Best WWE matches of this decade (part three)

I'm working through a list of 64 nominated matches to compile this list. As aresult, it's unlikely the list will be my TOP 64. Some matches you might consider best of the decade aren't on that list. Feel free to suggest them, and I'll either shoot them down immediately (don't suggest Flair vs. HBK or Rock vs. Hogan or similar spectacle matches) or try and have a watch. As it now is:

1. Umaga vs. John Cena, 28th January 2007
2. Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guererro, 23rd June 2005
3. Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit, 28th May 2001
4. Matt Hardy vs. Edge, 18th September 2005
5. Rey Mysterio vs. Finlay, 9th Novmber 2007
6. William Regal vs. Chris Benoit, 16th July 2005
7. Matt Hardy vs. Finlay, 22 June 2007
8. Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley, 18th April 2004
9. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels, 23rd April 2007
10. Hardy Boys vs. MNM 28th January 2007
11. Eddie Guererro and Tajiri vs. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, 22nd May 2003
12. Finlay vs. Undertaker, 9th March 2007
13. Steve Austin vs. The Rock, 1st April 2001

More thoughts:

William Regal vs. Chris Benoit, 16th July 2005 - I've watched three of their matches in quick succession (Pillman memorial, No Mercy 2006, this match) and they are all strikingly similar in terms of content and sequences, in the way that two guys who have a great match will often do (Sting-Vader is another good example). This is face vs. face, but it's the most violent face vs. face match you're going to watch in WWE. In all three of those matches, Regal bleed hardway from a headbutt. This is a match on a D-show, and Regal's bleeding hardway from a headbutt. Really nasty surfboard submission, and even nastier elbows from Benoit. In the Pillman match they do a tombstone reversal spot, which they do here also, only Benoit does a shoulder breaker, which is even better given the crossface finish. Loads of great struggle spots, this and the No Mercy match have a really cool battle over the crossface, with Regal blocking it until Benoit found a way to loosen Regal's grip.

Matt Hardy vs. Edge, 18th September 2005 - Exactly what you want out of a feud ending cage match. Guys punching each other, loads of bumps off the steel, a couple of high spots thrown in and an insane finish. Added into that, they play off the concussion from the previous month a lot, making everything, even Edge's usually weak looking offence looked deadly. I like how they moved between the twin aims of victory and revenge, which helped to deal with the most obvious flaw of escape cage matches (that there are usually loads of chances to win and slow crawling or climbing exposes the concept)

Steve Austin vs. The Rock, 1st April 2001 - Hard not to be massively disappointed revisiting this now. My biggest problem is how unepic it felt, despite the billing. Top two guys in the promotion, two year lrematch, huge arena - you expect a epic heavyweight war. I don't think either was so limited they needed all the gimmickry to have a war, although I was decidedly unimpressed with Rock's offense here. Even then, the furniture and weapons stuff felt weak to me - Rock obviously taking the table slamming with hands, the bell shots missing by a visible distance. Finisher theft stuff feels like a crutch to fall back on in lieu of anything more meaningful. There's other minor niggles as well, but it doesn't matter at this point. The finish is well executed as an angle, with Vince motivations being revealed slowly, but again this distracts from the actual matchup. Austin bouncing around the rings and the ropes was the only bit I really liked - that level of selling for long stretches whilst working fully heel was one of the things I really liked in his matches later in the year, particularly against Benoit. That match proves to me that Austin at least didn't need gimmickry to have a great match at this point in his career.