1. Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (NXT TakeOver: Dallas 4/1/16)
What a wild wrestling match, the kind of thing you can show a non-fan and they’d go, “Oh, I guess I can see why that’s fun.” It had all the usual marks of a fun wrestling match, with a feeling out process that felt legit and wild strikes and crazy near falls. But it felt SPECIAL too, more than any match this month – and this was a month that included WrestleMania. This match had a guy basically unknown to the U.S. audience debut and immediately be ready to be the ace of a company – that does not happen often, and it’s incredible to watch when it does. This felt like a god damn shootfight, and had one of the coolest spots EVER with Nakamura countering Zayn’s corner dive with a kick. Just an absolute war inside a squared circle.
2. NXT Tag Team Title: The Revival [c] vs. American Alpha (NXT TakeOver: Dallas 4/1/16)
Tag team wrestling is back and these are the two teams ushering in that era. Both teams have their shticks and they were used to perfection here. With a Revival tag at this point you expect a great beatdown, hot tag, all that jazz, but the first five minutes have Alpha finding a bunch of nifty ways to avoid the beatdown which was great fun. Big fire from Alpha, great control from Revival, and a massive pop for the finish. And to think these teams have only been together for around a year – here’s to them continuing to crush for the next few. My favorite WWE tag since that 2/3 falls match with The Usos and Wyatts.
3. Ladder Match – WWE Intercontinental Title: Kevin Owens [c] vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Sami Zayn vs. Sin Cara vs. Zack Ryder vs. The Miz vs. Stardust (WrestleMania 32 4/3/16)
I’m not the biggest fan of of modern day car crash ladder matches, as most of them run together and they seem to be more trouble than they’re worth, but this was one of the better ones. Big, well-timed spots, all carried by the thread of Owens and Zayn just tearing each other a part. Plus the shock finish is amazing. Best thing on Mania.
4. WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ Maryse vs. Zack Ryder (SmackDown! 4/7/16)
A PPV-level match thrown out in the middle of a SmackDown! 2016 might be known as the year Mike Mizanin and Zack Ryder got it all figured out, and this is the match I will point to as proof. Ryder working underneath and Miz controlling is actually compelling, and they had a lot of well-timed big spots that got big reactions – the sit-out powerbomb counter, ElBro drop near fall, and Broski boot on the floor. In some parallel universe where the Shield, Daniel Bryan, John Cena and Randy Orton never existed, this would be a perfectly acceptable main event program.
5. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kevin Owens (Main Event 4/12/16)
Randomly great Main Event matches are the best. Owens just loves to pull out these weird masterpieces on this show that bring the crowd into a frenzy, all the while he makes fun of Rich Brennan. Ziggler’s been overexposed for a while but he can still be a great ragdoll babyface, and Owens is just a beast. Awesome finish here too.
6. Triple Threat Match – WWE Divas Title: Charlotte [c] w/ Ric Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (WrestleMania 32 4/3/16)
This was a great sprint, just non-stop impressive stuff from three of the best ladies going. It also just felt special, like these three had finally arrived after a clunky first few months on the main roster. Really well executed finish as well.
7. If Zayn Wins, He is Entered into the WWE Title Match at Payback: AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 4/11/16)
This was a first time match, which is wild. Everything here is just on point – engaging feeling out process, Zayn getting his ass beat, perfect execution, some wild near falls for the finish. Just exciting stuff. One of Zayn’s better selling performances in WWE, which is saying something. Two world-traveled pros willing the crowd into an absolute frenzy.
8. Roman Reigns vs. The Miz (SmackDown! 4/28/16)
This reminded me of a fun Saturday Night’s Main Event match or something, with the midcard heel taking it to the champ. Miz is great on offense here, looking super credible against the Big Dog, and stays on him constantly, with Reigns peppering in his comebacks at all the right moments. This is like under 10 minutes and better for it, not overstaying its’ welcome. Fun!
9. AJ Styles vs. Sheamus (RAW 4/25/16)
Talk about a Dream Match. Sheamus is a guy put in all kinds of bad situations, but when it’s time to work there’s not a lot of guys better. And here he’s against AJ Styles who at this point is straight up best guy on the roster. Hard-hitting, very fun match.
10. Fatal 4-Way WWE World Heavyweight Title #1 Contender Match: Cesaro vs. AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho (RAW 4/4/16)
The ultimate Smarkbait match on the RAW after WrestleMania, and for the most part it delivered. First it kicks into gear with Zayn being announced as hurt and Cesaro returning as his replacement. It started a little clunky and didn’t have much flow, but the last 10 minutes or so of this are just insane. What a return for Cesaro, who once he got going looked like the best wrestler in the world. Tons of fun.
This was a really fun month for wrestling. Lots of Honorable Mentions here…
Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens IC Title #1 Contender Match (RAW 4/11/16), Kevin Owens vs. Jack Swagger (Main Event 4/26/16), AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania 32 4/3/16), The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon Hell in a Cell (WrestleMania 32 4/3/16), Bayley vs. Asuka for the NXT Women’s Title (NXT TakeOver: Dallas 4/1/16), Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Title (NXT TakeOver: Dallas 4/1/16), American Alpha vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady (NXT 4/20/16), AJ Styles vs. Te Miz (SmackDown! 4/21/16), The New Day vs. The Ascension (Main Event 4/5/16), Paige vs. Emma (Main Event 4/5/16), AJ Styles & Cesaro vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens (SmackDown! 4/7/16), Kalisto vs. Heath Slater (Main Event 4/12/16), AJ Styles vs. Albertod el Rio (SmackDown! 4/14/16), Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho (SmackDown! 4/14/16), Dean Ambrose & Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens (SmackDown! 4/21/16), Sami Zayn vs. Rusev (RAW 4/25/16), Kalisto vs. Tyler Breeze (Superstars 4/29/16), The Revival vs. Jeff Parker & Matt Lee (NXT 4/27/16)
