Fight Forever: Wrestling Soulmates [Part 3]
Creating Stories To Draw You In
“Fight Forever!” *clap, clap, clap clap clap* “Fight Forever!”
The number of competitors who face-off against one another, and create history making moments is beyond imaginable. There have already been 8 other rivalries discussed in this series. So please be sure to check out Parts 1 & 2 before wondering why certain pairings did not make this list.
1~ Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn
When Kevin Owens burst onto the NXT scene at the end of 2014 at the NXT Takeover: R Evolution event, he did so in a way that no one expected: by attacking his best friend Sami Zayn. Not only did he attack Zayn, he attacked him AFTER coming out and congratulating Zayn after he won his 1st NXT World Title. Mind you, this was the moment people were waiting for- to see Zayn finally win the big one!
After a brutal beatdown to his friend, Owens would put the final nail in the coffin only a few months later. NXT Takeover: Rival is where Owens would beat his former friend so badly that the referee stopped the match. Also, Owens would take the title off Zayn, a mere 2 months after arriving on the scene.
An accomplishment that took Zayn an entire year to complete…
The pair would be set to compete again for the title, but the match would be declared a no contest as Zayn was unable to compete. After this, Zayn would be out for several months due to a shoulder surgery. While Zayn was out with injury, Owens would make his way to the main roster and make a name for himself there.
Owens was feuding against the likes of John Cena, Claudio Castagnoli (fka Cesaro) and Ryback. The feud with Ryback is where Owens would claim his 1st main roster title- The Intercontinental Title. (Zayn would go on to win this title 4 years after his former best friend.)
At the Royal Rumble (January 24th, 2016), Zayn would make his return to WWE and eliminate his rival, Owens. This decision would lead to what some people call the best match between the duo- Battleground (July 24th, 2016). This match finally saw the “Underdog of the Underground” defeat his bitter enemy.
The following year, Owens would find himself enthralled in a feud with then Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon. Well, what is one of the best ways to put an end to a feud?
Hell In A Cell!
That’s exactly where this rivalry took the audience at the aforementioned PPV on October 8th, 2017. As McMahon was jumping off the Cell with Owens below him on the commentary table, someone would pull Owens away last second allowing McMahon to smash through the table. Who was the mystery person saving Owens?
SAMI ZAYN
That is correct dear reader, Zayn, the sworn enemy of Owens, saved him from disaster. With this decision, Zayn would turn heel for the 1st time in his career. Claiming that McMahon did not offer him any opportunities on the blue brand (dubbed the land of opportunity), Zayn decided to save his “brother” from the dreadful fate he almost endured.
The dastardly duo would run amok on Smackdown for about half a year. They interfered in countless matches, specifically those involving the WWE Champion AJ Styles. Irritating the authority on Smackdown would work in their favor as the 2 found themselves in a WWE Title match. The only problem was it was a 6-Pack Challenge and not a 2-1 Handicap Match essentially that they wanted. The pair had to work through not only each other and the champ, but also Cena, Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler.
Unfortunately for the partners, the general manager Bryan Danielson (fka Daniel Bryan) and commissioner McMahon had enough of the shenanigans. Bryan would come out of retirement after a neck injury forced him to retire years earlier. Bryan did this so both he and McMahon could get their hands on Zayn and Owens after months of terror the 2 had been causing.
This culminated at the showcase of the immortals- WrestleMania 34.
Zayn and Owens would lose that match, thus ending their feud and the teaming of “brothers” for a long time.
After Mania, the pair would go in separate directions and interacting only a handful of times in a few fantastic matches. That is until The Bloodline happened.
Owens would have multiple attempts at the Universal Champion Roman Reigns, many of those opportunities tarnished by the Bloodline (Jimmy & Jey Uso). And who would find himself slowly entangled in the Bloodline family?
Sami Zayn.
Zayn became the “Honorary Uce” of the Bloodline in 2022. Helping the Usos win matches, testing his loyalty to the tribal chief, Zayn was becoming a key member in the Bloodline. This was much to the dismay of his former partner and friend Owens. Owens would repeatedly tell Zayn that the Bloodline would turn their backs on him as soon as they could. Little did anyone know, Zayn would be the one to turn his back on them 1st!
At the Royal Rumble 2023, after a gruesome brawl and beat down between Reigns and Owens, the tribal chief wanted Zayn to administer the final blow to his former friend. Handing him a steel chair (BIG MISTAKE), Zayn instead used the chair on Reigns to break away from the Bloodline. Zayn made it his mission to take the Bloodline down. All he needed was his friend to help him do it. Well, after countless weeks of Owens not wanting anything to do with Zayn, the pair realized they truly are brothers and vowed to take the Bloodline down together.
They would do just that at WrestleMania 39 on Night 1 in the main event! In the 1st ever tag-title match to main event a Mania, Zayn and Owens would end the 620 + title reign of the Usos.
Claiming their 1st tag team gold together, will we see these “brothers” co-exist for good, or is there going to be another betrayal..?
[2014-2023: Rivals, Brothers, Champions]
*i know i did not include any of their indie or ROH stuff, but their history starts WELL before NXT*
2~ Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair
The Queen and The Man.
Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, also known as 2/4ths of the Horsewomen, started their respective rivalry in NXT: July 2014. These women teamed with the other Horsewomen in one of their first matches on tv together. Flair was in a group with Mercedes Vernando (fka Sasha Banks) and Lynch was teaming with Bayley.
These 4 women would be involved in the NXT title picture, including a phenomenal Fatal 4-Way match at NXT Takeover: Rival. But come July 13th, 2015, Lynch and Flair would be called up to the main roster. These women were brought up together and put into a faction with Saraya (fka Paige) called PCB. This was during the Women’s Revolution phase of WWE. PCB as well as Team B.A.D (Trinity Fatu fka Naomi, Tamina & Mercedes Mone fka Sasha Banks) and Team Bella (The Garcia Twins fka Nikki and Brie Bella & Alicia Fox) were the backbone of this phase. The teams would compete against each other in many different match ups- mainly triple threat matches where a competitor from each team could have a presence in the match.
When Flair took the then Divas Title off of Nikki Bella, while still being in PCB, tensions began to arise within the group. Yes, both Paige and Lynch were ecstatic for their partner, but with the involvement of Ric Flair, the women could see a change happening in Flair. In the end of 2015, Flair finally took a page out of her father’s playbook and ended the friendship with Lynch, ending PCB. Lynch, not taking that lightly, challenged Flair for the Divas Title at the Royal Rumble (January 24th, 2016). With some interference from her father, Flair retained her title.
After the Rumble, Banks started getting involved in the feud between her fellow NXT pals. This lead to a moment making Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 32 for the newly showcased Raw Women’s Title, having this match be the last to include the Divas Title. This match stole the show. People were saying it could have been the main event. (Don’t worry, we will get there)
In 2016 the WWE Draft took place. Lynch would be drafted to Smackdown, where she later became the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Champion. Flair would remain on Raw, so the 2 of them did not have many interactions with each other.
2018 however, that’s a different story.
Lynch was the SD champ and was in a feud with Carmella. The 2 of them having a few matches here and there to lead up SummerSlam (August 19th, 2018). This was originally going to be a typical 1 on 1 match. But, when Flair got drafted to Smackdown, she found herself clawing her way into the title picture. Thus, the match became a Triple Threat, nothing new to Lynch and Flair. Flair would go on and win the match, taking the cherished title away from Lynch. After the match, Flair pulls Lynch in for a hug, the 2 embrace and Lynch lays a right hand into Flair’s face. This got a MAJOR reaction from the crowd as Lynch turned heel for the 1st time (on the main roster). The fans loved it! They were tired of seeing Lynch get pushed around taken granted for.
This “heel” turn created THE MAN character for Lynch. Sure, people said she was the bad guy in the situation. But the majority of people were genuinely happy to see this change. [This would go on the be Lynch’s most over character in her career]. And a month after this turn and losing her title, Lynch beat her former friend and regained the title she should have never lost.
Now around the time of Survivor Series 2018, Lynch was the pinnacle of women’s wrestling on the blue brand. Smackdown was looking for a fight and they came to get it. On an episode of Raw, Smackdown superstars attacked their rivals for brand supremacy, back when it was brand vs brand… During the all the women from both brands brawling, Lynch got punched square in the nose leaving her bloodied but badass. The shot of her bloodied face standing at the top of the steps in the crowd is one of the more memorable moments in recent wrestling. This did result in Lynch breaking her nose and not being able to compete against the Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series. Lynch was the bigger man, no pun intended, and chose Flair to be her replacement in the match.
This act lead to the pair being somewhat cordial with each other. Certainly not the best friends they were the years prior. But Lynch was still the champ and Flair wanted that title. Unbeknownst to the pair, Asuka would be the one to take the title off Lynch when the 3 of them met at the TLC PPV (PLE).
Having lost her title again at the end of 2018, Lynch had her rematch at the Royal Rumble but was unsuccessful in getting her title back. So what would any person who lost their earlier in the night do?
Enter The Royal Rumble!
That is exactly what she did. Lynch entered herself into the Rumble after CJ Perry (fka Lana) was unable to compete. Not only did she enter, she won the whole thing! This meant that Lynch got her pick of either women’s champion at WrestleMania. Lynch chose the woman who she did not get the chance to fight at Survivor Series: Rousey.
A knee issue would be the reason, or one of the many reasons, that Flair would be added into the match. And it just so happen that Flair would win the Smackdown title off Asuka before the Mania match. These 3 women however could not stand each other. Brawls, police, so much happening that the crowd was firmly invested in this feud. The Triple Threat at Mania became not only a “Winner Take All” Match, but be the 1st all female main event in the PPV’s history!
Who would be the winner of this historic moment you may ask dear reader? None other then the Man herself- Lynch!
“Becky 2 Belts” as she would dub herself would go on to have one hell of a run with both belts. But sometimes, 2 belts are not enough. That was the drive that Lynch felt. She had not held the Women’s Tag Titles and what a perfect time to go for them. If only she had a partner…
Not wanting to be left out, Flair would join Lynch in her quest to gain more gold. Even with their tumultuous history, the pair did team up against the champs at the time The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kari Sane). Even though the pair got on the same page for the most part, they were unable to capture tag team gold together at the TLC PPV in 2019.
In the past 2 years or so, the pair had only a handful of run ins or matches with each other. One of which being the champion vs champion match at Survivor Series in 2021. And how could we forget the now infamous “title swap” that happened on the blue brand after the women were drafted to the opposite brand. But alas, now in 2023 Lynch is on Raw and Flair is currently not on tv but will be appearing on Smackdown.
These women have quite a roller-coaster of a ride together. We will have to see where their paths meet in the future.
[2014-2021: Horsewomen, History-Makers, Frenemies]
3~ Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada
In recent memory in New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada feud was one of the best. It is hard to believe that the 2 only had less then 10 matches in the span of 1 year.
The first meeting between these 2 took place at Wrestle Kingdom 11 on January 4th, 2017. Omega was challenging the “Rainmaker” for his IWGP Heavyweight Title, but was unable to succeed. At the time, this match was the longest match in New Japan history. The pair did however go on to show much respect after the match. Okada deemed Omega “the best foreign wrestler in the history of New Japan.” Omega would call Okada “the best wrestler in Japan, maybe even the world.”
After this loss, Omega would take some time away from NJPW to reassess many things in his career. When he returned, Omega wanted another shot to gain the big gold. His many attempts to get back to the number 1 contender spot were getting shot down one after another- including losing in the 1st round of the New Japan Cup to Tomohiro Ishii. However, Okada personally selected Omega as his next challenger because he wanted the strongest challenger.
This second matchup would take place 6 months after their initial meeting at Dominion 6.11 (June 11, 2017). Much to his dismay, Omega would once again fail to beat his competitor.
2 months later, Omega and Okada found themselves in the G1 Climax Tournament in the B Block. Okada, still champion mind you, entered the tournament after defeating Cody Rhodes on the 1st night of the tournament. Omega would actually end up defeating Okada to move on to the finals and win the tournament.
Getting a win, loss and draw to Omega in the tournament, Okada decided that at Dominion 6.9 (June 9th, 2018), he and Omega would do battle one last time. This time- in a 2/3 falls match. No time limit. Okada would secure the 1st fall pinning Omega. Omega would go on and get not just the 2nd, but the 3rd fall using his finish “One Winged Angel”. Omega finally beat his hardest and strongest rival and gained the IWGP World Heavyweight Title for the 1st time in his career.
Omega winning the title ended the over 700+ day reign of Okada.
For someone who has very little knowledge of New Japan, the matchups between Omega and Okada are ones that transcend pro wrestling.
[2017-2018: Rainmaker, Best Bout Machine, Respect]
4~ Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker
The Phenom and The Heartbreak Kid.
On September 7th, 1997, 2 men stepped foot in the ring to face each other for the 1st time. Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker’s 1st meeting at In Your House 17: Ground Zero would not go how either man planned. The 1st matchup would end in a no contest due to shenanigans from Triple H and Chyna on the outside; including bringing brass knuckles into the match for HBK to use. The main reason however this match ended in a no contest is because Undertaker chokeslammed the referee and another came out to end the match.
The following month, the 2 would meet again. This time in the first ever Hell In A Cell match! In Your House 18: Badd Blood saw not only the debut of this wild match stipulation, it also saw he debut of Undertaker’s brother- Kane! With the help of the estranged brother, Michaels would get the victory of Taker.
When these 2 men faced off again at the start of 1998 at the Royal Rumble, there needed to be a clear winner. And with Michaels being the WWF World Champion, he had to make sure he would walk away with his title. Thus the Casket Match was decided upon to end this rivalry. Michaels would get one over on Taker once again, closing the casket on his foe and retaining his title.
Michaels however would not walk away unscathed.
During the match, Michaels was thrown over the top rope to the floor by Taker. He hit his back on the corner or edge of the casket. This injury would actually cause HBK to retire…
Michaels would eventually return to in ring competition. Both he and Taker would find themselves on opposite ends of various tag team matches over the years.
But things really start to heat back up again in 2009.
Michaels earned his opportunity to attempt to end the famous undefeated streak of The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25. The pair would play mind games in the weeks leading up to the “Showcase of the Immortals”. Although he put up one hell of a fight, HBK could not defeat the Phenom and his streak remained. 17-0.
The match between these men would go on to win the Slammy (yeah remember those?) for the Match of the Year. HBK would be the one to accept the award on behalf of both men. Before leaving however, Michaels would throw out the challenge to Taker once again- at the following year’s WrestleMania.
The Undertaker refused the challenge, saying he didn’t need to prove anything else. He had already beaten HBK. This did not sit well with the now dubbed “Mr. WrestleMania.” At the Elimination Chamber PPV on February 21st, 2010, Taker was in the chamber match retain his World Heavyweight Title. The other chamber competitors were CM Punk, R-Truth, Rey Mysterio, John Morrison and Chris Jericho. Having been denied a rematch, Michaels snuck his way into the chamber through the floor and hit Taker with a Sweet Chin Music. He stood and watched as Jericho took advantage of the situation and pinned the Deadman becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Now Michaels had Taker’s attention.
Undertaker was pissed, rightfully so, at HBK for costing him his title. He decided to give in to Michaels’ request and give his rematch at WrestleMania 36. The caveat being that IF HBK lost again, he would have to retire… for good!
And so the Career vs Streak Match was created.
Having his career on the line, Michaels felt it in his heart that he could defeat the Undertaker on the grandest stage of them all, finally getting that redemption from the previous year. Even though the match may have succeeded in being better than their first, the result was still the same..
18-0: no more HBK.
Michaels’ in ring career was over and the streak continued to live on (for a few more years..). Michaels would go on to play a crucial role in the Undertaker’s “End of an Era” WrestleMania match against Triple H 2 years later.
These 2 legends had outstanding careers and created legacies and matchups that will live on in wrestling history.
[1997-2010 *on and off*: The Deadman, The ShowStopper, Mania Magic]