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It goes without saying that World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is the world's biggest professional wrestling industry. It has been so for over two decades now and will continue to remain one for years to come.
Larger-than-life characters and gripping storylines are two of the biggest factors behind the sports entertainment giant's success so far.
Over the years, we have witnessed several different types of rivalries in WWE. While a good number of those were forgettable, others were so iconic that they took WWE to a whole new level.
Whether you are referring to the Attitude Era, the Golden Age, or the New Era, you can always find a number of feuds from every phase that stood out and got the fans invested in them.
While there are loads of rivalries in the history of WWE which can be hailed as "all-time greats", I have prepared a list of five of the best ones that not only defined WWE but are so evergreen that they can be revised or rehashed and very few would complain, depending on the execution.
#5 John Cena vs. CM Punk
While the WWE Universe is mostly critical of the storylines and matches that we get these days, it will be unfair if we don't mention this iconic rivalry. Punk and Cena crossed paths numerous times while they were a part of WWE. However, their most memorable program began in the summer of 2011, often referred to as "The Summer of Punk".
The feud pitted WWE's chosen one (John Cena) against the fans' choice (CM Punk). The Straight Edge Superstar's "Pipebomb" promo, where he exposed the dark truth of the sports entertainment giant by addressing a vulnerable John Cena, was nothing short of spectacular and still remains fresh in our minds.
The John Cena/CM Punk rivalry had it all from classic promos and hard-hitting matches to blurring the lines between reality and kayfabe, ensuring that the WWE Universe remains invested all the way.
#4 The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
It's impossible to talk about the Attitude Era or even WWE without mentioning The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. These two icons cemented their respective legacies in the world of professional wrestling during the said period.
The most interesting thing about this rivalry is that both The Brahma Bull and The Texas Rattlesnake reached the top of the mountain at almost the same time. And while we have been told that there's only room for one at the top, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin thrived at the same time due to their contrasting personalities.
On one hand, you had Steve Austin, an anti-authority rebel who used to beat up his boss to entertain the masses. On the other, you had The Rock, who became the "People's Champion" with his natural charisma. Moreover, both of these icons needed each other to protect their top spots.
This rivalry lasted over five years with The Rock and Stone Cold colliding several times, with three of their bouts taking place at WWE WrestleMania shows (X5, X7, and XIX). The 10-time WWE Champion even retired the three-time Royal Rumble winner, closing the book of the latter's wrestling career on a solid note.
Moreover, what kept this rivalry fresh was that we got to see different variations of it. Heel Rock vs. Babyface Austin, Heel Austin vs. Babyface Rock, and even Babyface Rock vs. Babyface Austin, we have seen it all!
Whenever fans are treated to an intriguing rivalry between two established WWE Superstars these days, the first thought that pops up in their minds is if it would be the next "Austin vs. Rock"... that's how great this feud was.
#3 Hulk Hogan vs. André the Giant
WWE wouldn't be as big as it is today if it wasn't for The Immortal Hulk Hogan selling out shows left and right in the 80s. But in order to become a bonafide Superstar, one must have credible opponents to square off against and challenges to overcome.
In Hulk Hogan's case, this challenge came in the form of André the Giant. While these fought several times in the early 80s and then again in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, their iconic rivalry began on the road to WrestleMania III.
What was supposed to be a friendly feud between one of the longest-reigning WWF Champions and an undefeated giant quickly turned into a heated rivalry once André turned heel.
Their match at WrestleMania III is one of the most memorable bouts to have ever occurred on the Show of Shows. Even those WWE fans who haven't watched it yet are familiar with the most iconic moment of the match i.e. Hogan body-slamming (hyped as "the bodyslam heard around the world") André.
To say that Hulk Hogan's illustrious WWE career wouldn't have been the same if it wasn't for André to step up as his biggest foe, is an understatement.
#2 The Undertaker vs. Kane
While most professional wrestlers these days are busy in establishing themselves as the best in-ring technicians, WWE's history proves that one can make it big in the business without working 5-star classics night in and night out.
Yes, I am referring to The Undertaker and Kane, who got over with their larger-than-life characters. These two also helped in paving the way for supernatural characters to thrive in a business where maintaining kayfabe was once essential for everyone involved.
Since 1997, The Undertaker and Kane have feuded with each other, helped each other out, and had the WWE Universe convinced up until a certain point that they were actually brothers.
Storytelling drives professional wrestling, not just WWE. While The Phenom and The Demon didn't put on wrestling clinics when they squared off, their (kayfabe) history and intensity made every one of their encounters a must-see.
It goes without saying that without the Brothers of Destruction attempting to bury or set each other on fire, WWE wouldn't have been as diverse as it is today.
#1 Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon
As I mentioned earlier, an iconic WWE rivalry isn't the one in which the competitors put on stellar matches, but rather the one in which the involved performers go all out in building it as a believable and intense story, while keeping the fans in the loop along the way.
Whenever the Attitude Era is brought up, the Steve Austin/Mr. McMahon rivalry is mentioned. While there's no doubt that The Texas Rattlesnake was always meant to be WWE's top Superstar during the Attitude Era, his rivalry with the Chairman just boosted his star by leaps and bounds.
Getting to see their favorite WWE Superstar beating his evil boss was thoroughly enjoyed by fans. Moreover, it set a precedence of how the Authority/Rebel feuds should be booked.
Steve Austin never fails to impress when the spotlight is on him, but credit should also be given to Mr. McMahon himself for portraying a villain whom the WWE Universe loved to hate.
WWE acknowledges or attempts to recreate this memorable rivalry every chance it gets, be it on the 15th Anniversary of RAW or 10 years later at RAW 25.
