Kind of a barrel scrape to finish out October except one really stand out match. That’s not to say the Top 5 is entirely bad, just sheesh, not a lot of decent matches this week. Not for lack of trying since I did give Dynamite and ROH a watch just to round out the Top 5.

Last week WWE had a hold on the Top 5 and one of them took home the win, WWE Hell in a Cell: SmackDown Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks vs Bayley (c), I think people just appreciated finally seeing the matchup the IWC has wanted for years. To be fair, the main Cell matches were all worthy of a win, but I can’t argue the winner.

Now let’s see what made this rather…light week.

Quick Top 5:

1. NXT UK: NXT UK Championship: Ilja Dragunov vs Walter(c)
   Rating: **** 3/4
2. NXT Halloween Havoc: North American Championship: Damian Priest (c) vs Johnny Gargano
   Rating: *** 3/4
3. AEW Dynamite: Penta El Zero M vs Kenny Omega
   Rating: *** 3/4
4. NXT Halloween Havoc: NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs Candice LeRae
   Rating: *** 3/4
5. ROH: ROH Pure Championship Tournament Finals: Tracy Williams vs Jonathan Gresham
   Rating: *** 1/2

Honorable Mentions:

• AEW Dynamite: NWA World Women’s Championship: Serena Deeb (c) vs Leyla Hirsch
  Rating: *** 1/4
• AEW Dynamite: TNT Title: Cody Rhodes (c) vs Orange Cassidy
  Rating: *** 1/4
• IMPACT!: Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz vs Jordynne Grace & Alisha Edwards
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Strong Ep.13: Sterling & Logan Riegel vs Clark Connors & DKC
  Rating: ***

5. ROH: ROH Pure Championship Tournament Finals: Tracy Williams vs Jonathan Gresham

So the story of this match was supposed to be faction members being respectful and Gresham being forced to use the rope breaks more than ever, but this wasn’t nearly the barn burner it should’ve been.

They rolled to the outside fairly quickly, there was an awkward spot that looks like a rope running spot on wide open floor. Then Williams lets Gresham back into the ring, and we get what is supposed to be chain wrestling; which causes Gresham to go through his rope breaks in less than 14 minutes. Gresham winning very shortly after using his rope breaks was very anti-climactic.

While the match was a little better than I’m describing, it comes off a little lame like ROH just brought the belt back for Gresham and the story of the match didn’t really build well. It was a solid technical match that just fell short of the expectation given the history of the title.

Winner: Gresham via Octopus Hold

2t. NXT Halloween Havoc: NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs Candice LeRae

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Candice drops to the apron, her foot having been wrenched in that vice, but Shirai shows no mercy! Shirai runs to Tiger Feint! Candice ducks to SMACK Shirai with the chair! Both women are on the apron, MS. LERAE’S WILD RIDE through both tables!! Now the chalk outlines are for them! Fans are losing their minds as both women are down, “This is Awesome!” But GHOST FACE is back!? They put Candice in and help her to the ladder?! And UP the ladder! Ghost Face is following #TJGW! But SHOTZI gets in to counter this! Shotzi has Ghost Face in an Electric Chair, and DROPS them on the chair pile!! But Candice is still on top of the ladder! Candice rises slowly, but Shirai has her own ladder! Shirai sets up right next to Candice and intercepts her!

Shirai stops Candice from getting the belt, but Candice RAKES eyes! Shirai drops down, Candice reaches, but Shirai SHOVES the ladders over! Candice falls through the ladder bridge!! Even Shirai realizes that was scary! Shirai climbs back up and grabs the belt, Shirai wins!!

Winner: Io Shirai

2t. AEW Dynamite: Penta El Zero M vs Kenny Omega

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Omega shovels Penta up top then climbs up to join him. Omega wants the full nelson again, Penta resists and fights free. Omega CHOPS Penta on the back, goes out to CHOP Penta’s front, then adjusts position. Omega aims for the ramp!? Penta fights back, throwing body shots and a headbutt! Omega falls to the ramp, Penta adjusts and leaps, DESTROYER to the ramp!! The ref checks on both men and somehow, Omega is okay to continue! Penta puts Omega in, drags him up and tucks him in, PACKAGE DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Omega survives and shocks everyone, especially Penta! Fenix rallies for Penta as Penta brings Omega up. Penta pump handles, half nelsons, but Omega resists the lift! Omega breaks free, elbows Penta away, but Penta clubs away on Omega’s back! Penta hooks in again, but Omega arm-drags free! Penta enziguris fast!

Penta fires up, Fenix is right there with him! The fans rally up as Penta drags Omega up. CERO MIEDO, and a run, into a V-TRIGGER!! Omega wants to end this, and he drags Penta up! Electric Chair, fold, but Penta fights with haymakers! Penta drags Omega down into the hammerlock! Penta has the other arm, DARK ARMBAR!! Pop goes Omega’s shoulder!! Penta isn’t done there, he drags Omega back up and pump handles him, but Omega fights off! The bad arm is throbbing so he CHOPS with the good arm! Then he throws double chops! Omega runs, into a SUPERKICK! Omega wobbles, Penta springboards, into a V-TRIGGER!! Electric Chair, ONE WINGED ANGEL!!! Cover, OMEGA WINS!!!

Winner: Omega via One Winged Angel

2t. NXT Halloween Havoc: North American Championship: Damian Priest (c) vs Johnny Gargano

From DeMarco’s Perspective:
There was so much hype behind Halloween Havoc, the worst thing they could have done was a slow burn at the top. Instead, they went right for a major match in Damian Priest defending the NXT North American Championship against Johnny Gargano, and it was the night’s lone title change as well. The match itself started hot, with a great entrance for Damian Priest and our first look at our host, Shotzi Blackheart, who we’ll talk about in a moment.

Winner: Gargano via Tombstone Headshot 

1. NXT UK: NXT UK Championship: Ilja Dragunov vs Walter(c)

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Dargunov goes to another corner, “UN! BE! SIEG! BAR!” But Dragunov’s body buckles! Walter CHOPS, Dragunov TACKLES him! It wasn’t quite the torpedo but it was good enough! Cover, TWO!!!! No, it wasn’t good enough! Walter himself is inhuman as he and Dragunov still stir. Walter wants mercy?! Dragunov does not show it as he stomps! And drives elbow after elbow into Walter! Walter runs away to the outside but Dragunov pursues! They brawl, Walter sleeper holds for a SLEEPER SUPLEX TO THE FLOOR!! The ref tells Walter to get in the ring, then he checks on Dragunov. Dragunov refuses to stop, so Walter BOOTS him into the steel steps!! Walter drags Dragunov up for an APRON WALTER BOMB!!

The ref asks but Dragunov refuses to give up. So Walter hits ANOTHER WALTER BOMB!! Walter flounders to a corner, climbs up top, WALTER SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?! BUT HOW?!?! Dragunov survived the very splash that dethroned Pete Dunne!! Walter mounts to ground ‘n’ pound with BIG slapping hands! Dragunov slaps back so Walter goes to forearms! Walter turns Dragunov over, brings him up in a sleeper hold and body scissors! Dragunov is OUT, Walter wins!!

Winner: Walter via Referee Stoppage

Thoughts:

I mean this was a pretty easy week when it comes down to winner, if you ask me. Even if people liked the Omega vs Penta match more than me, the outcome was obvious, and that always takes away from a match. Dragunov however played with suspension of disbelief, and had me wondering how it was going to end multiple times. NXT UK put on a match reminiscent of 80s/early 90s All Japan, where it was just hard hitting and told a fantastic story through violence.

So thanks to all of the elements, not only did Walter vs Dragunov win the week for me, but it also really made Dragunov to anyone who wasn’t sold on him. Plus the intensity that he brought, helped to make up for a lack of audience. Everything about this match was insanely impressive.