10 Best Modern WWE Rivalries

Returning to KO here, the debut of the prizefighter in NXT came as a devastating shock to many as he destroyed the lovable underdog babyface Sami Zayn and ruined the relationship built up between the two. A common theme in KO's best outings.

Again, what made this feud that spilt over from NXT into the main roster so fantastic was how personal it felt. There was a genuine sense that the two hated each other and were out to hurt the opponent. Their matches were always highlights of the show. Although their connection overstayed its welcome, their partnership post feud wasn't too problematic, and ended before it could sour their excellent past.

The best element of the rivalry was the amount of storytelling that the two were able to pack into a match. Rather than simply employing wrestling sequences, they chose moves that would have the biggest impact and genuinely took the time to think about what choices they could make to bring out the personality of the conflict.

One specific moment proving this was Sami opting to hit KO with a second Helluva kick in the finale of their match at Battleground 2016. It's a subtle sequence, but it showed why they were fighting. This wasn't for getting another notch on the belt; Sami wanted to hurt KO, and this made the rivalry essential.