Ranking the 2014 WWE Live Special Matches - Part Nine: #15-11 We are just outside the top ten, and honestly these were some of the hardest matches to rank. They are all well-worth going out of your way to see and I can see arguments for each of them being ranked higher than they are. The very best of the best are coming tomorrow and Christmas, so lets see what narrowly missed out. Four Star Matches 15. Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks NXT REvolution I was fairly certain after watching Natalya vs. Charlotte that I had seen what would be the best womens match of the year. Instead, this topped it and pretty easily in my opinion. While the action wasnt quite as smooth, it told a very good story with the two characters and there was a ton of effort; the finish felt special and made the match a big event. Charlotte continued to build her legacy as NXT Womens Champion while Sasha Banks had a true breakout performance that proved she may actually be better than Charlotte. I loved this match. The difference between how womens wrestling is in NXT vs. WWE is night and day. 14. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper Tables, Ladders & Chairs... and Stairs Luke Harper may be best known as one of Bray Wyatts family members, but he has cemented himself as one of the best performers in WWE this year. Dolph Ziggler has been a great performer for years just waiting to be granted an opportunity to become a top star. After Survivor Series, this match may be the best opportunity he had to make that claim. This was a spectacular match as both guys were motivated to outperform the NXT stars after the show of the year. They didnt do so, but this would have been a worthy addition to that card. Harpers dive into the ladder was a sickening spot, they built up well with the powerbomb spots on the ladder and Zigglers win in Cleveland was a great moment that got its proper due. I think both men can be major players in WWE for the next decade if they are allowed the opportunities. 13. Cesaro vs. Sheamus Night of Champions One of things that has stood out to me this year in WWE is that wrestlers like these two, Rusev, Big E and Bad News Barrett have helped to create a new style in WWE with athletic, hard-hitting and well-conditioned athletes who can just brutally beat each other for ten or fifteen minutes and produce a great match. Cesaro is one of the best wrestlers in the world and Sheamus deserves a heck of a lot more credit that he deserves. Both men have quietly made their cases for being among the very best workers in WWE, and this match was a perfect example of that. This was an awesome, amazing fight that stole the show at Night of Champions. 12. The Shield vs. Evolution Extreme Rules The idea of the most dominant faction of the 00s against the most dominant faction of the 10s facing each other in a six-man tag match was certainly appealing, and the dream match certainly lived up to its billing. The Hounds of Justice had perhaps their greatest moment as a team by cleanly defeating three former world champions and future Hall of Famers. I also feel inclined to comment on Batista, whose overall performance by this point was at a high level and made him a worthy addition to the roster this year. Randy Orton and Triple H played their parts well, but this match was justifiably about the Shield. Dean Ambrose was right at home in the wild brawling, Rollins nearly stole the show with his dives, and Roman Reigns pinned Batista to avenge his Royal Rumble loss. This was a very great piece of business. 11. Adrian Neville vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Sami Zayn vs. Tyson Kidd NXT Takeover: Fatal Four-Way Somehow I failed to remember how great this match was. All four participants got a chance to shine and realistically almost win the match. Again, NXTs combinations of interesting characters, clear storytelling and exciting action produce a great main atmosphere for excellent matches. Breeze and Kidd both worked as great heels, Zayn looked like the man who was going to win the match before a desperate Neville pulled the referee out of the ring to break up a pin after the Helluva Kick on Kidd. One Red Arrow later and Neville retained. Hes played the character of a desperate heel who knows that Sami Zayn can take his title perfectly.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 07:59:39 +0000
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