A long, busy month: TakeOver, WrestleMania, extra weekly Worlds Collide shows that actually provided some great matches. The Superstar Shake-Up also put together a lot of good last time/first time pairings on TV that resulted in some fun matches. I probably could’ve done a Top 50 but would’ve gotten bored of writing “solid TV match with a couple of good wrestlers” for the last 10 or so. The first 10 Honorable Mentions are gold though, I promise.
Kofi’s WrestleMania Moment might have been the peak, but it was a very NXT / 205 Live / Worlds Collide-focused Top 10. And I loved this Top 10.
1. WWE Title: Daniel Bryan [c] w/ Rowan vs. Kofi Kingston w/ Big E and Xavier Woods (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
Some matches might’ve been more exciting, more economical with their time – but this is it. This is the masterpiece. This is how you do wrestling. 20+ minutes of a classic bad guy beatdown, well-placed cut-offs, the absolute shittiest eating grins you’ll ever see, and finally a comeback and finish as epic and satisfying as the build-up promised.
2. NXT Tag Team Title: War Raiders [c] vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet (TakeOver: New York 4/5/19)
A god damn freak show of a wrestling match. So much crazy, so much fun. The structure is basic, what they do with the structure is insane. Black vs. Rowe and Ricochet vs. Hanson are magical pairings – Hanson going toe-to-toe with Ricochet on the flips was incredible, while Black and Rowe practically had themselves an IWGP Heavyweight Title match finish as the setup to the actual finish. If you’re gonna do crazy, you might as well lean into the crazy.
3. NXT UK Title: Pete Dunne [c] vs. WALTER (TakeOver: New York 4/5/19)
There are some dynamics in professional wrestling that just work. Pete Dunne as some kind of Antonio Inoki/Mitsuharu Misawa ace opposite this large European man unlike anything WWE has ever seen works. These guys pulled off a physical NJPW-paced match if the first 15 minutes actually told a story. WALTER had his biggest showcase on the roster and more than delivered, providing a presence and physicality along with these weird points where he comes off as a scary menace but also a sad little boy that Pete is trying to hurt him. And Pete was a master on defense, doing Inoki kicks and making faces and just beating the shit out of WALTER on his comeback. Great story, great physicality, great wrestling.
4. Harper vs. Dominik Dijakovic (Worlds Collide 4/14/19)
I hope Harper gets the release he has requested, because this is one of the greatest fuck you exit interviews I have ever seen in my life. You put this match in any environment – AXXESS, WrestleMania, Wrestle Kingdom, IWA-Mid-South’s King of the Death Matches – and it’s going to flip everybody out. Everything was hard-hitting but registered, everything escalated well, blah blah blah – more than anything THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH COOL SHIT HERE. It’s an endless display of wrestling awesomeness, all the more impressive in that these are two big tall fellas. Crazy near falls, crazy spots, these guys were working like they were main eventing.
5. NXT North American Title: Velveteen Dream [c] vs. Buddy Murphy (NXT 4/17/19)
These two guys opposite each other re-enforces that Dream and Buddy are on another level of WWE professional wrestler. As they wrestle you can almost picture an empty arena, these two running endlessly through sequence after sequence of athletically mind-blowing wrestling sequences as HBK and Red Rooster pop chubbs and tell them to keep going, while Regal looks on from afar, only seeing potential in The Dream. This is a spectacular wrestling match that builds seamlessly into a dramatic wrestling match.
6. NXT North American Title: Velveteen Dream [c] vs. Matt Riddle (TakeOver: New York 4/5/19)
A match that I’m not sure settled on what it wanted to be but one I loved all the same. Riddle is working this fast-paced style with barefoot kicks and sweet suplexes, and throwing knees that’d make Kenny Omega blush, getting Dream even more over in the process. Dream meanwhile brought the physicality along with the top rope axe handles. So this was like a BattlARTS match with random top rope axe handles. I think that’s good. The crowd liked it. The crowd loved it.
7. Cedric Alexander vs. Oney Lorcan (205 Live 4/16/19)
This is Cedric Alexander’s last 205 Live match and it is also Cedric Alexander and Oney Lorcan having a PPV-level banger to absolute silence. I think they were given the green light to go have their big epic main event type of match because this pairing probably isn’t going to happen again. Glad we got it here though. So much desperation, so much intensity, lots of smacks to the face that look like they hurt – that’s how wrestling works.
8. Triple Threat Match – Winner Competes for Universal Title Opportunity: AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 4/22/19)
These old pros just went out there and DID IT. Witness these three crazy bastards work like they’re trying to get noticed in Reseda or something, with non-stop action and crazy double team spots. Some of this stuff felt so risky, as it was seasoned veterans pulling off moves they probably shouldn’t be doing anymore tucking their chin at just the last second. Rey is timeless, AJ went harder than he has in a while, and I wasn’t even aware Joe could move around and bump like this anymore.
9. NXT Women’s Women’s Title: Shayna Baszler [c] w/ Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke vs. Kairi Sane (NXT 4/17/19)
From Kairi’s backfist and stiff-ass shots to the face early on they just kept this 10-minute train moving with their beautiful wonderful good guy vs. bad guy dynamic, pulling out all the stuff that worked best the last few times they wrestled, all of which were awesome. Great angle of a finish too.
10. Tyler Bate vs. Brian Kendrick (Worlds Collide 4/17/19)
These guys got 15 minutes in front of a relatively lively AXXESS crowd and they take it from eye poke shtick and Kendrick trying to start U-S-A chants to a big dramatic finish. It was a necessary reminder that Kendrick is one of the greats, as after years of soulless 205 Live participation he was having a blast in a smaller, looser environment. These two can exchange wrestling maneuvers pretty well too.
11. WWE Cruiserweight Title: Tony Nese [c] vs. Buddy Murphy (205 Live 4/9/19)
The Mania match was great, this was greater. They worked their holds but kept a crazy pace, and Murphy as per usual was launching himself full force into every bump he took or knee he threw. I mean that knee smash on the apron – WOW. They went from a respectful trading of wrestling maneuvers to them just throwing shots at each other in an effort to get that Cruiserweight Title, and with a little more time were able to tack on a hotter finish than Mania. It was indeed – as the crowd chanted – wrestling.
12. Falls Count Anywhere: The Miz vs. Shane McMahon (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
As wonderful and stupid as it needed to be: bad punches, The Miz’ dad getting beat up, Miz pulling off a credible ass-kicking, and some wacky times in the crowd before what was truly an incredible superplex spot off a scaffold.
13. WWE Cruiserweight Title: Buddy Murphy [c] vs. Tony Nese (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
These two kicked Mania off with some otherworldly athletic insanity – Tony Nese does not screw up spots, while the strength and agility it takes to pull off all the stuff Buddy does is underrated because he makes it all look so easy. They kept the finish a little brief, but otherwise this was a blast.
14. Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair (SmackDown 4/23/19)
Holds are traded, Charlotte works the leg, Bayley shows a badass side, and the near fall drama is real. Well done everybody.
15. Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match – SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet vs. The Bar vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev w/ Lana (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
This was a bunch of freaks doing freaky stuff for 10 minutes. They packed in a whole lot of wild stuff in the middle of a packed show, and the trainwreck “everybody hits their finish” spot is one for the ages. Black and Ricochet are especially good here.
16. Winner Takes All Triple Threat Match – RAW Women’s Title & SmackDown Women’s Title: Ronda Rousey [c] vs. Charlotte Flair [c] vs. Becky Lynch (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
Look, this was a rushed match with a lot of smoke and mirrors at the end of a long show but it started with Charlotte arriving in a helicopter, Ronda Rousey being played to the ring by Joan Jett, and Becky Lynch being one of those rare cases in wrestling where something organic and cool happens. And after that they had themselves for better or worse a WWE Main Event match, though it was certainly a little more looser and stiffer and I dug that. Everybody was bumping like they were purposely being reckless or something. “YOU CHOP LIKE A BITCH” was great too.
17. Fatal 4-Way Match – NXT Women’s Title: Shayna Baszler [c] vs. Kairi Sane vs. Io Shirai vs. Bianca Belair (TakeOver: New York 4/5/19)
A fun buncha wrestlers doing a fun buncha spots, one after another, with some fun pairings and big league performances by everyone. Io’s save timing on the Insane Elbow stood out.
18. NXT UK Women’s Title: Toni Storm [c] vs. Jinny (NXT UK 4/10/19)
These two have great chemistry and always go hard like they’re main eventing Budokan or something and it just works. The Tiger Driver near fall with Toni putting her foot on the ropes was sweet, and they wrap ya up in this finish.
19. WWE Universal Title: Brock Lesnar [c] vs. Seth Rollins (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
This is a two-and-a-half minute match and I can see an argument for it going as high as #1. They finally figured it out – just get the Brock deal out of the way in the opener! And they got it out of the way perfectly – astounding “BURN IT DOWN” reaction, heated brawling, Seth getting wrecked, a ref bump, a low blow from Seth, superkick, three curb stomps, and a straight-up quick win for the good guy. Wrestling’s the best when it gets to the point.
20. 2/3 Falls – NXT Title: Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole (TakeOver: New York 4/5/19)
This is just one of those matches for me where I appreciate that the crowd bought in but I just didn’t like it. The first fall felt like condescending bullshit, as if they were either instructed to slow things to a crawl early or Gargano and Cole’s interpretation of what they need to do when going 45 minutes is a hazard of time-wasting wrestling trash. They eventually got things bumping, but had what didn’t feel like a great match, but a “great” match, a match that was perfectly wild and fun to watch, but also kind of dumb.
21. Fatal 4-Way Match: Akira Tozawa vs. Gran Metalik vs. Ariya Daivari vs. Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis (205 Live 4/16/19)
A fine fun meaningless 4-Way Match that smartly put focus on Gran Metalik, who remains one of the if not the most spectacular professional wrestlers in the world.
22. WWE Intercontinental Title: Finn Balor [c] vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 4/8/19)
This was a surprise IC Title match, with the returning Sami running through spots and looking great, while Balor felt inspired to be working with somebody who can move.
23. Johnny Gargano vs. Roderick Strong (NXT 4/24/19)
Johnny Gargano has a special way about him being thrown around by Roddy Strong, like his little bitty body is just built to be dumped with reckless abandon. These guys kept things moving, Roddy tortured Gargano, and there were some wild counters towards the end. Good match.
24. War Raiders vs. Street Profits (NXT 4/24/19)
Great 6-minute sprint, all about the Profits actually looking legitimate vs. the monster viking dudes, then the monster viking dudes crushing. A great time.
25. The Shield Farewell Match: The Shield vs. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre & Bobby Lashley (The Shield’s Final Chapter 4/2/19)
RAW basically has three Manabu Nakanishi’s as its’ top heels and that’s definitely a problem, but The Shield hit some double teams and took some heat and made one hell of a god damn comeback. I much prefer Corbin, McIntyre and Lashley doing basic bad guy tag shtick over whatever they’re usually doing to kill time on RAW too. One last great Shield finish too.
Honorable Mentions: Kalisto vs. Oney Lorcan (205 Live 4/2/19), Triple Threat Match – Winner Competes for Universal Title Opportunity: The Miz vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin (RAW 4/22/19), Io Shirai vs. Sonya Deville (Worlds Collide 4/24/19), Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston vs. The Bar (RAW 4/8/19), The Usos vs. Bobby Roode & Chad Gable (RAW 4/15/19), Akira Tozawa w/ Brian Kendrick vs. Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis (205 Live 4/2/19), Braun Strowman & Ricochet vs. Drew McIntyre & Baron Corbin (RAW 4/29/19), AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 4/7/19), Rey Mysterio vs. Baron Corbin (RAW 4/1/19), WWE Intercontinental Title: Bobby Lashley [c] w/ Lio Rush vs. Demon Balor (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
Rey Mysterio vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 4/29/19), Winner Receives a Cruiserweight Championship Opportunity: Oney Lorcan vs. Ariya Daivari (205 Live 4/23/19), Becky Lynch vs. Bayley (SmackDown 4/30/19), Kairi Sane vs. Bianca Belair (NXT 4/3/19), Mustafa Ali, Aleister Black & Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev & Andrade w/ Lana and Zelina Vega (SmackDown 4/9/19), The Usos, Aleister Black & Ricochet vs. The Bar, Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev w/ Lana (SmackDown 4/2/19), Cedric Alexander vs. Cesaro (RAW 4/22/19), Mustafa Ali vs. Samoa Joe (SmackDown 4/2/19), The Usos vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (RAW 4/29/19), Finn Balor & Ali vs. Randy Orton & Andrade (SmackDown 4/30/19)
Moustache Mountain vs. Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster (NXT UK 4/24/19), Tyler Breeze vs. Roderick Strong (Worlds Collide 4/14/19), Ligero vs. Kassius Ohno (NXT UK 4/24/19), Travis Banks vs. Kassius Ohno (NXT UK 4/10/19), Handicap Match: Roman Reigns vs. The B-Team (SmackDown 4/30/19), Asuka, Kairi Sane (debut), Bayley & Ember Moon w/ Paige vs. The IIconics, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville (SmackDown 4/16/19), The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) & Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev w/ Lana (SmackDown 4/16/19)
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & TBD (AJ Styles) vs. Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre & Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush (RAW 4/15/19), Finn Balor vs. Andrade w/ Zelina Vega (RAW 4/15/19), Finn Balor vs. Ali (SmackDown 4/16/19), Kenny Williams & Amir Jordan vs. Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel (NXT UK 4/3/19), RAW Tag Team Title: The Revival [c] vs. Aleister Black & Ricochet (RAW 4/1/19), RAW Tag Team Title: Kurt Angle Farewell Match: Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin (WrestleMania 4/7/19), Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins [c] vs. The Revival (RAW 4/8/19), RAW Tag Team Title: The Revival [c] vs. Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins (WrestleMania 4/7/19)
