10 Best WWE Matches Of 2019 (So Far)

5. Andrade Vs. Rey Mysterio (SmackDown - 15 January)

WWE WrestleMania 35 Daniel Bryan Kofi Kingston
WWE.com

That Andrade and Rey Mysterio weren't given the opportunity to take their awesome SmackDown rivalry to a pay-per-view will go down as one of 2019's greatest shames. Their regular TV bouts were outstanding. There was talk of a WrestleMania tilt for a while but rather than blowing the feud off in epic fashion, WWE let it fade away in multi-man bouts with R-Truth and Samoa Joe two months later - fun scraps themselves, but not to this level.

15 January was everything most fans want from a PPV main event, yet it went down on a random SmackDown. The story was simple - Mysterio, the veteran looked like he was one step ahead of Andrade throughout - but aren't most great in-ring yarns? Sometimes, success comes from finding new ways to succeed within a formula rather than writing a new one.

High-speed and all-impact, the bout saw Andrade powerbomb Rey on the outside, a Hurricanrana from the top rope to the floor, and an ageless performance from Mysterio, who flung himself around like a man 15 years his junior. Their efforts belonged on a far bigger stage.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.