Rivalries & Legendary Matches in 2016
The second half of 2016 was filled with historic title changes, shocking betrayals, and unforgettable feuds. From the brand split to Goldberg’s return, WWE delivered some of the most defining moments of the year. Let’s explore the key matches and rivalries that shaped the latter half of 2016 — without revealing the winners.
🗓️ July – The WWE Draft & Battleground 🏆
🔥 Key Matches:
- Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns (WWE Championship – Battleground)
- Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
- Charlotte & Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks & Mystery Partner
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
The newly introduced WWE Draft split RAW and SmackDown into separate brands, leading to fresh rivalries and a reshuffled championship landscape.
In a deeply personal triple threat, the former Shield brothers clashed for brand supremacy.
Meanwhile, the tension between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens reached a boiling point in a match that promised to settle the score.
And the women’s division saw a shocking surprise partner enter the ring alongside Sasha Banks — a moment that foreshadowed big things to come.
🗓️ August – SummerSlam: The Biggest Party of the Summer 🎉
🔥 Key Matches:
- Finn Bálor vs. Seth Rollins (Inaugural Universal Championship)
- John Cena vs. AJ Styles
- Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
- Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair (RAW Women’s Championship)
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
A new championship was born, and its first holder was determined in a high-stakes battle between two modern icons.
AJ Styles and John Cena delivered a clash of eras, with respect and pride hanging in the balance.
Elsewhere, Lesnar and Orton ignited chaos in a main event that left everyone asking where the line between reality and rivalry begins.
In the women’s division, injury and ambition collided in a match that would become part of an unforgettable series.
🗓️ September – Backlash & Clash of Champions 🏆
🔥 Key Matches:
- AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose (WWE Championship – Backlash)
- Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins (Universal Championship – Clash of Champions)
- SmackDown Women’s Championship Six-Pack Challenge
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
The blue brand crowned its first-ever SmackDown Women’s Champion in a six-way battle that showcased the depth of the division.
Kevin Owens faced his biggest challenge yet as the new Universal Champion, with backup playing a questionable role.
AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose collided in a title match that would shift the balance of power on SmackDown.
🗓️ October – Hell in a Cell: Historic Firsts 🔥
🔥 Key Matches:
- Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair (RAW Women’s Championship – Hell in a Cell)
- Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins (Universal Championship – Hell in a Cell)
- Roman Reigns vs. Rusev (United States Championship – Hell in a Cell)
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
History was made as two women stepped inside Hell in a Cell for the first time ever, main eventing the show in a brutal and emotional clash.
Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins brought their bitter feud to the steel structure, where survival required both skill and allies.
Meanwhile, Reigns and Rusev brawled over championship pride in a match fueled by animosity.
🗓️ November – Survivor Series: The Return of Goldberg ⚔️
🔥 Key Matches:
- Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg
- Men’s Survivor Series Elimination Match – RAW vs. SmackDown
- Women’s Survivor Series Elimination Match – RAW vs. SmackDown
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
A legendary name returned to answer a challenge no one expected — and what happened in the ring left the WWE Universe in disbelief.
Team RAW and Team SmackDown clashed in traditional elimination matches, creating shocking alliances and rivalries that would carry over into the new year.
🗓️ December – TLC & Roadblock: End of the Line 🎇
🔥 Key Matches:
- AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose (WWE Championship – TLC Match)
- Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns (Universal Championship)
- Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair (RAW Women’s Championship – 30-Minute Iron Man Match)
🎭 Highlights & Rivalries:
Chairs, ladders, and tables played a major role as two of SmackDown’s top stars tore each other apart over championship gold.
On RAW, the Owens and Jericho alliance continued to influence the Universal Title picture.
Meanwhile, Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair concluded their year-long war with an Iron Man Match that redefined endurance and emotion.
🔥 2016 Summary – The Second Half in Review
The second half of 2016 delivered on all fronts:
- A new Universal Championship changed the RAW landscape
- The brand split reinvigorated rivalries and opportunities
- AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and Charlotte Flair took their legacies to new levels
- Goldberg’s return created shockwaves that would reach WrestleMania
As the year closed, fans were left wondering: Who would rise next? Who would fall? And what would the Royal Rumble bring?
