This was a strong week for the WWE in-ring product, people.
RAW had some strong stuff with Sami Zayn vs. Rusev and AJ Styles vs. Sheamus, which I heavily considered putting here until I saw what I settled on.
The C-shows also had some quality stuff too, with another random Kevin Owens Main Event Masterpiece with Jack Swagger, and a nifty Kalisto vs. Tyler Breeze match on Superstars.
And then there was NXT, which had one of the best squash matches I’ve seen in a while, and something I can honestly say I dug more than even Styles/Sheamus. The Revival just punched and slapped the shit out of two enhancement guys, but these weren’t any two enhancement guys: it was 2.0 (or 3.0 now, I guess) of CHIKARA semi-fame who I hope to god did not get any heat for getting themselves over. The ‘DEFENSE’ chant is something that could change WWE, for better or worse. Here it was a lot of fun, and made a nasty squash even better.
But SmackDown! wins. The Miz has just been amazing in 2016, having better matches with AJ Styles than Chris Jericho and now having the best Roman Reigns match in a while. Now that he has Maryse with him, the act is compelling stuff too.
WWE currently has guys just shitting out quality matches week-to-week, as you’ve got dudes on the roster who are Internet favorites for a reason – their matches are just plain pretty to watch. Owens and Styles, and now Zayn and Cesaro are just crushing it on a weekly basis. But sometimes those matches can run together – yeah they’re fun and crisp and quality and all that, but I still want my sports entertainment damnit.
So here you have a match that reminded me of a fun Hogan vs. Mr. Perfect match or something, a midcard heel giving The Champ the business. One thing that Stone Cold is always talking about his podcast, when he’s not chatting about pussy with Ted Fowler 361, is how The Undertaker is a guy that forces his opponents to stay on him, because he’s always on the move. It make sense – he’s a big tough dude, and isn’t going to sell for your ass if you’re not giving it to him. Roman reminded me of that here, and Miz delivered as his opponent, looking really credible by just staying on him constantly. Reigns timed all his brief comebacks well, and the big spear for the finish capped things off perfectly. This isn’t a very long match, but it was better for it as it didn’t overstay its’ welcome.
It put a smile on my face, darn it. Long live The Miz.
