WWE: 25 Dream Matches We Will Never See

When you see a dream match, you know it.

Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock at WrestleMania X-8. Ricky Steamboat vs. Chris Jericho at Backlash in 2009. Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair at WrestleMania 24.

They are dream matches, quite simply, because they pit two legends—often from two different eras—against each other.

We've already had the privilege of seeing dozens upon dozens of these dream matches in the past, but for every one we have seen, there's another that probably won't ever happen.

Here are 25 dream matches we likely will never see, no matter how much we want to.

Note: I could have put Shawn Michaels in 10 or more matches on this list, but as a rule, I'm not going to use any superstar more than three times.These are my choices, not anyone else's, and for the most part, you will not see matches—such as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. CM Punk—that have a realistic chance of happening.

25. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles

Rey Mysterio is one of the greatest high-flyers ever, and you could make a case that AJ Styles is the best performer in TNA history.

The chances of these two ever actually meeting in a WWE ring are slim to none because Styles seems like a TNA lifer and Mysterio might very well be nearing the end of his career, but I can only imagine that they would tear the house down if given the chance.

Think something along these lines if both Mysterio and Styles were in the prime of their careers.

24. Kharma vs. Trish Stratus

Trish Stratus has consistently teased that she would be facing Beth Phoenix at WrestleMania 28, and that's certainly a dream match in and of itself.

But give me Kharma vs. Trish, and I'd be just as happy.

We've never seen any interaction between these two Divas, but they just so happen to be two of the top female wrestlers in WWE history.

I think that a Kharma/Trish match has the potential to be one of the best Divas matches of all time, assuming it would get more than three minutes, of course.

23. Triple H vs. Harley Race

If you pay close attention to the in-ring styles of both Triple H and Harley Race, they're eerily similar.

Both of these men use the delayed knee drop, swinging neck breaker and the high knee, among others, and the HHH/Race comparisons have been going on for years now.

Race himself has even said he's flattered by Triple H using some of his moves, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind getting in the ring with The Game, either.

This match would probably be really good because it's basically like watching Triple H wrestle, well, himself in the mirror. Only, the guy in the mirror looks a little different and won't inherit the WWE one day. 

22. Eddie Guerrero vs. Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio gets a lot of criticism these days, but if you watch some of his best bouts—such as his Ladder Match against Christian at Extreme Rules or his TLC match against The Miz and CM Punk at WWE TLC last year—you'll see that he's actually really good.

Throw him in the ring with an all-time great like Eddie Guerrero, and you'd create pure magic.

Not only would the actual wrestling be great, but this would be an epic battle between two of the most well-known Mexican superstars pro wrestling has ever seen.

That, in itself, is enough to sell what would be an epic encounter.

21. Lita vs. Beth Phoenix

I don't know if it was partly because her thong was always showing, but I've been a big Lita fan for as long as I can remember.

She was one of the best Divas I've ever seen and could probably still wrestle circles around all the Divas in the WWE today. Well, except for Natalya, Kharma...and Beth Phoenix.

Much like Trish vs. Beth or Trish vs. Kharma, a Lita/Beth match would be a clash between two of the best Divas of two different generations and arguably two of the top five Divas ever.

I don't know about you, but after seeing the Bellas take on Kelly Kelly and Eve like a thousand times over the past two years, you can definitely count me in for Lita vs. Beth.

20. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs. CM Punk

Two rebels going one-on-one? What more could I ask for?

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper was known for being, as you might imagine, rowdy during his day, someone who spoke his mind and rebelled against authority. He helped set the stage for CM Punk to do the same in 2011.

Neither Punk nor Piper is afraid to speak their minds, and they've both often found themselves being cheered even when playing a heel because they are just so damn good at what they do.

Although a bout between the two might not be all that fantastic wrestling-wise, it would still be a wildly entertaining clash between two major stars who don't care too much for authority.

19. Ric Flair vs. Cody Rhodes

Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair have a long history together, as both rivals and friends, that produced some memorable bouts, such as this bout for the NWA title.

Wrestling fans who grew up in the 1980s will never forget these bouts with Dusty and Flair, but a younger guy like me will have fonder memories of Dusty's son, Cody Rhodes.

There's something very "old school" about Cody—the way he wrestlers, his promos, his mannerisms, etc.—and he's a future star in the making. He's also someone I would have loved to see take on Flair in his prime.

Cody will likely surpass his father (as far as in-ring skills go) in the near future, and he's already one of the most well-rounded superstars in the WWE.

A showdown with arguably the most complete wrestler ever (Flair) has the potential to be a terrific throwback bout that is more like something we would have seen 20 years ago. 

18. Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Randy Orton

Jake Roberts' nickname is "The Snake," he is often credited with the invention of the DDT and he is known for being one of the best in-ring psychologists ever.

Meanwhile, Randy Orton's nickname is "The Viper," he uses his second-rope DDT in just about every match and he is arguably the best in-ring psychologist in the WWE today.

Sounds like a match made in heaven, right?

17. The Big Show vs. Andre the Giant

Admittedly, The Big Show vs. Andre the Giant probably wouldn't be any good from a wrestling perspective.

I'm not talking David Otunga vs. Ezekiel Jackson bad, but certainly nowhere near a 5-star classic. That's really not the point of this bout, though.

Andre the Giant was arguably the most captivating wrestler in WWE history, and no one thought we'd ever see another guy like him. But not all that long after Andre's time had passed, Big Show stepped in as the next must-see attraction in pro wrestling.

A clash between two of the most polarizing figures to ever set foot in a WWE ring would be a huge draw, even though it wouldn't exactly be a technical classic.

16. Ricky Steamboat vs. Chris Benoit

I don't condone what Chris Benoit did and almost left him off this list because of it, so I won't celebrate him too much.

But there's no doubt in my mind that he would put on a technical classic with a wrestler who doesn't get anywhere near the credit he deserves, Ricky Steamboat.

Steamboat was as talented in the ring as just about anyone who's ever set foot in one. He was also a great psychologist in addition to being a great wrestler. The same goes for Benoit.

Give these guys 30 minutes, let them go at it and the result would probably be an unforgettable 5-star bout.

15. Ricky Steamboat vs. Shawn Michaels

While we're on a Ricky Steamboat kick, just imagine for a second what type of show he and Shawn Michaels would put on, let's say, in a WrestleMania bout.

You've got HBK, the best in-ring competitor ever, against "The Dragon," one of the most under-appreciated and underrated stars ever.

Steamboat has put on a number of epic bouts with legends like Ric Flair and Randy Savage, and you would have to think that a Steamboat/Michaels match would rival, if not top, some of the amazing Steamboat/Flair matches from back in the day.

I mean, Steamboat was better than most of the WWE roster when he last competed in 2009. If he was in his prime for a match with Michaels, I'm not sure I could even handle watching a bout that would be just so ridiculously phenomenal.

14. Owen Hart vs. Chris Jericho

I think Canada might implode if this match ever happened.

Though he died a tragic death that cut his career short, Owen Hart had already developed a reputation as one of the very best technical wrestlers who had ever lived. He had a number of classic encounters with his brother, Bret, and undoubtedly would have done the same with Chris Jericho.

You'd have two smaller wrestlers with incredible technical skills battling it out to see what would happen first: the Walls of Jericho or the Sharpshooter.

The winner of this match might be crowned the best Canada has to offer, if not for...

13. Bret Hart vs. Edge

If Canada imploded with Chris Jericho vs. Owen Hart, I honestly have no idea how the country would survive a Bret Hart vs. Edge match.

Bret Hart is the most famous Canadian wrestler in the country's history and is widely recognized as one of the—if not the—best technical wrestlers the world has ever seen, while Edge will be the youngest wrestler to ever be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

They are not only two of Canada's best, but two of pro wrestling's best as well.

There's no telling just how much more Edge would have accomplished had his career not been cut short, just like there's no way to explain how unbelievably great a match between these two could be.

12. "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig vs. Dolph Ziggler

Call me a sucker for technical wrestling if you must, but I would absolutely love to see Dolph Ziggler take on Curt Hennig.

For the last few years now, Ziggler has drawn comparisons to "Mr. Perfect" because of his look, the way he carries himself in and out of the ring, his technical prowess and his gimmick.

Some say the comparisons between the two are unwarranted, but when I see "The Showoff," I can't help but see "Mr. Perfect" as well.

Seeing these two guys in the ring together would would be an amazing moment that would result in an equally amazing match. 

11. Brock Lesnar vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

The last image we have of Brock Lesnar and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a WWE ring together is not a good one.

In fact, it's one that only featured Austin as the special guest referee and is marred by the unfortunate label of being one of the most disappointing matches ever.

It's time for a re-do.

"Stone Cold" was the bona fide star of the Attitude Era, and when his career was coming to an end, Lesnar was becoming the new top dog in the WWE.

This match should have happened then, but it didn't. Now we can only wish that it did.

10. The Rock vs. CM Punk

There are rumors floating around that The Rock will be competing at WrestleMania 29, and I can think of no better opponent for "The People's Champ" at the pay-per-view than CM Punk. 

But to be honest, that's nothing more than a rumor at this point, and I don't think we'll ever see The Rock go one-on-one with "The Straight Edge Superstar."

Of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to.

This match would be interesting for me because Punk and Rock are both phenomenal mic workers and because they are often considered the "1B" of their eras—The Rock behind Steve Austin and Punk behind John Cena.

I'm really digging The Rock/Cena feud that's going on right now, but the closest thing to it would have to be a rivalry between The Rock and Punk.

9. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Randy Orton

Before wrestling fans were comparing CM Punk to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, they were comparing "The Viper" Randy Orton to "The Texas Rattlesnake."

While Austin and Orton may not be mirror images of each other, they are two of the most popular superstars of their respective eras and do, in fact, warrant comparisons with each other.

Both Orton and Austin have the uncanny ability to keep their characters virtually the same whether they're heel or face, but they still manage to get the support of the crowd.

That's reason enough to want to see them battle it out, but I think you all know the real reason why I'd like to see this match happen.

Yep, you got it: the RKO vs. the Stone Cold Stunner.

8. John Cena vs. Hulk Hogan

If you're looking for a sound wrestling match, then you're probably not going to want to watch John Cena vs. Hulk Hogan.

But if you're looking for a battle between two of the biggest names ever and for all the fireworks and electricity that come along with it, then this is the bout for you.

Hogan is synonymous with pro wrestling, even to this day, but Cena has taken over his role as the most popular pro wrestler on the planet.

These two icons will be forever linked not just by that, but also by the fact that Cena is seen as "the Hogan of today," the superhero-like superstar who overcomes all odds, doesn't sell and is always at the top of the company.

Although Cena and Hogan probably wouldn't sell against each other, either, you can't deny the monstrous impact that a bout of this magnitude would have on pro wrestling. 

7. Kurt Angle vs. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan vs. Kurt Angle wouldn't have the impact on pro wrestling that some of these other matches would have, but it might very well be the best bout out of all the ones I mentioned.

I don't think you really need me to tell you that Angle is one of the top in-ring workers ever, or that Bryan is arguably the best wrestler on the planet right now. You all know that.

There's no hesitation when I say that Angle and Bryan could legitimately put on the best match in wrestling history if both were in their primes and that they could even tear the house down today.

Unfortunately, this match probably won't ever happen. If it did, though—and especially if it was a submission match—I'd pencil it in as a 5-star bout.

6. The Undertaker vs. Sting

We thought we were going to get Sting vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 27, but that unfortunately never turned out to be anything more than a tease.

The fact that it didn't happen didn't make us want to see it any less, though. If anything, it made us want to see it more.

Undertaker can put on a good match with just about anyone, and he and Sting's dark gimmicks would mesh really well for both one match and an extended rivalry.

Although this match might not live up to everyone's expectations wrestling-wise, it would be yet another one of those unforgettable encounters between two of the top legends this business has ever seen.

5. Shawn Michaels vs. Daniel Bryan

Shawn Michaels is one of the many stars who had a hand in training Daniel Bryan, and I think that's evident in Bryan whenever he wrestlers.

Though Michaels and Bryan may not necessarily have the same in-ring styles, they do have one major similarity: They're both fantastic wrestlers.

HBK is an 11-time PWI "Match of the Year" award-winner, and Bryan was named the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's "Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Decade" for 2000-2009.

That right there should be enough to make you want to see Bryan take on Michaels in a bout that could potentially top the epic HBK/Undertaker bout at WrestleMania 25.

4. "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. CM Punk

Whether it's through his pink and yellow tights or his top-rope elbow drop, CM Punk has made a habit out of paying tribute to Randy Savage during his matches.

This has made me go back and watch a number of classic "Macho Man" bouts, and after learning to appreciate just how good he was in the ring, I've had this never-ending desire to see Punk vs. Savage ever since then.

Savage was the "total package" of his generation, and especially over the last year or so, Punk has established himself as the "total package" of pro wrestling today.

The energy in a match between these two would be rivaled only by the actual wrestling in the ring, and no matter who won the bout, the real winners would be us, the fans.

3. Hulk Hogan vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

Much like the Hogan/Cena bout, I don't think that Hulk Hogan vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin would be a great pure wrestling match.

That being said, it would probably be the most anticipated match of all time.

Forget Cena vs. The Rock. Hogan and Stone Cold are the two biggest names in professional wrestling history and would create a buzz that could never be matched by any other two superstars. Ever.

Hogan/Austin would feature five times the electricity of that of Rock/Hogan, and it would rival Michael Jordan taking on Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals.

The biggest match never to happen? I think so.

2. Kurt Angle vs. Bret Hart

Everyone has their list of "top technical wrestlers ever," and everyone disagrees about the placement of at least one wrestler on it.

But for my money, the best two technical wrestlers I've ever seen are Bret Hart and Kurt Angle.

It is really hard to imagine any better technical combination than Angle and Hart, two fantastic in-ring competitors who have put on some of the most unforgettable matches in wrestling history.

Just watch Hart/Austin, Hart vs. his brother, Owen, Angle vs. Michaels and so on and so forth, and it'll make you truly appreciate the amazing skills of both Hart and Angle.

We'll never see this match happen, but watch that video above, and you'll get absolutely jacked just thinking about the possibility of it.

1. The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels

Craziest wrestling fact of the day: Shawn Michaels and The Rock never faced each other in a singles match.

This absolutely blows my mind because these are two of the top stars from arguably the greatest period in wrestling history, the Attitude Era, and you would think that they would have met one-on-one on a number of occasions on major pay-per-views.

But surprisingly, they didn't.

The Rock never wrestled HBK, HBK never wrestled The Rock, and the world completely missed out on it as a result.

I'm sure the WWE wishes it could turn back the clock on this one.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter and ask him any wrestling-related questions on Formspring.