002
The 100 Greatest Matches of the Decade: 2002
Rock/Hogan, HBK/HHH, and five of the Smackdown Six!
2003
The 100 Greatest Matches of the Decade: 2003
Angle/Benoit, HBK/Y2J, and John Cena becomes a star!
2004
The 100 Greatest Matches of the Decade: 2004
Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero have the banner year they had coming to them.
2005
The 100 Greatest Matches of the Decade: 2005
HBK/Angle, Batista/HHH, and Flair/HHH tell a timeless story in a STEEL CAGE!
2006
TEN YEARS AFTER: WrestleMania 22 – (4/2/2006, Chicago, IL)
Cena v. HHH, HBK v. Vince, and Edge v. Foley!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Backlash – (4/30/2006, Lexington, KY)
Cena v. HHH v. Edge! Plus, “God” is HBK’s tag partner against the McMahons?
TEN YEARS AFTER: Judgment Day – (5/21/2006, Phoenix, AZ)
Rey v. JBL, Taker v. Khali, and the KOTR Finale!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Vengeance – (6/25/2006, Charlotte, NC)
DX v. Spirit Squad! RVD v. Edge, and Orton v. Angle!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Saturday Night’s Main Event #33 – (7/15/2006, Dallas, TX)
Edge defends the WWE title against John Cena!
TEN YEARS AFTER: The Great American Bash – (7/23/2006, Indianapolis, IN)
Rey v. King Booker, Batista v. Kennedy, and the PUNJABI PRISON~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: SummerSlam – (8/20/2006, Boston, MA)
Edge v. Cena, DX v. the McMahons, Batista v. King Booker, Flair v. Foley, and Hogan v. Orton!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Unforgiven – (9/17/2006, Toronto, ON, Canada)
Edge v. Cena – TLC! Plus, we celebrate the career of Trish Stratus.
TEN YEARS AFTER: No Mercy – (10/8/2006, Raleigh, NC)
King Booker v. Batista v. Lashley v. Finlay!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Cyber Sunday – (11/5/2006, Cincinnati, OH)
King Booker v. Cena v. Show! DX v. Rated RKO!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Survivor Series – (11/26/2006, Philadelphia, PA)
King Booker v. Batista, Team Cena v. Team Show, Team DX v. Team Rated RKO!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Armageddon – (12/17/2006, Richmond, VA)
Batista/Cena v. Booker/Finlay, Taker v. Kennedy LAST RIDE! Plus, Joey Mercury’s face explodes!
The 100 Greatest Matches of the Decade: 2006 (VINTAGE MATT~! edition)
We take a retro-look at Matt’s original ‘best of 2006’ post! This time with complete PBP!
2007
TEN YEARS AFTER: New Year’s Revolution – (1/7/2007, Kansas City, MO)
Cena v. Umaga, DX v. Rated RKO, and Hardy v. Nitro inside a STEEL CAGE~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Royal Rumble – (1/28/2007, San Antonio, TX)
Cena v. Umaga — LAST MAN STANDING. Plus, the most important Royal Rumble match since the last Royal Rumble match!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (2/16/2007, Seattle, WA)
The Undertaker teams up with Batista to take on Rated RKO while John Cena and Shawn Michaels are set to face Mr. Kennedy and MVP!
TEN YEARS AFTER: No Way Out – (2/18/2007, Los Angeles, CA)
The WrestleMania main events EXPLODE~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (2/19/2007, Bakersfield, CA)
Rob Van Dam meets Edge in a ‘Money in the Bank’ qualifying match while John Cena battles Randy Orton!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (3/26/2007, Chicago, IL)
The WrestleMania main events EXPLODE AGAIN~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (3/27/2007, Grand Rapids, MI)
All eight Money in the Bank competitors meet in a huge eight-man tag!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (3/30/2007, Grand Rapids, MI)
The Undertaker and Batista meet for the “Biggest Interview in Sports Entertainment History”. When did Tony Schiavone return to WWE?
TEN YEARS AFTER: WrestleMania 23 – (4/1/2007, Detroit, MI)
John Cena meets Shawn Michaels, the Undertaker battles Batista, and the Battle of the BILLIONAIRES~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (4/2/2007, Dayton, OH)
 Vince is bald! HAHAHAHAHA! Ahem. Plus, Shawn Michaels and John Cena EXPLODE~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (4/3/2007, Fort Wayne, IN)
 The ECW Originals take on the New Breed in EXTREME RULES~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (4/6/2007, Fort Wayne, IN)
 The Undertaker and Batista meet in the ring again. Plus, Chris Benoit gets his paws on the Miz!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (4/13/2007, Providence, RI)
 Batista and the Undertaker team up to tackle Mr. Kennedy and Finlay! Plus, Chris Benoit meets MVP!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (4/20/2007, Milan, Italy)
 Deuce N Domino take on Paul London and Brian Kendrick with the WWE tag titles on the line! Can the greasy twosome win the big one?
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (4/23/2007, London, England)
 Cena/Michaels II!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (4/27/2007, London, England)
 Batista and the Undertaker team up to tackle Mr. Kennedy and Finlay! But this time, it’s a NO-DISQUALIFICATION MATCH~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Backlash – (4/29/2007, Atlanta, GA)
John Cena faces his biggest challenge to date in a fatal four-way match against Shawn Michaels, Edge, and Randy Orton. Plus, the Undertaker battles Batista in a WrestleMania rematch under Last Man Standing rules!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (4/30/2007, Nashville, TN)
 Someone is beating up all of John Cena’s top challengers – and it’s not John Cena who is doing the beating up! Who could it be?! The answer may shock/disappoint you.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (5/4/2007, Birmingham, AL)
 Mr. Kennedy battles Matt Hardy in a fun match! Plus, Kane takes on MVP to see who will be the U.S. champ Chris Benoit’s next challenger!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (5/11/2007, Pittsburgh, PA)
 A must-see Smackdown as the world champ the Undertaker meets Batista – inside a STEEL CAGE! Seriously, this was an awesome show.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (5/18/2007, Baltimore, MD)
 Chris Benoit meets Finlay. That’s really all you need. Just in case that’s not enough, MVP takes on Matt Hardy in another fun match! Plus, OZZY OSBOURNE PERFORMS~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Judgment Day – (5/20/2007, St. Louis, MO)
 John Cena takes on his LARGEST challenge to date in the Great Khali! Plus, MVP battles Chris Benoit in a 2/3 falls match over the U.S. title!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (5/25/2007, Des Moines, IA)
 Batista, Mark Henry, Finlay, and Kane battle to see who will be the number one contender to face Edge at One Night Stand!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (6/1/2007, London, ON, Canada)
 The Cutting Edge comes to Smackdown! Plus, Deuce N Domino defend their WWE tag titles in a triple-threat match!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Saturday Night’s Main Event 34 – (6/2/2007, Toronto, ON, Canada)
 BIGGEST! STRONGEST! STRANGEST!
TEN YEARS AFTER: One Night Stand – (6/3/2007, Jacksonville, FL)
 Gimmick matches everywhere!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (6/8/2007, Orlando, FL)
 MVP meets Batista, Edge takes on Chris Benoit, and it seems Mr. McMahon is acting very odd.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (6/11/2007, Wilkes-Barre, PA)
 Wouldn’t you know it? The one night everybody shows their appreciation to Mr. McMahon – and he DIES.
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (6/12/2007, Philadelphia, PA)
 After Chris Benoit gets drafted to ECW, he joins CM Punk to battle the New Breed!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (6/15/2007, Philadelphia, PA)
 WOO! WOO! I LIKE SMACKDOWN! WOO! WOO!
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (6/19/2007, Charlotte, NC)
 To make this as least depressing as it can be, this episode airs the ECW world title tournament semifinals!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (6/22/2007, Charlotte, NC)
 Batista rejoins his old pal Ric Flair to battle Edge and MVP!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Vengeance: Night of Champions – (6/24/2007, Houston, TX)
 EVERY TITLE IS ON THE LINE! It’s a good idea – in theory.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (6/29/2007, San Antonio, TX)
 Vengeance is over now, but EDGE STILL HAS TO WRESTLE BATISTA!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (7/6/2007, Dallas, TX)
 The U.S. champ MVP goes to war with Matt Hardy. Matt will not die, so this could be problematic for Mr. Porter.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (7/13/2007, New Orleans, LA)
 Edge celebrates Mardi Gras – in July?
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (7/20/2007, Laredo, TX)
 Since Edge partied too hard last week, a battle royal will determine a *new* World Heavyweight Champion!
TEN YEARS AFTER: The Great American Bash – (7/22/2007, San Jose, CA)
 John Cena battles Bobby Lashley! Kane and Batista try to dethrone the Great Khali! Jeff Hardy tries to take the IC title away from Umaga!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (7/30/2007, Tucson, AZ)
 While Mr. Kennedy puts Bobby Lashley out of action, Carlito scores a huge upset!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (8/6/2007, Buffalo, NY)
 RAW gets a *new* GM while Mr. McMahon finds out he knocked up some broad — and she kept it!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (8/13/2007, New York City)
 The “bastard child” quest continues.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Saturday Night’s Main Event 35 – (8/18/2007, New York City)
 MVP has chosen a surrogate to box Matt Hardy — and it’s Evander Holyfield! If only they had let him talk…
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (8/20/2007, Fayetteville, NC)
 A jealous Santino Marella tries to interrupt Maria’s date with Ron Simmons! Yep, checks out. This is a *wrestling* show.
TEN YEARS AFTER: SummerSlam – (8/26/2007, East Rutherford, NJ)
 JOHN CENA versus RANDY ORTON!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Raw – (8/27/2007, Boston, MA)
 On the night after his loss at SummerSlam, Randy Orton looks to make a statement to Mr. McMahon that he *deserves* another shot at John Cena and more importantly the WWE title.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (8/31/2007, Albany, NY)
 To find a #1 contender to Great Khali’s world title, Teddy Long makes a one-night CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION, which is just a vague WWE-ized way of saying “four-man tournament”.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (9/3/2007, Columbus, OH)
Things are looking up, folks.
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (9/4/2007, Cincinnati, OH)
CM Punk gets *ONE LAST SHOT* at the ECW title. I took time out of my day to write up this recap so he better make it count.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (9/10/2007, Green Bay, WI)
Vince finally finds out who his bastard kid is. Say, whatever happened to the chick who was suing him?
TEN YEARS AFTER: Unforgiven(9/16/2007, Memphis, TN)
Undertaker makes his return to kick Mark Henry’s butt. Plus, Cena-Orton II!
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (9/17/2007, Nashville, TN)
Check out the balls on John Cena’s dad!
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (9/24/2007, Milwaukee, WI)
Hornswoggle makes trouble for Jonathan Coachman – because he’s a McMahon now, ya see!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (9/28/2007, Indianapolis, IN)
While Vickie Guerrero becomes the new GM of Smackdown, MVP gets put into a match with an old nemesis.
TEN YEARS AFTER: No Mercy – (10/7/2007, Chicago, IL)
SO MUCH TRIPLE H!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Cyber Sunday – (10/28/2007, Washington, DC)
The Undertaker challenges Batista to get his world title back, but who will be the special guest referee? ONLY THE WWE FANS CAN DECIDE~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (10/29/2007, Philadelphia, PA)
For most people, a handicap match with Randy Orton and Umaga would be a HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE. But not for Triple H.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (11/16/2007, Wichita, KS)
Just days before Batista goes inside Hell in a Cell to face the Undertaker, he REQUESTS a No-DQ match with…Mark Henry? It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Plus, MVP and Matt Hardy defend their tag titles against The Miz & John Morrison.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Survivor Series – (11/18/2007, Miami, FL)
Batista takes on an angry Undertaker inside HELL IN A CELL. Plus, Shawn Michaels battles Randy Orton – without any Sweet Chin Music.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (11/19/2007, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
SAVE_US.Y2J
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (11/23/2007, Tampa, FL)
Edge is back – and he’s in love?
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (11/26/2007, Charlotte, NC)
Ric Flair returns to make an important announcement. WOO!
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (12/10/2007, Bridgeport, CT)
It’s time to celebrate the 15th ANNIVERSARY OF RAW with THREE HOURS! Sheesh.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Armageddon – (12/16/2007, Pittsburgh, PA)
Jeff Hardy faces Triple H for a chance at the WWE title at the Royal Rumble. Plus, Edge gets involved in a triple-threat match over the world title with his biggest foes.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (12/31/2007, Greensboro, NC)
Ric Flair must keep on winning to remain within WWE. Tonight, he faces TRIPLE H.
The 100 Greatest Matches of the Decade: 2007
Cena/Umaga, MITB, and plenty of Randy Orton!
2008
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (1/7/2008, Uncasville, CT)
For the third time in RAW history, it’s RAW ROULETTE~! Jeff Hardy battles Umaga – inside a STEEL CAGE.
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (1/8/2008, Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore get their “15 Minutes of Fame” against The Miz & John Morrison. Plus, a returning Chavo Guerrero gets a second chance to beat CM Punk so he can get an ECW world title shot. Who is really behind such decision-making?! Hmm.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (1/21/2008, Hampton, VA)
CAN TRIPLE HAYTCH STILL MAKE IT INTO THE ROYAL RUMBLE?
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (1/22/2008, Charlottesville, VA)
LA FAMILIA ESTA COMPLETA~!
TEN YEARS AFTER: Royal Rumble – (1/27/2008, NYC)
Okay guys, Triple H is the clear winner for the Rumble match. There’s nobody who could possibly win the Rumble match other than him because he’s married to the boss’s daughter and whatnot. If you don’t pick Triple H to win, you’re a mark who isn’t as smart as me. You don’t know how the biz works like I do. I’m what they call a “smart”.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (2/11/2008, Austin, TX)
Check off another one of your dream matches for Shawn Michaels. Tonight, he goes twenty minutes with Jeff Hardy.
TEN YEARS AFTER: No Way Out – (2/17/2008, Las Vegas, NV)
Nobody makes the Big Show bleed his own blood. NOBODY.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (2/25/2008, Phoenix, AZ)
JBL makes a big little confession.
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (3/4/2008, Cleveland, OH)
It’s CM Punk’s last chance at regaining his ECW title.
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (3/10/2008, Milwaukee, WI)
THIS WEEK IS A THREE-HOUR WRESTLEMANIA 24 REWIND NIGHT! What does that mean exactly? Well, you get to see the Undertaker and Mark Henry in a casket match again! YEAH!
TEN YEARS AFTER: RAW – (3/24/2008, Columbia, SC)
Ric Flair has his final showdown with Shawn Michaels before the final throwdown at WrestleMania.
TEN YEARS AFTER: ECW on Sci-Fi – (3/25/2008, Fayetteville, NC)
A 24-man tag match? Now that’s bound to be “action-packed”.
TEN YEARS AFTER: Smackdown – (3/28/2008, Fayetteville, NC)
Edge has a figurative funeral for THE STREAK. You won’t believe what happens next!
TEN YEARS AFTER: WrestleMania 24 – (3/30/2008, Orlando, FL)
Shawn Michaels takes Ric Flair out back and puts him out of his misery.