TOP 10 WWE MATCHES FROM THE YEAR 2000

By CARPE

The year 2000 is often hailed as one of the most electrifying and creatively rich periods in WWE history. With the Attitude Era in full swing, WWE was firing on all cylinders—boasting a roster stacked with iconic superstars, unforgettable rivalries, and some of the most innovative storytelling ever seen in professional wrestling. From brutal street fights to technical masterpieces, this was a year where legends were made and the future was shaped. Whether it was the rise of new main eventers, the evolution of tag team wrestling, or the sheer chaos that erupted on pay-per-view stages, WWE in 2000 delivered match after match that left fans on the edge of their seats. Here are the ten matches that stood above the rest, capturing the heart, intensity, and madness of one of WWE’s finest years.

10) The Rock vs Chris Benoit – Fully Loaded

In what was arguably one of the most underrated WWE Championship matches of The Rock’s career, Fully Loaded 2000 delivered a main event that showcased both star power and technical brilliance. The Rock, at the height of his popularity, faced off against the cold, calculating Chris Benoit—a wrestler whose intensity and precision inside the ring made him one of the most dangerous challengers of that era.

This match stood out because it was more than just a clash of personalities—it was a masterclass in pacing and storytelling. Benoit worked over The Rock with surgical aggression, targeting his arm and wearing him down with suplexes, submissions, and relentless offence. The Rock, as always, thrived in the underdog role, firing back with his signature charisma and explosive comebacks. The chemistry between the two was undeniable, and the crowd in Dallas was completely invested from start to finish.

Adding to the drama, the match played heavily into the ongoing McMahon-Helmsley Regime storyline, with interference and controversy looming over the finish. At one point, it even appeared that Benoit had won the title, only for the decision to be reversed due to shenanigans. Despite the chaos, both men elevated each other—and the title—in a bout that mixed technical excellence with main-event theatrics. It was a reminder that The Rock could hang with elite technicians, and that Benoit was always just one step away from greatness.

9) Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho – Submission Match, Judgement Day

When Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho stepped into the ring at Judgment Day 2000, fans knew they were in for something special—but even then, this submission match exceeded expectations. Two of the most technically gifted wrestlers of their generation went head-to-head in a brutal, clinical, and emotionally charged encounter that showed just how versatile and compelling midcard storytelling could be.

This wasn’t a flashy spotfest or a brawl filled with shortcuts—this was a wrestling purist’s dream. Every hold, reversal, and counter had purpose. Benoit focused on Jericho’s shoulder with his signature intensity, while Jericho—never one to be outdone—fought back with smart counters and relentless determination, targeting Benoit’s ribs. The submissions weren’t just filler; they were integrated into the story in a way that made every tap-out tease feel believable.

What made this match so memorable was the sheer intensity both men brought. You could feel the disdain in every strike, every suplex, every hold. There was a realism to it that wasn’t always present in the WWE style of the time. These two had incredible chemistry, and this match may be the best showcase of it. The finish—Benoit winning via a ropes-assisted Crippler Crossface—was controversial and frustrating in the best way, adding to his growing reputation as a ruthless technician who would do anything to win.

Judgment Day 2000 proved that the Intercontinental Championship division could headline any show with matches like this, and that Benoit vs. Jericho was a rivalry destined to become legendary.

8) Triple H vs The Rock – Backlash

Backlash 2000 wasn’t just a great pay-per-view—it was a turning point. After months of the McMahon-Helmsley Regime stacking the deck against The Rock, this WWE Championship main event delivered one of the most satisfying and dramatic payoffs of the Attitude Era. Triple H, firmly established as the company’s top heel, defended his title against The Rock in a match that was more than a battle for gold—it was a war for the soul of WWE.

From the moment the bell rang, the crowd in Washington, D.C. was on fire. The match had an electric atmosphere, driven by months of buildup and the emotional investment fans had in seeing The Rock finally get revenge. Triple H played the villain to perfection—methodical, arrogant, and constantly protected by outside interference from Stephanie McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Vince himself. The Rock, in contrast, was the defiant hero fighting against impossible odds.

The in-ring action was classic Attitude Era—fast-paced, chaotic, and dripping with drama. Near-falls were constant, the tension was high, and the crowd never let up. But what truly cemented this match’s legacy was the unforgettable return of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Just when it seemed like The Rock would fall victim to the numbers game, the glass shattered and Austin stormed in with a chair, leveling the playing field and igniting the crowd into a frenzy. Moments later, The Rock hit the People’s Elbow and pinned Triple H to a thunderous ovation.

This match had everything: top-tier storytelling, big-fight feel, nonstop crowd energy, and a payoff that fans still talk about decades later. It wasn’t just a great match—it was a perfect example of why the year 2000 was WWE at its storytelling peak.

7) Triple H vs Chris Jericho – Last Man Standing, Fully Loaded

Triple H vs. Chris Jericho at Fully Loaded 2000 is one of those matches that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves—but make no mistake, it’s a brutal, emotional, and career-defining performance for both men. In a Last Man Standing match that capped off a heated and personal feud, Jericho proved he could hang with the top-tier main eventers, and Triple H cemented himself as one of the most vicious, consistent performers in WWE at the time.

The story leading into the match was deeply personal. Jericho had insulted Stephanie McMahon, sparking the wrath of Triple H, who made it his mission to destroy him. What followed at Fully Loaded was pure carnage—an unrelenting war of attrition where both men laid everything on the line. From punishing chair shots to grueling brawling across the arena, this match was violent without being excessive, and dramatic without ever losing its realism.

Jericho, the underdog fan favorite, showed a level of heart and toughness that elevated his standing with the audience. Bleeding, limping, and barely able to stand, he kept coming back, refusing to stay down no matter how many times Triple H knocked him to the mat. Meanwhile, Triple H was at his sadistic best—relentless, calculated, and determined to break Jericho in every possible way.

The finish, with both men collapsing after a superplex through the announcer’s table and Triple H barely making it to his feet before the 10-count, was the perfect conclusion to a match built on grit and endurance. It protected Jericho while still keeping Triple H strong and allowed the fans to appreciate just how far Jericho had come in the main event scene.

This match is a hidden gem in the year 2000, showcasing top-tier storytelling, character work, and physicality. It wasn’t just a fight—it was a proving ground, and both men came out looking like absolute warriors.

6) The Rock vs Triple H – Iron Man Match, Judgement Day

When The Rock and Triple H met at Judgment Day 2000 in a 60-minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship, it marked a bold moment in WWE storytelling. Long matches like this were rare in the Attitude Era, which thrived on chaos and short bursts of action. But Rock and Triple H, at the absolute peak of their rivalry and star power, delivered a masterclass in pacing, psychology, and drama that made every minute count.

This match wasn’t just about endurance—it was about layers. Both men went into the match with four weeks of build-up and a history of intense battles behind them, but an Iron Man match required a different kind of performance. Early falls came from quick counters, roll-ups, and finishers, but as time wore on, fatigue set in and strategy took over. Triple H leaned into his cerebral assassin persona, picking apart The Rock and trying to control the clock. The Rock, always the gutsy showman, fought from underneath and kept the crowd alive with his signature energy and comebacks.

The score see-sawed throughout the hour, with both men selling exhaustion and emotion expertly. Every fall felt earned, and the tension built with each passing minute. And just when it seemed The Rock might pull it out, boom—chaos struck again. The McMahon-Helmsley Regime interfered (as always), but the twist came in the form of Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee and the shocking debut of The Undertaker’s “American Badass” persona. His return sent the crowd into a frenzy—but it also cost The Rock the final fall, giving Triple H the 6–5 win and the WWE Championship.

While the ending was controversial, it was fitting for the time—story-driven, unpredictable, and filled with star power. The match remains one of the best Iron Man matches in WWE history, a rare hour-long spectacle in an era defined by fast action. It proved that Rock and Triple H could not only brawl—they could wrestle and keep fans on the edge of their seats for a full hour.

5) Kurt Angle vs The Rock vs Stone Cold vs Triple H vs Undertaker vs Rikishi – Hell In A Cell, Armageddon

Six men. One cell. Total chaos. The Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon 2000 was WWE turning the volume all the way up on the Attitude Era’s most chaotic elements—and somehow, it worked. With Kurt Angle defending the WWE Championship against The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, and Rikishi, this match was less about traditional structure and more about spectacle, destruction, and star power colliding in the most unforgiving environment WWE had to offer.

At the time, multi-man matches inside the Cell were unheard of, making this bout feel dangerous and unpredictable from the start. Each competitor brought something unique: Angle was the slippery champion trying to survive; Rock and Austin reignited their legendary rivalry; Triple H and Austin continued their blood feud; Undertaker brought his trademark brutality; and Rikishi—while an underdog—played his role to shocking perfection.

The match was pure mayhem. The cell itself couldn’t contain the carnage—brawls spilled outside the structure, onto the announce tables, and eventually on top of the Cell. Every few minutes, a new confrontation would explode: Austin vs. Triple H, Rock vs. Undertaker, Angle vs. everyone. Yet despite the chaos, the pacing never dragged, and the tension never let up.

The most iconic moment? Rikishi being chokeslammed off the top of the Cell onto a hay-covered truck bed below—a spot that lives in highlight reels to this day. It was jaw-dropping, reckless, and completely on-brand for the era. In the end, it was Kurt Angle who capitalised on the madness, sneaking in to pin The Rock after a Stone Cold Stunner and walking away with his title intact—barely.

This match wasn’t about technical mastery—it was about atmosphere, violence, and the sheer spectacle of WWE’s biggest stars clashing in the most dangerous match type. It’s a beautifully chaotic time capsule of 2000 WWE, and an unforgettable main event that pushed the limits of what Hell in a Cell could be.

4) The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz vs Edge & Christian – Triangle Ladder Match, WrestleMania 2000

WrestleMania 2000 may have been an overly chaotic card in general, but the Triangle Ladder Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship stole the show—and quite possibly the entire year. Featuring The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian, this match was a groundbreaking moment in tag team wrestling and a defining performance for all six men involved.

While ladder matches had existed in WWE before, no one had seen anything quite like this. The three teams brought their own unique identities: the Hardys were fearless high-flyers, the Dudleys brought the tables and raw aggression, and Edge & Christian were the cocky opportunists with brains to match their skill. Put together, the chemistry was magic—and dangerously unpredictable.

From the moment the bell rang, the action never slowed. Ladders weren’t just tools—they were weapons, launchpads, and obstacles. Jeff Hardy’s daredevil antics had fans gasping repeatedly, including a jaw-dropping Swanton Bomb off ladder. Bubba Ray and D-Von introduced the crowd to the brutality of tables mid-match, blending chaos with creativity. Edge & Christian, meanwhile, blended timing and cunning with athleticism, always seemingly one step ahead of their opponents.

There were no slow moments—just an escalating series of insane spots, painful crashes, and ingenious teamwork. And while everyone had their standout moments, the finish was unforgettable: Edge & Christian knocking Matt Hardy off the ladder through a table, then unhooking the titles for the win. The reaction was thunderous, and the visual of all six men lying broken across the ring told the story perfectly—this was more than just a title match; it was a revolutionary turning point.

This match was the birth of what would soon become the TLC legacy, and it cemented these three teams as the standard-bearers of tag team wrestling in the 2000s. It was wild, innovative, and paved the way for one of the most beloved trilogies in WWE history. WrestleMania 2000 may have been bloated elsewhere—but this match was pure, unforgettable brilliance.

3) Triple H vs Cactus Jack – Hell In A Cell, No Way Out

If Royal Rumble 2000 was brutal, No Way Out 2000 was final. In this Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship, Triple H defended his title against Cactus Jack (Mick Foley’s most violent alter ego) in what was billed as Cactus Jack’s last chance—if he lost, he would be forced to retire. With the stakes sky-high and the Cell looming over them, this match became one of the most violent, emotional, and iconic in WWE history.

This wasn’t just a match—it was a war of legacies. Foley had already made Triple H look like a star at the Royal Rumble, but this was the moment Triple H became “The Game.” From the moment the cage door closed, the intensity was off the charts. Cactus Jack came in with one mission: destroy Triple H. And for long stretches, it looked like he would. Chair shots, barbed wire bats, steel steps—it was all used with reckless abandon. And as the Cell couldn’t contain them, the fight spilled to the outside and eventually, on top.

The most unforgettable moment came when Cactus Jack crashed through the Cell roof, a callback to his infamous 1998 fall—but this time landing through the canvas of the ring itself. It was violent, symbolic, and heartbreaking. Moments later, Triple H sealed the win with a Pedigree and pinned Jack to end his career (at least in storyline). But the look on both men’s faces told the real story—Triple H was finally respected, and Foley had given one last legendary performance.

This match was the perfect blend of Attitude Era violence and old-school storytelling. Foley went out on his shield, giving everything to make Triple H look like the top villain in the company. And Triple H rose to the occasion, matching Foley’s brutality with his own brand of ruthless precision.

It wasn’t just a career-ending match—it was a passing of the torch, written in blood, pain, and mutual respect. For sheer emotional weight and physical storytelling, No Way Out 2000 remains one of the most powerful matches WWE has ever produced.

2) Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz – TLC 1, SummerSlam

If the Triangle Ladder Match at WrestleMania 2000 was a game-changer, then TLC I at SummerSlam 2000 was the full-blown revolution. Taking the chaos of ladders, the destruction of tables, and the brutality of chairs—and combining them into one groundbreaking match—Edge & Christian, The Hardy Boyz, and The Dudley Boyz delivered a spectacle that redefined not just tag team wrestling, but what fans could expect from WWE’s pay-per-view main cards.

The stakes were the WWE Tag Team Championship, but this match felt like it was about something more: who could outdo the insanity they’d already created months earlier. With the official birth of the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, all six men pushed themselves—and each other—beyond physical limits. Jeff Hardy turned his body into a weapon, launching himself off massive ladders with reckless abandon. Bubba Ray and D-Von dished out table-assisted mayhem, and Edge & Christian combined their usual underhanded brilliance with some of the nastiest chair shots and ladder spots of the night.

Despite the carnage, the match was surprisingly well-paced. It wasn’t just a car crash—it was a symphony of destruction, choreographed chaos where each team had moments to shine. The storytelling was sharp: the Dudleys brought the brute force, the Hardys brought heart and high-risk madness, and Edge & Christian once again played the opportunists to perfection, sneaking in at the right time to grab the titles and escape with the win.

TLC I was an evolution. It raised the bar not just for ladder matches, but for the WWE tag team division as a whole. It left fans stunned, wrestlers battered, and the entire industry on notice. This wasn’t just a match—it was a milestone, and it set the stage for even greater chaos to come.

1) Triple H vs Cactus Jack – Street Fight, Royal Rumble

Topping the list as the most unforgettable match of WWE in 2000 is the brutal Street Fight between Triple H and Cactus Jack at Royal Rumble. This wasn’t just a fight for the WWE Championship—it was a battle that defined the very essence of the Attitude Era: raw, violent, and emotionally charged.

Coming off a long, personal feud, these two warriors brought everything to the ring and beyond. Cactus Jack, Mick Foley’s hardcore alter ego, was known for his willingness to take insane risks and absorb incredible punishment—and here, he delivered on every promise. From the very start, the match spilled out of the arena, through the crowd, and into every corner WWE could offer. Barbed wire, thumbtacks, steel chairs, and trash cans littered the battleground as the two tore into each other with reckless abandon.

The match was a violent symphony of destruction, with both men pushing their bodies to the absolute limit. Triple H, known as a cerebral and methodical wrestler, revealed a darker, more ruthless side, matching Foley’s brutality move for move.

What made this match legendary wasn’t just the violence—it was the storytelling. Every bump, every scar, every near-fall told a story of hatred, respect, and the desperate fight for supremacy. Triple H’s victory wasn’t just a win; it was a statement that he had arrived as “The Game”, the new top dog in WWE.

This match set a new standard for hardcore wrestling in WWE, blending high-risk spots with emotional depth. It wasn’t just the best match of 2000—it was a defining moment that shaped WWE’s direction for years to come. Raw, relentless, and unforgettable, Triple H vs. Cactus Jack at Royal Rumble 2000 remains the pinnacle of the year’s wrestling drama.