'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hello ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Top 5 Matches of the Week. This is the return of a feature here at Sportskeeda, but a first for yours truly. We will take a trip down memory lane and relive the top five WWE matchups for the past week. Normally, I would start off with this week's Monday Night RAW and work my way up through NXT and NXT: UK for my choices. However, this week we will begin with WWE Stomping Grounds and work our way from there. Sounds good? Great!
As you all know, WWE Stomping Grounds has come and gone. The event went off very well, better than what any wrestling fan would have anticipated. Today, I'm going to review two matches in particular from that show, then select one match from RAW, SmackDown Live and NXT to talk about.
Now, it's important to know these matches are not selected in any particular order. In other words, the match picked at number five is not necessarily better than a match at number three, etc.
Without any further ado, let's get started!
#1 - "WWE Cruiserweight Championship - Triple Threat Match" - (C)Tony Nese vs Drew Gulak vs Akira Tozawa (WWE Stomping Grounds)
To kick things off, we had an amazing Triple Threat match featuring the stars of 205 Live. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese defended the title against Akira Tozawa and Drew Gulak. I have to say this match exceeded all expectations and set the tone for the rest of the show in general. All three individuals have mastered the strong style of wrestling and have unbelievable in-ring chemistry.
The high spots and the pacing was very good. Gulak showed off his unbelievable power and strength, which is a breath of fresh air for the division. Tozawa was all over the place and showed that he belonged in there with the likes of Nese and Gulak. He will be a Cruiserweight Champion sooner rather than later. Tony Nese did a good job but went down swinging like a valiant champion.
In the end, we saw Drew Gulak send the champ to the arena floor, then connected with an Argentina Neckbreaker on Tozawa to get the pinfall victory and become the new Cruiserweight Champion. This sets up a good rematch rebuttal from Nese, who was never actually pinned for the title. Tozawa will not be taking this lightly and will be coming back for more.
#2 - "Tag Team Match" - The New Day vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (WWE Stomping Grounds)
On paper, this match seemed as though it was going to be your standard tag match. Not a lot of flash and flair. This would have been a generic tag team match to keep the crowd halfway interested, but not all too excited either. However, what we got was the exact opposite of anything we would've anticipated to see.
This match brought a lot of fire, intensity and excitement all around between both teams. The storyline was very weak and just slapped together, to be honest with you guys, leading into Stomping Grounds. Therefore, both sides had something to prove and boy, did they deliver!
The heels took control of the match. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens worked over Xavier Woods. The man was on the receiving end of approximately four Super Kicks, then took a huge Blue Thunder Bomb by Sami Zayn followed up by a big Frog Splash by Owens. These moves would have been put anyone down, but Xavier didn't give up and kept pushing himself beyond his limits.
The hot tag to Big E. paid off in a huge way, no pun intended, as Big E. came in like a house of fire and destroyed Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. However, things took a turn when Big E. speared Zayn through the ropes, as both men crashed and burned to the arena floor in a thunderous, sickening impact.
In the end, we saw Kevin Owens take down Xavier Woods with his version of the Stunner to score the well-deserved pinfall and the victory. What a match! They delivered the goods and deserved a big round of applause from the WWE Universe all around the world.
#3 - "Non-Title Match" - Ricochet vs AJ Styles (WWE Monday Night RAW)
This next match is a bit of a dream match for fans of independent wrestling, or should I just say wrestling in general. Ricochet shocked the world and became the new WWE United States Champion the previous night at Stomping Grounds by defeating Samoa Joe. A man that AJ Styles knows all too well and has feuded with countless times between Impact Wrestling and the WWE respectively.
Therefore, it was no surprise when we saw the quick tease for a match between AJ and Ricochet occur during the champs' photoshoot that was interrupted by The Club. The match was confirmed and set for the following day by WWE and the rest was history.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson tried to get involved in the early going of the match, but AJ intervened and told them to stay in the back. This made things an even playing field as it should be. Both men pushed each other and put on a wrestling clinic. Ricochet pushed AJ Styles to his limit and showed "The Phenomenal One" that he could go beyond, reaching down deep and pulling out some of the older AJ Styles from years past back to the surface.
Ricochet went for the 630 Splash, but AJ Styles was able to counter and then connect with a Phenomenal Forearm to pick up the victory. AJ showed respect to the United States Champion, as he raised Ricochet's hand afterwards. This match was a non-title contest, so we can bet to see a rematch for the Championship at Extreme Rules booked very soon.
Both men delivered on every expectation that we could've expected and then some. Ricochet may have taken the loss here, but still got the spotlight and the respect earned from one of the very best in the game today, AJ Styles. Give the two men a rematch and we may have a different result, mark my words.
I would not mind seeing AJ Styles vs Ricochet in an Ironman Match for the US Championship. Give the two men thirty minutes and see what these two men can do.
#4 - "2 out of 3 Falls Match" - Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler (WWE SmackDown Live)
The next match on our list is yet another rematch, and maybe for the last time, between Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler. This time, the match is consisted under "2-out-of-3 Falls". Even though this the third time we'd seen the match, the type of match both men put on is what counts in the end. As good of a match they put on at Super ShowDown and Stomping Grounds, this was what the WWE Universe needed to see!
Kofi went in for the kill and put an end to "The Showoff" once and for all. Kofi Kingston scores yet another huge victory and will now move on to greener pastures. The match showed what both men can do and highlighted how Kofi and Dolph could carry each other, with a good amount of pacing between the falls to make this match even better.
The two veterans of the WWE ring told a great story that had the WWE Universe engaged and clamouring for more action. This was about as close to perfection as you could get between two men who have such a storied past together inside the ring and with their respective WWE careers. Hats off to both men on an amazing match.
We know Kofi Kingston will be facing Samoa Joe at Extreme Rules with the WWE Championship on the line. Not sure what will be next for Dolph Ziggler, but I hope WWE doesn't go down the typical route and have him doing nothing. I would not mind seeing a feud between Dolph Ziggler and Finn Balor for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, as that would make for a fun little feud.
#5 - "NXT Women's Championship - Steel Cage Match" - (C)Shayna Baszler vs Io Shirai (WWE NXT)
Our final match on the list features one of the most hard-hitting, smash-mouth Steel Cage matches I have seen in a long time. The story between Shayna Baszler and Io Shirai has been nothing short but exhilarating and intense. Therefore, it is only fitting that NXT General Manager William Regal would book these two NXT Superstars inside the steel cage to settle their differences.
The match itself was everything that you would want to see from these two women. If you came in with the expectations of seeing a hard-hitting, perfect storytelling with a crowd that was on fire throughout the entire match, then this is what we came to see. The match was every bit as fun for the fans watching in the arena as it was for us watching on the WWE Network.
Shayna Baszler would come out victorious and retain the NXT Women's Championship by the skin of her teeth and a stroke of luck. This would spark a major heel turn for Io Shirai, which was building and could be seen coming from her brutal assaults on Baszler in the weeks leading to this match. The only caveat was Candice LaRae, who got involved to try and save face for Io Shirai by keeping the likes of Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir at bay to the best of her abilities, but to no avail.
Io Shirai took out all of her anger, aggression and frustration on Candice LaRae following the match. The heel turn changes everything and sets up Candice LaRae as the next contender for the NXT Women's Championship once her new feud with Shirai is said and done. You could definitely book a Triple Threat match between these three for the next NXT TakeOver heading into SummerSlam weekend and you've got a main event.
With that being said, that will be it for this week. Join me next week as I will dissect and discuss another set of matches that fans of the WWE Universe should see. Until then I will see you next time!
As always be sure to follow us here at Sportskeeda for all the latest wrestling news, updates and results!
