4. (WWE SmackDown) Sasha vs. Shayna Baszler
Sasha defeated Shayna in a match-up good enough to be on PPV. I enjoyed this because they made each other look great. Sasha got the win with an excellent technical sequence, where she reversed Shayna's finisher into the Bank statement. Despite Sasha winning the match, she made Shayna look great by really selling the power of Shayna's offense and making Shayna look like a million bucks.
3. (WWE SmackDown) Sonya Deville
Sonya did a great job making the crowd hate her this week. She slapped Naomi in the face and taunted Naomi because she knew she couldn't be touched. I'm more than ready to see Naomi dog walk Sonya in their match next week.
2. (WWE SmackDown) Kofi Returns
Kofi returned this week, and beat the Usos down and sent them running back to Roman with their tails between their legs. I'm glad the Kofi is back with King Woods. SmackDown needs both Kofi and Woods.
1. (AEW, Rampage) Sammy Guevara vs. Tony Nese, TNT Title
Sammy defeated Tony in an excellent match. These are the type of matches Rampage needs to put on if they want to beat SmackDown. This match mattered because it was a title match, and it was excellent because it was two high work rate guys. I want to see more matches like this on Rampage. I think Sammy came off like a formidable champion defeating another worthy challenger. Tony looked great even in defeat, and he pushed Sammy to the limit and didn't lose any credibility by losing.
Rob’s What Mattered
2. The Bar, WWE SmackDown
Sheamus and Cesaro were the bar to clear for WWE SmackDown, as it’s the only segment from WWE’s new A-show that landed in my what mattered section. They have great chemistry, the crowd were into it, and it continued their story with Ridge Holland. Cesaro losing would usually be a down, but Sheamus has been one of the best all-around wrestlers in WWE this year. My only complaint is that this match wasn’t longer.
1. Sammy Guevara vs. Tony Nese, AEW Rampage
This opening match was everything AEW’s mid-card should strive to be. The TNT Championship is serving as their television title, and Sammy Guevara is an AEW-original defending against all comers. The action between Guevara and Tony Nese was really good, in the exact style that AEW fans love. This match proved what Bryan Danielson said when he debuted in AEW: AEW is where pro wrestling lives.
Rob’s What Didn’t Matter
3. Jade Cargill vs. Janai Kai, AEW Rampage
AEW Rampage has been largely defined as a one hour show with three meaningful, decent-length pro wrestling matches. Occasionally, it’s probably good to subvert expectations of this formula, but I don’t think this was the way to do it. In Janai Kai’s debut, she didn’t even get an entrance. This was clearly all to build Jade Cargill vs. Thunder Rosa, but it was such a short, sloppy segment (and only women’s segment on the show), I think it made AEW’s Women’s Division look bad.
2. SmackDown Tag Teams, WWE SmackDown
The Viking Raiders are probably one of the top 5 WWE tag teams in-ring, and Los Lotharios have so much potential. This segment represented none of that. Interrupted by singles champion Shinsuke Nakamura and guitar playing Rick Boogz, the Viking Raiders were distracted and lost, even though the distraction was meant for Los Lotharios. Then, the Viking Raiders celebrated with Nakamura and Boogz, apparently not mad at all after losing because of them. This segment was terrible. The tag teams involved deserve better, and Nakamura is the intercontinental champion and should drop the title ASAP if his partnership with Rick Boogz and feuds with non-contending tag teams is how WWE sees him.
1. Sami Zayn, WWE SmackDown
Sami Zayn is an incredible wrestler when he gets the chance and currently one of the best characters on WWE TV. I was excited to see what he would do as number one contender, and WWE burned all their build in one week. Zayn made the most of his time on the microphone with Brock Lesnar, and he sold his ass off for Lesnar before the main event. Roman Reigns beat Zayn in less than five minutes because he was destroyed by Lesnar, but that doesn’t make it a good segment. Zayn and Reigns could have been a PPV main event, and we got none of it. We are onto another Reigns/Lesnar match, and Lesnar again gets rewarded despite being part-time at the expense of someone who gives every week to WWE. If there’s one reason for Zayn to stay in WWE after his contract expires, I’m struggling to find it.
Reverse Hipster's What Didn't Matter
2. (WWE SmackDown) Toni Storm
I don't think Toni hitting Charlotte with a pie a week later matters. Last week, she was embarrassed by getting punked twice. When pies were on the table and they could both bust a move, Toni was punked. This week, Toni snuck up on Charlotte, whereas Charlotte did to her face twice. Also, there were no pies around, so Charlotte couldn't respond. I think this was a response to the criticism online, but it changed nothing. For Toni, Charlotte still has the upper hand.
1. (WWE SmackDown) Sami Zayn
It's rough being a Sami Zayn fan. First, he looks like he will get a title match from Vince, and it's just taken from him in favor of Austin Theory. Then, he wins a battle royal only to get squashed by Roman, in the only World Title match I can ever remember him having on the main roster. Ironically, this big Brock vs. Roman match they are building to isn't that interesting. We saw them fight in 2015, in 2017, and again at Crown Jewel 2021. We have seen this match already and have already seen every outcome. The actual interesting match would be Sami Zayn getting his first-ever title match with Roman. That's something we have never seen. But nope, we couldn't even get it on TV. Instead, Sami was squashed to make room for Brock vs. Roman 4,000.
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