Top 10 here are absolute keepers, and had a real tough time with the last 10 as there were so many good Honorable Mentions. Heck of a month for the professional wrestling.
1. If Brock Lesnar Loses, He Leaves WWE – Fatal 4-Way Match – WWE Universal Title: Brock Lesnar [c] w/ Paul Heyman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
Seriously – what else do you want out of you your wrestling? Four giant human beasts having a totally insane brawl, with an incredible sympathetic performance by Brock Lesnar of all people and BRAAUUUNNN somehow becoming an even bigger wrestling superstar. Just perfect sports entertainment.
2. Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega (TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
This is as G1 Climax as WWE got so far this year. Big action, crazy near falls, stiff as all hell. It’s a special performance by Johnny Wrestling, the best pure babyface in pro wrestling, and an absolutely insane kickout-fest of a finish that never once felt like overkill.
3. Winner Faces Alexa Bliss for RAW Women’s Title at SummerSlam: Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax (RAW 8/14/17)
Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar in the women’s division – a lovable underdog bumping all over the place, monster used to its’ fullest, fired up babyface comeback, and on top of that a hot hometown crowd. My favorite part of this match might have been Sasha rolling outside after taking a Samoan drop to avoid Nia’s cover, as it actually got a big pop – a WWE crowd popping for STRATEGY, man! This thing was something special. Tornado Bank Statement = $$$
4. SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston [c] vs. The Usos (SummerSlam Kickoff 8/20/17)
Another Jimmy and Jey Uso classic with perhaps their best opponents – The Usos have got a formula down but it’s a rollercoaster of a formula filled with huge saves, major spots, and great surprises.
5. NXT Women’s Title: Asuka [c] vs. Ember Moon (TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
Asuka works like five matches a year but she’s been the best for a long time. Here’s her NXT swan song, where she works like Minoru Suzuki and gets Ember crazy over because of it. Fast pace, hot crowd, good stuff. Ember might have hit one of the best superkicks ever in this match too.
6. Winner Faces Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam for the WWE Title: John Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown 8/1/17)
A Dream Match that delivered, in so much as it was a 10-minute TV match. This is John Cena basically making a statement, “I can puro too, bitches.” Started as a fun spectacle, became very good, and the last couple minutes had me flipping out.
7. Chad Gable vs. Rusev (SmackDown 8/1/17)
A great match, and so impressive considering these are two of the more underutilized guys in WWE having what was basically a cold match, and they ended up getting the crowd to bite on everything. They got like 15 and made every minute of TV time count – fighting for holds early, Rusev and Gable’s big suplexes, and a finish in which I had ZERO idea who would win. Loved them running Rusev’s normal finish and then tacking on some insanity afterwards.
8. NXT Tag Team Title: The Authors of Pain [c] w/ Paul Ellering vs. SAnitY (Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe) w/ Killian Dain and Nikki Cross (TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
A brawl in the crowd, dive train, a lady slammed between two men through a table – this had all the tricks and was a lot of fun. They kept it moving, everything was physical as all hell, and it was an awesome showcase for Alexander Wolfe who might be the third tier SAnitY guy but also might be the best SAnitY guy.
9. Last Man Standing Match: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 8/7/17)
Two of the most fun guys in wrestling to watch having themselves a crazy-ass Last Man Standing Match on Monday Night RAW. Roman sells like a super-sized Ricky Morton and Braun throws an office chair like a football into his face. This is a blast.
10. WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (205 Live 8/22/17)
Neville and Tozawa had 3 matches this month and they’re all here but this was my favorite. Had all the cool stuff a cruiserweight match has but was also based in reality – lots of selling, Tozawa his shoulder and Neville the absolute disgust that he has to be in here wrestling this guy right now. Neville works Tozawa’s shoulder for a lot of this and one way he does it is by MOONSAULTING TO THE OUTSIDE DIRECTLY ONTO IT.
11. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Jazzy Gabert vs. Abbey Laith (MYC Episode 1 8/28/17)
The highlight of the MYC first round, an awesome giant vs. underdog sprint. Gabby does a bunch of cool power stuff and looks the part but Laith’s selling of everything totally made this, both her big bumps and absolutely SHOCKED facial expressions as she tried to topple a lady straight out of Mad Max.
12. Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami (TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
Two guys known for their strikes went out there and hit each other a whole lot. Loved the intensity here, Itami looking the closest he’s gotten to straight-up KENTA and Black’s busted up face adding to the presentation.
13. Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro w/ Sheamus (RAW 8/7/17)
A straight-up PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING match by Dean Ambrose and Cesaro, complete with Dean selling like he’s a broken man and Cesaro doing all kinds of cool stuff.
14. RAW Tag Team Title: Cesaro & Sheamus [c] vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
A lot of the SummerSlam card ran together but this really was a great tag, with Cesaro & Sheamus delivering on the beatdown and all four guys delivering on an epic finish.
15. WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Kevin Owens (Special Guest Referee: Shane McMahon) (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
Something about the Styles/Owens pairing hasn’t done a thing for me in a while but this is still AJ Styles and Kevin Owens with their working boots on at SummerSlam at the Barclays Center. High energy, sweet counters, some lightning-fast exchanges. Ref stuff gets a little goofy but also a little dramatic towards the end too.
16. RAW Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss [c] vs. Sasha Banks (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
I completely buy that these two have legitimate heat and it makes their matches way cooler. Drags a bit in the middle but that’s more on SummerSlam than these two – everything around it is intense and physical and it’s awesome.
17. WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (RAW 8/14/17)
Two of my favorite guys working a god damn professional wrestling match – intense matwork, Neville taking big bumps, Akira Tozawa kicking ass, both guys’ selling desperation towards the end. Feel-good result too.
18. Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Santana Garrett vs. Piper Niven (MYC Episode 3 8/28/17)
Story of the MYC first round was an impressive showing by one competitor but not both – this was the exception. Awesome introduction to Piper Niven – chain wrestling, charisma, awesome big girl bumps. Santana meanwhile is crazy athletic and gets the crowd way behind her. Two big highlights here were all they got out of a wristlock early, and a great build to and near fall off of a frankensteiner later on.
19. Oney Lorcan vs. Danny Burch (NXT 8/9/17)
They had a better match in July but this still ruled. Not many in WWE have the aura of these two – we know this is a work but it still feels REAL. All the matwork is cautious and extra tight, the shots are extra stiff, the work is extra intense. Top shelf stuff.
20. NXT Title: Bobby Roode [c] vs. Drew McIntyre (TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
Disappointing in relation to the rest of the TakeOver card but it’s still a great effort that I thought felt more Fun House Show Match than actually great main event. They kept it moving, did some cool stuff, had a big finish. I liked it, just didn’t love it, and that’s why it is is #20 and not #10.
21. John Cena vs. Baron Corbin (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
You’ve seen the same match before but it’s still Big Match John on Pay-Per-View, enjoy it while it lasts. Corbin takes all the hits and John takes a big time Deep Six. Good stuff.
22. Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak (205 Live 8/15/17)
Gran Metalik has been having quite a few fun matches that fall under the radar because they’re on Main Event or surrounded by 205 Live bullshit. This is well worth watching though. Metalik is a freak while Gulak is awesome taking all his stuff and Cedric gets in some good stuff too.
23. Johnny Gargano vs. Raul Mendoza (NXT 8/2/17)
Great return squash for Johnny, and Raul puts in a heck of an enhancement performance – he’s a pudgy guy who’s stuff all looks beautiful, reminded me of 2010 Rey freakin’ Mysterio.
24. WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Kevin Owens (SmackDown 8/1/17)
Styles and Owens getting all their shit in, doesn’t click like you’d hope but it’s still quality stuff.
25. WWE Cruiserweight Title: Akira Tozawa [c] w/ Titus O’Neil vs. Neville (SummerSlam Kickoff 8/20/17)
Tozawa and Neville getting all their shit in, doesn’t click like you’d hope but it’s still quality stuff.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Just Outside Top 25: RAW Women’s Title: Sasha Banks [c] vs. Alexa Bliss (RAW 8/28/17), Ruby Riot vs. Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay (NXT 8/30/17), Tyler Bate & Trent Seven vs. Pete Dunne & Wolfgang (NXT 8/23/17), Roderick Strong vs. Bobby Roode (NXT 8/30/17), John Cena vs. Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers (SmackDown 8/15/17), Winner Faces Neville at SummerSlam for the Cruiserweight Title: Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari (205 Live 8/1/17)
Good, Just Not Good Enough: Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Kairi Sane vs. Tessa Blanchard (MYC Episode 4 8/28/17), Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Sarah Logan vs. Mia Yim (MYC Episode 2 8/28/17), Sarah Logan vs. Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay (NXT 8/23/17), Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak (205 Live 8/22/17), Enzo Amore, Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik vs. Noam Dar, Tony Nese & Drew Gulak (205 Live 8/29/17)
Solid Matches With Flaws: John Cena & Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (RAW 8/28/17), Seth Rollins w/ Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro w/ Sheamus (RAW 8/28/17), Dean Ambrose w/ Seth Rollins vs. Sheamus w/ Cesaro (RAW 828/17), WWE Title: Jinder Mahal [c] w/ The Singh Brothers vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (SummerSlam 8/20/17), Triple Threat Qualifying Match: Mickie James vs. Dana Brooke vs. Nia Jax (RAW 8/7/17), Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Kay Lee Ray vs. Princesa Sugehit (MYC Episode 1 8/28/17), Aleister Black vs. Kyle O’Reilly (debut) (NXT 8/2/17)
Great Short TV Matches: WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Tye Dillinger (SmackDown 8/29/17), Sami Zayn & Tye Dillinger vs. The Usos (SmackDown 8/8/17), Kalisto vs. Elias (Main Event 8/9/17), Bobby Roode vs. Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis (SmackDown 8/29/17), Shelton Benjamin (return) & Chad Gable vs. The Ascension (SmackDown 8/29/17), Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Shayna Baszler vs. Zeda (MYC Episode 1 8/28/17), Mae Young Classic – Round 1: Mercedes Martinez vs. Xia Li (MYC Episode 2 8/28/17)
Not Great But Decent Here and There: Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt (SummerSlam 8/20/17), Finn Balor vs Bray Wyatt (RAW 8/14/17), Mickie James vs. Emma (Main Event 8/2/17), Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado vs. Brian Kendrick & Drew Gulak (Main Event 8/2/17), SmackDown Women’s Title: Naomi [c] vs. Natalya (SummerSlam 8/20/17), Drew McIntyre vs. Roderick Strong (NXT 8/16/17), WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Kevin Owens (Special Guest Referee: Baron Corbin) (SmackDown 8/22/17)
