The PG Era in WWE was in full flow by the time 2009 rolled around. The brand split was still in effect although the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships would change hands consistently in 2009. WWE changed up their pay-per-view schedules with the likes of Unforgiven, No Mercy, and Armageddon retired in favor of new pay-per-views which were based on gimmick matches.
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Whilst, the likes of John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, and Triple H still featured in main events, a few other names got the chance to headline pay-per-views. Unfortunately, not every main event in 2009 was fantastic, but the great ones are still spoken about to this present day.
14 CM Punk Vs. The Undertaker - Breaking Point
You'll rarely find The Undertaker at the bottom of any list, but it better be for a good reason. At Breaking Point, CM Punk defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Undertaker in a Submissions match.
WWE has an obsession with recreating the Montreal Screwjob every time that they are in Canada. This bout had the potential to be miles better, and Punk applied the Anaconda Vise, but the referee called for the bell with Undertaker not even tapping out.
13 Triple H Vs. Randy Orton - WrestleMania 25
Triple H and Randy Orton had the unenviable task of trying to top The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels' masterclass at WrestleMania 25. The Game put the WWE Championship on the line against Orton, who won the 2009 Royal Rumble match.
The crowd was flat for the entirety of the match, and it was a boring match between the pair. Orton should have emerged victorious in his maiden 'Mania main event, but the Game retained the WWE Title with a Pedigree.
12 Randy Orton Vs.Triple H - The Bash
Randy Orton and Triple H collided in a Three Stages of Hell match for the Viper's WWE Championship at The Bash. The stipulation hampered this bout, and it was an average match in all honesty. The Game handed Orton the first fall as he got himself intentionally disqualified by attacking him with a steel chair.
The Game was smart as he knew that the second fall would be Falls Count Anywhere, and he connected with a Pedigree to level the tie. Nevertheless, Legacy's Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase aided Orton to get Triple H over the line in a stretcher match with Orton retaining the WWE Championship.
11 Royal Rumble Match - Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble match centered heavily around the feud between Legacy and Triple H. The Game entered seventh, and Orton was the following entrant. Orton wasn't on his lonesome for long as Ted DiBiase was the 10th entrant, and Cody entered the bout, 15th.
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Former World Champions and Rumble winners were also involved with the likes of Chris Jericho, Big Show, The Undertaker, Kane, and CM Punk looking to break up the party. Nevertheless, Legacy and Triple H were the final four participants. The Game tried to fend off Legacy, but the number's game proved to be too much with Orton dumping Triple H over the top rope to win the Rumble for the first time.
10 DX Vs. Legacy - Hell In A Cell
The trilogy between DX and Legacy culminated in a Hell in a Cell match. Triple H and Shawn Michaels had vast experience in Hell in a Cell matches with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase entering the Devil's Favorite Playground for the first time.
Legacy seemed experienced as they locked Triple H out of the cell, and they double-teamed Michaels. They failed to capitalize on their advantage as the Game returned to the match, and DX prevailed in a superb contest.
9 Jeri-Show Vs. DX - TLC
Chris Jericho and Big Show's Unified WWE Tag Team Championship reign was in serious jeopardy as they defended their titles in a TLC match against Triple H and Shawn Michaels. DX was attempting to win tag team gold together for the first time.
This was an intriguing bout, and whilst it wasn't the greatest TLC match, it was a competitive affair. Nevertheless, the hometown support in San Antonio, Texas got Michaels over the line as he retrieved the championship for DX with Triple H holding the ladder for him.
8 CM Punk Vs. Jeff Hardy - Night Of Champions
CM Punk and Jeff Hardy battled over the World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions. The Charismatic Engima was looking to regain the gold as Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to take the title away from him. As expected, they knocked it out of the park in a brilliant championship match.
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Hardy attempted the Swanton Bomb a couple of times but Punk managed to move out of the way and blocked it with his knees up. Punk connected with the GTS but Hardy kicked out. The Second City Saint attempted to escape with his championship, but Hardy reeled Punk back into the ring and laid him out with the Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb to become a three-time WWE World Champion.
7 Randy Orton Vs. John Cena - Bragging Rights
The WWE Championship was like a yo-yo between Randy Orton and John Cena. The title changed hands at the two previous events, and they settled the score in an Anything Goes 60-minute Iron Man match for the gold at Bragging Rights.
This was one of their best matches together, and having constant pinfalls made the match intriguing. Cena had to work hard for another WWE Title reign, but he managed to get over the line with a 6-5 scoreline after he forced Orton to submit to the STF.
6 Edge Vs. Jeff Hardy - Judgment Day
Edge and Jeff Hardy have competed in a plethora of matches over the years, but their World Heavyweight Championship match at the final Judgment Day is overlooked. This was an outstanding wrestling match with both men having their chances to prevail.
The battle spilled onto the outside, and Jeff attempted to put Edge through the broadcast table but the Rated-R Superstar responded with a Spear onto the floor. Matt interfered, and Edge connected with an Edgecution off the top rope in a successful title defense.
5 John Cena Vs. Triple H Vs. Shawn Michaels - Survivor Series
One of the biggest main events in the history of Survivor Series, featured John Cena, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels slugging it out for the WWE Championship. Whilst, DX was expected to work as a cohesive unit, HBK threw a spanner in the works by hitting Triple H with Sweet Chin Music within the first few seconds.
The Game retaliated later on in the match, by putting Michaels through an announce table with a spinebuster. Despite Michaels and Triple H's efforts, it wasn't enough with Big Match John continuing his WWE Championship reign.
4 John Cena Vs. Edge Vs. Kane Vs. Chris Jericho Vs. Rey Mysterio Vs. Mike Knox - No Way Out
Edge was seething after losing the WWE Championship in the Elimination Chamber at the start of the night, but he attacked Kofi Kingston and stole his spot in the Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
This was an excellent Elimination Chamber match, and Edge ended John Cena's title defense with a Spear. Edge and Rey Mysterio were the final two competitors, and the Ultimate Opportunist lived up to his moniker by capturing his eighth World Championship.
3 Edge Vs. Jeff Hardy - Extreme Rules
Edge's ladder match with Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules was the final ladder match that the Rated-R Superstar competed in. Edge's World Heavyweight Championship was on the line, and two ladder match specialists hit a home run in a fantastic bout.
Throwing it back to their old ladder matches in the past, Edge and Jeff put their bodies on the line. Hardy connected with an excellent Twist of Fate off the ladder. Moreover, Jeff captured the World Heavyweight Title with Edge stuck on a rung in the ladder. Jeff's joy was short-lived as CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to become a two-time World Champion.
2 Jeff Hardy Vs. CM Punk - SummerSlam
Jeff Hardy and CM Punk rightfully headlined SummerSlam in a TLC match for the World Heavyweight Championship. The Second City Saint put in a sublime performance, and he moved out of the way when Hardy was going to put him through the table with a splash.
Hardy is a risk-taker, and he successfully put Punk through a broadcast table with a Swanton Bomb. Their match was full of perfectly-executed spots, but Punk escaped with the World Heavyweight Championship for the third time in his career.
1 John Cena Vs. Edge - Backlash
The rivalry between John Cena and Edge came to a halt in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship at Backlash. The matches between the pair were always excellent, and despite Cena being the face, Edge got tons of support from the fans.
Cena launched Edge into the crowd with an AA. He even connected with an Avalanche AA in the bout. Edge fought back, and their action spilled over at the top of the ramp. Ultimately, the Rated-R Superstar reclaimed the World Heavyweight Championship after Big Show chokeslammed Cena into a spotlight.
