Fans always want to see longer matches, at least 15 minutes, in order to see proper storytelling and for the match to become captivating enough. Most of the best matches of all time have indeed lasted longer than 15 minutes. However, sometimes in WWE, fans have been surprised by very short matches, with short-lived outcomes that no one expected.
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These matches ended in the blink of an eye, some even in a controversial way. Like it or not, it’s okay if WWE goes out of their way once in a while to produce a short match that shocks everyone. The following matches were so short that you might not even remember them.
UPDATE: 2025/03/17 17:30 EST BY ROBERTH PEREZ
Wrestling matches are often epic battles of endurance, skill and drama, but in WWE history, some have lasted barely the blink of an eye. From lightning-fast victories that stun audiences to squash matches designed to elevate a superstar, these ultra-short confrontations have made their mark for their speed and, at times, controversy. In this article, we explore the shortest bouts in WWE annals where the bell barely had time to ring before it was all over.
We won’t consider Money In The Bank Cash-Ins on this list.
13
Randy Orton Vs. Rusev – 9.7 Seconds
A Devastating RKO Was More Than Enough To Defeat Rusev
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SummerSlam |
August 20, 2017 |
9.7 seconds |
Randy Orton defeated Rusev |
The bout between
Randy Orton
and Rusev at SummerSlam 2017 lasted a mere 9.7 seconds. Rusev tried to get smart and attacked Randy before the match. When it looked like Rusev had the advantage, the bell rang, but Orton surprised Rusev, and everyone else, with an RKO to pick up a quick victory.
Rusev, while coming with momentum, was used as a stepping stone to reinforce Orton’s image as an unpredictable predator. WWE sacrificed a competitive bout to send a message: the “Viper” could take down anyone in an instant, though this left Rusev fans disappointed by the lack of action.
12
Brock Lesnar Vs. Kofi Kingston – 7.6 Seconds
Kofi Kingston’s WWE Title Reign Had A Brutal Reign
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SmackDown |
October 4, 2019 |
7.6 seconds |
Brock Lesnar defeated Kofi Kingston |
The clash lasted only 7.6 seconds: as soon as the bell rang, Brock Lesnar caught Kofi, dispatched him with an F5 and covered him with one hand to win the WWE Championship. It was a pure squash match, designed to showcase Brock as an unstoppable force.
Immediately after, Cain Velasquez debuted, diverting attention to a new rivalry with Lesnar, while Kofi was relegated. Fans were frustrated by the abrupt ending of “KofiMania,” feeling Kingston’s reign deserved a more dignified closure.
11
The Great Khali Vs. Damien Sandow – 6.4 Seconds
The Great Khali Squashed Damien Sandow
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
RAW |
June 30, 2014 |
6.4 seconds |
The Great Khali defeated Damien Sandow |
On the June 30, 2014, episode of Monday Night Raw,
Damien Sandow
was doing an impersonation of Vince McMahon, and it was a pretty good job, by the way. However, Stephanie McMahon didn’t like Damien Sandow’s performance and sent The Great Khali out to destroy him. The Giant responded to Sandow’s taunts with a brutal shot right to the head and a quick pin. Fans would have liked it if it was the real Vince McMahon taking that punishment.
10
The Rock Vs. Erick Rowan – 6 Seconds
The Shortest Match In WrestleMania History
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
WrestleMania 32 |
April 3, 2016 |
6 seconds |
The Rock defeated Erick Rowan |
At WrestleMania 32, The Rock faced Erick Rowan in an impromptu match. The match was fleeting, as The Rock showed his dominance by defeating Rowan in just six seconds, setting a record for the fastest win in WrestleMania history.
After the match, Rowan, Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman wanted to attack The Rock, but
John Cena
showed up to help him, creating another memorable moment.
9
Aksana Vs. Natalya – 5.8 Seconds
Aksana’s First WWE Win Was Quick
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SmackDown |
January 27, 2012 |
5.8 seconds |
Aksana defeated Natalya |
Believe it or not,
Aksana
has one of the fastest wins in WWE history. In her first singles match in WWE, Aksana defeated Natalya in just 5.8 seconds. How did this happen? Well, Natalya let her guard down while yelling at Tamina, and Aksana took advantage of the moment to roll Natalya up and get her first WWE victory. However, the smile on Aksana’s face didn’t last long, as Natalya put her in a Sharpshooter after the match.
8
Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Jeff Hardy – 5.7 Seconds
Shinsuke Nakamura Cheated To Win The United States Title
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Extreme Rules |
July 15, 2018 |
5.7 seconds |
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Jeff Hardy |
At Extreme Rules 2018,
Jeff Hardy
defended the United States Title against Shinsuke Nakamura. It looked like we were about to see a great match, but before the bell rang, the Japanese hit a low blow on Hardy behind the referee’s back.
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So, when the bell rang, Nakamura just executed his Kinshasa and pinned Hardy to take the win and become United States Champion. Nakamura played dirty and got the win and the fans were shocked after that quick finish.
7
Dolph Ziggler Vs. Curt Hawkins – 5.5 Seconds
Dolph Ziggler Squashed Curt Hawkins
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SmackDown |
November 1, 2016 |
5.5 seconds |
Dolph Ziggler defeated Curt Hawkins |
Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler issued an open challenge and Curt Hawkins answered. Hawkins entered the ring with a mic in his hand, trash-talking Ziggler, trying to look like a believable contender, but Ziggler made sure Hawkins closed his mouth.
As soon as the bell rang, Ziggler hit Hawkins with a Superkick, and made the cover for the 1-2-3, thus retaining the Intercontinental Title. This was perhaps the easiest match of Dolph Ziggler’s career.
6
Shelton Benjamin Vs. Maven – 5 Seconds
Shelton Benjamin Defeated Maven Twice In One Night
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New Year’s Revolution |
1/9/2005 |
5 seconds |
Shelton Benjamin defeated Maven |
At New Year’s Revolution 2005,
Shelton Benjamin
defended the Intercontinental Championship against Maven. Maven spent much of the match with a microphone in his hand insulting the fans (which was entertaining, by the way), until Benjamin rolled him up for the win. Maven said that didn’t count, so he demanded that the match be started over. This time, Benjamin executed a T-Bone Suplex and pinned Maven to get the win in five seconds.
5
Trish Stratus Vs. Nidia – 3.8 Seconds
The Shortest Women’s Title Match In WWE History
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
RAW |
July 5, 2004 |
3.8 seconds |
Trish Stratus defeated Nidia |
On the July 5, 2004, episode of RAW, Nidia defeated Molly Holly and Victoria in a Contract On A Pole Three Way Match, earning her a title shot against
Trish Stratus
. However, Trish attacked Nidia right after the match and demanded the referee ring the bell, so Trish just had to make the cover for an easy victory. It was a forgettable angle, in which no one benefited, but it did hurt Nidia, who was released a few months later.
4
The Rock Vs. Big Boss Man – 3.5 Seconds
At The Time, It Was The Shortest Match In WWE History
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Survivor Series |
November 15, 1998 |
3.5 seconds |
The Rock defeated Big Boss Man |
At Survivor Series 1998, there was a tournament to determine the new WWE Champion after Vince McMahon managed to get the belt off Stone Cold Steve Austin. In the first round of the tournament,
The Rock
faced off against The Big Boss Man.
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It was expected to be a short match, but no one expected it to be this short. The Rock defeated Big Boss Man in just three and a half seconds thanks to a clever roll-up. The Rock went all the way and ended up becoming WWE Champion after defeating Mankind in the final.
3
Aliyah Vs. Natalya – 3.17 Seconds
WWE’s Official Shortest Match
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SmackDown |
January 14, 2022 |
3.17 seconds |
Aliyah defeated Natalya |
On the January 14, 2022, episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Aliyah accomplished something no one saw coming. Aliyah, a rookie, defeated Natalya, one of the company’s most experienced wrestlers and a future WWE Hall of Famer, in 3.17 seconds.
Officially, this is the shortest match in WWE history. Unfortunately, that led to nothing, as Aliyah ended up being released from WWE, and it wasn’t worth it for Natalya to put her over like that.
2
Spike Dudley Vs. William Regal – 2 Seconds
Shortest Title Match In WWE History
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
RAW |
April 8, 2002 |
2 seconds |
Spike Dudley defeated William Regal |
How is it possible for a wrestling match to last less than three seconds, especially when it ends via pinfall? Well, in WWE it has happened not once but twice, although they are not official records.
During the April 8, 2002, episode of RAW, Spike Dudley used brass knuckles to defeat William Regal in two seconds to win the European Championship. The match officially started when the referee was already counting, which should not have been legal, but it was.
1
Jerry Lawler & Chris Jericho Vs. Tazz & Naked Mideon – 1.8 Seconds
The Shortest Match In WWE History
|
Event |
Date |
Match Length |
Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
RAW |
September 4, 2000 |
1.8 seconds |
Jerry Lawler & Chris Jericho defeated Tazz & Naked Mideon |
The shortest match in WWE history took place during the September 4, 2000, episode of RAW Is WAR. Jerry Lawler and
Chris Jericho
defeated Tazz and Naked Mideon in just 1.8 seconds.
How did that happen? Well, no one knew that Mideon would be Tazz’s partner, and when Naked Mideon made his entrance, he surprised everyone, including Tazz himself. Lawler took advantage of the distraction and rolled Tazz up before the bell rang, but the referee counted anyway and that’s why the match lasted 1.8 seconds.
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