We have compiled a list of the best WWE matches of 2020 according to Dave Meltzer’s ratings. Meltzer rates matches on a 5-star scale in his Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscribe here). These matches have received a 4-star or above rating in 2020. Note: This only includes matches from the WWE main roster. If you are looking for NXT & NXT UK, you can read that here
Best WWE Matches Of 2020
The Fiend vs Daniel Bryan
Event: WWE Royal Rumble (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
At The Royal Rumble, The Fiend and Daniel Bryan faced off in a strap match for the WWE Universal Championship. Daniel and The Fiend were connected by the wrists with a leather strap and they could use it as a weapon.
The Fiend ended up winning in a match that was better than most people were expecting.
Becky Lynch vs Asuka
Event: WWE RAW (February 10th, 2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Becky Lynch and Asuka faced off on RAW for the RAW Women’s Championship. This ended up being a really solid match with Becky picking up the win.
After the match, Shayna Baszler attacked Becky.
Drew Gulak vs Daniel Bryan
Event: WWE Elimination Chamber (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
The Elimination Chamber PPV featured a match between Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak. This was a really fun, old school match.
Bryan won the match via submission after Gulak passed out.
Tag Team Elimination Chamber Match (The Miz and John Morrison vs The New Day vs The Usos vs Heavy Machinery vs Lucha House Party vs Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode)
Event: WWE Elimination Chamber (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Six teams faced off in an Elimination Chamber match for the Smackdown Tag Team Titles. This was a wild match with plenty of fun moments.
The Miz & John Morrison eventually won the match to retain their titles.
Seth Rollins vs Rey Mysterio
Event: The Horror Show At Extreme Rules (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio faced off in an ‘eye for an eye’ match at the Horror Show At Extreme Rules. The objective was for one of them to take out their opponents eyeball.
Rollins ended up winning after shoving Rey’s eye into the stairs. After the match was over, Rollins started puking everywhere.
Sasha Banks vs Asuka
Event: The Horror Show At Extreme Rules (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Sasha Banks and Asuka faced off at the Horror Show At Extreme Rules. This was for the RAW Women’s Championship.
Sasha won the match after Bayley became the referee. This came after the original referee was hit by Asuka’s green mist.
Drew McIntyre vs Dolph Ziggler
Event: The Horror Show At Extreme Rules (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
The Horror Show At Extreme Rules featured a match between Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler. This was for the WWE Championship.
Drew ended up winning the match to retain his title.
Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton
Event: WWE Clash of Champions (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton faced off at the Clash of Champions PPV. This was an ambulance match for the WWE Championship.
This match featured interference from Ric Flair, Christian, Big Show, and Shawn Michaels. Drew McIntyre ended up winning to retain his belt.
Rey Mysterio vs Seth Rollins
Event: WWE Smackdown (November 13th, 2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins faced off on the November 13th episode of Smackdown. This was billed as “The Final Chapter” in the feud between Rollins and Mysterio.
Mysterio ended up winning the match. This came after Murphy turned on Seth.
Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton
Event: WWE RAW (November 16th, 2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton faced off in the main event of the November 16th episode of RAW. This was for the WWE Championship.
McIntrye ended up winning the belt after a really good match.
Big E, Daniel Bryan & Rey Mysterio vs Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn & Dolph Ziggler
Event: WWE Smackdown (December 4th, 2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
The December 4th episode of Smackdown featured a 6-man tag team match. It was Big E, Daniel Bryan, and Rey Mysterio vs Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, and Dolph Ziggler. This was a Tribute Match to Pat Patterson, who had passed away a few days prior.
This match was won by Big E, Bryan, and Mysterio.
AJ Styles vs Drew McIntyre vs The Miz
Event: WWE TLC (2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
AJ Styles and Drew McIntyre faced off at the TLC PPV. This turned into a triple threat match after The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase.
Drew ended up winning after a fun match.
Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens
Event: WWE Smackdown (December 25th, 2020) | Rating: 4.00 Stars
Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens faced off in a steel cage match on the Christmas Day episode of Smackdown.
Roman ended up winning.
The Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Event: WWE Royal Rumble (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
The main event of the Royal Rumble PPV was the men’s Royal Rumble match. The first half of the match was dominated by Brock Lesnar. Drew McIntyre eventually eliminated him and went on to win it all to punch his ticket to Wrestlemania.
The match featured plenty of fun moments. None bigger than Edge making his return to the ring. He received an incredible pop from the crowd and lasted for a solid chunk of the match.
For those asking, the Women’s Royal Rumble match received 3.5 stars.
Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre
Event: WWE Money In The Bank (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre faced off at the 2020 Money in the Bank PPV. This was for the WWE Championship.
Drew ended up winning after about 20 minutes in a good match.
Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton
Event: WWE Summerslam (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton faced off at Summerslam for the WWE Championship.
This turned out to be a strong match. Drew McIntyre won with a backslide to retain his title.
AJ Styles vs Jeff Hardy vs Sami Zayn
Event: WWE Clash of Champions (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Clash of Champions featured a triple threat ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. It was AJ Styles vs Jeff Hardy vs Sami Zayn.
Zayn ended up winning after a fun and wild match.
Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso
Event: WWE Clash Of Champions (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Roman Reigns and Jey Uso faced off at the Clash of Champions PPV. This was for the Universal Championship.
Roman ended up winning the match after Jimmy Uso returned and threw in the towel for his brother. Many fans praised the match for its storytelling after it was over.
Sasha Banks vs Bayley
Event: WWE Hell In A Cell (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Sasha Banks and Bayley faced off at the Hell in a Cell PPV. This was a Hell in a Cell match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Sasha ended up winning to become the new Champion. This came after a really good match.
Randy Orton vs Drew McIntyre
Event: WWE Hell in a Cell (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre faced off at the Hell in a Cell PPV. This was a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Championship.
Randy won the match to become the new Champion. This was another really good match from the PPV.
Sasha Banks vs Bayley
Event: WWE Smackdown (November 6th, 2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Sasha Banks and Bayley faced off on the November 6th episode of Smackdown. This was for the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Sasha ended up winning to retain her title.
Daniel Bryan vs Jey Uso
Event: WWE Smackdown (November 20th, 2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Daniel Bryan & Jey Uso faced off in the main event of the November 20th episode of Smackdown.
Bryan ended up picking up the victory.
Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre
Event: WWE Survivor Series (2020) | Rating: 4.25 Stars
Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre faced off at the Survivor Series PPV. This was a Champion vs Champion match.
This turned out to be a good match, with Reigns picking up the victory. This came after he received some help from Jey Uso.
Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens
Event: WWE TLC (2020)| Rating: 4.5 Stars
Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns faced off at the TLC PPV. This was a TLC match for the WWE Universal Championship.
Roman ended up winning after a really good match.
Daniel Bryan vs AJ Styles
Event: WWE Smackdown (June 12th, 2020) | Rating: 4.75 Stars
Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles faced off in the finals of the Intercontinental Championship tournament. This came on the June 12th edition of Smackdown.
Despite having several commercial breaks, this turned out to be a really good match. Styles ended up winning to become the new Intercontinental Champion.
This is definitely one of the best WWE TV matches that I can remember.
NOTE: Meltzer did NOT rate the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” between Edge and Randy Orton (even though he loved it). This is because the match was heavily edited. Here is what he wrote about it in the Observer:
“If you want to call it a five-star match you could, but doing so would be unfair to everyone who actually worked a five-star match without those benefits.”
Meltzer did NOT rate any matches from Wrestlemania 36, since the show was taped in advance. Same goes for the Money in the Bank ladder matches.
Is there a match that you think belongs on this list? Let me know in the comment section or on Twitter. On a related note, here is a list of all the matches that have ever received 5 stars from Dave Meltzer.
