10 Best WWE B-Show Events That Became Fan Favorites
The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin after Backlash 2000
10. Extreme Rules 2012
Extreme Rules 2012 took place after WrestleMania 28 and marked Brock Lesnar’s first WWE bout after eight years away. He faced John Cena in the main event in an Extreme Rules match that stood out for its brutality and relentless pace. The undercard also delivered with two championship highlights with Sheamus defending against Daniel Bryan in a two out of three falls match and CM Punk defending the WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a Chicago Street Fight. Despite the strength of the card, Lesnar losing his comeback match remains one of the night’s most debated decisions.
9. Evolution I
Held on October 28, 2018, Evolution became WWE’s first all-female pay per-view and put the spotlight on every generation of women’s wrestling within the company. The event featured championship matches from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT on the same card. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch headlined with a Last Woman Standing match that became an instant classic. The rest of the show included Shayna Baszler defending against Kairi Sane, Nikki Bella challenging Ronda Rousey, and Mae Young Classic finalists Toni Storm and Io Shirai going head-to-head in a show that redefined the division.
8. No Mercy 2002
No Mercy 2002 saw Brock Lesnar defend the WWE Championship against The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell in one of the era’s most violent matches. The chaos extended ringside as Paul Heyman was left bloodied during the fight, while Lesnar’s victory confirmed him as WWE’s future franchise star. The event also hosted Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit against Edge and Rey Mysterio to crown the first WWE Tag Team Champions in a match still regarded as one of the greatest tag bouts in company history. Elsewhere, Jamie Noble defeated Tajiri for the cruiserweight title, Triple H unified the World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships against Kane, and the Dawn Marie and Torrie Wilson storyline reached peak controversy.
7. Fully Loaded 2000
Fully Loaded 2000 took place in July during WWE’s strongest creative stretch and centered on clashes between established stars and rising challengers. The card featured The Rock against Chris Benoit, Triple H versus Chris Jericho, and The Undertaker in a showdown with Kurt Angle. The opener delivered a mixed tag rivalry as The Hardy Boyz and Lita faced Test, Albert, and Trish Stratus, planting the seeds for Trish and Lita’s future feud. The undercard also included Perry Saturn against Eddie Guerrero and a defining moment when Rikishi launched from the top of a cage onto Val Venis.
6. Vengeance 2005
Vengeance 2005 ran a tight five-match card with each bout carrying weight. Shelton Benjamin defended the Intercontinental Championship against Carlito, Victoria wrestled Christy Hemme, and Edge continued his climb by defeating Kane. Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle reignited their rivalry in a WrestleMania rematch that lived up to expectations. The main event locked Batista and Triple H inside Hell in a Cell, where Batista emerged victorious to cement his reign as World Heavyweight Champion.
5. Unforgiven 2006
Unforgiven 2006 delivered the final chapter in the feud between John Cena and Edge. Their WWE Championship TLC match ended with Cena hitting an FU from the ladder through stacked tables to reclaim the title. The show also marked the end of an era as Trish Stratus defeated Lita in her final match as a full-time competitor. The undercard featured Johnny Nitro and Jeff Hardy receiving 17 minutes to perform and DX battling Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and The Big Show inside Hell in a Cell.
4. Backlash 2001
Backlash 2001 followed WrestleMania X-Seven and delivered one standout performance after another. William Regal defeated Chris Jericho in a Duchess of Queensbury Rules match while Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit pushed themselves through a 30-minute Ultimate Submission contest. Moreover, Shane McMahon produced one of his most infamous dives onto The Big Show, and the main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H defeat The Brothers of Destruction with every championship on the line, ending the night with total control over WWE.
3. ECW One Night Stand 2005
ECW One Night Stand brought extreme wrestling back to prominence with a card mixing WWE stars, ECW originals, and outside talent. Matches included Lance Storm vs Chris Jericho, a three-way dance featuring Super Crazy, Tajiri, and Little Guido, and Rey Mysterio facing Psicosis. The Dudley Boyz defeated Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman in the main event, complete with Sandman’s iconic musical entrance. The night also featured a brutal clash between Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero and a violent showdown between Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka.
2. In Your House: Canadian Stampede
Canadian Stampede paid tribute to the Hart family and delivered one of the most electric crowd reactions in WWE history. The main event saw Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith, and Brian Pillman face The Road Warriors, Goldust, Ken Shamrock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The remainder of the card included The Undertaker against Vader, Triple H battling Mankind, and Taka Michinoku meeting The Great Sasuke in a showcase of international talent, making the event feel compact and complete.
1. Backlash 2000
Backlash 2000 earns its place at the top due to a legendary main event atmosphere supported by a strong undercard featuring Edge and Christian vs DX, Dean Malenko vs Scotty 2 Hotty, Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit, Big Show parodying Hulk Hogan, and Bubba Ray Dudley sending Trish Stratus through a table. Triple H defended the WWE Championship against The Rock in a chaos-driven main event filled with interference and betrayal until Stone Cold Steve Austin returned unannounced, armed with a steel chair, clearing the ring so The Rock could reclaim the title in one of WWE’s most iconic finishes
