Top 10 best WWE moments of 2023

The first year under Triple H‘s creative control splintered numerous records in the realm of professional wrestling. Not only that, 2023 had some unforgettable moments that not only captured the awe of WWE fans but also witnessed the transition of many young stars into superstardom. Moreover, there was not a single premium live event that went without toying with everyone’s emotions.

If Sami Zayn‘s resounding chair shot to Roman Reigns‘ back at the Royal Rumble was not enough to be considered the greatest curtain draw to a sports entertainment show, CM Punk’s WWE return at Survivor Series would’ve certainly just done that. Those were the two moments that reinvigorated the great art of pro wrestling this year.

Apart from that, WWE produced some of the finest television in the last few months once Vince McMahon got defenestrated and Triple H upstaged the 78-year-old from a creative standpoint. Roman Reigns touching that elusive 1000-day mark as WWE Universal Champion was one for the record books, and Bad Bunny‘s Backlash entrance felt electrifying. Below is a look at 10 of the most surreal moments the fans witnessed while watching WWE this year.

10. Iyo Sky winning the Women’s Championship at WWE SummerSlam

After joining the main roster as part of The Damage CTRL back at SummerSlam 2022, Iyo Sky’s journey to the top didn’t come that easy. After tasting some initial success as a tag team with Dakota Kai, the Bayley-led trio’s future was in a fix once Vince McMahon regained creative control around WrestleMania 39. However, once he was reportedly axed by Ari Emanuel, things got back on track.

And at the very same event, one year after she was called up, Iyo Sky successfully cashed-in her Money in the Bank contract on a bruised Bianca Belair to become the new Women’s Champion. After Ford Field in Detroit erupted in rhapsody over Sky’s coronation, the third cog of the wheel, Dakota Kai, who was running absent up until that point due to injury, joined Sky and Bayley to celebrate the moment.

9. Brock Lesnar’s shocking endorsement of Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam

The next one on this list is once again from this year’s SummerSlam. For those who didn’t like Cody Rhodes proving his mettle against Brock Lesnar in a five-month-long tussle, the Biggest Party of the Summer completely turned a new leaf on that perception. In their third and final encounter of the saga, which had little to no explanation about why it even sparked in the first place, The American Nightmare downed the menacing Beast Incarnate.

After Cody pinned Lesnar following a spree of Cross Rhodes, he went 2-1 up in what seemed to be the apogee of their beef. Lesnar came closer to Rhodes, and for a second, it appeared like he was about to beat up Cody black and blue; however, he instead chose to shake Rhodes’ hand and hug him. Brock then bestowed an unprecedented endorsement on Dusty’s baby boy in front of a packed house in Detroit.

8. Logan Paul and Ricochet’s mid-air collision at WWE Royal Rumble

This year’s Royal Rumble match had some awe-inspiring moments. A similar one came when Logan Paul and Ricochet held the ropes from the ring apron and were ready to launch themselves in a body-to-body collision. They received a massive purchase off the ring ropes and crashed midway with a heavy thud.

The spot was enough to get the fans off their feet and jump in adulation for the two high-flyers. Months later in July, Ricochet and Logan were involved in yet another gravity-defying maneuver when Ricochet drove Paul’s head first into the table placed outside off a Spanish Fly from the middle rope. The landing was botched, but it was effective.

7. Roman Reigns hitting 1000 days as WWE Universal Champion

On May 27, Roman Reigns etched his name into the history books. He reached 1000 days as the WWE Universal Champion. As a result, The Tribal Chief joined an elite list of superstars, including Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Pedro Morales, and Hulk Hogan, as the only ones to have eclipsed the elusive four-digit mark.

As of writing, Reigns has already crossed 1200 days holding the top prize on SmackDown. In his record-setting reign, Roman has run through the likes of John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Edge, and Cody Rhodes, just to name a few of them. If Reigns manages to go unscathed until September 2024, he’ll push Hulk Hogan down the ranks to become the 3rd longest reigning WWE Champion in history.

6. Bad Bunny’s flamboyant entrance at WWE Backlash

The fans witnessed some of the coolest wrestling entrances this year. Though there were a bunch of them, the majority of them embellished the grand stage of WrestleMania. However, the one that made the list is from Puerto Rico, where Bad Bunny shook the core foundation of San Juan.

He came out to his 2017 Latin Urbano, Chambea, and the arena went berserk. The sold-out crowd at Backlash recited the entire song word-for-word until Bunny entered the ring for his match against Damian Priest. The Most Streamed Artist on Earth went on to deliver a banger with The Judgment Day member and eventually got the victory.

5. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens beating The Usos at WrestleMania 39

Sami Zayn’s chair shot to Roman Reigns’ back was heard around the world. Not only did that mark the end of Zayn’s stay with The Bloodline, it also opened the floodgates for The Honorary Uce’s reunion with Kevin Owens. After weeks of proving his allegiance to The Prizefighter, Sami finally got along with his fellow Canadian from Quebec.

The two went on to challenge The Usos in the main event of the first night of WrestleMania 39. In a tag team showdown that had months of story heading into it, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens finally dethroned the Samoan twins, putting an end to their 622-day tag title reign. Emotions were palpable as the two basked in the adulation of a jubilant crowd at the SoFi Stadium.

4. The Rock and John Cena’s reunion on WWE SmackDown

The next moment on this list comes from a random SmackDown edition in the midst of September. On a night when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made his shocking return to WWE, multiple records tumbled. The Brahma Bull first had an in-ring promo segment with Austin Theory, where The Rock and Pat McAfee ganged up on the 26-year-old. After verbally destroying Theory on the mic, The Great One pulled out a People’s Elbow.

It showed that he still had it. Later on in the night, Dwayne met an old foe-turned-comrade in John Cena. No one had a Rock/Cena interaction on their bucket list of wrestling moments they had manifested for in 2023. However, after seeing Rock and Cena exchange words of wisdom and hug it out on screen, the fans were brimming with gratitude.

3. Jey Uso breaking Roman Reigns’ unpinned streak at Money In The Bank

In July, the O2 arena in London played host to The Bloodline Civil War. A month prior, at the Night of Champions, Jimmy Uso broke the deadlock and superkicked Roman Reigns. In the following weeks on SmackDown, Jey Uso too smacked The Tribal Chief in the face, thus siding with his twin brother, Jimmy.

At the Money In The Bank premium live event, Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa went toe-to-toe against The Usos. The ending literally left everyone’s mouths wide open as Jey Uso became the first superstar to pin Roman Reigns for the first time in well over 3.5 years. It was devastating for The Head of the Table and rekindled the hope among fans that Reigns is not invincible.

2. Sami Zayn turning his back on Roman Reigns and The Bloodline

This year’s Royal Rumble ending set the pro wrestling world ablaze. After Roman Reigns wiped off Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, The Bloodline sought further disintegration of The Prizefighter. Reigns picked Sami Zayn to bestow the honors on Owens. However, an emotionally distraught Zayn was in a palpable conundrum over what he should do.

Seeing The Honorary Uce totter just when it mattered the most, Roman shoved Sami and regarded him as useless. And then came a whiplashing chair strike on Roman’s back. The San Antonio Alamodome went into a frenzy as the entire building erupted at one of the most beautifully carved endings to a wrestling show. Sami Zayn made his choice but was laid out by the rest of The Bloodline afterwards.

1. CM Punk and Randy Orton returning to WWE on the same night

The top of the list had to be occupied by the two folks who returned at last month’s Survivor Series PLE. First, after battling a career-threatening back injury, Randy Orton made his WWE return during the home stretch of the Men’s WarGames match. He helped Team Cody Rhodes earn a well-deserved victory against The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre.

And just when the show was about to go off-air, Living Colours’ remastered version of Cult of Personality hit the Allstate Arena, which was enough to allow the 17000-strong wrestling haven in Chicago to lose their minds. CM Punk emerged in front of his own people and broke the internet on a late Saturday night. It’s been a month since he came back, and the dust has yet to settle.

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