Written by: Kevin Berge (All Images Courtesy of: WWE.com)
It's the end of 2019, and WWE has now put on its final major show of the year. The company is already starting to look forward to WWE Royal Rumble 2020. It's about time to reflect on what this year was for wrestling.
This was a mixed bag of a year. The brand split wavered wildly leading to so many great stars getting no time to shine. When the brand split returned, control over the show also changed. Monday Night Raw has been bad in unique ways though also had great moment. Friday Night SmackDown has mostly been bad.
The talent in WWE is still always underused or used poorly. The year began with WWE crowning Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch and Kofi Kingston. While The Man kept up her roll, The Beastslayer lost steam fast. Despite a few good matches, he's had potentially his worst fully healthy year in WWE.
Kofi's fall was even more severe. It is great he is more recognized as a star amongst fans, but it feels like everyone has already forgotten he was WWE Champion.
This whole year has been driven by missed opportunities. Even this week was one with plenty of potential that fell so far short. At least NXT has mostly been a success story through it all.
This was a mixed bag of a year. The brand split wavered wildly leading to so many great stars getting no time to shine. When the brand split returned, control over the show also changed. Monday Night Raw has been bad in unique ways though also had great moment. Friday Night SmackDown has mostly been bad.
The talent in WWE is still always underused or used poorly. The year began with WWE crowning Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch and Kofi Kingston. While The Man kept up her roll, The Beastslayer lost steam fast. Despite a few good matches, he's had potentially his worst fully healthy year in WWE.
Kofi's fall was even more severe. It is great he is more recognized as a star amongst fans, but it feels like everyone has already forgotten he was WWE Champion.
This whole year has been driven by missed opportunities. Even this week was one with plenty of potential that fell so far short. At least NXT has mostly been a success story through it all.
That mallet is dangerous. It killed Ramblin' Rabbit. Daniel Bryan came back and immediately threatened to murder Bray Wyatt with it. What a babyface!
WWE TLC 2019
Short Hair Daniel Bryan is Best Daniel Bryan
Overview: The Miz fought valiantly against Bray Wyatt, but he was no match for the WWE Universal Champion. The Eater of Worlds only needed to hit 2 Sister Abigails in the whole match to win. Afterward, Daniel Bryan returned to save The A-Lister and connected on a running knee only to have the lights go out and Wyatt disappear.
Analysis: Miz vs. Wyatt may not have been a great match, but it was a fun story segment. The Eater of Worlds got to show off his other character's reluctance to get physical. It's a shame The A-Lister got a bit jobbed out in the end. It's not surprising though.
What was the bigger deal was the return of Bryan with short hair. He looked like the man that first came to WWE just in better shape with more confidence. With all his accomplishments, he looks now more ready to be a top guy in WWE. I don't think he will be at least for a while, but this is a better look for him long term.
King Corbin's Court Feels Like a Waste of Everyone Involved
Overview: King Corbin and Roman Reigns battled around the stage before finally getting back to the ring. Dolph Ziggler got involved by superkicking The Big Dog. The Revival then arrived to further uneven the odds, setting up an effortless three count for The King.
Analysis: This was a garbage angle for a garbage story. Poor Revival and Ziggler deserve better than being Corbin's lackeys. The King is already needing the right type of matches to deliver. All this interference will only make his matches worse.
Conclusion
TLC was rushed and sometimes awkward. Even the best matches seemed to not quite have the air of PPV matches. It was more an extended TV episodes that did its best to give everyone time to shine. Some of the matches became segments while others delivered more than expected.
I have already forgotten much of what happened on this card, which is a shame especially given the effort of Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy.
Overview: The Miz fought valiantly against Bray Wyatt, but he was no match for the WWE Universal Champion. The Eater of Worlds only needed to hit 2 Sister Abigails in the whole match to win. Afterward, Daniel Bryan returned to save The A-Lister and connected on a running knee only to have the lights go out and Wyatt disappear.
Analysis: Miz vs. Wyatt may not have been a great match, but it was a fun story segment. The Eater of Worlds got to show off his other character's reluctance to get physical. It's a shame The A-Lister got a bit jobbed out in the end. It's not surprising though.
What was the bigger deal was the return of Bryan with short hair. He looked like the man that first came to WWE just in better shape with more confidence. With all his accomplishments, he looks now more ready to be a top guy in WWE. I don't think he will be at least for a while, but this is a better look for him long term.
King Corbin's Court Feels Like a Waste of Everyone Involved
Overview: King Corbin and Roman Reigns battled around the stage before finally getting back to the ring. Dolph Ziggler got involved by superkicking The Big Dog. The Revival then arrived to further uneven the odds, setting up an effortless three count for The King.
Analysis: This was a garbage angle for a garbage story. Poor Revival and Ziggler deserve better than being Corbin's lackeys. The King is already needing the right type of matches to deliver. All this interference will only make his matches worse.
Conclusion
TLC was rushed and sometimes awkward. Even the best matches seemed to not quite have the air of PPV matches. It was more an extended TV episodes that did its best to give everyone time to shine. Some of the matches became segments while others delivered more than expected.
I have already forgotten much of what happened on this card, which is a shame especially given the effort of Aleister Black and Buddy Murphy.
Grade: C-
Monday Night Raw December 16, 2019
Rey Mysterio Has Three Challengers Yet Still Feels Like He's Not Champion Compared to AJ Styles
Overview: In a gauntlet match to determine the No. 1 contender to the United States Championship, Humberto Carrillo stopped the impressive run of Ricochet only to have Andrade attack him and plant him with a hammerlock DDT on the exposed concrete.
Rey Mysterio came out to make the save for Carrillo, and after the young star had been safely helped to the back, Seth Rollins arrived with The Authors of Pain. The trio attacked The Master of the 619 for his involvement with Kevin Owens last week. Rollins then challenged Mysterio for the US title.
Analysis: Styles main evented Raw again. Mysterio felt relevant but also out of action. It feels like everyone challenging him is more relevant even the man who he defeated for the title. While I look forward to Rollins vs. Mysterio, I want the champion to feel more involved in his own stories.
Becky Lynch and Asuka Are Building to 2020's Match of the Year
Overview: After Asuka defeated Deonna Purazzo in a competitive but short match, Becky Lynch sat down for an interview where she explained that she needed to fight The Empress of Tomorrow. She was challenging Asuka to finally get her win back.
Analysis: Three matches stand atop my match of the year list for 2019. One is Lynch vs. Asuka at Royal Rumble 2019. Lynch has had an absurd run of great matches all year, and Asuka has always been fantastic. I am very much looking forward to their rematch and its potential to steal the show at the Rumble again.
Conclusion
This week's Raw was a bit bad, but it wasn't insufferable. It was mostly just forgettable. The wrestling was underwhelming. The gauntlet match had great moments but no result for some reason. Styles vs. Randy Orton already lacks heat.
Seth Rollins is surprisingly the most interesting thing going especially when Becky Lynch is only appearing in backstage interviews. WWE is clearly not that excited about the holiday season though writing the show for next week at the same time probably didn't help.
Overview: In a gauntlet match to determine the No. 1 contender to the United States Championship, Humberto Carrillo stopped the impressive run of Ricochet only to have Andrade attack him and plant him with a hammerlock DDT on the exposed concrete.
Rey Mysterio came out to make the save for Carrillo, and after the young star had been safely helped to the back, Seth Rollins arrived with The Authors of Pain. The trio attacked The Master of the 619 for his involvement with Kevin Owens last week. Rollins then challenged Mysterio for the US title.
Analysis: Styles main evented Raw again. Mysterio felt relevant but also out of action. It feels like everyone challenging him is more relevant even the man who he defeated for the title. While I look forward to Rollins vs. Mysterio, I want the champion to feel more involved in his own stories.
Becky Lynch and Asuka Are Building to 2020's Match of the Year
Overview: After Asuka defeated Deonna Purazzo in a competitive but short match, Becky Lynch sat down for an interview where she explained that she needed to fight The Empress of Tomorrow. She was challenging Asuka to finally get her win back.
Analysis: Three matches stand atop my match of the year list for 2019. One is Lynch vs. Asuka at Royal Rumble 2019. Lynch has had an absurd run of great matches all year, and Asuka has always been fantastic. I am very much looking forward to their rematch and its potential to steal the show at the Rumble again.
Conclusion
This week's Raw was a bit bad, but it wasn't insufferable. It was mostly just forgettable. The wrestling was underwhelming. The gauntlet match had great moments but no result for some reason. Styles vs. Randy Orton already lacks heat.
Seth Rollins is surprisingly the most interesting thing going especially when Becky Lynch is only appearing in backstage interviews. WWE is clearly not that excited about the holiday season though writing the show for next week at the same time probably didn't help.
Grade: D
I know Full Sail isn't a big arena, but NXT really trusted everyone in that arena to behave when they entered the ring. These are wrestling fans. You can't trust them for anything.
NXT December 18, 2019
Rhea Ripley Has Become NXT's Top Champion
Overview: Shayna Baszler came out alone to fight Rhea Ripley, but Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir arrived as they saw the tide turning. The heels wore down The Nightmare before being thrown out. After a ref bump, Baszler introduced a steel chair that almost took the win.
The Queen of Spades trapped Ripley in the Kirifuda Clutch, but the challenger refused to give up. She powered through and hit an avalanche Riptide for the win. Afterward, the NXT Universe were allowed to take the ring, and they held Ripley high with the NXT Women's Championship.
Analysis: NXT hasn't always been great at building stars. The brand relies on talent overdelivering often. Ripley has been a revelation lately, and she feels like the biggest star in the company alongside the surprise rise of Keith Lee. The two are the defining parts of NXT right now that are worth watching at all times.
I'll get to the match in a sense, which was fantastic, but the way it ended felt like the completion of an arc near the level of WWE's best babyface journeys.
Kushida Lost in His Second Match Back in NXT Because Of Course
Overview: Cameron Grimes got his second chance at Kushida and was overwhelmed. However, as Kushida prepared to take the win, he walked right into the Cave In, which gave Grimes the surprise victory.
Analysis: I was already worried about Kushida when he returned, but losing to Grimes is a big problem. He may be a solid heel for NXT. He just didn't seem to be on Kushida's level until now. Now it's clear Kushida's level has lowered.
Conclusion
This week's show was the best NXT has been in a long time. Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor opened strong. Every match mattered. The main event was absolutely phenomenal. This felt like a TakeOver event from start to finish.
Overview: Shayna Baszler came out alone to fight Rhea Ripley, but Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir arrived as they saw the tide turning. The heels wore down The Nightmare before being thrown out. After a ref bump, Baszler introduced a steel chair that almost took the win.
The Queen of Spades trapped Ripley in the Kirifuda Clutch, but the challenger refused to give up. She powered through and hit an avalanche Riptide for the win. Afterward, the NXT Universe were allowed to take the ring, and they held Ripley high with the NXT Women's Championship.
Analysis: NXT hasn't always been great at building stars. The brand relies on talent overdelivering often. Ripley has been a revelation lately, and she feels like the biggest star in the company alongside the surprise rise of Keith Lee. The two are the defining parts of NXT right now that are worth watching at all times.
I'll get to the match in a sense, which was fantastic, but the way it ended felt like the completion of an arc near the level of WWE's best babyface journeys.
Kushida Lost in His Second Match Back in NXT Because Of Course
Overview: Cameron Grimes got his second chance at Kushida and was overwhelmed. However, as Kushida prepared to take the win, he walked right into the Cave In, which gave Grimes the surprise victory.
Analysis: I was already worried about Kushida when he returned, but losing to Grimes is a big problem. He may be a solid heel for NXT. He just didn't seem to be on Kushida's level until now. Now it's clear Kushida's level has lowered.
Conclusion
This week's show was the best NXT has been in a long time. Adam Cole vs. Finn Balor opened strong. Every match mattered. The main event was absolutely phenomenal. This felt like a TakeOver event from start to finish.
Grade: A
It's great to see Daniel Bryan finally acknowledging all that The Miz taught him.
Friday Night SmackDown December 20, 2019
The Miz and Daniel Bryan Have the Makings of a Great Tag Team
Overview: The Miz interrupting Daniel Bryan explaining how he had found himself by losing his hair. Both wanted a shot at Bray Wyatt. King Corbin taunted them both, demanding that he be next up to challenge for the WWE Universal Championship. He and Dolph Ziggler laid out the babyfaces.
While Bryan and Miz argued at first, they looked like a team to be reckoned with at the end of this match. The A-Lister made The Showoff tap out while The Planet's Champion connected with a running knee on The King.
Analysis: A lot of times, I am against putting great singles stars together. However, I know WWE won't do anything with Miz, and Bryan has done it all in WWE already. I am ready for them to work together more. They have so much chemistry together.
Their first match together was perfectly fine, but the lack of time and chemistry with their opponents didn't allow them to put their best foot forward. I am already getting excited about the two fighting The Revival.
Otis Was Made for Christmas Specials
Overview: Mandy Rose gave Otis a ham before his Miracle on 34th Street Fight. The Revival dominated until they threw down Otis' ham. This set off the big man, who dominated Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder. Tucker came in just in time for The Compactor for the victory.
Analysis: Otis is ridiculous, but there are moments where I adore him. He's a comedic character with just enough genuine talent to feel like a serious threat. The Revival match might have been the highlight of the entire show, and I always find these Christmas stipulation matches insufferable.
Conclusion
The holiday spirit led to a silly show that didn't have much weight. However, the pacing made for an entertaining show, which is better than most SmackDowns. It was more of a themed house show with everyone in on the fun.
Overview: The Miz interrupting Daniel Bryan explaining how he had found himself by losing his hair. Both wanted a shot at Bray Wyatt. King Corbin taunted them both, demanding that he be next up to challenge for the WWE Universal Championship. He and Dolph Ziggler laid out the babyfaces.
While Bryan and Miz argued at first, they looked like a team to be reckoned with at the end of this match. The A-Lister made The Showoff tap out while The Planet's Champion connected with a running knee on The King.
Analysis: A lot of times, I am against putting great singles stars together. However, I know WWE won't do anything with Miz, and Bryan has done it all in WWE already. I am ready for them to work together more. They have so much chemistry together.
Their first match together was perfectly fine, but the lack of time and chemistry with their opponents didn't allow them to put their best foot forward. I am already getting excited about the two fighting The Revival.
Otis Was Made for Christmas Specials
Overview: Mandy Rose gave Otis a ham before his Miracle on 34th Street Fight. The Revival dominated until they threw down Otis' ham. This set off the big man, who dominated Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder. Tucker came in just in time for The Compactor for the victory.
Analysis: Otis is ridiculous, but there are moments where I adore him. He's a comedic character with just enough genuine talent to feel like a serious threat. The Revival match might have been the highlight of the entire show, and I always find these Christmas stipulation matches insufferable.
Conclusion
The holiday spirit led to a silly show that didn't have much weight. However, the pacing made for an entertaining show, which is better than most SmackDowns. It was more of a themed house show with everyone in on the fun.
Grade: C+
Match of the Week
NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler vs. Rhea Ripley, NXT December 18, 2019 (Rating: 9.5/10)
I've only been invested in a few matches this year more than this one especially down the stretch. This was a physical and psychological war where Baszler was fully in her element. She told a complete story with Ripley that was easily the new champion's best match.
One of the best moments of the entire year was Ripley grabbing the referee to stop him from calling for the knockout in the Kirifuda Clutch. It was the moment where everyone realized her will was too strong for Baszler even with the interference.
Even though there were a few sloppy moments, it only added to the physicality of this match, which never tried to be pretty.
Honorable Mention: Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy, WWE TLC 2019 (Rating: 9.25/10)
Speaking of matches that were physical and not pretty, this strike fest was everything I hoped it would be and more. Murphy bloodied Black early, and he barely skipped a beat. WWE doesn't really have matches like this much these days, two guys that just want to hurt each other.
It was a star-making performance from both men but especially Black. He hasn't had a match like this since he came up to the main two shows. It was great to see him challenged in a lengthy battle.
Matches of Note: The New Day (c) vs. The Revival, TLC (9); Adam Cole (c) vs. Finn Balor, NXT (8.5); Kabuki Warriors vs. Becky Lynch and Asuka, TLC (8.5); Tyler Bate vs. Noam Dar, NXT UK (8.5); Cameron Grimes vs. Kushida, NXT (8.5)
I've only been invested in a few matches this year more than this one especially down the stretch. This was a physical and psychological war where Baszler was fully in her element. She told a complete story with Ripley that was easily the new champion's best match.
One of the best moments of the entire year was Ripley grabbing the referee to stop him from calling for the knockout in the Kirifuda Clutch. It was the moment where everyone realized her will was too strong for Baszler even with the interference.
Even though there were a few sloppy moments, it only added to the physicality of this match, which never tried to be pretty.
Honorable Mention: Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy, WWE TLC 2019 (Rating: 9.25/10)
Speaking of matches that were physical and not pretty, this strike fest was everything I hoped it would be and more. Murphy bloodied Black early, and he barely skipped a beat. WWE doesn't really have matches like this much these days, two guys that just want to hurt each other.
It was a star-making performance from both men but especially Black. He hasn't had a match like this since he came up to the main two shows. It was great to see him challenged in a lengthy battle.
Matches of Note: The New Day (c) vs. The Revival, TLC (9); Adam Cole (c) vs. Finn Balor, NXT (8.5); Kabuki Warriors vs. Becky Lynch and Asuka, TLC (8.5); Tyler Bate vs. Noam Dar, NXT UK (8.5); Cameron Grimes vs. Kushida, NXT (8.5)
