There are few better stipulations within the wrestling world than a steel cage match. The structure itself can work as a weapon, allowing wrestlers to get creative and inflict damage to others, which works really well for heated rivalries between wrestlers who hate each other.
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With the ability to win in a variety of ways, from climbing out, escaping through the door, or the traditional pinfall/submission, these matches can really vary in terms of storytelling. It's a stipulation that WWE relies upon quite a lot for its rivalries, and there has been plenty in recent years, but which has been the best?
11 Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin (Super ShowDown, 2020)
This was one of the worst rivalries in recent years from WWE, therefore it's not a big surprise that this match wasn't very good. From start to finish this was slow-paced and the fact it never kicked into the next gear really hurt it.
The in-ring action was entertaining enough, but it felt like a live event match with neither man really going all out. The finish with the steel chain Superman Punch was good, but overall, there was little to get excited about in this match.
10 The Miz vs. Shane McMahon (Money In The Bank, 2019)
Simply put, this was not a good match. The fans really didn't care about this from the start, with chants of "CM Punk" taking place throughout. It was slow-paced for the vast majority of the match, and the fact that Shane had a rope break within the match really hurt things, as that was a major mistake.
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The Miz never really works well as a babyface and that was clear here, despite his best efforts. Shane spent most of the match trying to escape, but the lack of care from fans didn't give any heat to this. Plus, the finish of Shane slipping out of his t-shirt so Miz lost his grip was lame.
9 Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler (Stomping Grounds, 2019)
This was a solid match but it's one that never really kicked into high gear. The fans were fairly subdued throughout this and with a lack of false finishes or cage climbs, there wasn't much to really build the excitement.
The match was smartly booked as the story was that they're longtime rivals who know each other well, and the counters were great to see. But the best part of this was the finish which was unique with Kofi Kingston diving through the middle ropes and out of the door before Dolph could fall to the floor.
8 Braun Strowman vs. Shane McMahon (WrestleMania 37)
Any match that takes place on The Grandest Stage Of Them All has the chance of being a solid encounter, and that was the case with Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon. It wasn't a technical masterclass, but it was a well-told story.
Shane was able to attack Braun with weapons thanks to the help of Elias and Jaxson Ryker which made things more believable, and they crammed the match with big spots. From the amazing moment of Braun ripping the steel cage itself to launching Shane off the top of the steel helped to make this a memorable encounter.
7 The Velveteen Dream vs. Roderick Strong (NXT, 3/4/20)
Despite the fact this match had a strange finish due to the fact that Velveteen Dream actually threw Roderick Strong out to lose in order to lock himself in with Adam Cole, this match was very good.
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The two men wasted no time in going to war, and they utilized the space perfectly. Launching each other into the steel, their hatred that they had for one another was very clear to see, and that is what made for a compelling match.
6 Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio (Raw, 9/14/20)
To say that Dominik Mysterio is very new to the industry, he really has impressed, with this being an example of what he can do. The match saw some inventive spots with the steel cage being used well throughout the match.
A superplex from the top rope and cage was a huge move, with Murphy also taking a big fall from the top off the cage. There was some really exciting near falls and a great finish with Rollins' experience proving to be vital.
5 Shayna Baszler vs. Io Shirai (NXT, 6/26/19)
This was the first-ever NXT Women's Championship match inside a steel cage and it was a brilliant one. The match was hard-hitting and really used the cage well as a weapon, with both women launching each other into the steel countless times.
Having Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir appear was great with all the outside fighting adding to the excitement, rather than detracting. Candice LeRae and Shirai's dives from the top were epic, having the fans go crazy. The finish was epic here, with Shirai slamming the door into Shayna, but accidentally knocking her out of the match, with this being great from start to finish.
4 Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso (SmackDown, 3/5/21)
The most recent steel cage match to date was a very enjoyable match between Daniel Bryan and Jey Uso that saw Bryan become the number one contender for the Universal Championship. Jey was out to impress Roman but ultimately came up short.
It was a physical encounter from the start, with both men taking a real beating in this match. They used the cage well and Bryan smartly targetted the arm throughout the match which led to the finish of the Yes Lock, which was really well booked.
3 Rhea Ripley vs. Mercedes Martinez (NXT, 9/8/20)
Two powerhouses going to war was what this match promised and delivered. Brawling before they even got into the steel cage, this was a physical battle and the passion and desire were clear from both women.
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They didn't waste any time trying to escape the cage, this was about them being locked in and fighting. The match had a variety of weapons and some great spots, ultimately finishing with a Riptide from the top turnbuckle through a table, with the bout making both women look tremendous.
2 Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens (12/25/20)
A Christmas Day episode of SmackDown kicked off with a bang with this steel cage match. The two men had a great rivalry that required this type of match and they put together a great one, packed with near falls, teases of climbing out, and some real aggression.
Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns work really well against each other in the ring and that was clear here. Even though there was a cheap ending with Jey Uso handcuffing KO, that didn't stop this from being an exciting encounter.
1 Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox (NXT, 3/4/20)
The feud between Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox was red hot and deserved this stipulation. The match felt like a fight with big spots from a Chokeslam from the top of the cage to Tegan's big crossbody back into the ring from the top.
Raquel Gonzalez played a big impact on the outside, but when Dakota slammed the door into her accidentally only to be nailed by the Shiniest Wizard, it seemed like it was over, with a great false finish. Plus, the actual end of the match was great, with Nox slamming the door into Kai's leg, just like WarGames, only for Raquel to pin her to the steel with the door, allowing Dakota to sneak a win.
NEXT:10 Great Steel Cage Matches You Probably Forgot About
