WWE’s 25 Greatest Pay-Per-Views of the Ruthless Aggression Era
5. Unforgiven 2006
John Cena and Edge’s feud came to an emotion driven end (for now) with a TLC match in the latter’s hometown. Speaking of emotional ends, Trish Stratus retired with one final match against Lita and won her then-record setting seventh Women’s Championship win.
We even got an emotional fresh start as Jeff Hardy won the Intercontinental Championship in his first match on PPV since returning to WWE. Meanwhile, the cartoonish McMahons/Big Show vs. DX feud reached a chaotic, gruesome finale with an underrated Hell in a Cell Handicap Match.
There is so much to enjoy about this PPV, but not enough people give it the credit it deserves.
4. WrestleMania 19
Honestly, if not for the ending of Booker T vs. Triple H (yes, I’m still not over it), this would be the best PPV from this era. Hell, if not for that ending, this would be my favorite Mania ever. But with or without it, this show is still filled with some incredible moments worth dubbing this an all time great WrestleMania.
3. WrestleMania 21
There is always going to be a special sentimentality to WrestleMania 21. Not only because it’s WrestleMania in Hollywood, but this show made two brand new stars while setting the stage for a third with the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Plus, matches like Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio were brilliant.
2. Survivor Series 2002
This might be the best Survivor Series ever. A handful of incredibly stellar elimination tag matches, a truly fantastic women’s Hardcore Match that proved to be ahead of its time, and a first time ever Elimination Chamber that gave us a feel good comeback story to end on. All in all, that’s all that was needed to make this a classic event.
1. SummerSlam 2002
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This PPV basically set the stage for the Ruthless Aggression Era as we know it. Produced a changing of the guard, if you will, with Brock Lesnar solidifying himself as the Next Big Thing by defeating the previous top star of the company, ole Rocky.
Not to mention, this show introduced us to Rey Mysterio in his WWE PPV debut and Shawn Michaels gave the comeback of a lifetime following a four year absence from the WWE ring.
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All things considered, the 2002 event might be the best SummerSlam ever. It most certainly is the best event in Ruthless Aggression history.