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Throughout the company's history, WWE has produced legendary rivalries that featured superstars who went at it tooth and nail. Whether it be over championship gold or personal animosity, men and women have battled with no end in sight. On occasion, this has led the WWE Universe to chant "fight forever."
These feuds have had some of the greatest superstars in WWE history wage wars that are still remembered to this day. Some of these rivalries have even dated back before the competitors' time in the company. No matter how long these battles last, the legacy of these "fight forever" feuds remains in the minds of fans all over the world years later.
As WWE starts a new era with fans back in attendance, this seems like a great time to remember these iconic rivalries. In this article, let's take a look at the five epic "fight forever" feuds in WWE history.
#5 Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn - WWE
If there is one current WWE rivalry that always seems to draw that "fight forever" chant, it is Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn. The two men have a storied past that dates back to the beginning stages of their careers. They were both trained and made their debuts in Quebec. Zayn and Owens instantly hit it off upon their first match with each other and took their rivalry on the road.
Growing up in the business together, Owens and Zayn would work their way through the independent scene and become stars in promotions like PWG. However, it was Sami Zayn who made it to the WWE first. Zayn would become the top babyface on the fledging NXT brand, going on an underdog journey to the NXT Championship.
On the same night Zayn got his shot at the top prize of the black and gold brand, Kevin Owens made his WWE debut. After Sami defeated Neville to win the gold, KO was the first to congratulate him. This was just false security as Owens turned on Zayn and powerbombed him on the ring apron. Their first WWE match was at TakeOver Rival where KO defeated Zayn to win the NXT Championship.
Their feud would continue on the main roster as they battle over the Intercontinental Championship in a multi-man ladder match at WrestleMania 32 and the Fatal Four Way Match with The Miz and Cesaro at Extreme Rules 2016. Sami Zayn would get his first win in WWE over Owens at Battleground 2016.
Despite a temporary reconcilition in 2017-2018, the two men would once again do battle in 2021. Owens and Zayn finally made it to the Show of Shows when they faced one-on-one at WrestleMania 37 this year. With years of battles and no signs of slowing down, no rivalry today defines "fight forever" quite like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
#4 Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz - WWE
Tag team wrestling has often been under-utilized throughout WWE history. Vince McMahon has used tag teams to create major singles stars. There have been a few golden ages for the division throughout the years. One of those golden ages happened during the Attitude Era with two teams at the forefront.
The Hardy Boyz vs. Edge and Christian became a rivalry that helped revitalize the tag team division. Their series of encounters in 1999 that culminated with a marvelous Ladder Match at No Mercy helped both tag teams make a name for themselves. It was a contest that gave WWE the motivation to truly focus more on tag team wrestling.
The two teams found a third in the Dudley Boys when they made the jump from ECW to WWE. The three tag teams battled in a tremendous Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000 that would be the gateway to a new stipulation. The first Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match took place at Summerslam 2000 with Edge and Christian pulling out the win.
Edge and Christian and The Hardy Boyz would lock horns in ladder and steel cage matches until it was once again the three teams in the ring again at WWE WrestleMania X-7. This time, they would do battle in a TLC Match that took things to the next level. This insane, ball-to-the-wall bout is remembered as one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history.
A third TLC match pitting the three teams along with Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho would take place at SmackDown on May 2001. This would be the final contest with all three teams, but it wouldn't be the last with different combinations of The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian. Jeff Hardy and Christian would be in the fourth TLC Match on WWE Raw in 2002.
Edge and Matt Hardy had their own personal rivalry after the real-life affair between the Rated R Superstar and Matt's girlfriend Lita in 2005, while Jeff Hardy and Edge battled over the World Heavyweight Championship in 2009. Even recently, Matt Hardy and Christian took this feud from WWE to AEW. There might not be another rivalry that has waged across four decades like this one.
#3 Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Shawn Michaels - WWE
Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. Shawn Michaels may be the most captivating rivalry in WWE history. The two men were the faces of the company during its New Generation era. Both guys stepped up and took the mantle when stars like Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage left and when the company truly needed it after the steroids trial.
This started as a friendly rivalry of sorts. Bret and Shawn were friends behind the scenes and each were competitive, looking to be considered the man in WWE. Both come from famous tag teams with Bret in the Hart Foundation and Shawn in the Rockers. Those two tag teams put on remarkable battles against one another that helped push forward tag team wrestling in the company.
They locked horns on a major stage at Survivor Series 1992. Hart had just won the WWE Championship and successfully defended against Michaels in the main event. This would just be the start of their clashes for the top prize. Their feud would go to the grandest stage of them all at WrestleMania 12.
The two men met in the first ever 60 minute Iron Man Match in WWE history. This iconic contest is looked back on by many fans and wrestlers as their favorite match ever. Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart to win the WWE Championship for the first time.
The boyhood dream had come true, but this was a catalyst for a change in the dynamic of this rivalry. That night, Shawn told Bret "to get the hell out of my ring" according to Hart in his biography. From there, the two former friends would start to bicker behind the scenes.
Prior to WrestleMania 13 where the plans were for the two to meet, Shawn Michaels infamously "lost his smile" and relinquished the WWE Championship. The rising tension would move to on-screen at this time. There were fist fights and pull-apart brawls in the locker room that led to a final showdown at Survivor Series 1997 and the infamous Montreal Screwjob.
The animosity between the two men would go for years after Bret Hart left WWE for WCW. It was a dark cloud that stood over both men's careers. They would finally bury the hatchet when Hart made his on-screen return to WWE in 2010. However, it still stands that Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels is one of the most famous "fight forever" rivalries ever.
#2 The Undertaker vs. Mankind - WWE
When Mick Foley made his way to WWE in 1996 as Mankind, Vince McMahon gave him a big vote of confidence by placing him in a rivalry with The Undertaker. This was a feud that showed a different side to the Deadman. He had been largely invincible during his run with the company, but Mankind would brutalize him in a way that made him sympathetic for the first time in his career.
The first clash would take place at King of the Ring 1996 where Mankind defeated the Phenom. Their battles would wage on with the two men meeting again in the first ever Boiler Room Brawl at Summerslam 1996. This would be a night that forever changed The Undertaker's career as his long-time manager Paul Bearer turned on him and sided with Mankind, helping him win the match.
This would lead to yet another "first-ever" for WWE when Mankind and The Undertaker faced in a Buried Alive Match. Although The Undertaker won the contest, Mankind would get the last laugh and bury Taker along with The Executioner. This opened the door for more matches between the two rivals.
After The Undertaker defeated Sid to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 13, Mankind would be his first challenger. Taker beat his rival at In Your House: Revenge of the Taker. At this point, their feud had been defined by physically intense battles that upped the ante every single time. However, the best was yet to come.
At King of the Ring 1998, the most famous match in WWE history took place. The Undertaker faced Mankind in the Hell In A Cell Match on this evening. The match started on the roof of the cell and that is where we saw the most replayed moment in wrestling history. Taker would throw Mankind off the roof 20-feet down to the announce table on the floor.
To make things worse, The Undertaker would later chokeslam Mankind through the roof down to the ring. Taker would go on to defeat Mankind in this war, but neither man nor the business were ever the same after this encounter.
Mankind and The Undertaker have a feud that has pushed the limits of WWE and wrestling. It will always be remembered for the nature of the violence that was on display.
#1 The Rock vs. Triple H - WWE
There were a few WWE rivalries that helped define their Attitude Era. Of course, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon was a feud that captured the imagination of so many fans. There was also Austin vs. The Rock and Mankind vs The Undertaker that provided so many memorable moments. However, none went on as long as The Rock vs. Triple H.
The two men met for the first time battling over the Intercontinental Championship with The Rock as Rocky Maivia defeated Triple H as Hunter Hearst Helmsley for the gold. They each had their own struggles in the early stages of their career.
For Triple H, it was overcoming the setback of the Curtain Call that hurt his push and escaping the shadow of his D-Generation X running mate Shawn Michaels. For The Rock, it was finding himself after the failure to connect with fans as Rocky Maivia. Both men would perserve and found themselves as the leaders of their own stables.
Rocky Maivia transformed into The Rock who ousted Faarooq as the leader of the Nation of Domination, while Triple H would pick up the ball left by Shawn Michaels when he departed WWE and took over D-Generation X. This is when the two men would meet again, which truly elevated both of their careers.
The Rock and Triple H would clash once again over the Intercontinental Championship, but this time they would be in an outstanding Ladder Match at Summerslam 1998. It was hard-hitting, grueling and propelled both men to superstardom. Triple H won the title from The Rock, but it was The Great One who made it to the main event from here.
The Rock would win his first WWE Championship three months later and go on to face Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 15. At that same event, Triple H turned his back on DX and joined the Corporation. After losing the WWE Title to Austin, The Rock and Triple H battled to become the Number One Contender.
Triple H would win his first WWE Championship in August of 1999 and The Rock would be his first challenger on the very first episode of SmackDown. The Game beat The People's Champion thanks to Shawn Michaels as special guest referee. Their feud would continue for the next year, including both men being in the Fatal Four Way main event at WrestleMania 2000.
The Rock defeated Triple H for the WWE Championship at Backlash 2000, but The Cerebral Assassin regained the gold in an Iron Man Match the following month. The Rock regained the title at King of the Ring 2000 and would defend it against Triple H and Kurt Angle at Summerslam later that year. Their final battle would take place just before Summerslam 2002.
The inconclusive nature of how their feud ended has left the door open for the two men to battle again with many fans wanting a singles clash at WrestleMania. Despite years since their final confrontation, this is a rivalry that WWE will always have in their back pocket. That is why The Rock vs. Triple H is the most epic "fight forever" feud in WWE history.
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