Top 5: Matches Of The Week (Ending 11/19)

Last week, we had a much easier Top 5 list, and it showed since the votes were pretty close among 3 of the matches. The winner is no surprise, but was by no means a runaway; AJ Styles vs Jinder Mahal @ Smackdown won the week.

Most of this week’s Top 5 will be dominated by WWE programming thanks to the fact there was Survivor Series and War Games this weekend. Hey, good thing about that is they’re easy matches to find.

5. WWE: Survivor Series: Charlotte Flair vs Alexa Bliss

Now if this isn’t a testament to her improvement, than I don’t know what is. Alexa Bliss went from being a great female heel, but garbage in the ring, to actually pretty solid with her wrestling skills. I like to think the fact she stopped doing that terrible Sparkle Splash and started using a DDT as a finisher helps to make her in ring work look smoother.

As for the match, this told a good story. Alexa has beaten every other member of The Four Horsewomen, so she wanted to cross off Charlotte. Early in the match she pulled Charlotte off the apron to injure her ribs and that played a part through the entire match.

This was very back and forth, Charlotte tapped into a different side of herself at some point when she was trying to regain the momentum and it’s a little more malicious. I don’t know if this is a precursor to a heel turn, or a new rougher Charlotte, but it was very effective. After trading a few signature moves, Charlotte finally manages to put Alexa down with a Figure Eight.

Alexa held her own nicely, both of their personalities were on full display through the match and it had the face going over; what more can you ask for?

Ranking: Gold IV

4. Impact: Global Championship Match: Eli Drake vs Petey Williams

For people who dismiss Impact’s overall product, you are missing some solid matches that may never be seen again. The match was set up like a New Japan match where the Eli is cutting a promo and Petey presents himself as a possible challenger, then Eli accepts. Kind of nice to see the gauntlet mentality instead of needing a long running storyline at all times.

During this entire match the announce team reiterated the fact that no one has ever kicked out of a Petey Williams Canadian Destroyer, so if he hits it, he’s champ. So the story of the entire match was Petey trying to hit his move, and Eli trying to avoid it.

There were some great sequences, good psychology with the use of Chris Adonis (interfered just enough to not ruin the match) and Eli did a couple more springboard moves than usual. The big moment was when Petey finally hit the Destroyer after teasing it about 7 times, but Eli kicks out. Noticeably rattled since no one’s done that before, Petey keeps trying to hit it one more time. Just when it looks like he might do it, Drake wins by countering the Canadian Destroyer into Gravy train.

Eli keeps adding little things to his repertoire in the ring, as to not be stale, and also get across that being the champion is improving his ability. As an overall product, Impact still feels like WCW 2000, BUT, when they have good matches, they easily rival anything ROH, PWG and WWE are doing.

Ranking: Gold III

3. NXT Takeover War Games: War Games Match: Undisputed Era vs SanitY vs Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong

Even though the tweaks to the rules were odd and not totally necessary, it didn’t detract from the enjoyment factor, but felt more like a TNA Lethal Lockdown, instead of a War Games match.

As for the match itself, when you throw 9 guys in two caged rings, you’re gonna get a lot of spots. SanitY introduced tables and an assortment of weapons into the match, and Killian Dain was truly the MVP. Big bumps, big spots, and the guys played to the crowd nicely so they stayed hot through most of the match.

The finish was a little lackluster and a few of the clump up and bump spots just looked too coordinated, but the match was still very entertaining. Felt more like a WWE match than an “Indy” match. Plus with Undisputed Era going over in this match, it helps to elongate the feud between all three factions, so more of these guys…seems like a good thing

Ranking: Platinum V

2. WWE: Survivor Series: The Usos vs The Bar

Well, this match solidifies The Usos as the best tag team in WWE currently. Basing this off the fact that New Day faced The Shield earlier, and even though the match was alright, it wasn’t close to this quality.

This match started off slowly, but had a great and logical build. Numerous near falls, tandem offense and show boating helped to get across the personality of both teams. The ending sequence was a superkick party (I wonder if the Young Bucks will send WWE a cease and desist now), into the Uce Splash.

No amount of me mentioning spots will do this match justice. This was just another match to pad The Usos resume as Tag Team of 2017.

Ranking: Platinum IV

1. NXT Takeover War Games: Velveteen Dream vs Aleister Black

In what was easily the best storyline leading into War Games, this match lived up nicely to the build, and did nicely to make sure both men stayed over.

This match started off slowly with Black wrestling a more technical style, almost like he was toying with Dream. After Dream managed to get some space and land a desperation super kick, it staggered Black enough for the match to start getting competitive. Velveteen Dream really did his best Rick Rude impression through a lot of this match, having Aleister’s and his own face airbrushed on his tights, and even pulling out a Rude Awakening at some point.

We saw a great build and there was even a nice mind game spot about halfway through, which helped to build the tension instead of looking like a rest moment. Both wrestlers had their finishing moves countered at different points in the match, and it really got across the struggle from both of them. Dream demanded respect and Black was trying to prove why he’s the most dangerous man in NXT.

Even though the match ends with Aleister hitting his Black Mass for the pinfall, there was a nice moment afterwards. Black acknowledged Dream and said his name before exiting the ring, which technically means both men achieved what they wanted, and the crowd was on fire for this entire match and the end segment.

If Aleister isn’t at the top of the list to challenge Andrade for the NXT title…than I really don’t know who else should go ahead of him.

Ranking: Platinum I