Honorable Mentions:
Braun Strowman vs Finn Balor (Raw 9/3/18): While this was a good match, Finn Balor was not as competitive as he was in other matches against Braun Strowman. Unlike other matches between the two, there seemed like Finn Balor had no chance of winning at all.
Rusev Day vs The Usos vs SAnitY (SmackDown Live 9/4/18): This was an action-packed triple threat tag team match that had the right winner. While it’s great that Rusev & Aiden English won, would it have hurt for one of the Usos to be pinned? Killian Dain looked like a monster throughout this match, but why did Eric Young have to be pinned in this match? SAnitY has been struggling to gain momentum on SmackDown Live, so it would’ve been nice for them to be somewhat protected in this match.
Lacey Lane vs Vanessa Kraven (Mae Young Classic 9/5/18): This match told an excellent David vs Goliath story. However, a few botches from Lacey Lane took away from the quality of the match. This match was also the shortest of all of the matches on this episode (it was less than 5 minutes) and it did not have enough time to fully develop the story.
#5 Cedric Alexander vs TJP (205 Live 9/4/18)
TJP challenged Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander to a match on this past episode of 205 Live in the main event. Although TJP hasn’t been booked in the best way this year, he is certainly an excellent in-ring worker. TJP showed that when he faced the champ. TJP hit a vicious Apron DDT early in the match. TJP decided to work on the arm of Cedric Alexander throughout this match.
TJP then demonstrated his proficiency with submissions by locking in a Fujiwara armbar, an octopus hold, and an abdominal stretch (using the ropes). Cedric Alexander then started to make a comeback and hit TJP with the Neuralyzer, the Springboard Clothesline, and a suplex into a double knee gutbuster.
TJP also innovatively countered the Michinoku Driver into a roll up and the Lumbar Check into an elevated wristlock. TJP was able to lock in the TJP Clutch (kneebar) and almost made the champion tap out before he reached the bottom rope. TJP then locked in a cross armbar and Cedric
Alexander reversed it and hit a variation of the lumbar check to get the win. This was a great match and hopefully TJP will be able to gain some momentum in the future.
#4 Daniel Bryan vs Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas (SmackDown Live 9/4/18)
Daniel Bryan and Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas faced each other in SmackDown Live’s first match of the night. These two wrestlers set a standard for the night that no one else could beat. Daniel Bryan dodged a running knee in the corner from Andrade and Almas’ momentum knocked him over the top rope.
Bryan then went for a diving knee strike off of the apron and Almas caught him with a dropkick to take control. Almas wasn’t able to keep control for long as Daniel Bryan hit a suicide dive to regain control. The two superstars then went back in forth with each other before Almas hit a beautiful double moonsault for a near fall. Almas was then able to hit the double knees before Bryan was able to counter the Hammerlock DDT.
Bryan then hit the Running Knee to get the pinfall victory. Almas has looked great when wrestling Bryan as the two appear to be equals in the ring. Almas almost got the victory and a loss to Bryan will never hurt him. Hopefully, Almas will be able to keep a hold of the momentum that he’s gotten when facing Bryan in future weeks.
#3 Meiko Satomura vs Killer Kelly (Mae Young Classic 9/5/18)
Meiko Satomura and Killer Kelly faced each other in the main event of the first episode of the second Mae Young Classic. While these 2 only had 7 minutes, they packed a lot of storytelling into that match. This was by far the best WWE women’s match of the week. Killer Kelly was the up and coming superstar while Meiko Satomura was the veteran of this matchup.
Killer Kelly hit Meiko Satomura with a bicycle kick early on in the matchup. Meiko Satomura then locked in a single leg Boston crab which she transitioned into an STF. Meiko Satomura then hit a beautiful handstand knee drop to the back of Killer Kelly’s neck. Killer Kelly was then able to lock in a dragon sleeper on the top rope. She then hit a bridging fisherman’s suplex that nearly got her the victory.
Satomura eventually hit a Pele kick followed by a Death Valley Driver to get the win. This was an excellent match, that benefited both competitors. Killer Kelly will strive in NXT UK while Satomura has the opportunity to have more matches in future rounds of this tournament.
#2 Gran Metalik vs Tony Nese (205 Live 9/4/18)
Gran Metalik and Tony Nese faced each other in 205 Live’s best opening contest in a while. Both wrestlers showcased their speed at the start of the match before Tony Nese used his power to gain control. Gran Metalik would make a comeback by countering a suplex into a DDT.
Tony Nese would then catch Gran Metalik with a vicious spinning heel kick before Metalik hit the ‘Premiere Athlete’ with a brutal Running Apron Hurricanrana onto the floor. Nese would quickly respond with a leg sweep on the apron, followed by a moonsault plancha, followed by a 450 Splash for a near fall.
Gran Metalik then hit a Metalik Driver that I was sure would get him the win before Nese kicked out. Metalik then hit an avalanche springboard hurricanrana followed by a Tightrope Walking Elbow Drop for the win. This was an incredible match between two superstars who are fairly underutilized on 205 Live. Both superstars gave it everything they had and nearly had the match of the week (maybe Gran Metalik vs Buddy Murphy will have the match of the week next week on 205 Live).
#1 Johnny Gargano vs Velveteen Dream (NXT 9/5/18)
Johnny Gargano and Velveteen Dream squared off in the main event of NXT. Gargano took control early in the match before the Dream would gain control with a flapjack. Gargano then regained control by countering Velveteen Dream’s DDT variation into a Spinning Headlock Elbow Drop. Gargano would then hit the slingshot spear for a near fall. Gargano then hit a superkick to Dream on the apron followed by a cannonball off of the apron that slightly missed.
Velveteen Dream would then hit a Famouser before the two engaged in an incredible strike sequence that ended with Gargano coming up on top. However, the Dream would then hit a DDT variation that nearly got the job done. Gargano then seemed to lose control of himself. He then regained it but lost it once again when Dream provoked him. The Dream was able to capitalize on this and hit the Dream Valley Driver for the win.
This was an excellent match that had a shocking result. While the match was back and forth, many people would’ve expected Johnny Gargano to get the victory, not Velveteen Dream. This was another match that proves that NXT is WWE’s most consistent in-ring brand.
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