2016 brought with it monumental changes for WWE RAW and the overall product. The arrival of AJ Styles shook the very foundations of the sports entertainment juggernaut. Three of the four NXT’s Horsewomen made history at WrestleMania. Moreover, competition thrived because of the draft event.
All these changes caused superstars on RAW to produce multiple match-of-the-year contenders for fans to enjoy on weekly television. From Seth Rollins’ return to Kevin Owens’ shocking title win, the red brand gave fans plenty of matches and moments to talk about for years to come.
With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the best WWE RAW matches of 2016:
The New Day vs. Y2AJ (WWE Tag Team Championship Match, March 7)
AJ Styles made his historic WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble PPV event. The Phenomenal One immediately gained a surprise partner in Chris Jericho in the weeks that followed his debut. The pair challenged The New Day for the tag team titles on this episode of RAW.
Styles and Jericho worked like a well-oiled machine against Big E Kofi Kingston. The crowd was red-hot for the Phenomenal One, who proved he was here to stay for years to come. Unfortunately, neither Styles nor Jericho could pick up the win in this match.
The post-match angle saw Jericho deliver three codebreakers to Styles – putting an end to Y2AJ for good.
Finn Bálor vs. Roman Reigns (#1 Contender’s Match for Universal Title – July 25)
Finn Bálor looked to make a statement in his first match as a member of the WWE RAW roster in July 2016. The Irish Superstar had years of experience and multiple title wins under his belt even before he arrived on the red brand in 2016.
His opponent was none other than Roman Reigns. The Big Dog worked a heel style during the match. Reigns used his superior strength to toss Bálor around like a rag doll. However, the former NXT Champion regained his momentum to earn a shot at the Universal Championship in one of the best matches of WWE RAW in 2016.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Triple H (WWE RAW, March 14)
Dolph Ziggler had been responsible for The Authority’s ouster from WWE two years prior to this match. The Show Off once again found himself on the opposing side of Triple H in this non-title classic in the lead-up to WrestleMania 32.
The pair put on an absolute clinic. Ziggler’s incredible bumping skills meshed well with Triple H’s incredible in-ring storytelling. The Game countered a Zig-Zag into his patented pedigree for the win against the ever-reliable Show-Off.
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair (Women’s Championship Match – July 25)
Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair were one of the three women to compete for the inaugural women’s title at WrestleMania 32. The pair ran it back for The Queen’s Women’s Championship on this episode of Monday Night RAW.
This match had just about everything you could want out of a title match on weekly television. Both women tore the house down in this 19-minute classic. In the end, the challenger put away the champion with the Backstabber-Bank Statement combo for the win.
AJ Styles vs. Cesaro vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens (Fatal 4-Way #1 Contender’s Match for WWE World Heavyweight Title – April 4)
These four men staked claims to a shot at Roman Reigns’ newly-won WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the RAW after WrestleMania. The Big Dog had defeated Triple H to win the title on the Grandest Stage of them All.
The number one contender’s match was filled with great action. All four men showcased their craft to the best of their abilities. The face-off between Styles and Cesaro popped a huge reaction from the crowd.
In the end, the Phenomenal One punched his ticket to the match against Roman Reigns – planting the seeds for one of the best feuds’ in the latter’s WWE career.
Honorable Mentions
- AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn (WWE RAW – April 11)
- Big Cass vs. Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins (August 29)
- Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks (Falls Count Anywhere Match – November 28)
Also read: Roman Reigns Talks How His AJ Styles Feud Has Changed Him
