The career of Christian made him one of the most underrated wrestlers of all time. Christian never achieved the level of stardom that his former tag team partner and best friend Edge did in WWE. However, that should not take away from the hit list of classic matches and moments to come from him. The run of Christian featured strong consistency in different roles called upon him.
We will look back at the best overall matches from Christian’s career. The tag team run, singles work, and the TNA run will each be featured here. Christian always adapted to the times and had compelling matches in all eras he worked during. The best ones will be spotlighted here. Find out just what made his career so special with the top ten matches of Christian.
10 Edge and Christian vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz (Summerslam 2000)
The first-ever TLC match came at Summerslam 2000 due to the tables, ladders and chairs all standing out as the main weapons of the three teams. Edge and Christian continued their run of dominance with another big win over the Dudley Boyz and Hardy Boyz.
The careers of all six wrestlers grew significantly thanks to the entertainment value of these matches. WWE realized the match stipulation was a hit following the positive reaction to this match. Christian’s success during this chapter of his career set up him up for future singles success.
9 Christian vs Samoa Joe (TNA Destination X 2007)
The TNA run of Christian allowed him to get his first opportunity in wrestling as a singles main eventer. Christian instantly was a main eventer and would eventually win the NWA Championship as the world title for TNA at the time.
Samoa Joe’s momentum would see him finally get a chance at the NWA Championship against Christian in the main event of Destination X 2007. Both men delivered an outstanding performance with the story of Joe’s rise connecting with the fans. Christian reversing a pin and using the ropes for leverage gave him a classic heel victory.
8 Christian vs Shelton Benjamin (TLC 2009)
Christian’s return to WWE from TNA saw him join the ECW brand. This gave him a chance to work towards the top of the card for WWE, even if it was a secondary show. Christian had one especially remarkable match for the ECW Championship.
The singles bout against Shelton Benjamin at TLC 2009 would give fans an exciting bout between two talents that thrived with the ladder match stipulation. WWE stopped the match for a short while to tend to Christian bleeding, but they still delivered a classic in the ladder match.
7 Christian vs John Cena vs Chris Jericho (Vengeance 2005)
One of the few world title shots for Christian came at the Vengeance 2005 PPV. The move of John Cena from Smackdown to Raw as the WWE Champion gave him feuds with both Christian and Chris Jericho. Both men received the first opportunity in a triple threat match.
Christian had strong momentum after months of entertaining promos made the fans start showing support for him. Unfortunately, his one shot against Cena came in a losing effort. The match did provide great entertainment and WWE may have made a mistake not giving Christian a bigger chance.
6 Christian vs Rob Van Dam (Raw: September 29, 2003)
The various Intercontinental Championship reigns of Christian provided some of the best times of his career. Rob Van Dam was another tremendous performer that had a strong role in the IC Title picture. Both men had their best match together on the September 29, 2003 edition of Raw.
The stipulation of the ladder match added to the overall excitement. Christian and Van Dam did their best to continue pushing forward the ladder match as arguably the most exciting stipulation in WWE. RVD scored the win to become Intercontinental Champion after a great match.
5 Christian vs Chris Jericho (WrestleMania 20)
Christian rarely received noteworthy opportunities to have singles matches at WrestleMania. The best one came at WrestleMania 20 when Christian was involved in a storyline with both Chris Jericho and Trish Stratus.
Following an attack from Christian on Trish, Jericho looked to gain revenge. Christian, however, pulled off the victory with help from Stratus giving her a shocking heel turn. The couple of Trish and Christian helped him become a bigger star with the superb match starting it off.
4 Christian vs Frankie Kazarian (TNA Genesis 2007)
The best match from Christian’s TNA run came at the Genesis 2007 event. Unlike most of the other former WWE stars in TNA, Christian loved working with the younger talents and trying to make them look like bigger stars.
Frankie Kazarian entered a feud with Christian that culminated in a ladder match. It was arguably the best match of Kazarian’s entire career keeping up with a legend in the match stipulation. Christian even took the loss putting over Kazarian with a massive win.
3 Christian vs Alberto Del Rio (Extreme Rules 2011)
Edge’s abrupt retirement would see Christian continue his best friend’s feud with Alberto Del Rio. Christian and Del Rio faced off in a ladder match at Extreme Rules 2011 for the World Championship vacated by Edge’s injury.
The feel-good moment of Christian grabbing the title to win his first World Championship in WWE was remarkable. Fans loved the match itself with both men making the most out of the ladders. Christian lost the title to Randy Orton days later, but the moment of his victory will stand the test of time.
2 Edge and Christian vs The Dudley Boyz vs The Hardy Boyz (WrestleMania 17)
The peak of the TLC match came at WrestleMania 17 when Edge and Christian, the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz managed to do it again. All three teams raised the bar along with the contributions of Rhyno, Lita and Spike Dudley adding to the match.
Edge and Christian once again came out at the winners continuing to dominate the three-team TLC matches. WrestleMania 17 is regarded as the best show in WWE history with this match having an argument for being the best of the show. It was certainly Christian’s best performance at a WrestleMania show.
1 Christian vs Randy Orton (Summerslam 2011)
The rivalry between Randy Orton and Christian helped showcase the full potential of Christian’s greatness in WWE. Fans were conflicted when Orton ended Christian’s first World Championship reign after just a few days.
Christian, however, turned everyone against him with a memorable heel turn. The matches between Orton and Christian were always great, but the Summerslam 2011 stands out at another level. Orton won the brutal No Holds Barred match to regain the title. Christian was a bump machine on this night making every single move look great for the classic.