10 Most Berserk WWE Matches Ever

4. Brock Lesnar Vs. Braun Strowman Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Samoa Joe - SummerSlam 2017

Strowman Joe SummerSlam
WWE.com

The expected Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman stare-down sequence happened almost instantly. This wasn't a match built on suspense or teases. It was an all-out awesome war that we were conditioned to invest in as an all-out war instantly.

Everybody played their roles perfectly. Strowman entered something beyond even beast mode by throwing Lesnar around like he was Zach Gowen. Lesnar did the sea monster rising from the depths bit even better than he did at Royal Rumble 2015, which this just about eclipsed as an impossibly breathless spectacle. Joe played his opportunist role with lurking menace. Reigns' offence was sloppier than his crisp, powerful best - but it worked in the context of the match. The sh*t was beaten out of him. Unintentional or not, it could be interpreted as prime selling.

WWE receives some criticism for its production techniques, but the camera work here was perfect. In exercising restraint and stillness, so many of the twists came from out of nowhere, engineering an anything-can-happen atmosphere. Strowman brained Joe and Reigns with a chair from out of shot. Joe applied the Coquina Clutch like it was a surprise air raid.

It was a supreme spot-fest with layered subplots underpinning everything with meaning and significance. It's now a two-horse race for WWE Match Of The Year.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!