With WWE really being the only big brand with a noteworthy event, how did that match up? Oh, and definitely a surprising number 1 this week!

NXT Vengeance Day was basically fighting with itself last week. We had 10 matches, each match got some love, but Vengeance Day rose to the top. When the dust settled, Johnny Gargano vs Kushida, was the match left standing by a very slim margin.

Now let’s see what my surprising number 1 was!

Quick Top 5:

1. AEW Dynamite: Riho vs Serena Deeb
   Rating: **** ¼
2. WWE Elimination Chamber: Universal Championship Chamber
   Rating: ****
3. IMPACT!: X Division Championship: TJP (c) vs Josh Alexander
   Rating: *** ¾
4. AJPW Excite Series Tag 2: AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship: Koji Iwamoto (c) vs CIMA
   Rating: *** ¾
5. WWE Elimination Chamber: WWE Championship Chamber
   Rating: *** ¾

Honorable Mentions:

• GCW Bloodsport 5: Jon Moxley vs Davey Boy Smith Jr
  Rating: *** ½
• AEW Dynamite: AEW Tag Team Championship: Young Bucks (c) vs Santana & Ortiz
  Rating: *** ½
• AJPW Excite Series Tag 1: Twin Towers (Kohei Sato & Shuji Ishikawa) vs Evolution (SUWAMA & Hikaru Sato)
  Rating: *** ¼
• AEW Dynamite: Lance Archer, Jon Moxley & Rey Fenix vs Butcher, Blade & Eddie Kingston
  Rating: *** ¼
• NXT UK: Sha Samuels vs A-Kid
  Rating: *** ¼
• IMPACT!: Old School Rules: Moose vs Tommy Dreamer
  Rating: ***
• NXT: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart
  Rating: ***
• WWE Elimination Chamber: United States Championship: John Morrison vs Bobby Lashley (c) vs Riddle
  Rating: ***
• NXT UK: Rampage Brown vs Joe Coffey
  Rating: ***
• GCW Bloodsport 5: Jeff Cobb vs Tom Lawlor
  Rating: ***
• WWE Raw: Miz vs Kofi Kingston
  Rating: ***
• NXT: Roddy Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Finn Balor vs Danny Burch, Oney Lorcan & Pete Dunne
  Rating: ***
• AEW Dynamite: Matt & Mike Sydal vs FTR
  Rating: ***

3t. WWE Elimination Chamber: WWE Championship Chamber

From AJ’s Review:

Sheamus now determined to beat Drew and afte another back and forth, a Glasgow Kiss from McIntyre and a White Noise in return to Drew as AJ tries to take down Drew with a Springboard Senton and 450 and gets two nearfalls for it before Sheamus starts take out AJ for not finishing off Drew. Sheamus goes to the top and takes AJ out with a clothesline. Drew cuts off Sheamus doing a Brogue Kick and does the Futureshock DDT and crawling to the opposite side for the Claymore onto Sheamus. Sheamus hits the Brouge Kick but AJ hits the Phenomenal Forearm to Sheamus and goes for the pin.
Sheamus eliminated by AJ Styles.

Ah shit… I mean AJ and Drew are the final two. Styles goes for another forearm but Drew hits the Claymore in midair. Ya-da, Ya-da, Ya-da. Song and dance. My life…
AJ Styles eliminated by Drew McIntyre.

Winner: Drew McIntyre via Claymore

3t. AJPW Excite Series Tag 2: AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship: Koji Iwamoto (c) vs CIMA

So CIMA is a well traveled veteran who made most of his fame in Dragon Gate, but did have some recent time in AEW to help his exposure, you know, before OWE fell apart. Either way, he did a video challenge after Iwamoto’s last defense, and we get the classic outsider challenge!

As I alluded to, this match went as it should’ve for a first time touching match. A few spots weren’t timed perfect, and there was a lot of pensive offense where each tried to figure the other out on the fly. After a couple Meteoras, Iwamoto connecting with a set up Judo Toss, and we saw the gears shift a little.

CIMA stayed ahead of Iwamoto, never letting him set up completely for his finish, caught him with a Backstabber, another Meteora and finally the Spartan Cut. This match was solid, and sets up for the eventual home grown talent to play hero and take the title back. It also sets up for a better rematch if it were to happen, since now Iwamoto knows what to expect a little better.

Winner: CIMA via Spartan Cut

3t. IMPACT!: X Division Championship: TJP (c) vs Josh Alexander

From My Results:

It wasn’t really until Josh dropped TJP on the apron and then hit his Sliding Crossbody to the outside where the challenger really started putting it together. We get a lot of counter punching, with Josh going to the top, and getting caught. Then TJP eats some knees when he tries the Mamba Splash the first time. It’s just a great back and forth where TJP avoids the Jay Driller, which is finally named Divine Intervention. Josh nearly pulls off the win when he locks in the Ankle Lock with and without the grapevine.

But as soon as he goes for Divine Intervention, TJP flips through, fights out, hits the Detonation Kick, then a Mamba Splash, and TJP retains. Great match.

Winner: TJP via Mamba Splash

2. WWE Elimination Chamber: Universal Championship Chamber

From AJ’s Review:

Jey goes over to a weakened Daniel Bryan, striking his knee and tries to attack Cesaro. Cesaro catches him with a Uppercut and swings Jey into the walls before Daniel Bryan and Cesaro go back and forth again. Yes Kicks, backslides, Bryan is doing everything he can to take Cesaro out of the equation. As Bryan goes for a knee, Cesaro tries to change the momentum in his favor but finally gets it, after Daniel Bryan goes to the top rope. Cesaro outpowers Daniel Bryan with a gut buster from the top and starts to swing Daniel Bryan. Jey catches him with a superkick and splash…
Cesaro is eliminated by Jey Uso.

Daniel Bryan gets caught with a splash as well after but DB kicks out and Jey is in disbelief. Bryan favoriting his knee as Jey goes to the top of the pod and goes for another splash. Bryan gets his knees up, hurting himself but we all know, adrenaline is a hell of a drug and takes out Jey win a Running Knee.

Winner: Daniel Bryan via Knee Plus

1. AEW Dynamite: Riho vs Serena Deeb

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Deeb bails out of the ring but Riho hurries after. Fans fire up more as Riho fetches Deeb. Riho puts Deeb in, steps in, but into a DRAGON SCREW! Deeb reels Riho in, POWERBOMB! STRETCH MUFFLER! Riho endures as Deeb goes after that leg, and Riho hurries for ropes! Deeb drags her away, Riho drags Deeb into a cradle, TWO!! Deeb escapes, reels Riho in, Riho NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Riho goes back up top with Deeb in the drop zone, for FLYING DOUBLE STOMPS to Deeb’s stomach! Cover, TWO!?!? Deeb survives Riho’s coup de grace and fans are thunderous again! Riho hurries up, runs from the corner, but Deeb dodges the knee!

Deeb rolls Riho, traps the arm, DEEB- No! No Deebtox, Riho fights and Deeb’s leg gives out! Riho trips Deeb, reels her in, EuroClutch!! TWO, into a body scissor clutch, TWO! Riho gives Deeb the Gedo Clutch, RIHO WINS!!

Winner: Riho via Gedo Clutch

Thoughts:

Hell may have officially frozen over, not only is AEW my number one, it’s also a women’s match in AEW and it’s my vote for the week!

Serena selling the knee injury coming into the match, helped the logic in the size discrepancy and she sold masterfully. I accredit the match more to Deeb’s amazing ability than much else, cause Riho did still fall into bad habits of visibly confirming cooperative spots and being oddly tentative at times, but I could overlook those because of the master class Deeb showed out.

Elimination Chamber was fun from multiple different angles, but since this is match of the week and not entertainment of the week, I can’t see Riho vs Deeb losing. But hey, prove me wrong, vote away!