There were a few bright spots from Sasha Banks, New Day, and RAW’s not-quite-main event scene – along with names we don’t always hear from like KUSHIDA and Toni Storm – but can we put to bed this hellscape of a year? I mean on top of wrestling being bad there was a pandemic!
1. SmackDown Women’s Title: Sasha Banks [c] vs. Bayley (SmackDown 11/6/20)
Even in the Thunderdome, Sasha and Bayley make it work – Hell in a Cell was the big match, so they skipped any table-setting and delivered all the coolest stuff they possibly could while maintaining the combination of hatred and fun that makes wrestling awesome. Check the form on Bayley’s elbow drop. Legends.
2. RAW Tag Team Champions vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions: Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods vs. Street Profits (Survivor Series 11/22/20)
Truthfully, the Best of the Best – these guys made no secret how excited they were to wrestle each other but after some fun and games early they really set a tone: they are two teams on a run that needed this win. They did the usual exciting PPV tag team match that Kofi & Woods can do in their sleep, but with the added flavor of Kofi & Woods playing bully veterans and more physicality than usual. They nailed it.
3. RAW Tag Team Title: Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods [c] vs. Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander w/ MVP and Bobby Lashley (RAW 11/16/20)
Once again, Kofi & Woods are just doing it. They stay true to the generic WWE tag formula, but make more out of it than anyone going. Always good to see Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander actually doing something too.
4. NXT Women’s Title: Io Shirai [c] vs. Rhea Ripley (NXT 11/18/20)
I’m getting numb to the good but forgettable NXT TV main event, but this had a lot of good parts: wild brawl, big spots, Rey Mysterio tribute… the kind of match that with any proper planning might be a bigger deal on a bigger show.
5. Winner Advances to Triple Threat for a WWE Title Opportunity: Keith Lee vs. Bobby Lashley (RAW 11/23/20)
I’d like to see Keith Lee do less Triple Threat Matches and more of this, a lovechild of mid-80s WWF mixed with mid-90s beefiness. It gave me fond memories of the first Braun Strowman/Big Show matches.
6. Survivor Series Qualifying Match: Rey Mysterio w/ Dominick Mysterio vs. King Corbin (SmackDown 11/6/20)
This gets a few extra points for how impressive it is that mid-40s Rey Mysterio working in a sweatpants and t-shirt can still get it done. Just a good quality match with a game tall guy and a timeless legend. Corbin kept up with the moves, but more than anything I liked how much they got out of both a Canadian Backbreaker and bearhug.
7. RAW Women’s Champion vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion: Asuka vs. Sasha Banks (Survivor Series 11/22/20)
I’m split – Asuka vs. Sasha is good wrestling, but reliably good. Their other title matches were either better or more exciting because it was the first time it either happened. Either way I respect the wrestling, a stream of consciousness of competition that ended kind of as it should’ve: with a surprise rollup.
8. WWE Champion vs. Universal Champion: Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman (Survivor Series 11/22/20)
A complicated match: great beginning, dreadful middle, great close. Drew and Roman are big wrestling superstars but over the last decade the entire idea of “slow it down” has really just taken on a life of its own with WWE’s biggest commodities.
9. Murphy vs. Seth Rollins (SmackDown 11/20/20)
Not counting the 10 seconds at Survivor Series, this was Seth Rollins’ last match before paternity leave – maybe. He and former disciple Murphy wrestled the kind of match some will dig and some just won’t, a lot of smooth and impressive but lifeless and forgettable wrestling.
10. WWE Intercontinental Title: Sami Zayn [c] vs. Daniel Bryan (SmackDown 11/27/20)
Even Bryan and Zayn doing their thing one too many times can seem as silly as a Ladder Match in the Thunderdome, but this was a quality first 75% of a match before an actually creative countout finish.
11. Triple Threat Survivor Series Qualifying Match: Keith Lee vs. Sheamus vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 11/2/20)
The rare Triple Threat match that actually worked, all three big pro wrestlers moving quick and bumping huge. The Tower of Doom spot might be the best one since 1999.
12. Heritage Cup – Final: Trent Seven vs. A-Kid (NXT UK 11/26/20)
The one Heritage Cup match worth seeing, one that showcased the awesome A-Kid enough to overcome all the rounds and rock music business. Trent throws a pair of wild lariats here too, as he’ll do.
13. Ricochet vs. Mustafa Ali w/ Retribution (RAW 11/9/20)
A neat match given the circumstances of both these guys being on RAW and everything.
14. Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso (SmackDown 11/20/20)
No surprises but here are two good wrestlers having a quality no frills TV wrestling main event. My god – is that the surprise?
15. Falls Count Anywhere – NXT UK Women’s Title: Kay Lee Ray [c] vs. Piper Niven (NXT UK 11/19/20)
This had some creative spots and the brawling backstage was a lot better than you usually see in WWE, but so many gimmick matches now have trouble overcoming the idea that with no audience present except for WWE’s elaborate production, they are usually going to be sillier than good.
16. KUSHIDA vs. Timothy Thatcher (NXT 11/25/20)
17. KUSHIDA vs. Arturo Ruas (NXT 11/18/20)
I weep for quiet KUSHIDA, who had a pair of fun matches in November arm-barring his opponents into submission.
18. Toni Storm vs. Shotzi Blackheart (NXT 11/4/20)
19. Toni Storm vs. Candice LeRae (NXT 11/11/20)
Before a heel turn, Toni Storm had a pair of fun matches in November too. The one with Shotzi made me believe in Shotzi even more.
20. Winner Advances to Triple Threat for a WWE Title Opportunity: Riddle vs. Sheamus (RAW 11/23/20)
Here’s two guys who were always going to have a good match together because even if doesn’t “work” they’ll just hurt each other. This kind of did work though, and it also had Sheamus going after Riddle’s stupid bare feet.
21. NXT Cruiserweight Title: Santos Escobar [c] w/ Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza vs. Jake Atlas (NXT 11/11/20)
Pretty good match between two guys who haven’t broken out yet, and it’s probably because even the title matches lack stakes.
22. WarGames Advantage Ladder Match: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Pete Dunne (NXT 11/25/20)
Kyle O’Reilly just going for it on bumps made this kind of worth it, but there’s been a lot of Ladder Matches lately haven’t there?
23. WWE Title: Randy Orton [c] vs. Drew McIntyre (RAW 11/16/20)
Another “slow it down” WWE Title match, two guys so confident in what they do that they run through the motions way too much.
24. RAW Tag Team Title: Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods [c] vs. Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander w/ MVP (RAW 11/23/20)
A not as exciting version of the match way up top, but another chapter in a solid series.
25. Jeff Hardy vs. Ricochet (Main Event 11/25/20)
The slowest and coldest possible version of this first time match, but hey: it happened. Elias plays a song the entire time.
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Owens vs. Jey Uso (SmackDown 11/6/20), NXT Tag Team Title: Oney Lornan & Danny Burch [c] w/ Pete Dunne vs. Breezango (NXT 11/11/20), Keith Lee & Riddle vs. Sheamus & Braun Strowman (RAW 11/9/20)
