Wrestling fans love to argue. It is the fuel that keeps the internet wrestling community (IWC) running at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday. Usually, those arguments circle back to one man: Dave Meltzer. Specifically, his "star ratings" from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. For decades, getting a five-star rating was the equivalent of winning an Oscar for a pro wrestler. But lately, it feels like the goalposts have moved.
People act like WWE five star matches are a dime a dozen now. They aren't.
📖 Related: Women’s College Basketball Stats Explained: Why Everyone Is Watching the Wrong Numbers
For nearly 14 years—from 1997 to 2011—WWE didn't receive a single five-star rating. Not one. Kurt Angle, arguably the greatest "pure" wrestler to ever lace up boots, never got a five-star rating in a WWE ring. Think about that. You have matches like Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25, which most fans consider the pinnacle of the art form, and it sits at 4.75 stars.
It’s frustrating. It’s subjective. And honestly? It’s kind of the point.
The Long Drought and the CM Punk Breakthrough
To understand why a five-star rating in WWE matters, you have to look at the gap. In 1997, we had two: Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 (the "double turn") and the first-ever Hell in a Cell match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker at Badd Blood. Both were masterpieces.
Then? Silence.
For over a decade, WWE was "too corporate" or "too safe" for the 5-star standard. It wasn't until CM Punk faced John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011 that the seal was broken. That match wasn't just about moves. It was the atmosphere. Chicago was ready to riot if Punk lost. The story of Punk leaving the company with the title created a "big fight feel" that transcended the scripted nature of the sport.
Meltzer finally gave in. Five stars.
Recent WWE Five Star Matches You Need to Watch
In the last few years, the floodgates have opened. Maybe the wrestling got better. Maybe Meltzer got "softer" in his old age. Or maybe, just maybe, the influx of independent talent like Gunther, Ilja Dragunov, and Johnny Gargano brought a style that was impossible to ignore.
- Cody Rhodes vs. Seth "Freakin" Rollins (Hell in a Cell 2022): This match is legendary for one reason: Cody’s pectoral muscle. It was completely torn. His chest was purple. Watching him take a powerbomb onto a table with a detached muscle was uncomfortable, but it was also the gutsiest performance in modern WWE history.
- Gunther vs. Sheamus (Clash at the Castle 2022): This was just two men hitting each other as hard as humanly possible. No fluff. No "sports entertainment" gimmicks. Just 20 minutes of loud, red chests and heavy breathing.
- Gunther vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus (WrestleMania 39): Triple threat matches are hard to pull off perfectly. This one did it. It was a demolition derby of meat hitting meat.
- The Usos vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (WrestleMania 39): This was the emotional peak of the Bloodline story. It proved that tag team wrestling could main event the biggest show of the year and earn the "perfect" score.
The "Starflation" Controversy
Some fans hate the current state of ratings. They call it "starflation."
Basically, the argument is that because matches in AEW or Japan are getting 6 or 7 stars now, the classic 5-star rating has lost its luster. If Will Ospreay can get five stars on a random Wednesday, does it mean as much when Cody Rhodes gets it at a PLE?
📖 Related: Why Jackie Robinson Stadium Daytona Still Matters in 2026
Honestly, it doesn't matter. A star rating is one man's opinion. But it’s an opinion that drives the market. When a match gets that "5" label, it lives forever on the WWE Network (or Peacock). It becomes a "must-watch."
What Actually Makes a Match Five Stars?
Meltzer doesn't have a rigid checklist, but after reading the Observer for years, you can see the patterns. He looks for:
- Work Rate: Is the execution crisp? Are there botches?
- Psychology: Does the match make sense? Why are they working on the leg?
- Crowd Reaction: Is the audience dead or are they losing their minds?
- The "Stiffness": This is a Meltzer staple. He loves matches where the strikes look (and are) real. This is why Gunther is a 5-star machine.
Why the Ratings Are Changing in 2025 and 2026
We’ve seen a massive shift in how WWE approaches their matches. Under the new creative regime, the "WWE Style"—which used to be very restrictive—has loosened up. We’re seeing longer matches, more technical grappling, and finishes that aren't just "distraction roll-ups."
Matches like Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41 or the recent wars involving John Cena in his retirement tour have pushed the boundaries. Cena, for all the "five moves of doom" jokes, has actually become a 5-star regular late in his career. His 2025 clash with Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam was a passing of the torch that felt like a movie.
How to Find These Matches Yourself
If you’re new to the hunt for the "perfect" match, don't just take a journalist's word for it. Go to Cagematch.net. It’s a community-driven database where fans rate matches on a scale of 1 to 10.
Often, you’ll find that a match Meltzer gave 4.5 stars actually has a 9.6 on Cagematch. That’s usually where the real gold is. The "hidden gems" that didn't quite hit the 5-star mark but are arguably better than the ones that did.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to truly appreciate the evolution of WWE five star matches, you should do a "Triple Crown" viewing. Watch these three in order:
- Bret vs. Austin (WM 13): To see the foundation of storytelling.
- Shawn vs. Taker (WM 25): To see the "perfect" match that didn't get 5 stars (it’s a 4.75).
- Gunther vs. Ilja Dragunov (NXT TakeOver 36): To see the modern, brutal standard of what it takes to get that 5.25+ rating today.
By comparing these three, you’ll start to see the nuance. You’ll see how the "flips" of the modern era compare to the "grit" of the 90s. More importantly, you'll realize that while Dave Meltzer's stars are a great guide, the only rating that actually matters is how you felt when the three-count hit the mat.