Wrestling has always given fans different things to latch onto. Whether it'd be the charismatic characters, the moves, the gimmicks, the arenas and the storylines. There have been so many different and entertaining storylines over the years that has captivated the fans and made them feel all of the things whether it be good, bad or even down right ugly. Here are some of my top wrestling storylines.
#5 Hayabusa and Mr. Gannosuke (Hair vs. Mask Match)
Hayabusa (Eiki Ezaki) was one of my favorite wrestlers. I was introduced to him after his passing, but I became a huge fan and made it my business to watch all of his matches that I could find. Hayabusa was one of the pioneers of wrestlers in Japan showcasing his high-flying and captivating style.
For me, one of the storylines that was a favorite was the feud between Hayabusa and Mr. Gannosuke. In 1993, Mr. Gannosuke and Hayabusa were best friends, but as time went on that would change as he left in 1995. Mr. Gannosuke would eventually align with the heel faction created by Terry Funk Funk Masters of Wrestling and quickly went from being a fan favorite to being one of the most hated characters in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW).
He was upset with Hayabusa for not leaving FMW with him in 1995. He left because of differences with Onita. After teaming with Hisakatsu Oya to defeat Hayabusa and Ricky Fuji, Mr. Gannosuke would defeat several people saying that everyone he defeated was a victory over Hayabusa.
This continued disrespect would lead to the Mask vs. Hair match at the 8th Anniversary show. This match would be the first time they shared a ring in years. For the match, the stipulation was an easy one. If Mr. Gannosuke lost, he would have to shave his hair in front of the crowd. If Hayabusa lost, he would be forced to unmask. And if you know anything about lucha-styled and mask wrestlers, that their mask was very sacred. Mr. Gannosuke had tried to take Hayabusa’s mask many times which led to a lot of animosity between the two of them.
This match was a roller coaster of emotions for me as a newer fan and for the fans there. This match had many hardcore moments, high-flying spots, and brutality throughout. Many times it would seem that Mr. Gannosuke would win the match, however, Hayabusa would win and come out on top victorious. Hayabusa tried to be nice and extended an olive branch asking for Mr. Gannosuke to leave Funk Masters of Wrestling. Hayabusa would extend his hand, but instead, Mr. Gannosuke would attack him and rip off his mask. This would begin their feud that lasted years.
While this match was the beginning of the feud, Mr. Gannosuke would go on as a successful heel in FMW and Hayabusa will go on to be one of the most beloved wrestlers there. This would also show that Hayabusa’s in-ring ability was ahead of his time and show just how he was able to connect to the fans with compelling stories.
#4 Megumi Kudo and Combat Toyoda (No Ropes Barbwire Match)
Megumi Kudo is another person who is one of my absolute favorite wrestlers of all time. Megumi had a long career in FMW where she had iconic and intense matches. Megumi would showcase her hardcore wrestling ability as well as show off her high-flying attributes.
One of her top feuds and one great storyline was the feud between her and Combat Toyoda. Their feud started in the early 1990s and became one of the most brutal rivalries in wrestling history. Combat Toyoda was known for her aggressive and powerhouse-type style. She would use her brute strength and hardcore tactics in her matches. She did it every time she faced Megumi.
The feud between them would reach its peak around 1994 and 1995. They both engaged in some of the most exciting and violent matches in women’s wrestling history. At the 7th Anniversary show, both ladies would face off in a No Rope barbed-wire exploding death match for the FMW Women’s Championship. Explosives were placed on the barbwire. This was Combat Toyoda’s last match.
This match was brutal. Both tried their best to get their opponent into the barbwire without taking too much risk until Megumi hit the barbwire for the first time. At the end of the match, this Combat Toyoda would use a double under-hook power bomb and Megumi would counter with a Ganso bomb and a Kudo driver to win the match and the title. Each moment had me on edge and signified a turning point in women’s wrestling in Japan.
While, Megumi’s retirement match against Reggie Bennett solidified her place in history within the realm of wrestling, her most iconic rivalry and storyline would be the one she shared with Combat Toyoda.
#3 Sasha Banks and Bayley Feud (NXT to the WWE main roster)
The feud and rivalry between Bayley and Sasha Banks was another well-developed feud. The two initially had a friendship, but it would turn into a rivalry. Sasha would join The BFFs and Bayley would become an underdog.
Their feud would spill over into NXT Takeover matches. The first one being in August 2015 at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. This match was hard-hitting and an amazing bout between the two. Bayley would defeat Sasha to win the NXT Women’s Championship. In 2015, they would once again battle at an NXT Takeover, having the first-ever 30-minute Iron Woman match in WWE history. Bayley would win again, and this match would cement them both of one of the top performers in WWE.
When they joined the main roster, despite tensions they would form the Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection and would become the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions at Elimination Chamber in 2019. Bayley and Sasha would turn heel and they would become a dominant duo having all the women’s titles at one point. Bayley had the SmackDown Women’s Championship and Sasha had the RAW Women’s Championship. They also had the tag team belts as well. However, after Sasha lost her belt, the two would have some tension.
In 2020, they would feud again after losing the tag belts and this will set up a reminder of how well these two could have a rivalry. They would battle it out in Hell in a Cell and Sasha would win. This was a big moment for Sasha as she finally beat Bayley on the main roster.
Their feud has been one that was emotionally investing but also spanned years and brands. Their storyline is one of my favorites overall.
#2 Lita and Trish Stratus (Main Event Monday Night Raw - 2006)
Now, if anyone knows me then you know that I'm a huge fan of Lita and grew to have a great appreciation for Trish Stratus. Their feud and storyline helped define and transform women's wrestling at the time.
In 2000, Trish was a model and fitness competitor and she was used in WWE as a valet and wrestling manager. Lita was wrestling the indie circuit and had joined the Hardy Boyz to be part of Team Xtreme as she was a high flyer as well. Lita would interfere in matches and cause problems in matches between Hardyz and T&A (Test and Albert). Trish would go on to make jokes about Lita’s appearance and would cause some chaos leading to many matches between the two that spanned years.
In 2004, both would be the first women to main event Monday Night Raw. They would have an intense battle. Trish would lose the title to Lita and further cement the greatness that was the two of them.
Lita and Trish’s feud would break stereotypes but also pave the way for other women to main events in future shows and PPVs Their feud was iconic and transformed women’s wrestling. Trish was a 6x Women’s Champion, and Lita was a 4x Women's Champion. Both women are Hall of Famers, and I think both are amazing.
# 1The Bloodline
The storyline of the Bloodline was one of the most captivating and complex stories in the modern era of wrestling. It had family, cultural significance, and heritage mixed with drama, loyalty, and betrayal. It was your typical soap opera storyline but in wrestling form. For me, this was the biggest and best storyline to date.
Origins: 2020
In 2020, the story centered on Roman Reigns and The Usos showcasing their family dynamic. In August of 2020, Roman would return to WWE after being gone due to health and the COVID-19 pandemic. He would return as a heel, and this would be a major shift in his career. He would align with his cousins The Usos and Paul Heyman (the wise man). Roman would call himself the “Tribal Chief” and said that he was the head of the table referring to his family, the Anoa’i family. He would quickly become this “god-like” character knocking down whoever stood in his way. The Usos were already a solid tag team dominating for years and they were his right-hand men.
Conflict Between the Usos and Roman 2020- 2021
During this, Jey Uso would be faced with the choice to acknowledge Roman as his tribal chief. Jey didn’t want to and it would lead to several matches. The last would be a match at Hell in a Cell in 2020 for the Universal Championship. This match was brutal, and emotion driven. This would lead to Jey ultimately submitting to Roman and acknowledging Roman as the head of the family. This showcased the issue with family dynamics but also having to go along with someone who was oppressive in how he treated his family.
Jimmy was out due to injury a lot during this time, and he would return also reluctant to follow Roman. Eventually, this would lead to a Family vs. Family match at Money in the Bank in 2021 between Jimmy and Roman. Roman again was ruthless. He would win with the help of Jey Uso and showed just how far Roman was willing to go to keep control over his family.
Jey Has Enough (2023)
The Usos would show signs of being unhappy with how Roman was leading the faction. Jey would start to question how Roman led the family, feeling he was a dictator rather than a leader. Roman would respond by treating him with distrust and talking to him with condescension. By this time, Sami Zayn was an honorary uce, something Jey didn’t like at first. But it would be Jey Uso who would turn on Roman at Summer Slam 2023 and align with Sami Zayn ultimately causing the breakup of The Bloodline.
Solo Sioka Joins 2022-2023
Solo Sikoa who is Roman's cousin and the Uso's brother would join The Bloodlines as the enforcer. He was on NXT briefly but was brought up soon after. He would enforce the ways of the Bloodline. He showed unpredictability and strength and allowed Roman to keep a grip on the power he had.
As of 2025, Jey Uso is the universal champion, and Jimmy is on his own. Roman also lost Solo and Paul Heyman who is now with Seth Rollins. During this time, the Bloodline held all the titles, with Roman being the undisputed Champion (holding two belts) and the Usos having both the RAW and SmackDown tag titles. Even with the story coming to an end, this was the most captivating story in wrestling, and this is why it is my top storyline in wrestling history.