10 Best WWE Gimmick Matches Of The 2020s So Far, Ranked
David Craig Gimmick matches have become a permanent fixture in WWE instead of just standard one-on-one matches to settle a feud. A stipulation has been included to further enhance a rivalry that captivates the audience. The 2020s has been a successful decade in WWE so far with many big names returning to the company, and several departing. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed WWE to try out things that they most likely wouldn't have done had it not been for the pandemic with the Boneyard match being a prime example.
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Sometimes gimmick matches can fall flat as it feels like some matches feature a stipulation for the sake of it. However, there has been a strong catalog of gimmick matches in WWE in the 2020s which the fans have thoroughly enjoyed.
10 Bianca Belair Vs. Bayley - Crown Jewel 2022
Bianca Belair defended the Raw Women's Championship against Bayley in a Last Woman Standing match at Crown Jewel 2022. The Role Model was looking to make it a clean sweep for Damage CTRL as Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky regained the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship from Alexa Bliss and Asuka.
Bayley and Belair had some entertaining skits in this match, and the most memorable spot was Belair driving a golf cart and Bayley stuck on top of it. The three-time WWE Women's Champion gave it her best shot, but the EST of WWE continued her run as Raw Women's Champion as she introduced a ladder into the match and she trapped Bayley who was unable to answer the count of 10.
9 Becky Lynch Vs. Trish Stratus - Payback 2023
"The Man" Becky Lynch and WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus opened up Payback 2023 in a steel cage match. This was the first time that Trish had ever competed in a steel cage match, and she did not fail to disappoint in an outstanding match with Lynch.
They slugged it out for 20 minutes, and Trish being one of the oldest on the roster showed that she can still hang with the very best. Zoey Stark interfered to assist Trish, but it was to no avail, and Lynch saw off Trish after she executed a picture-perfect Manhandle Slam from the top rope in one of the best matches in 2023.
8 Bad Bunny Vs. Damian Priest - Backlash 2023
Bad Bunny and Damian Priest were unfortunate not to headline Backlash 2023 in unquestionably the match of the night in their San Juan Street Fight. Both men were of Puerto Rican descent, and to have a battle for 25 minutes in front of their Puerto Rican fans would have meant a lot to both men.
Priest's stock rose after this bout which led him to becoming Mr. Money in the Bank. Bad Bunny is a megastar, and he is not a trained wrestler by any stretch of the imagination, but he looked extremely comfortable in the ring. Chaos ensued with Carlito and Savio Vega making cameos as the Judgment Day's Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio interfered. Ultimately, Bunny prevailed in this war of attrition with his patented Buddy Destroyer.
7 United States Championship Elimination Chamber Match - Elimination Chamber 2023
The Elimination Chamber match for Austin Theory's WWE United States Championship at Elimination Chamber 2023 exceeded expectations. Theory defended the gold against the likes of Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed, Montez Ford, Damian Priest, and Johnny Gargano.
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Ford was one of the standout performers in the match as he eliminated Reed and Priest from the match. Rollins was close to recapturing the United States Championship but Logan Paul interfered and he nailed Rollins with the Stomp. Theory managed to retain the United States Championship with A-Town Down on Rollins.
6 Men's Royal Rumble Match - Royal Rumble 2020
The 2020 men's Royal Rumble match was star-studded, and it could be split into two halves. Brock Lesnar was the reigning WWE Champion and he was the number one entrant. The Beast Incarnate dominated the first half of the Rumble, and he eliminated 13 wrestlers in succession.
Lesnar's dominance was halted by the eventual winner Drew McIntyre. Moreover, this Rumble is fondly remembered for Edge returning to the WWE as the 21st entrant in his first match in nine years. Edge lasted 23 minutes, and he was eliminated by the 2015 Royal Rumble match winner Roman Reigns. The Scottish Psychopath went on to win the Rumble in the first Rumble of the decade.
5 Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Vs. The Judgment Day - Payback 2023
Senor Money in the Bank Damian Priest and Finn Balor were under huge pressure to deliver the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship to the Judgment Day as the Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley threatened that Priest and Balor could be kicked out of the group. Nevertheless, they challenged Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the gold in a Steel City Street Fight.
All four men had a stellar outing and the action spilled into the crowd and on the outside of the ring. Mami got involved physically, and she speared KO through the barricade. The NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio interfered with the numbers' game proving to be too much as the Judgment Day captured the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship with every member of the Judgment Day holding some gold, and Balor became a Grand Slam Champion.
4 Roman Reigns Vs. Brock Lesnar - SummerSlam 2022
Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar's most recent encounter was a Last Man Standing match for the Tribal Chief's Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at SummerSlam 2022. They knocked it out of the park in a remarkable match.
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The Beast Incarnate brought a tractor out to the ring, and the ring was unusable as Lesnar hoisted it off the ground. Austin Theory attempted to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase, but it was to no avail. Ultimately, The Usos interfered, and they helped their cousin bury items on top of Lesnar who failed to get up with Reigns retaining the gold.
3 Roman Reigns Vs. Kevin Owens - TLC 2020
Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens battled over the WWE Universal Championship in a TLC match at TLC 2020. KO was looking to become a two-time Universal Champion, and he had a superb battle with the Head of the Table.
Jey Uso was a nuisance in this match as he was doing everything in his power to ensure that Reigns kept a hold of the Universal Championship. KO was close to getting the Universal Championship in his possession once again, but Reigns remained as the Universal Champion.
2 Bayley Vs. Sasha Banks - Hell In A Cell 2020
Bayley and her former best friend Sasha Banks battled over the SmackDown Women's Championship in a Hell in a Cell match at Hell in a Cell 2020. They should have main evented the show in the best match of the night. Bayley was in her record 380-day reign as SmackDown Women's Champion with Banks out for revenge as Bayley betrayed her.
Neither woman held back in this remarkable Hell in a Cell match. The Boss was competing in her third Hell in a Cell match, and she ensured that she wasn't going home empty-handed as she ended Bayley's historic SmackDown Women's Championship reign with the Bank Statement and thus she became a Grand Slam Champion.
1 Cody Rhodes Vs. Seth Rollins - Hell In A Cell 2022
Cody Rhodes showed how tough he was as he competed in a Hell in a Cell match with a torn pec. He collided with Seth Rollins in their third match in their fantastic trilogy. This match was the best in their series of matches, and they hit a home run in one of the best Hell in a Cell matches in WWE history.
The Visionary played mind games with Rhodes as he wore polka dots which was synonymous with his late father "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Rollins was in no mood to show mercy as he targeted the American Nightmare with a kendo stick to his affected pec. Cody weathered the storm, and he nailed Rollins with a couple of Cross Rhodes and a vicious sledgehammer shot to secure the win in his final match for seven months.