Much like in 2020 and 2021, WWE’s emphasis on in-ring competition was lacking. Much of the roster could still “go” but the option for an impressive showing felt rare. Enter April and WrestleMania, which at least usually provided a few opportunities.
If I’m ranking a top 10 WWE wrestlers so far this year, it is this: Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Roderick Strong, Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Sami Zayn, The Usos, Gunther and Liv Morgan. None of them would rank in a top 10 if including AEW, NJPW, and Stardom. That’s not hating; it’s information science.
1. RAW Women’s Title: Becky Lynch [c] vs. Bianca Belair (WrestleMania 38 4/2/22)
It’s no secret the wrestling business is filled with waste, but on occasion a few things find their way onto the same plane and manage something spectacular. This match in the middle of WrestleMania was the best example of that from WWE in a while. The story opened at SummerSlam in one of the dumbest possible ways but against all odds closed up beautifully.
Becky Lynch delivers all her offense with a viciousness that transforms her into the heel that seemed impossible nine months ago. It creates a perfect storm for Bianca’s rally, whose comeback was highlighted by a few incredible spots worthy of the stage. Great wrestlers, characters, journeys, entrances, costumes, chemistry… the tone was set before the bell, the action stayed fast-paced and surprising, and the 3-count was downright exhilarating.
2. No Holds Barred: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kevin Owens (WrestleMania 38 4/2/22)
Steve Austin’s first match in match in 20 years was not promoted as an actual match, and anyone who’s followed WWE for any amount of time could not have been faulted for thinking it would peak at a few punches then a kick and Stunner. Nope! Once the bell rang ol’ Stone Cold and Kevin Owens had a match that didn’t feel much different from a late-90s Stone Cold match, even if those were pretty lean themselves.
They brawled through the crowd, Austin took a suplex on concrete, Owens bumped like a maniac, and Austin took Owens for an ATV ride before the kick and Stunner. Supremely, satisfyingly delivered nostalgia.
3. Anything Goes Match: Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville (WrestleMania 38 4/3/22)
“I can’t believe he took an Exploder through a table.” That was the first note I typed in my phone about this match, before I put it down and embraced the greatness alongside friends. Johnny Knoxville and (some of) the cast of Jackass went to Mania and had a very fun match, one that delivered on entertainment but also honestly pretty brilliantly built-up to its’ big finish, which was based around a series of mousetrap spots.
4. Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory (WrestleMania 38 4/3/22)
This wasn’t Okada vs. Omega but it was the spectacle match WWE occasionally lays out really well when the boss says so, rewarding McAfee’s commitment to the job (and history as a pro athlete) by having him play lead role in what was basically a wrestling fan’s dream wrestling match. McAfee’s energetic and ridiculous entrance provided an excellent set piece that was amplified by McMahon and Theory’s endless gloating, the visual representation of what an entire wrestling fandom generally feels like it’s up against all the time. Great Michael Cole commentary performance too.
5. Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes (WrestleMania 38 4/2/22)
This was the very good but not great match that both Rollins and Rhodes became very good at doing as it became what WWE liked in their big matches for some reason. It goes long and has a few genuinely awesome moments but because it goes long they get sort of lost and all you’re left is with a good wrestling match being called great.
6. Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz & Logan Paul (WrestleMania 38 4/2/22)
It might not be a good thing that wrestling has been de-constructed so much to the point that Logan Paul can walk into WrestleMania and perform like a top-tier heel, but also: maybe it is? Having two of wrestling’s most reliable face and heels in the ring helped, but social media celebrity guy was the revelation: tall, jacked, exudes dipshit, and hit his spots with enough timing that it was evident the man put work in.
7. NXT UK Title: Ilja Dragunov [c] vs. Roderick Strong (NXT UK 4/7/22)
If you’ve seen either guy in WWE, you know the deal. If you haven’t, go watch them beat the shit out of each other.
8. Triple Threat Tag Match – RAW Tag Team Title: RK-Bro [c] vs. Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy (WrestleMania 38 4/3/22)
Once they got through with the formalities all the boys just went wild, delivering a deliciously hot start to WrestleMania Night 2. Montez Ford glided on a tope con hilo, Chad Gable did an Orihara moonsault, and just about everyone contributed to a cool RKO spot or two.
9. Street Profits vs. The Usos (RAW 4/11/22)
There was a consistency if not greatness to WWE’s tag divisions as they debated whether or not to unify the Tag Team Titles, and this match — in which The Street Profits and The Usos got 15 minutes on Monday Night RAW — was a highlight that shouldn’t be lost. Montez Ford does another huge tope con hilo here, lands on his feet in front of Randy Orton, and shimmies. Aggressively.
10. Steel Cage Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn (SmackDown 4/29/22)
By the time this stipulation arrived the juice was already gone from this brief post-Mania feud, but each guy has enough self-respect to not waste a good Steel Cage. This isn’t much more than 10 minutes but they kept it moving and opened SmackDown with something more fun than normal.
Honorable Mentions: NXT Title: Dolph Ziggler [c] vs. Bron Breakker (RAW 4/4/22), NXT Title: Bron Breakker [c] vs. Gunther (NXT 4/5/22), Cody Rhodes vs. The Miz (4/4/22), SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs (WrestleMania 38 4/3/22), Riddle vs. Jey Uso (SmackDown 4/22/22), RK-Bro, Cody Rhodes & Ezekiel vs. Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens & The Usos (RAW 4/5/22)
Fatal 5-Way Ladder Match – NXT North American Title: Carmelo Hayes [c] vs. Cameron Grimes vs. Solo Sikoa vs. Santos Escobar vs. Grayson Waller (NXT Stand & Deliver 4/2/22), Triple Threat Tag Match – NXT Tag Team Title: Imperium [c] vs. MSK vs. The Creed Brothers (NXT Stand & Deliver 4/2/22), WWE Women’s Tag Team Title: Sasha Banks & Naomi [c] vs. Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan (RAW 4/4/22), Sasha Banks vs. Liv Morgan (SmackDown 4/8/22), Roxanne Perez vs. Jacy Jayne (NXT 4/19/22)
