WWE
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman – SummerSlam
Taken from Match Review: You know those Kaiju battles that are still all the rage? WWE gave us one tonight. Four of the most dangerous behemoths in the company gave us one of the most entertaining opening moments of a match…EVER! This was filled with balls-to-the-wall action, especially when Strowman manhandled Lesnar. This was one of those rare times where Lesnar got beaten and beaten badly. Strowman was already a star, but now he’s even more credible since he was the one that got medical personnel to take Lesnar out on a stretcher. Joe and Reigns had their jaw dropping moments too and helped lend more great action to an explosive main event. The middle portion was fun, but Lesnar’s return sent this match into overdrive. Multiple Running Powerslam’s, F5’s, Superman Punches and Kokina Clutches were doled out as the crowd lost their shi…minds. The final F5 given to Reigns ended one of the best SummerSlam matches and one of the better contests of 2017.
Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens – Hell in a Cell
Taken from Match Review: Shane might need WWE’s MVP Award for 2017. He put on one of the best matches at WrestleMania 33 against AJ Styles. Then he participated in a bout that blended in masterful storytelling with wild hardcore antics. From the opening brawl on the outside all the way up until the insane finish, Shane and Owens tore it up. Owens increases his levels of savagery by beating Shane up in front of his kids and Powerbombing him onto some steel steps. Shane responded to Owens’ brutality with plenty of strikes, broken table smashes to the back and a successful Coast to Coast attempt. The live audience (and your’s truly) held out hearts and breathed nervously as both men took their fight to the top of the HIAC. Both men looked as if they were going to break the top portion of the cell with their bodies at several points. But luckily, that scary moment didn’t come to pass. This grudge match met its end after some truly shocking moments. Owens fell off the cell and crashed through a table beneath him. Shane then climbed to the top and tried to land his patented elbow drop through Owens, who was laid atop another table. But Sami Zayn of all people save Owens’ life and left Shane to come crashing don onto the table! This HIAC match shocked the wrestling world. Owens, Shane and Sami deserve a ton of credit for closing out this year HIAC show on a high note.
Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream – NXT TakeOver: WarGames
When the storyline elements of an impending match is top notch, anticipation levels are high. For weeks, the Velveteen Dream tormented Aleister Black. All the Dream wanted Black to do was acknowledge his existence. Black wouldn’t budge, though. He maintained his calm yet menacing demeanor and went into this match all the same. Velveteen Dream and Aleister Black brought their feud’s best elements into one of 2017’s most surprisingly good matches. Black tore into his flamboyant opponent for the majority of this bout, but the Dream had his moments too. When he gyrated his hips and mimicked Black’s cross-legged sitdown pose, the crowd came unglued. Afterwards, both men clocked each other with nasty strikes. The Dream dished out a pretty awesome DDT that made me believe that Black would actually take the loss. But it was all for naught once the Dream came to an end after eating a Black Mass kick. The Dream proved himself as a formidable foe, Black looked as great as he’s always been plus the Dream finally got the props he so desperately fought for.
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Drew McIntyre – NXT TakeOver: WarGames
What a redemption story for both of these men. Andrade “Cien” Almas was languishing in NXT for the longest time. Even though he competed in great matches, he never got any higher on the totem pole. As for Drew McIntyre, he finally made his way back into WWE and became the man who defeated Bobby Roode for the NXT Championship. Almas got his NXT Championship title shot against Drew and made good on his promise of becoming better than his previous self. This spirited encounter has everything – a hot crowd, impactful maneuvers, outside interference, breathtaking nearfalls, and high-flying assaults. Drew was the more powerful of the two as he threw his foe all around the ring and even prevented Zelina Vega from dropping him with a Hurricanrana. Almas kicked into another gear as he dished out his running double knee smash and plenty of DDT’s. The final DDT Almas delivered to Drew was the one that helped him realize his dream of becoming the new NXT Champion. Drew may have sustained an injury that put him on the shelf, but at least he fought valiantly during this match before going on a hiatus.
The Authors of Pain & Roderick Strong vs. SAnitY vs. The Undisputed Era – NXT TakeOver: WarGames
The return of a Dusty Rhodes/NWA-WCW staple was requested for years. Not only did it come back this year, it got revived on the NXT brand! Six men were locked into animal cages while their assorted partners battled it out in the double cage. The action on display during the starting moments was decent enough, but everything went up a notch when The Authors of Pain ran in. They launched their own man plus their rivals all over the ring and landed dual Death Valley Drivers into the ring corners. Once Eric Young’s remaining army entered the fray, all those “foreigns objects” came into play. Props definitely go out to Killian Dain, who looked like a true star from his entrance into the match until its violent end. There’s so many moments to look back on – Kyle O’Reilly’s steel chain assisted armbar, the dual Tower of Doom, Alexander Wolfe sacrificing himself by landing a German Suplex through a table, Roderick Strong’s Superplex off the top of the cage to Adam Cole etc. It took so long for WarGames to come back, but thankfully it got brought back to life in this incredible cage brawl.