At its best, professional wrestling is live action art, a morality play of good versus evil that elicits the most impassioned responses from the audience. Whether it is joy and laughter or sadness and despair, it toys with the emotions of the fans and convinces them to continually invest themselves over the course of time. For every frustration felt when their favorite emerges defeated, they experience pure joy and celebrate when they achieve victory. The most historic and celebrated matches in WWE history are those that take fans on an emotional roller coaster, helping them experience euphoria, then heartbreak, then utter jubilation again. They can make fans cry or they can make them erupt into an exhilarating ovation, all the while feeling the pain, suffering, resiliency and triumph of the men and women inside the squared circle. Over the course of WWE's 50-plus years as a sports entertainment juggernaut, Vince McMahon and company have brought fans some of the most emotional matches the industry has ever known. From bouts born of hatred to those with familial consequences, championship aspirations to heartbreaking retirements, the contests have captivated fans across the globe and left them grasping for the tissues at the same time. There are plenty to include but these are the 20 MOST emotional matches in WWE history.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
