WWE RAW had a spectacular 2023. The red brand delivered incredible action from bell to bell between January and December. Stars like Seth Rollins, Gunther, Becky Lynch, and Sami Zayn put on Match of the Year contenders on weekly television.
The Ring General, in particular, delivered some classics week in and week out for fans to enjoy. His matches against Chad Gable and Tommaso Ciampa put all the performers involved on a higher pedestal when it comes to in-ring work.
Let’s take a look at some of the best WWE RAW matches of 2023:
Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark (Falls Count Anywhere – August 28)
Zoey Stark cost Becky Lynch her match against Trish Stratus at Night of Champions 2023. Both women spend the following months in a heated feud with each other. The final match in this animosity came on the August 28 episode of WWE RAW.
Stark and Lynch collided in a Falls Count Anywhere Match to settle their differences. The match is noted for the accidental chair bump to Stark — courtesy of her mentor, Trish Stratus. The Hall of Famer would get herself accidentally knocked out by her protégé toward the end of the match.
Kofi Kingston vs. Ivar (September 18)
Ivar found himself in a solo run following an unfortunate injury to his tag team partner, Erik. The one-half of the Viking Raiders looked to prove himself as he took on Kofi Kingston in singles competition on WWE RAW in September.
The match picked up pace after the moonsault spot. Surprisingly, Ivar and Kofi have incredible chemistry despite this match being their first time in the ring one-on-one. The New Day star pulled off an upset over the much bigger Ivar with a perfectly-timed Trouble in Paradise.
Gunther vs. Bronson Reed (October 16)
Triple H booked a rare heel versus heel match when he pitted Gunther against Bronson Reed on the October 16, 2023, episode of WWE RAW. The Ring General put his Intercontinental Championship on the line against the former NXT North American Championship.
This was a hard-hitting contest with plenty of brutal strikes. The Austrian delivered some nasty shops to “Big” Bronson Reed. The challenger was no slouch as he took the champion to the limit in this great encounter.
Gunther demonstrated his strength by putting Reed away with a powerbomb to win the match. The former Walter even acknowledged his opponent with a rare nod after the physical battle.
Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn (November 6)
Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn were two of the most consistent performers for WWE in 2023. The duo elevated themselves and their opponents with some incredible matches on Premium Live Events and weekly shows.
The former Honorary Uce met the Visionary for his World Heavyweight Championship at the November 6 episode of the red brand. Zayn forced Rollins to pull out all the stops as he attempted to dethrone the champion.
Zayn showed he knew Rollins too well with almost every counter to Rollins’ big move. The Revolutionary, somehow, was able to find an opening by reversing a Boston Crab into a small package for the win.
Gunther vs. Chad Gable (September 4)
Chad Gable picked up a rare win over Gunther on the August 21, 2023, episode of WWE RAW. Master Gable defeated the Ring General via count-out to the shock and excitement of everyone in attendance.
Both men ran it back for Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship two weeks later. This turned out to be one of the best matches of WWE RAW in 2023. The Austrian powerhouse demonstrated his incredible in-ring IQ by pulling off some amazing technical work.
The challenger put his heart and soul into the match. Master Gable came extremely close to winning the title, but the indomitable champion wouldn’t let his title slip away from his grasp.
A determined Gable promised to take the Intercontinental Championship away from Gunther in an emotional post-match interview.
Honorable Mentions
- Rhea Ripley vs. Natalya (WWE RAW – July 3)
- Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee (WWE RAW – September 25)
- The Judgment Day vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (WWE Tag Team Title Match – September 25)
- Gunther vs. Tommaso Ciampa (WWE Intercontinental Title Match – October 2)
- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet (Falls Count Anywhere – October 16)
Also read: 5 Best WWE Moments Of The Year
