The Last Man Standing match is a contest where one must incapacitate their opponent to the point that they can no longer answer the referee’s 10-count. It takes quite a bit of offense to put someone down for that long, so using it to blow off a long-lasting feud is a natural step.
Since the goal of the match is to incapacitate your opponent that badly, there’s a good chance that the contest will go on for some time. If the right two workers aren’t in the match, it can lead to a very slow, lumbering affair that does little to excite any fan watching. Luckily, there are various examples of a perfect storm of work rate and storytelling.
Chris Jericho vs. Triple H – Fully Loaded 2000
The history between these two men is well documented. In this instance, Jericho was up to his usual tricks of mocking Stephanie McMahon. After several weeks of verbal barbs, Jericho inserted himself into a match involving Triple H, costing him the victory.
This drew Triple H’s ire, and he demanded that Commissioner Mick Foley book them in a match at Fully Loaded. After a few weeks of DX getting the better of Jericho, Y2J requested the match be made a Last Man Standing bout.
What stood out most about this match was that for the first half, the action took place entirely in the ring — unusual for this stipulation, which often quickly spills into brawling and weapons. The in-ring wrestling showcased both men’s talent and set the stage for the brutality later.
Once the action hit ringside, we got some great spots, including a memorable double television monitor shot. It was awesome to see them get creative outside the ring.
This was also a star-making performance for Jericho. With Triple H targeting his injured ribs and Jericho refusing to stay down, the crowd rallied behind Y2J. By the end, you could feel Jericho had cemented himself as a main-event player.
Triple H vs. Ric Flair – Survivor Series 2005
Triple H and Flair had been joined at the hip since 2002, establishing Evolution and helping to elevate the careers of both Randy Orton and Batista. Fast forward to 2005 when, after being on the shelf for three months, Triple H returned to action on Raw Homecoming where he and Flair partnered up to take on Chris Masters and Carlito. Triple H got the win for his team, and while he and Flair were celebrating in the ring, the Cerebral Assassin turned on his long-time friend, dropping him with a sledgehammer.
This was a bit of a shock to viewers, as no one could have imagined that Trips would turn on his long-time ally. It sparked a feud between the two that started with a really good cage match at Taboo Tuesday that saw Flair prevail. Not one to go down without a fight, Triple H demanded another match for Survivor Series — a Last Man Standing match.
Flair was very much past his prime as a performer, so the Last Man Standing match was a perfect vehicle in which to hide his shortcomings.
The match began with brawling around ringside, typical of most of these matches. What stood out was when Triple H took out a screwdriver and began jabbing it into Flair’s head. Flair got busted open huge after this (big surprise), and would wear a good amount of blood for the remainder of the match. It was a cool and creative spot — the screwdriver had not been a common weapon in WWE, so its inclusion felt unique.
For the remainder of the match, Triple H was in control, which played perfectly into the story being told. When Triple H turned on Flair, his reasoning was that Flair was past his prime and “needed to be put down.” Flair’s refusal to stay down, even though Triple H had the upper hand, created a large amount of sympathy for him and pushed this match over the top.
The result of the match was never in doubt, but Triple H and Flair told an amazing story that makes this a must-watch for any wrestling fan.
John Cena vs. Umaga – WWE Championship, Royal Rumble 2007
Umaga had debuted the night after WrestleMania 22 and since that night had run through anyone put in front of him. He carried an undefeated streak into the new year and used it to get a shot at John Cena and the WWE Championship at New Year’s Revolution. Cena beat Umaga with a roll-up that night, which got a huge eye roll from me, to break the Samoan Bulldozer’s streak and retain the title.
Naturally, this cheap win by Cena was not met with a great response from just about anyone, so a rematch was booked for the Royal Rumble. Since Jonathan Coachman was the on-screen authority figure at the time, Umaga’s manager was given the choice of which stipulation to put on their WWE title match. Estrada decided that a Last Man Standing match would be to Umaga’s advantage, and it was signed and delivered for the Royal Rumble.
The match started slow, as will be the theme with most Last Man Standing matches, with Umaga working over an injured midsection of the champ. We were right in the middle of Super Cena at the time, so it makes sense that Umaga would take control of the contest.
Once the inevitable Cena beatdown finished, the two men kicked the match into high gear. It was a brutal contest from there on out, with Cena doing a very good blade job and donning the crimson mask.
Following Cena getting busted open, the two wrestlers got very creative with using various weapons around the ringside area. A particular bright spot came at the end when Cena used a loose top rope to strangle Umaga in the STF. Umaga sold it perfectly — he legit looked like he was choking — and it helped to sell the brutality of the match.
It was a shame that Umaga wasn’t given a run with the title following this match because he was made to look like an absolute beast. Instead, we got to deal with Super Cena for a few more months.
Roman Reigns vs. The Big Show – Extreme Rules 2015
Following months of interference from Big Show and Kane after the Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns finally squared off with Show one-on-one in a Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules.
The match was hard-hitting, with high-impact moves designed to make the giant stay down. Tables, kendo sticks, and chairs all came into play, and while the Chicago crowd was still divided on Reigns, the physicality delivered.
Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose – Intercontinental Championship, Royal Rumble 2016
At the previous year’s Survivor Series, Ambrose and Owens met in the WWE Championship tournament semi-finals. After Ambrose defeated Owens at TLC for the Intercontinental Championship, the rivalry became heated.
A double count-out in a rematch led Owens to challenge Ambrose to settle things in a Last Man Standing match at the Royal Rumble.
Some questioned this match opening the pay-per-view, but those doubts were erased quickly. Owens and Ambrose went full throttle, avoiding the slow pacing common in the stipulation. Their trash talk added a layer of personal animosity that elevated the bout.
The finish — Ambrose shoving Owens off the top rope through two tables — was one of the most memorable knockout spots in Last Man Standing history.
Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar – SummerSlam 2022, Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
This was billed as their final confrontation, and it delivered in spades. Following a dramatic return by Lesnar and weeks of tension, the Last Man Standing stipulation sealed the deal at Nashville’s SummerSlam.
From the bell, it was an all-out war. Lesnar made his impact known by launching Reigns from a tractor’s bucket onto the announce table. What followed was a brutal exchange: suplexes, table spots, repeated Superman Punches, spears — and Reigns standing up from every assault. The climax was incredible: Reigns blasted Lesnar with both the Money in the Bank briefcase and one of his championship belts, piled chairs and debris atop him, and stared down the 10-count — emerging victorious in one of the most visually striking and hellacious matches in modern WWE memory
Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – Fastlane 2023, World Heavyweight Championship
Fastlane 2023 featured a rare modern-era Last Man Standing bout that recaptured the theatrical brutality of earlier classics. Rollins defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Nakamura in a grueling 28-minute contest.
Both men dished out relentless punishment, using the environment and creative offense to keep things moving at a furious pace. The finish was as brutal as it was memorable — Rollins drove Nakamura through a collection of Tech Tables using a Falcon Arrow off an elevated platform. Nakamura couldn’t answer the count, giving Rollins the victory and sending the crowd home buzzing
