Rivalries & Legendary Matches in 2016
The first half of 2016 saw huge debuts, shocking betrayals, and unforgettable championship battles. From the rise of new superstars to WrestleMania moments that changed the industry, WWE delivered some of the most defining storylines of the year. Let’s take a look at the key matches and rivalries that shaped the first half of 2016 — without revealing the final outcomes.
📅 January – Royal Rumble: A Champion’s Challenge 🏆
🔥 Key Matches:
- Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Roman Reigns, Triple H, Brock Lesnar, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt
- Intercontinental Championship Match – Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose
- WWE Tag Team Championship Match – The New Day vs. The Usos
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
For the first time in history, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was up for grabs in the Royal Rumble itself. A shocking return altered the landscape of WWE and dramatically shifted the main event scene heading into WrestleMania.
Elsewhere, Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens took their feud to the next level in a chaotic showdown, while The New Day proved why they were WWE’s most dominant tag team.
📅 February – Fastlane to WrestleMania ⛓️
🔥 Key Matches:
- Triple Threat Match – Winner Faces WWE Champion at WrestleMania – Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Brock Lesnar
- AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
- Divas Championship Match – Charlotte Flair vs. Brie Bella
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
Three top contenders collided to determine who would challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania, with tensions running high among former allies.
AJ Styles’ WWE journey intensified as he locked horns with a veteran in a battle of eras, while Charlotte Flair faced a heartfelt challenge from Brie Bella in her quest to retain the Divas Championship.
📅 March – The Road to WrestleMania Intensifies 🛣️
🔥 Key Matches & Segments:
- Shane McMahon Returns to Challenge The Undertaker
- AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho II
- The New Day vs. League of Nations Feud Heats Up
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
The WWE Universe was rocked by the return of Shane McMahon, who set his sights on changing the future of WWE by calling out The Undertaker.
The rivalry between Styles and Jericho grew more personal, while tensions boiled over between The New Day and a powerful faction threatening their legacy.
📅 April – WrestleMania 32: The Grandest Stage of Them All 🎇
🔥 Key Matches:
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match – Triple H vs. Roman Reigns
- Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker (Hell in a Cell – Control of WWE on the Line)
- Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose (No Holds Barred Street Fight)
- Women’s Championship Match – Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
WrestleMania 32 featured power struggles, emotional returns, and epic clashes. The battle for WWE’s top title reached a boiling point, while The Undertaker’s legendary legacy was tested in a match with shocking risks.
Meanwhile, the Divas era ended with the unveiling of the new Women’s Championship, contested in a thrilling triple threat.
📅 May – Extreme Rules & New Title Contenders 💥
🔥 Key Matches:
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Extreme Rules Match
- Intercontinental Championship – Fatal 4-Way
- Women’s Championship – Submission Match
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
Extreme Rules pushed champions and challengers to their limits. A high-flying newcomer challenged for the WWE title, while four fierce rivals battled for the Intercontinental Championship in a match filled with chaos.
Charlotte Flair’s reign was once again tested, this time in a submission battle steeped in family legacy.
📅 June – Money in the Bank: Future Champions Rise 📈
🔥 Key Matches:
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
- WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match – Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
- John Cena vs. AJ Styles
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
One of the most dramatic nights of the year saw a Money in the Bank winner seize the moment like never before.
A returning superstar and a dominant champion clashed in an epic battle for WWE’s top prize, while John Cena vs. AJ Styles delivered a showdown that instantly became a modern classic.
🔥 2016 Summary – The First Half in Review
The first half of 2016 featured power shifts, epic returns, and the emergence of new icons:
- A Royal Rumble shocker set a new course for the main event scene 🏆
- Shane McMahon’s leap of faith stunned the WWE Universe 🔥
- AJ Styles rose quickly, facing legends and claiming his place 🎭
- A new Women’s Championship was introduced at WrestleMania 👑
As WWE entered the second half of 2016, fans were left wondering who would rise to challenge the reigning champions and how the new era would unfold.