Usually, some of WWE’s best matches of all time take place at a pay-per-view. But this was not always the case either. WWE has often told stories through their matches on WWE RAW or SmackDown, and more recently on NXT as well.

In fact, over the years, WWE’s weekly television shows have delivered some unforgettable matches that helped to elevate superstars and entertain fans. It helped create stars and moments that may never be recreated.

The following are five times that WWE gave away pay-per-view-worthy matches on WWE TV.

#5 Brock Lesnar vs Hulk Hogan - WWE SmackDown, August 8, 2002

Hulk Hogan was never the most proficient wrestler in the ring, but he was always effective when he wanted to be in WWE. The superstar had a presence that very few other wrestlers could match on a regular basis and he gave the best performances in front of a hot crowd.

In 2002, Brock Lesnar was still new to the main roster. He had started to establish himself as an incredible threat to each and every superstar when WWE put him in a match against Hulk Hogan on just another normal episode of SmackDown.

On the August 8, 2002, episode of SmackDown, Lesnar faced the WWE legend in a match and had an excellent showing. It seemed that Hogan would power his way through Lesnar like any other opponent.

Brock Lesnar’s title shot at SummerSlam was on the line as a result of the match. But when Lesnar faced Hogan, there was no way that Hogan would be able to power himself to a win. He hit him with an F5 and then locked in a bear hug to finish Hogan with it.

Lesnar defeated Hulk Hogan with a Bear Hug, something that would be unimaginable today. The match remains pay-per-view quality simply because of those involved, but WWE gave it away on normal TV.

#4 Jeff Hardy vs The Undertaker – WWE Championship Match on WWE RAW – July 1, 2002

In 2002, for the first time in his career, Jeff Hardy was making strides as a singles competitor in WWE.

Hardy was always one of the best competitors in WWE and in 2002 he was at his exciting best. He was young and ready to do anything that he could to prove himself. So when he got his match against The Undertaker on an episode of RAW in a Ladder Match for the WWE title, it was immediately pay-per-view worthy.

But what would happen in the match would make it even better. There are very few matches in WWE history that come under the classification of David vs Goliath in the same way that this one did.

The Undertaker was at his best and Jeff Hardy was exciting. Both wrestlers started to wrestle and held nothing back. The Undertaker sold every move of Hardy as if it was the last one he would take, and Jeff Hardy took risks only in the way that he could.

As a result, it made for quite a combination of matches. Hardy used the ladder as did The Undertaker and they battered each other. In the end, The Undertaker defeated him and it seemed like it was over. But Jeff Hardy called him back and the Deadman walked back and lifted Hardy against the ropes. However, seeing the battered superstar against the ropes, he stopped himself and instead raised his opponent’s arm in a sign of respect.

That was the moment that made Jeff Hardy into the superstar that he later became as the WWE Universe had no option but to respect a wrestler who was given props by The Undertaker himself.

#3 Finn Balor vs Shinsuke Nakamura – WWE NXT July 13, 2016

Before they came to the WWE main roster, in NXT, Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura were both seen as two of the top wrestlers of all time.

NXT is one of the most respected brands in WWE at the moment and the reason it has been able to give itself that position is because of the consistency of the level of matches they display. The Black and Gold brand made a name for itself thanks to the amazing matches that took place on regular TV.

In July 2016, Finn Balor was about to leave WWE NXT and make his way up to the main roster. In his last match during his first run on the brand, Finn Balor faced Shinsuke Nakamura in a clash between two of the most respected stars on the brand. The star power was enough for it to be a TakeOver match, but instead, they faced each other on NXT.

The two superstars put on a display that both would be proud to look back on today. It remains one of the best matches of all time to take place on WWE TV.

#2 John Cena vs Shawn Michaels – WWE RAW, April 23, 2007

Shawn Michaels is possibly the best superstar to ever step into a WWE ring. John Cena, also, is nothing if not entertaining. The two wrestlers had already met for the first time when they wrestled at WrestleMania and put on one of the best matches in the show’s history.

So, when they faced each other on a random episode of RAW, the crowd was excited. Other matches were advertised to take place after the two of them were done, but in reality, they would never happen.

Instead, Shawn Michaels and John Cena had a grueling match that went on for nearly 60 minutes, including the commercials.

The match remains one of the best of all time as both superstars held nothing back as they faced each other. It was a match that every fan wanted and they got it. At WrestleMania, John Cena had beaten Shawn Michaels, but on RAW, the outcome was different. Michaels landed on his feet from an Attitude Adjustment and hit the sudden Sweet Chin Music to get the win.

The WWE crowd exploded and the match became an instant classic.

#1 Kurt Angle vs Brock Lesnar – Iron Man Match on WWE SmackDown, September 18, 2003

Possibly the best WWE match to ever take place on TV instead of pay-per-view, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar were very familiar with each other heading into it. Both wrestlers had one win apiece in previous matches.

This was set to be the rubber match for the two WWE Superstars. The match was an Iron Man Match for Kurt Angle’s WWE title.

The two men were at the end of their rope with each other and held nothing back from the beginning. Both of them were looking to do the best they could and that worked.

Lesnar lost the first fall by getting himself intentionally disqualified by hitting Angle with a number of steel chair shots. However, those shots allowed him to weaken Angle to a point where he got three consecutive falls, going up 3-1. He even made Angle tap out to his own Ankle Lock.

Angle came back to win one, but Lesnar got another two falls, leading to a 5-2 advantage. Kurt Angle showcased in that WWE match the grit that allowed him to be so successful. He targeted Lesnar’s leg and focused on it, leading to getting two falls back. He was 5-4 behind, and with seconds to go, he locked in his Ankle Lock.

Unfortunately, time ran out and Lesnar survived. In the end, Lesnar rolled out of the ring and remained the champion as Kurt Angle lost despite his heartbreaking attempts to win.

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