The Top 50 WWE Matches of 2013 – #30 to #21

#30 CM Punk & Daniel Bryan vs Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins – Raw 11/11/13

With the Authority at the top of the WWE, anyone seen looking against them would have to face the wrath of The Shield. Punk & Bryan were set to face the Wyatts in a couple weeks, so this would be a good test for them. Despite being attacked by Curtis Axel pre-match, Punk took out his aggression, beating down Curtis Axel and destroying Paul Heyman with a kendo stick. Despite the numbers disadvantage, Punk and Bryan manage to work together well in the early going. As the match looks to be coming to a conclusion, the lights go out, The Wyatt Family enters and all hell breaks loose. A very fun match that showcases Bryan’s ability to be an amazing underdog.

#29 Cody Rhodes, Goldust & John Cena vs Jack Swagger, Antonio Cesaro & Damien Sandow – Smackdown 11/1/13

At the time, tag team champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust were at odds with multiple teams, one of which being the Real Americans. At the same time, just days before this match, Damien Sandow had lost his Money in the Bank cash in match on John Cena and was still livid. This may seem like a thrown together six man tag but it’s far more exciting. Cesaro and Swagger show fantastic strength, keeping Goldust in their corner while Sandow, the brains of the team, meticulously works him over. After teasing it for so long, the crowd goes wild when Goldust finally makes the tag to his brother. From this point on, the match turns into pure anarchy. It even features a Roman Reigns like spear from Cena to Swagger. A very exciting six man tag from 2013 that shockingly doesn’t feature The Shield or Wyatt Family.

#28 John Cena vs Ryback – Extreme Rules 2013 (Last Man Standing)

Ryback was done. He was fed up. So many times he had saved Cena from a Shield attack and so many times the Shield beat him down while Cena was nowhere to be found. Ryback snapped and beat down Cena for weeks leading up to this Last Man Standing match. Ryback and Cena sent each other to hell and back and ultimately the match ended when Ryback tackled Cena through part of the titantron and they both went crashing to the ground. Despite the match ending in a draw, Ryback managed to leave on his own power while Cena was stretchered off. Very good match that really showed the great things that heel Ryback can do.

#27 Ryback vs Daniel Bryan – Smackdown 5/3/13

Former allies go at it here as the recently heel turned Ryback faces Daniel Bryan. Just months earlier these two, along with Kane, were constantly trying to fight off The Shield. This is a fantastic David vs Goliath matchup where Bryan tries to cut down Ryback’s legs, only for Ryback to keep fighting him off. Ultimately the strength of Ryback is just too much for Daniel Bryan. Powerbomb after powerbomb, followed by a Shellshocked puts Bryan away in this great match.

#26 Christian vs Alberto Del Rio – Smackdown 8/9/13

Just one week before this, Christian earned a shot at Alberto’s World Heavyweight Championship at Summerslam. But Alberto wants to make it so that Christian can’t be 100% going into it. Generally I don’t like seeing the PPV match being given away like this, but this is such a good match that it doesn’t bother me as much. This was a lot more even in terms of control than your average heel Del Rio match. Great chemistry between these two and there’s a few very cool transitions. Christian manages to shock Del Rio with a roll up, giving him the victory. After the match Del Rio attacks but Christian hits the Killswitch. Sandow tries to cash in his MITB but Cody Rhodes comes out and hits the Cross Rhodes on him. Great match and not even the best Del Rio/Christian match of the year! I say this a lot but Christian is legitimately one of the best workers I’ve ever watched. He’s just so good.

#25 The Shield & The Wyatt Family vs CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes, Goldust & The Usos – Raw 11/25/13

Twelve of the top superstars of WWE in the same match. The real interesting dynamic in this match is that The Shield and Wyatts had been getting in each other’s way recently and seemed ready to collide. While they managed to keep together in this match, they weren’t exactly friendly with each other. This match was also an unfortunate reminder that we’ll never get Punk vs Bray or a Punk vs Ambrose feud. The final few sequences with Punk and Ambrose are fantastic. This match is like the stereotypical action film of wrestling matches. There isn’t some huge story behind it but it’s just really fun. The aftermath has Cesaro & Swagger come out to help the heels, only for Rey Mysterio to return and clean house alongside Punk and Bryan.

#24 Alberto Del Rio vs Big Show – Smackdown 1/11/13 (Last Man Standing)

Alberto Del Rio went from a fairly unover heel to a top babyface getting big pops virtually overnight in this feud. And he can thank his personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez for that. Big Show began bullying Ricardo, causing Del Rio to become a good guy and defend his best friend. The friendship between Alberto and Ricardo immediately was embraced by the crowd. At one point all hope seems lost for Del Rio, as the count hits 9, only for Alberto to roll out of the ring and manage to touch his feet to the floor before collapsing. In one last effort, Del Rio manages to send Big Show over the announce table and trap him under it, winning him the World Heavyweight Championship.

#23 Jack Swagger vs Alberto Del Rio – Smackdown 4/26/13

For weeks now, Jack Swagger has been working over the injured leg of Alberto Del Rio. The same leg that became a weak spot and cost him his title to Dolph Ziggler’s Money in the Bank cash in. What I really like about this match is that it felt like a brawl and it felt like these two really hate each other. Something I’ve learned from watching all these shows is that Del Rio either has amazing chemistry with you or no chemistry at all. He definitely has some real chemistry with Swagger and that even showed up again in late 2015. Some really cool submission transitions between these two. Swagger manages to get some help from Zeb and put Alberto away with the Gutwrench Powerbomb in a great showing for both men.

#22 The Miz vs Wade Barrett – Raw 4/8/13

This one is odd because it doesn’t really have a big story around it. It’s just a rematch for the IC title that Miz beat Barrett for on the Wrestlemania XXIX pre-show. It’s Miz and Barrett, two guys with traditionally slower styles. And yet I really enjoy this match. I really can’t even pinpoint to you what I like about it but the whole match just flows really well. Crowd is pretty hot for it which definitely helps too and the action is good. But for some reason I just love this match. If anyone else here has seen it or watches it, I’d actually really like to hear your thoughts because I’m curious if it’s actually as good as I feel it is. Barrett also does the Cactus Jack elbow drop off the apron which was awesome.

#21 Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton – Raw 12/16/13

After unifying the titles and becoming the first WWE WHC, Randy Orton wanted the night off. However, because Daniel Bryan won Superstars of the Year, and because Triple H knows what the crowd wants, he put Orton vs Bryan in a non title match for the main event. In the opening promo Orton specifically says that he doesn’t look for cheap shots but will take them if they are presented. Great foreshadowing for the main event where Orton takes quite a few liberties. Orton has an answer for most of what Bryan shells out but the crowd doesn’t give up on DB for one second. Just as Bryan may finally have the win locked up, Orton low blows him and ends the match. Orton lays out both Bryan and Cena to end the show. I personally believe this is the best singles match these two have ever had, by far. It felt like it had so much more energy than their PPV matches and it really put over how much of a jackass Randy Orton can be.