15. Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose - Lumberjack Match (Summerslam)
You know that you are dealing with an outstanding year of wrestling matches when a particular bout that redefined the expectations of a long-tenured gimmick match cannot crack the top 10. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose had, arguably, the feud of the year. They were kept away from one-on-one action for nearly three months after Rollins turned on The Shield, specifically blasting Ambrose repeatedly with a steel chair. Fans were disappointed when their match at Summerslam was turned into a Lumberjack match. To be fair, Lumberjack matches had never been critical masterpieces before, so it was not surprising that fans groaned over the decision to add the stipulation (not to mention that it was not the most logical choice). However, Ambrose and Rollins tore down conventional wisdom about the match type and created a highly entertaining brawl that, even in just over 10-minutes, was one of the finest versions in the gimmick's history. It became clear in later months that these two had incredible in-ring chemistry, making their Summerslam bout the first of several outstanding performances and likely previewing the future of the company, to at least some capacity.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
