The exact length of the PG Era is up for debate, but for the purposes of ranking the best matches of this time period in WWE, we will look at the time between mid-2008 and early 2014, when the ‘Reality Era’ birthed into existence. This six-year stretch of WWE saw a big change away from blood, violence, and more extreme storylines, opting for a more family-friendly approach. Such as in every era of WWE, there were several incredible matches that fans hold dearly.
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TheSportster’s rating system will take a look over the six years of the PG Era, determining which matches were the very best of the best. These ratings will be compared to those from Cagematch.Net and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
To learn more about how we rank wrestling matches on TheSportster, please check out our match ranking criteria guide here
10 The Undertaker Vs. CM Punk (WWE WrestleMania 29)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
| Storytelling | 2.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.25/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.03
One of the last great matches of The Undertaker’s career came against CM Punk at WrestleMania 29. Punk was a pro at using his size and speed to find a way through his larger adversary, in addition to his mind games which led to an incensed Undertaker showcasing a lot of fire and physicality. They had brilliant chemistry, the storyline was deeply personal and entertaining, and the crowd were alive for this more than any other match on a pretty poor WrestleMania card.
9 Edge Vs. The Undertaker (WWE SummerSlam 2008)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
| Storytelling | 2.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.25/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.12
One of the earliest show-stealers of the PG Era came when Edge and The Undertaker battled in the main event of SummerSlam inside Hell In A Cell. With wild spots, a lot of weapons, and a great story told heading into the show, they proved that the Cell can still feel like a violent spectacle despite the constraints of a PG rating. Without blood, gore, and more, they put forth one of the best matches of the whole era to wrap up their iconic feud.
8 Chris Jericho Vs. Shawn Michaels (WWE No Mercy 2008)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
| Storytelling | 2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.25/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.25/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.14
The feud between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels was highly personal, and it all came to an end in this tremendous ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship. This wasn’t a typical spotfest, with instead a great story being told, as the ladders were made to feel like dangerous weapons rather than parts of a stunt, carrying a higher air of danger. It was hard-hitting, the big spots all felt like they meant more, and the tug-of-war finish was a unique but perfect way to end the match.
7 CM Punk Vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE SummerSlam 2013)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.25/10
| Storytelling | 2/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.5/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.25/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.36
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CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2013 was a David vs. Goliath match done right. Punk used his size, speed, and smarts to counter someone much larger and more dangerous, who dominated several portions of the contest and looked the best he had done returning to the company a year prior. The bumping and selling from both men really sold this match as one where they were both going through a physical war with one another, displaying a clinic in psychology.
6 John Cena Vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE SummerSlam 2013)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.5/10
| Storytelling | 2.25/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.25/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.28
Daniel Bryan’s rise in popularity in 2013 was thrilling, and it got even better when he went toe-to-toe with John Cena and defeated him clean as a whistle in the main event of SummerSlam 2013 to win the WWE Championship. Bryan was sensational in this match, playing the underdog to perfection but also showcasing his technical superiority to Cena, who resorted to playing the more powerhouse heel role in this match, which was a rarity. With the post-match heel turn by Triple H & Randy Orton setting up Bryan’s wild journey over the next year, this was one of the most memorable SummerSlam show-closers ever.
5 The Undertaker Vs. Triple H (WWE WrestleMania 28)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.75/10
| Storytelling | 2.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.25/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.24
Although the Hell In A Cell structure didn’t come into play too much, it added to the atmosphere of this dramatic masterpiece between The Undertaker and Triple H, who went to war with The Streak on the line. The brutal nature of the match, the emotion on display from all involved (including Special Guest Referee Shawn Michaels), and the four year story which came to its conclusion all came together for something truly special and larger than life. The age of The Undertaker did mean that it wasn’t technically perfect, but everything else was breathtaking.
4 CM Punk Vs. John Cena (WWE RAW 02/25/2013)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.75/10
| Storytelling | 2.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.5/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.25/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.33
CM Punk and John Cena had countless great matches, and their final singles bout on RAW ahead of WrestleMania 29 was one of the best TV contests in WWE history. This match had a strong pace to it, with the urgency from both on full show as a spot in the main event of WrestleMania was on the line. All of their history, their hatred, and their desire for the spot led to an intense match in which they pulled out all the stops, learning from their past together with ingenious counters, in addition to throwing out big moves such as the banned piledriver. The crowd was electric, and the match was stunning.
3 John Cena Vs. CM Punk (WWE Money In The Bank 2011)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 9.75/10
| Storytelling | 2.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.25/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 5 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.62
The night CM Punk became a permanent main eventer and an even bigger star was Money In The Bank 2011 in his thrilling battle with John Cena in front of a raucous Chicago crowd. They showcased fantastic chemistry, and whilst not everything was completely perfect, the atmosphere and psychology more than made up for it. The storyline coming into the match was one which blurred the lines, with Punk’s WWE contract legitimately ending, but went on to win the WWE Championship in a crazy moment, walking out with the gold after blowing a kiss the way of Vince McMahon.
2 The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels (WWE WrestleMania 26)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 10/10
| Storytelling | 2.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.5/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.50
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One year after their classic at WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker returned to the ring in the main event of the 2010 event. Whilst the technical side of the match wasn’t quite at the level of their previous bout, they had a far more intense and emotional feud coming into this one. That being said, the technical levels of this match were still phenomenal, with the pair putting together another perfect offering in undoubtedly the best match of the year. Michaels’ farewell from WWE was wonderfully done, with his performance in particular being a fantastic one.
1 The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels (WWE WrestleMania 25)
Overall Rating From TheSportster: 10/10
| Storytelling | 2.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
| Technical Ability | 2.5/2.5 |
| Character Work/Psychology | 2.5/2.5 |
| Crowd Reaction | 2.5/2.5 |
- Dave Meltzer Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Cagematch.net Rating: 9.61
What is often considered the greatest match in WWE history came within the PG Era, as The Undertaker took on Shawn Michaels with The Streak on the line in an absolutely gorgeously wrestled bout. Their chemistry was at an insane level, clashing with exquisite technical ability, fluid counters, big moves which were delivered with great impact, stunning near-falls, and a thrilling story which hooked the crowd in, who were on fire for these two legends going at it. This is why this match deserves a rare perfect rating.
