My Favourite WWE 2020 Rivarlies

January 11, 2021

My Favourite WWE 2020 Rivarlies

2020 was most certainly a year we will not ever forget. There were so many lows and the year forced us all to make changes but during a difficult time pro wrestling gave so many of the entertainment and escapism we needed and despite the criticism, we all give the WWE on a weekly basis they managed to provide us all with some fantastic storylines and rivalries that we also won’t be forgetting any time soon! In today’s blog post I am going be listing my five personal favourite WWE rivalries of 2020!

Edge vs Randy Orton

While their Wrestlemania collision was not quite what we expected (or wanted) Edge vs Randy Orton was without a doubt one of the best stories not only of 2020 but of the past decade (a potential all-time great). Kickstarting at the Royal Rumble fans were left in complete shock when Edge made a surprise return to the ring in what was one of the greatest moments in pro wrestling history! In the weeks and months that would follow the WWE universe would witness storytelling at its best. A heel Orton is unlike any other and last year the viper was at his absolute best shining bright at a top bad guy during rivalry with long-time friend Edge. This story was kept personal and intense with Orton cutting personal promos, attacking Edge’s Wife WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix and attacking the long-time friends of the Rated R superstar. The small details added to this rivalry were so perfect, so well-timed that it contributed massively to the impact this had on fans. There may have been no crowed for their collisions but this rivalry and their second PPV match in 2020 made for some of the biggest and best moments of the year and something we as fans will be talking about for many years to come!

Sonya Deville vs Mandy Rose

I will be honest, there were not many WWE women’s division storylines that really gripped me during 2020. There were many disappointments and missed opportunities however, one that did really grab my attention took place in the Summer between Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. I will admit that their SummerSlam match up did not impress me as much as I thought it would, however, there can be no denying this was one of the strongest and most entertaining storylines from the WWE main roster women’s division. Long time friends these two women grew within the industry together dating back to their days on Tough Enough. Now, of course, I do wish we at least got to see these two as tag team champions together however, this too was a personal story that surprised many for the roles in which we saw these women play. Deville in the position of the heel here was an interesting element but worked so well and saw her become extremely popular amongst fans growing massively during this storyline. The summer angle was a highlight last year and took both Rose and Deville to the peak of their careers turning heads and shining a light on what these two women have to offer.

Bray Wyatt vs Braun Strowman

I love a rivalry that has plenty of back story and that is exactly what we got between Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman. I’ll be honest and say that I was disappointed and frustrated with some of the boking decisions made during this rivalry however, the storytelling was just fantastic! Touching on their history, Strowman’s early days in the WWE alongside Wyatt, the Fiend’s involvement as well as the theatrical matches and inclusion of Alexa Bliss this rivalry really did have it all left me and so many others incredibly entertained for weeks! We also saw some of the best character work we have ever seen from Strowman. Now, as I said, I do think some booking mistakes were made and I still feel as though the WWE could have pushed things a little further but this was a haunting, personal, detailed storyline that I really did enjoy and has left lasting effects for several superstars.

Sasha Banks vs Bayley

I have been waiting years to see an epic main roster feud between Sasha Banks and Bayley and while it was teased and tried several times over the years it was in2020 we finally got what we had been waiting for. Now, I originally would not have predicted Bayley to play the heel here, but the booking worked out brilliantly and what we got was yet another personal and thrilling angle that captivated fans. From Bayley turning on Banks to their epic encounter at the Hell in a Cell PPV, fans witnessed match of the year contenders and one of the best and most anticipated title changes of the year. The long-term storytelling was clear and effective as we saw the first half of the year watching Banks and Bayley closer and more united that ever capturing the Tag team titles and having one of the best reigns with these championships we have ever seen. The two were the most dominant women in the WWE taking over RAW and Smackdown as well as making their presence known in NXT they held all the gold for the main roster women’s division and this all contributed to how strong and effective their rivalry was.

Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso

Personally, my favourite feud of the year was without a doubt Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso. Now, if you had told me at the start of last year I would be saying that I most certainly would not have believed you however, this took the idea of personal rivalries to a new level and delivered an incredibly entertaining angle that continues to be effective today. The feud highlighted Reigns new position on the roster and just how brilliant of a heel he is leaving fans actually feeling something and completely hooked on what he was doing. Intense and personal digs at cousin Jey Uso grabbed fan attention quickly and when they met in the ring at Hell in a Cell we saw yet another standout match of 2020 that again showcased the new Roman Reigns perfectly. The storytelling in that match was fantastic from hearing Reigns degrade and talk trash to Uso throughout as well as Jimmy’s appearance later on and how the match concluded. Roman had an epic turn around in 2020 but it was also a year where we saw Jey Uso reach a whole new level to and prove a massive point on his own away from tag team action for once. The angle continues to be a key part of Smackdown and to this day I’m excited to see where things go between these two stars and how this storyline develops.

There of course were several other standout rivalries of 2020 so feel free to leave a comment below or tweet me over at @TezangiVictoria telling me what your favourite WWE 2020 rivalry was!

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