Watch WWE Rivals

WWE Rivals is a documentary series that premiered on A&E in 2022. The show offers an in-depth look at some of the most iconic rivalries in WWE history. Each episode focuses on a specific feud between two wrestling superstars and examines how their storied conflicts elevated them both to greater heights.

The inaugural season of WWE Rivals covers five major rivalries that defined distinct eras for the company. The first episode spotlights the intense competition between WWE Hall of Famers Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart during the mid-1990s. As two of the most gifted in-ring performers of their time, Michaels and Hart pushed each other to deliver some of WWE's most memorable matches. Their backstage conflicts added fuel to their on-screen clashes, culminating in the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" at Survivor Series 1997.

Another episode documents the fiercely physical rivalry between "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock at the height of WWE's Attitude Era in the late 1990s. Their electric chemistry and contrasting personalities, coupled with their legitimate competitive drive, produced some of the highest-rated matches and moments in WWE history. Their trilogy of WrestleMania main events cemented their status as two wrestling icons.

The origins of D-Generation X and its bitter war with The Hart Foundation is also examined. Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chyna and Rick Rude formed the rebellious DX faction in 1997, engaging in sophomoric antics directed at WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and the Hart Foundation led by Bret Hart. The ensuing feud pushed boundaries and created a new tone that defined WWE's shift to edgier content.

No collection of WWE rivalries would be complete without the storied saga between John Cena and Edge. Their conflicts over the WWE Championship in 2006 helped establish Cena as the face of WWE, while Edge shed his tag team roots to become a main event star. Their rivalry intensified in personal ways, resulting in some of WWE's most dramatic matches and storylines.

Rounding out the first season is the generational feud between WWE exec-turned-wrestler Vince McMahon and D-Generation X. McMahon embraced his role as the corporate villain opposed to DX's crass, anti-establishment antics. Their feud gave McMahon a new dimension while establishing DX as a pop culture force that still resonates today.

By focusing on these pivotal rivalries, WWE Rivals provides informative and entertaining insight into the feuds that built WWE. The show combines archival footage and interviews to present complete accounts of the forces that drove these bitter enemies to push each other to greater fame. For longtime WWE fans or curious newcomers, WWE Rivals is a fascinating look at the rivalries that built an empire.

WWE Rivals is a series that ran for 4 seasons (32 episodes) between July 10, 2022 and on A&E