With only one more week after this one in contention for MoTY we’re gonna get down to some fun second chance matches. Before that though last week’s winner was, AEW Dynamite: Penta El Zero M vs Rey Fenix, by a decent margin.

This week we’ve got a combination of TV, PPV and a spectacular Japanese puro match not from New Japan!

Let’s get to the Top 5!

Quick Top 5:

1. NOAH the Chronicle vol 4: GHC Heavyweight Championship: Go Shiozaki (c) vs Katsuhiko Nakajima
   Rating: *****
2. NXT: NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs Rhea Ripley
   Rating: **** 1/4
3. IMPACT!: The Rascalz Farewell: Rich Swann & Trey Miguel vs Dez & Wentz
   Rating: ****
4. Survivor Series: Tag Team Champion vs Champion: New Day vs Street Profits
   Rating: ****
5. Survivor Series: Women’s Champion vs Champion: Asuka vs Sasha Banks
   Rating: *** 3/4

Honorable Mentions:

• NOAH the Chronicle vol 4: GHC Heavyweight Tags: Takashi Sugiura & Kazushi Sakuraba (c) vs Naomichi Marufuji & Masakatsu Funaki
  Rating: *** 1/2
• Survivor Series: Universal Champion vs WWE Champion: Roman Reigns vs Drew McIntyre
  Rating: *** 1/2
• AEW Dynamite: NWA Women’s World Championship: Thunder Rosa vs Serena Deeb (c)
  Rating: *** 1/2
• WWE Raw: Raw Tag Team Championship: Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin vs Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston (c)
  Rating: *** 1/4
• AEW Dynamite: Cody Rhodes & Darby Allin vs Brian Cage & Ricky Starks
  Rating: *** 1/4
• NJPW Strong Ep. 16: IWGP US Title Briefcase: KENTA (c) vs David Finlay
  Rating: *** 1/4
• NOAH The Chronicle vol 4: GHC National Championship: Kenoh (c) vs Kaito Kiyomiya
  Rating: *** 1/4
• WWE Raw: WWE Championship: Randy Orton (c) vs Drew McIntyre
  Rating: ***
• NJPW Strong Ep. 16: Jeff Cobb vs JR Kratos
  Rating: ***
• IMPACT!: Alisha Edwards & Tenille Dashwood vs Havok & Nevaeh
  Rating: ***
• Survivor Series: Team SmackDown (Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Otis, Seth Rollins & King Corbin) vs Team RAW (Riddle, Sheamus, Braun Strowman, Keith Lee & AJ Styles)
  Rating: ***
• NXT: Ember Moon & Toni Storm vs Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez
  Rating: ***

5. Survivor Series: Women’s Champion vs Champion: Asuka vs Sasha Banks

From Adam’s Review:

Both women go to the technical side of things, trading holds, strikes and even roll up pins all unique and different but Sasha actually… pinned Asuka. It wasn’t a fluke either, they gave it everything and after all that crap that happened between Bayley controlling Sasha, it’s a change of pace and good step forward for the Mando—ahem… for The Boss. Tied 2-2.

Winner: Sasha via Roll-Up

3t. Survivor Series: Tag Team Champion vs Champion: New Day vs Street Profits

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Kofi stomps Ford then hits the NEW~ DAY~ Boom Drop! And another! And then a Penalty Kick, for a THIRD Boom Drop! Kofi aims from the corner, claps it up, and waits as Ford stands. Dawkins anchors a foot and Ford shotgun dropkicks! Tag to Dawkins, the Profits coordinate, ANOINTMENT, FROM THE HEAVENS! But the bad ribs keep Ford from making a cover! Cover, TWO!! The New Day knew what they were doing with those attacks on his stomach! Ford has wild eyes as he drags Kofi up. Kofi hits SOS!! Cover, Dawkins breaks it! Woods leaps in to missile dropkick Dawkins down! Kofi grits his teeth as he tags Woods back in.

Kofi aims at Ford, but Ford ducks Trouble to STEAL Trouble in Paradise! But Woods pops Ford up for a GUT BUSTER DROP!! Cover, TWO!!! Ford survives and Woods grits his teeth! Woods grabs Ford, Ford pushes him away, but Woods stalks up behind him. Woods CHOPS Ford to the corner, hoists him up top, then climbs up to join him. Ford resists the superplex, throws body shots, and Dawkins tags in as Ford shoves Woods! Woods goes back up, Dawkins gets him for an Electric Chair! BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY!! Cover, the Profits win!!!

Winner: Street Profits via Blockbuster Doomsday

3t. IMPACT!: The Rascalz Farewell: Rich Swann & Trey Miguel vs Dez & Wentz

From My Results:

Trey manages to cause a little misdirection and malfunction as he hits his Colorful Combination and brings in Rich Swann. Swanny comes out with Rolling Sole Butts, a few nice Thrust Kicks, a Frankensteiner sending Dez into Wentz and then the Rolling Thunder Splash. After the near fall, we get some tandem work from Rich and Trey, a Running Shooting Star, for another 2.

All four in the middle of the ring, and you hear Trey say “Screw it, punch em”, and they play around the World Punching, a few fun foot catch spots and then a Four Way Superkick for them all to fall down. Dez and Wentz hit Hot Fire Flame on Swann, but Trey Superkicks Dez and Dez falls into Wentz to break up the pinfall tree falling the woods style.

Wentz counters the Cheeky Nandos/Top Rope Tiger Feint, tries a Powerbomb, Trey blocks so Dez runs up Wentz and German Suplexes Trey, Swann hits the Frog Splash, but Wentz breaks up the pin with a sliding kick. Wentz and Dez fire, Wentz starts talking a little trash to Rich “I thought you were the champ”. Hot Fire Flame misses, Dez eats the Meteora from the top, Rich hits the delayed Thrust Kick, for the pinfall win over Dez.

Winner: Rich Swann via Thrust Kick

2. NXT: NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs Rhea Ripley

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Rhea clasps hands for dear life, but Shirai clubs the bad arm! Rhea moves around, makes it a cover, ONE as Rhea dead lifts, but it’s not enough! Shirai gets Rhea back down, but Rhea gets her legs on the rope! The ref counts, Shirai lets go at 3 and Rhea is free. Shirai runs in, but Rhea ducks the tiger feint! And even the basement feint! But Shirai fires off SHOTEI after SHOTEI after SHOTEI! Rhea flounders onto ropes, Shirai dials it up, TIGER FEINT! Shirai goes up top as Rhea flounders, and Shirai LEAPS, to missile dropkick! Cover, TWO!! Rhea survives and Shirai can’t believe it! But fans rally back up as Rhea goes to a corner. Shirai runs in, SHINKANSEN!

Rhea is in a drop zone, Shirai goes up top, OVER THE MOON- NO! Rhea moves and then LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Shirai is still in this and Rhea is losing her cool! Rhea stomps Shirai, drags her back up and tries the pump handle again. Shirai turns it into a DDT! Both women are down again and fans are loving this! Rhea gets to the apron, Shirai sees her and runs over, to SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB Rhea through the announce desk!!! Fans lose their minds seeing that one! Shirai gets up and leaves Rhea behind in the wreckage. Rhea crawls as the ring count is past 5! It’s 8! Rhea is up at 9 and in at 9.9! But Shirai is OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Shirai wins!!

Winner: Io via Over the Moon-sault

1. NOAH the Chronicle vol 4: GHC Heavyweight Championship: Go Shiozaki (c) vs Katsuhiko Nakajima

This is the culmination of the betrayal that actually was treated like a celebrity breakup. Japanese wrestling magazines were torn when Nakajima betrayed Shiozaki to destroy the AXIZ tag team. Aside from that, Shiozaki was blinded sided and while Nakajima grinned and enjoyed his new teaming with Kongo; Shiozaki was burned and distraught. His best friend didn’t want or need him anymore and he couldn’t understand why. So now we get to see if Nakajima truly doesn’t need anyone, or if Shiozaki can find a cathartic conversation through violence.

Nakajima was still his brash cocky self, but he never took a moment lightly. He didn’t do his camera pose, he took most opportunities to pick apart Shiozaki’s arms and focus on the battered champion. Sure, some strikes were more condescending, but everything had a purpose. Shiozaki’s tone evolved during the match, at first it seemed like he was still coming to terms with things, like trying to make someone listen to your side of the argument. But as Nakajima tuned him out and tuned him up, Shiozaki’s resolve kicked in and he started seeing him as an enemy.

I won’t overlook a small misstep during a strike exchange, and the fact that an Avalanche Frankensteiner started shakey and then fell to the side (but Shiozaki did a great job protecting both of them). Which in a messed up way works with the story, even when Nakajima does something to hurt himself, Shiozaki still protects him even though it won’t be reciprocated.

Both hit multiple finishers, big moves, it was a war. You could see neither wanted to lose, but Shiozaki found something deep within himself to quell the grinning wolf that is Nakajima long enough to retain the championship.

Another amazing title defense from Shiozaki. For as weird as 2020 has been, it’s been an epic year for NOAH and Go Shiozaki.

Winner: Shiozaki via Short Arm Gowan Lariat

Thoughts:

Well this week I have a very obvious winner since I’m fairly sure that Shiozaki vs Nakajima is at the top of my personal Match of the Year list. Survivor Series was still fairly enjoyable, save for a few low points and cartoonish WWE story telling pieces. The Rascalz goodbye is something that feels big and bittersweet emotionally.

Either way, Shiozaki has been a stud this year and I can’t argue with how much quality storytelling and ring work he’s put in. I almost feel like there needs to be a Top Quarantine wrestlers, since 2020 really should be graded on its own scale.

Hmm…we’ll see.