A real deadbeat month for World Wrestling Entertainment.
1. WWE Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura [c] vs. Sami Zayn (SmackDown 2/18/22)
Like, no — it’s not that good. But it was still good. Real good. On their way up Sami and Shinsuke (as I call them) mastered the arts of both athleticism and some kind of otherworldly physical charisma, and years later they’re mostly relying on the latter but it’s still two masters of their craft — and it’s on FOX! Really enjoyed the TakeOver: Dallas callback too. Good memories. Ah. Hmmm. Crying.
2. Big E & Kofi Kingston vs. Los Lotharios (SmackDown 2/19/22)
New Day has always been better than almost anyone at this, but it felt like they had an incredible match with Angel and Humberto here just to prove a point. Absolute tag team wrestling.
3. Rey Mysterio vs. The Miz w/ Dominik Mysterio (Elimination Chamber 2/19/22)
Rey is Rey, Miz a proper dipshit, and the obscenely excited opening match crowd made this a highlight of a low month.
4. WWE Title: Roman Reigns [c] w/ Paul Heyman vs. Goldberg (Elimination Chamber 2/19/22)
We can question why WWE is in a place where Roman/Goldberg is one of the few last spectacle matches available to them while at the same time enjoying this stupid yet perfectly laid out 6-minute pro wrestling match. Staredowns and Spears, smoke and mirrors.
5. RAW Women’s Title: Becky Lynch [c] vs. Lita (Elimination Chamber 2/19/22)
Another belated passing of the torch dream match (ish) like Roman Reigns vs. Goldberg, and like that match we can ask why this is here or we can just appreciate the effort if not the delivery.
6. Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic – Final: MSK vs. The Creed Brothers (NXT 2/15/22)
7. Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic – Semi Final: The Creed Brothers vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (NXT 2/8/22)
The Creed Brothers got to work this month in both the semis and finals of the Dusty Classic, getting feature spots against two quality teams in two different matches where one pair took heat and another delivered it before the suplexes started falling.
8. NXT North American Title: Carmelo Hayes [c] vs. Cameron Grimes (NXT 2/15/22)
9. NXT Title: Bron Breakker [c] vs. Santos Escobar (NXT 2/15/22)
Two good, solid, and kind of similar TV title matches. NXT 2.0 has taken a lot of swings and it’s at the very least resulted in a bunch of distinctive new talents on the roster, though it’s going to take seeing them break out of the formula (just a little!) for their matches to not hit a ceiling.
10. KUSHIDA vs. Edris Enofe (LEVEL UP 2/18/21)
Did You Know? KUSHIDA still wrestles. Also, WWE re-named 205 Live to Level Up.
Honorable Mentions: Weaponized Steel Cage Match: Pete Dunne vs. Tony D’Angelo (NXT 2/15/22), WALTER, Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner vs. Roderick Strong & The Creed Brothers (NXT 2/1/22), KUSHIDA vs. Edris Enofe (LVL UP 2/18/21), Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch, Nikki ASH & Doudrop (RAW 2/28/22), WWE U.S. Title: Damian Priest [c] vs. Finn Balor (RAW 2/28/22)
