Wrestlers from WWE, AEW, and every promotion have delivered epic matches in hopes of entertaining fans and converting new ones to get involved in the world of wrestling. Every fan has their own match or moment that got them involved in wrestling.
Redditors have their own thoughts on good matches to start for those wanting to watch something new. These are matches suggested by fans that want to share their love for wrestling with others.
Kofi Kingston V. Daniel Bryan At WrestleMania 35 (2019)
At WrestleMania 30, Daniel Bryan received a cult following of fans that demanded to see him compete and win the WWE Heavyweight championship. However, the role was soon reversed once Kofi was introduced into the equation, with Daniel Bryan serving as the heel, who turned his back on the same fans that ed him.
AKittyCat suggested this match to be a good start for those wanting to get into the franchise. This Redditor gives credit to the win as "the post-match celebration is such a great high point to drive home what a good match feels like when it works."
CM Punk v. John Cena At Money In The Bank (2011)
With CM Punk's contract near an end, he competes in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois as the fan favorite against the defending champion, John Cena.
This highly praised fan favorite match was suggested by adam_lorenz927, who believed it was great due to the fact that the viewers "can get hyped from a crowd." The audience is a crucial part of any wrestling match as it motivates and fuels both performers to continue getting the crowd hype.
Seth Rollins v. John Cena v. Brock Lesner At Royal Rumble (2015)
In a card with a 30-men match, it was these three men that stood out as they battle for the championship. Wrestler turned actor John Cena fought with resilience while Seth fought like an evil genius. Brock is the real threat as they are forced to team up against him.
For danram207, they believe that this "is an amazing match that flows well and is easy to watch. You don't really need any other context other than one is a good guy, one is a bad guy, and one is a monster. And they're fighting for the top prize." Danram is correct in saying that it "flows well and is easy to watch," as all three wrestlers get a chance to show their talent in the ring.
The Hardys v. Edge & Christian v. The Dudleys In A TLC Match At WrestleMania 17 (2001)
In the time of the Attitude Era, it was the rivalry between these three teams that set the bar for the tag team division. With the objective to climb the ladder to retrieve the titles while also being allowed to use tables and chairs, a TLC multi-man match allows the performers to bring innovative offense.
Hazelwood38 uses this chaotic match as his go-to for new viewers. "While not a traditional match, the way each plot blending together seamlessly keeps a non-fans attention from bell to bell and shows how a story can be told in a ring." The match is full of high risk excitement that keeps all viewers on the edge of their seats.
John Cena v. AJ Styles At Royal Rumble (2017)
Before AJ Styles ed WWE, this felt like a dream professional wrestler vs superhero match. MrJim777 has nothing but praise for this match. "It kind of just has everything. Two popular modern day legends putting on a clinic."
This Redditor goes all in exploring the match with the story, in-ring work, and finish of the match. "Cena's power and resistance play to his character as well as Styles' fast-paced offense play to his. On top of that, it's just a great, pure wrestling match." With such in-depth analysis, it would be quite hard to find a fan who will disagree.
Shinsuke Nakamura v. Sammy Zayne At Takeover: Dallas (2016)
Before NXT turned into NXT 2.0, the NXT superstars would deliver at traveling Takeover events. Superstars would perform matches that would often get a standing ovation from the crowd.
Through their Takeover events, superstars would encourage non-wrestling fans to watch. Personal stories, like the one shared by brandon_5303 of his friend watching it ("I him being in the room for Takeover: Dallas and being absolutely in awe of Nakamura and Zayne"). Brandon's friend wasn't the only one in awe as Shinsuke and Sammy left the arena to the applause of the audience.
Bianca Belair v. Sasha Banks At WrestleMania 37 (2021)
Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 is special as it saw the crowd return after a year of wrestlers performing in empty arenas. The show ended with Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks being the first two Black women to main event WrestleMania - making wrestling history (via TalkSport).
This is an influential match, as pointed out by Redditor convolutedmartyr. From the very start, audiences can see the importance of the match on both competitors' faces. A match that feels special from start to finish "with the pre-match emotions, the excellent storytelling/payoff with the hair, the HAIR WHIP, Bianca being overwhelmed at winning," proving why these two continue to lead the women's revolution in wrestling.
#DIY v. The Revival At Takeover: Toronto (2016)
Johnny Gargano, who cosplays as several heroes, was partnered with Tomasso Champa to form #DIY before Champa became the backstabbing villain. Their 2 out of 3 falls match showed the talent of the tag team division as The Revival showed why they are now considered by many to be the best tag team of today.
This match is at the top of forceworks idea of matches that capture the idea of wrestling. Believed to be "pro wrestling 101," the battle of underdogs against top guys told a story of DIY working as a team and crawling their way to the top. Despite being a match of heroes v. villains, both teams came out as the winners, earning the respect of the crowd.