WWE has had a complete trash year so far for in-ring stuff but they are closing the year out strong. October was excellent and November continued the trend, with a top 5 that are up there with the best stuff anywhere this year. RAW has been incomprehensibly but TakeOver: WarGames II and Survior Series brought the quality wrestling while SmackDown brought the quality TV.
Past the Top 25, there are a lot of matches here labeled the ol’ “solid” – your enjoyment of them probably depends on your tolerance for WWE’s style of wrestling, which can end up repetitive. But I was into it, even down to Ligero vs. Jordan Devlin trying to impress whatever agents they put on NXT UK.
1. Universal Champion vs. WWE Champion: Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. Daniel Bryan (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
In which the greatest wrestler of his generation goes up the greatest attraction and it actually delivers. It’s a dream match that not only completely delivered but was different from what was expected when it originally became a dream match in the first place.
2. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
Sometimes two folks try to armdrag and dropkick their way into a reaction, sometimes two folks beat the shit out of each other and treat everything was legitimate and have everybody hanging on their every move. These two were always on and working – death stares throughout, struggling to hit every move, stiff shots on every strike, a bloody mouth. At one point Charlotte was using the chop like it was a shoot move. Tremendous professional wrestling match.
3. Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (SmackDown 11/6/18)
This match was always going to happen, I’m just surprised it happened so fast. And it delivered more than anybody could have thought. Mysterio is having a RUN on SmackDown TV while Almas has been having a run for like two years, even if he only shows up once every few months. Had Lesnar/Bryan and Charlotte/Rousey not blown my mind, this was an easy #1, and it’s worth saying those matches had the benefit of TV build and PPV time – this was just a random 10-minute TV match and was nearly just as good.
4. WWE Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Daniel Bryan (SmackDown 11/13/18)
Even before the Daniel Bryan heel turn that this match will certainly be remembered for, this was so good. It was physical but graceful, realistic but fun – it’s everything that is great about pro wrestling from two of the best that have ever done it. They only went around 10 minutes but everything had a purpose and looked great.
5. Aleister Black vs. Johnny Gargano (TakeOver: WarGames II 11/17/18)
This is a match with the speed and flow of a breakout spotfest ala Rey/Psicosis but with kicks and knees to the face instead of dives. Also, there are dives too. These two go balls out with jaw-dropping precision and speed from bell-to-bell and it’s special. The TakeOver atmosphere sure doesn’t hurt.
6. Winning Team Captains the Survivor Series Tag Team Match: The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Usos (SmackDown 11/6/18)
A New Day/Usos classic for old time’s sake! Tremendous chemistry, tremendous match.
7. 2/3 Falls – NXT Women’s Title: Shayna Baszler [c] vs. Kairi Sane (TakeOver: WarGames II 11/17/18)
Speaking of chemistry, Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane feel created for each other. Shayna’s Gotch-ISM and Kairi’s spunky underdog who isn’t afraid to throw a chop to the face collide once more and it’s awesome: sweet mat wrestling, hot crowd, callbacks to their last matches, and a couple wild run-ins to cap it off. Kairi’s look of terror when Shayna hooks her arms for a pin is special.
8. If Kurt Angle Wins, He Is Captain of the RAW Men’s Team: Kurt Angle vs. Drew McIntyre (RAW 11/5/18)
A match where they told a god damn STORY. And I don’t really even mean that entirely in a wrestling sense – this felt like Drew McIntyre and Kurt Angle’s attempt at Shakespeare or something. It’s basically all McIntyre completely dominating Angle, who just cannot compete with this young and hungry bastard, and that dynamic brings lots of wonderful facial expressions and a crowd that buys in.
9. Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton (SmackDown 11/20/18)
Another example of two guys made for each other. This was 5 minutes of grizzled veteran greatness, highlighted by a spectacular RKO counter out of Rey’s baseball slide splash.
10. The Usos vs. The Bar (SmackDown 11/27/18)
There’s such a formula to so many WWE matches but The Usos play with that formula to create hot finishes, as all the obvious closes that feel like the perfect culmination of a finishing stretch just… don’t end it. Heck of a tag match.
11. WWE U.K. Title: Pete Dunne [c] vs. Danny Burch (NXT UK 11/6/18)
A match that, as they say, ruled – though maybe not as much as I hoped. Everything was snug, joints were snapped, and at the end of the day it was a match based around their fingers hurting where they’d pull on each other’s fingers to transition to offense and that’s very cool.
12. WWE U.K. Title: Pete Dunne [c] vs. Jordan Devlin (NXT UK 11/28/18)
A wild and crazy match between two grumpy young men who stretched and hit each other in the confinements of modern day indy insanity. There were Spanish Fly’s on the floor and reverse ranas and triangle choke counters of moonsaults, but there was also a spot where Devlin went for a standing moonsault, missed, and Dunne stepped on his hand to keep him from moving, then stomped on his hand a bunch.
13. WWE Cruiserweight Title: Buddy Murphy [c] vs. Mustafa Ali (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
2018 breakout Buddy Murphy and ready-to-breakout Mustafa Ali try their hardest at the Survior Series, winning over a skeptical crowd with This is Awesome chants thanks to Ali’s psychotic bumping and stuff like a tilt-a-whirl draping DDT.
14. WarGames: Pete Dunne, Ricochet & War Raiders vs. The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) (TakeOver: WarGames II 11/17/18)
All eight of these guys have talent and there was a lot of good stuff here wrapped up in a LONG match that was occasionally fun but also frustrating and not as epic as the gimmick would suggest. There were more Tower of Doom and cute plunder spots than straight-up hate-filled brawling and the former is kind of what these guys promise but if they promise that then maybe a big cage match isn’t the match for them. Regardless, a wild TakeOver main event.
15. Intercontinental Champion vs. U.S. Champion: Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
Great start, great finish, iffy middle – it’s peak 2018 Nakamura. They probably could’ve shaved off a few minutes but this was fun, and you can tell they dug having this first time match.
16. If Rey Mysterio Loses, He is off Team SmackDown: Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz (SmackDown 11/13/18)
Just a pitch perfect Rey Mysterio TV match – the guy is still so good. Miz seemed to be having a blast going toe-to-toe with this legend too.
17. SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Bar [c] w/ Big Show vs. The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods (Crown Jewel 11/2/18)
Love these teams, even when wrestling to show the world how cool and hip the Saudi Kingdom is. The Bar kept working over and cutting off Kofi and then Big E got the hot tag and it was all very good.
18. NXT Title: Tommaso Ciampa [c] vs. Velveteen Dream (TakeOver: WarGames II 11/17/18)
This had some excellent bits that overcame some of the in-between stuff not really clicking for me. It’s got a well-done finish, and a performance from the referee that is so good it’s honestly worth mentioning. Dream’s elbow drop to the floor is one for the ages too.
19. NXT U.K. Women’s Title Tournament – Final: Toni Storm vs. Rhea Ripley (NXT UK 11/28/18)
A simple solid match with a simple solid finish.
20. Steel Cage Match: AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (Starrcade 11/25/18)
These guys ran through their stuff but it’s good stuff that is all physical and impressive. AJ bumped around, Joe was intense, and they did some cool spots like a big belly-to-back suplex.
21. Traditional Survivor Series 10-on-10 Tag Team Elimination Match: Team RAW (Bobby Roode & Chad Gable, The B-Team, Lucha Dragons, The Revival and The Ascension) w/ Gran Metalik vs. Team SmackDown (The Usos, The New Day, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, SAnitY and The Colons) w/ Kofi Kingston and Alexander Wolfe (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
The rule for the Survivor Series Elimination Matches is that WWE is rarely going pull off some cohesive story in or out of the ring for them, so the matches are all about the fun their participants pack in during the 20-30 minutes of random STUFF. This match, like all the matches, was occasionally fun and occasionally mailed in empty bullshit. Of the three matches at Survivor Series that were like this, this was the best. The Usos and New Day just always bring the magic, while Gable seemed excited to be working with them again.
22. Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match: Team RAW (Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor & Bobby Lashley) w/ Baron Corbin and Lio Rush vs. Team SmackDown (The Miz, Shane McMahon, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio & Samoa Joe) (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
Rey Mysterio was the star here… paired off great with Finn, Braun, and even Bob Lashley.
23. Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Match: Team RAW (Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, Nia Jax & Tamina) w/ Alexa Bliss vs. Team SmackDown (Naomi, Asuka, Carmella, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville) (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
Asuka was the standout in this one and her showdown with Sasha Banks was EVERYTHING.
24. Mark Andrews vs. Buddy Murphy (205 Live 11/7/18)
A little exhibition-esque but some of the stuff they pulled off (or tried to) was wild. Andrews is an excellent flyer and Buddy is an excellent base and this was a fun match.
25. Bobby Roode & Chad Gable vs. The Revival (Main Event 11/7/18)
Basically a sprint version of a Revival tag with some fun tag work along with Gable running around like a man possessed. They kept things moving with great pro wrestling and the Shatter Machine at the end is a keeper.
26. Trent Seven vs. Zack Gibson (NXT UK 11/14/18)
Trent Seven is very good at selling and then getting people into the comeback. He did that here.
27. Cedric Alexander vs. Lio Rush (205 Live 11/14/18)
Just a whole buncha fun wrestling from two guys who can go.
28. WWE U.S. Title: Shinsuke Nakamura [c] vs. Rusev (Crown Jewel Kickoff 11/2/18)
Game Crowd + Rusev Comeback + Hot Near Falls – Nakamura Offense Stretch = Good Stuff
29. WarGames Advantage Match: Hanson vs. Kyle O’Reilly (NXT 11/14/18)
Just a fine wrestling match where O’Reilly bumps around for Hanson but also goes after his knee and makes you think that maybe just maybe he can.
30. Tyler Breeze vs. Mojo Rawley (Main Event 11/7/18)
A match where they went beyond the usual Main Event formula and succeeded – Mojo aggressively stayed on Breeze and Breeze kept kicking out or countering his finishes. The finish is actually a callback to earlier in the match too. Wow!
31. WWE World Cup – Round 1: Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton (Crown Jewel 11/2/18)
Another 5-minute match but Randy missing a lariat and Rey doing a springboard crossbody works every time.
32. Tyler Bate vs. Joe Coffey (NXT UK 11/28/18)
They got some time here and kept it high energy for pretty much all of it. Bate entering the ring, throwing his dukes up, and just throwing jabs as the bell rang was an excellent start to a wrestling match.
33. The New Day vs. Big Show & The Bar (SmackDown 11/13/18)
WWE 6-man tag team wrestling has a formula, but when everybody in the match is really good it is really good. New Day doing chain triple teams is the truth. As is Show just harassing Woods in the corner with chops and Show catching Kofi with a KO punch.
34. Bomber Dave Mastiff vs. Damien Weir (NXT UK 11/6/18)
Bomber Dave Mastiff makes the camera shake when he enters the arena. He is also capable of a fun, efficient squash match.
35. NXT UK Women’s Title Tournament – Semi Final: Toni Storm vs. Jinny (NXT UK 11/21/18)
Toni Storm has been tasked with selling for most of her matches and Jinny is a willing participant in beating some ass. There’s some nice back-and-forth towards the end here too.
36. Toni Storm vs. Dakota Kai (NXT UK 11/7/18)
These two brought it: strikes, big German suplexes, and a cool spot where Kai trailed Storm to setup a kick to the face.
37. Jeff Hardy vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega (SmackDown 11/13/18)
This is a very basic Jeff Hardy match but a very basic Jeff Hardy match is good and his opposition was excellent.
38. Winner Joins SmackDown Men’s Team at Survivor Series: Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe (SmackDown 11/6/18)
Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy was a fine conclusion to this show with Jeff bumping like a lunatic. Sweet finish too with Joe putting his knees up on the Swanton and choking Jeff Out.
39. RAW Tag Team Champions vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Authors of Pain w/ Drake Maverick vs. The Bar w/ Big Show (Survivor Series 11/18/18)
A match bound to be remembered for Drake Maverick pissing himself, and after that whatever Enzo Amore was trying to do, but it was kind of a cool big boy brawl that unfortunately never went full big boy brawl.
40. Brian Kendrick & Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak & Jack Gallagher (205 Live 11/14/18)
Sometimes you just have to laugh at WWE just having these four great professional wrestlers – Kendrick, Tozawa, Gulak, Gallagher – under contract and having them work formula tag matches to silence. You can also cry. There’s a good in here, you just have to look for it a bit harder.
41. WWE World Cup – Semi Final: Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Drew McIntyre (Crown Jewel 11/2/18)
A good match I don’t ever want to see again.
42. Saxon Huxley vs. Joseph Conners (NXT UK 11/28/18)
This was a pretty cool match where they cut the bullshit and went at it with a straightforward brawl. If it had more than a week build it might be Really Good as opposed to simply… Good.
43. NXT UK Women’s Title Tournament – Semi Final: Dakota Kai vs. Rhea Ripley (NXT UK 11/21/18)
This had Rhea dishing out a beating and Kai selling, so everybody stuck to their strengths and these two had a fine match. Riley putting Kai up top, patting her on the head, and receiving a kick to the face was very nice.
44. Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Cross (debut) w/ SAnitY (SmackDown 11/6/18)
A fun few minutes of grappling action caught in the happy haze of Nikki Cross showing up on SmackDown.
45. Ligero vs. Jordan Devlin (NXT UK 11/21/18)
A fine wrestling match between two guys still figuring themselves out.
46. Velveteen Dream vs. Lars Sullivan (NXT 11/7/18)
A solid match where I found myself more impressed with Velveteen Dream as a performer, as he feels like a guy who pays attention to how he looks on every movement.
47. Finn Balor vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Drew McIntyre (RAW 11/12/18)
A solid match that had the crowd even if it didn’t have me.
48. Winner Joins RAW Women’s Team at Survivor Series: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley (RAW 11/12/18)
Just the finest most forgettable wrestling match between two gals I want so much more for. It was solid enough wrestling irreparably damaged by them wrestling each other for a shot at this dumb Team RAW gimmick where they’d have to work for Alexa Bliss. The Becky Lynch punch thing happens after this.
49. Handicap Match – RAW Tag Team Title: Seth Rollins [c] vs. The Authors of Pain w/ Drake Maverick (RAW 11/5/18)
Not the prettiest or most well-executed thing but Seth is over and him flying around to try and survive AoP was good fun.
50. Eddie Dennis vs. Sid Scala (NXT UK 11/6/18)
Two fellas who know their characters and wrestle like them – Eddie the awkward gangly psychopath and Scala the babyfaced boy just happy to be here.
Honorable Mentions: Ashton Smith vs. Eddie Dennis (NXT UK 11/28/18), Ember Moon vs. Tamina w/ Nia Jax (RAW 11/12/18), Battle Royal – Winner Joins the SmackDown Women’s Title Match at TLC (SmackDown 11/27/18)
