Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for December 26, 2021 to January 1, 2022

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of December 26, 2021 to January 1, 2022.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE RAW (Dec. 27)
* Riddle vs. Chad Gable – 3.0
* Randy Orton vs. Otis – 2.5
* Mixed Tag Team match – Reggie & Dana Brooke vs. R-Truth & Tamina – 1.5
* RK-Bro-Nament tournament Finals – Street Profits vs. Dominik & Rey Mysterio – 3.5
* AJ Styles vs. Apollo Crews – 3.0
* Kevin Owens vs. Cedric Alexander – 2.5
* United States Championship – Dolph Ziggler vs. Damian Priest (c) – 2.5
Overall – 2.5
Best – Street Profits vs. Dominik & Rey Mysterio match.
Worst – Reggie & Dana Brooke vs. R-Truth & Tamina match
Show Notes – Opening RK-Bro promo about Otis, their RAW Tag titles, & Riddle’s rambling nonsense and nerdy interruption response by Gable was both all right & a bit funny. Riddle’s escape & running knee counter of Gable’s Chaos Theory was cool. Riddle vs. Gable was a pretty good match. Orton vs. Otis was a solid back-and-forth match. RK-Bro’s post-match hug moment was a bit goofy. Nikki backstage promo about Zelina & Carmella was a bit dull. Ford managed to get some really amazing distance with his Frog Splash to Rey. Rey’s 619 to Ford & leaping head scissors to Dawkins on the outside combo was nice. Street Profits vs. Mysterios was a very good back-and-forth action match despite Dominik’s sloppy work near the end. Styles & Omos’ team Rise & Fall hype video was all right. Styles promo bad mouthing Omos, interruption by Grayson Waller, retort by Styles, & interruption response by Crews & Azeez was somewhat dull. Carmella’s rambling backstage interview about Nikki & Women’s Tag titles was corny. Crews managed to get some really nice height with his sit-out powerbomb to Styles. Styles moonsault & Inverted DDT combo to Crews was nice. Crews’ DVD to Styles on the apron was nice. Styles vs. Crews was a good back-and-forth action match, especially the latter half. Owens’ promo bashing Big E, Rollins, Lashley, & Detroit and his sneaky WWE title plans & interruption by MVP & Hurt Business was all over the place. Priest’s taped promo video about his “Damian” dark side was a bit goofy. US title match was mostly solid despite the lame DQ ending & dragging at times. Miz & Maryse wedding vows renewal ceremony with Eric Bischoff & Edge was all right but Miz’s bungling vows portion was funny. This week’s Day 1 go-home show was a mixed bag overall in terms of quality but more enjoyable than not.

NXT (Dec. 28)
* Grayson Waller vs. Odyssey Jones – 2.5
* Harland vs. Brian Kendrick – N/A
* Harland vs. Andre Chase – 1.5 (Squash)
* Tiffany Straton vs. Fallon Henley – 2.0 (Squash)
* Solo Sikoa vs. Santos Escobar – 3.0
* Von Wagner vs. Malik Blade – 2.0
* Raquel Gonzalez & Cora Jade vs. Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray – 2.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – NXT Cruiserweight & North American Championships unification match contract signing segment.
Worst – The very messy and awful ending sequence to the Raquel Gonzalez & Cora Jade vs. Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray match.
Show Notes – Opening Waller promo about being on RAW last night & bashing AJ Styles and Lumis was decent at best. Waller’s mid-rope elbow drop to Jones looked really weird and/or ugly. Waller’s rolling Stunner finisher to Jones was silky smooth. Waller vs. Jones was a solid back-and-forth match. Styles’ post-match promo about facing Waller at New Year’s Eve was okay. Jade & Gonzalez backstage interview about Toxic Attraction & interruptions by Shirai, Ray, & Mandy Rose was decent at best. Xyon Quinn backstage promo about Elektra Lopez needing to decide between him or Legado was okay. MSK, Riddle, & Imperium’s promo segment about NXT Tag titles was somewhat corny, more so MSK’s promo portions, but WALTER showing up next week is sweet. Harland vs. Chase was a nothing special squash match but Chase over-sell of Harland’s head smashing finisher & botching the ending was a bit funny. Straton vs. Henley was a decent squash style match despite Stratton botching the ending sequence. Tony D’Angelo video promo about Pete Dunne & their match last week was all right. NXT Cruiser & N.A. titles unification match contract signing segment with Strong & Pals and Hayes & Williams was both superb & a bit funny, especially Bivens & Williams banter. Escobar’s running knee strike to Sikoa onto the post was nice. Escobar’s suicide dive outta nowhere to Quinn was cool. Sikoa vs. Escobar was a good hard fought match despite the ringside shenanigans by Legado & Quinn. Gacy, Harland, & Chase’s student roof non-toss segment was odd. Breakker vs. Ciampa match hype video was awesome. Ray’s dive & Shirai’s Asai moonsault combo to Gonzalez on the outside was nice. Gonzalez’s fall-away slam to Ray was nice. Women’s Tag was mostly good despite the very dumb ending sequence & being sloppy at times. This week’s show was mostly enjoyable overall.

WWE Day 1 (Jan. 1, 2022)
* Pre-show: Cesaro & Ricochet vs. Ridge Holland & Sheamus – 3.0
* SmackDown Tag Team Championship – The New Day (Kofi Kingston & King Woods) vs. The Usos (c) – 3.5
* Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre – 2.0
* RAW Tag Team Championship – The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) (c) – 3.0
* The Miz vs. Edge – 3.0
* RAW Women’s Championship – Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch (c) – 3.5
* WWE Championship Fatal 5-Way match – Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Big E (c) – 4.0
Overall – 4.0
Best – WWE Championship Fatal 5-Way match.
Worst – The baffling booking decision for the ending to the WWE title 5-Way match and buzzkill ending to Big E’s title reign.
Show Notes – Woods’ tilt-a-whirl side Russian Leg Sweep to Jimmy was nice. Woods & Jey’s slugfest exchange was nice. Jey’s superkick counter of Kingston’s Trouble in Paradise kick was nice. Usos’ busting out the 3D finisher onto Kingston was sweet. SD Tag titles opener was a very good back-and-forth action match, especially the latter half. Happy Corbin & Moss pre-match jokes promo mocking Atlanta & McIntyre was awful. Moss vs. McIntyre was decent at best despite dragging too long. Ford’s standing moonsault & Frog Splash combo to Riddle was nice. Orton’s double DDT to the Street Profits off the ropes was nice. Ford’s sunset dive leap over the corner to RK-Bro on the outside was cool. RAW Tag titles was a quite good back-and-forth action match & Street Profits acting heelish throughout it was interesting. Edge’s face slam counter of Miz’s Skull Crushing Finale onto a table that didn’t break was both nice & a bit funny. Beth Phoenix’s surprise appearance was cool but WWE production botching the timing of her music was funny. Miz vs. Edge was pretty good despite the ending ringside shenanigans by Maryse & Beth. Morgan’s float-over DDT to Lynch was nice. Morgan’s springboard sunset powerbomb to Lynch from the top rope was cool. RAW Women’s title was a mostly very good action filled match despite the flat/botched ending & being a bit rough at times. Lesnar’s suplex massacre to Rollins & Owens was cool. Big E’s loud sounding clothesline to Lesnar sending him tumbling over the ropes was nice. Lashley’s spear to Lesnar through the timekeeper barricade was awesome. Rollins’ dive & Owens’ Frog Splash combo to Lesnar on the outside was cool. Big E’s Uranage to Lashley through the announcer’s table was cool. Lesnar’s catch & F5 counter of Rollins’ curb stomp attempt to Big E was great. Lesnar’s F5 rampage to Rollins, Big E, & Owens into a spear by Lashley to Lesnar sequence was amazing. WWE title match was great but Lesnar winning the title & pinning Big E was such a buzzkill ending. Day 1 was a mostly very good show overall.

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AEW

AEW Dark Elevation (Dec. 27)
* Dark Order (Jon Silver, Alex Reynolds, & 10) vs. Fodder, JR Miller, & Brandon Scott – 2.5 (Squash)
* Thunder Rosa vs. Dani Mo – 2.0 (Squash)
* Anthony Ogogo vs. Duncan Mitchell – 1.5 (Squash)
* Santana & Ortiz vs. Movie Myk & Alexander Moss – 2.0 (Squash)
* Shawn Spears vs. Lee Moriarty – 3.0
* Gunn Club (Austin, Colten, & Billy Gunn) vs. Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, & Alan “5” Angels) – 2.5
* Diamante & Emi Sakura vs. TayJay (Tay Conti & Anna Jay) – 3.0
* Matt Hardy vs. Darius Lockhart – 2.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Shawn Spears vs. Lee Moriarty and Diamante & Emi Sakura vs. TayJay matches.
Worst – Gunn Club vs. Dark Order Trios match being a bit sloppy at times.
Show Notes – Silver & Reynolds’s strikes fest into a Stunner by Reynolds into a release German suplex by Silver into a Blue Thunder by 10 onto Fodder sequence was cool. Dark Order vs. Fodder, Miller, & Scott opener was an entertaining mostly squash style match. Rosa vs. Mo was a decent brief squash match. Ogogo vs. Mitchell was a somewhat decent squash style match. Santana & Ortiz vs. Myk & Moss was a decent mostly squash match. Moriarty’s jawbreaker counter of Spears’ sleeper hold was nice. Spears’ C4 finisher counter of Moriarty’s springboard attack attempt was nice. Spears vs. Moriarty was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. Billy Gunn holding up a sign saying “Ass Boys” for his sons’ entrance was funny. Uno’s DDT & Flatliner combo to Austin & Colten was nice. Grayson’s Pele Kick to Billy looked botched but his Uranage to Colten afterwards was nice. Grayson’s twisting Asai Moonsault to Colten was cool. Gunn Club vs. Dark Order was a solid back-and-forth match despite being a bit sloppy at times. Conti busting out a Gotch Style Piledriver to Diamante was sweet. Diamante & Sakura vs. TayJay was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. Hardy vs. Lockhart was a solid match. This week’s show was mostly enjoyable overall.

AEW Dark (Dec. 28)
* Anna Jay vs. Reka Tehaka – 2.0 (Squash)
* The Blade vs. Toa Liona – 2.0 (Squash)
* Wardlow vs. Casanova – 2.0 (Squash)
* Diamante vs. Shawna Reed – 2.5
* Tony Nese vs. Anthony Greene – 3.0
* KiLynn King vs. The Bunny – 2.0
* Bear Country vs. The Acclaimed – 3.0
* Skye Blue vs. Ashley D’Amboise – 1.5
* The Wingmen (Cezar Bononi & Peter Avalon) vs. Orange Cassidy & Wheeler Yuta – 3.0
* No DQ, No Count Outs, No Rules match – Joey Janela vs. Sonny Kiss – 3.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Joey Janela vs. Sonny Kiss match.
Worst – Skye Blue vs. Ashley D’Amboise match.
Show Notes – Jay vs. Tehaka opener was a decent squash style match. Wardlow & Shawn Spars backstage interview about Wardlow’s backtalk over MJF’s “no excessive powerbombs” order was interesting. Wardlow’s powerbomb destruction of Casanova was wonderful while their match was a nice jobber destruction squash. Greene’s backstage interview about his upcoming match against Neese was decent. Diamante vs. Reed was a solid brief match. Greene’s tilt-a-whirl pancake slam to Nese was nice. Nese’s release German to Greene into the corner was nice. Nese vs. Greene was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. King vs. Bunny was a mostly solid brief match. Max Caster’s pre-match rap mocking Bear Country was okay but more in the mid-tier for diss quality. Bear Boulder’s interruption chokeslam of Bowens’ pre-match speech was a bit funny. Bear Country vs. Acclaimed was a good back-and-forth action match. Blue’s modified spinning Flatliner to D’Amboise looked a bit vicious. Blue vs. D’Amboise was a somewhat decent brief squash style match. Cassidy’s slow mo cradle pin attempt on Bononi was a bit funny. Wingmen vs. Cassidy & Yuta was a good match. Kiss’ hurricanrana dive to Janela on the outside was nice. Ouch at Janela’s back after getting chucked off the top rope by Kiss onto a pile of chairs & also his head after the loud thud after Kiss’ top rope Tornado DDT onto the chairs. Kiss rubbing Janela’s blood on his/her chest was cool. Kiss’ suicide crossbody to Janela on the outside looked rough. Janela’s brainbuster to Kiss on the outside was nice. Kiss splash off a ladder to Rossi & Janela through a table was cool. Janela’s piledriver to Kiss off the stage ramp through a table was sweet. Janela vs. Kiss was a very good hard fought hardcore style match. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash (Dec. 29)
* 10-Man Tag Team match – Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus), Christian Cage, & Lucha Brothers vs. FTR & Hardy Family Office (Matt Hardy & private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen)) – 3.0
* Trios Tag Team match – 2point0 (Jeff Parker & Matt Lee) & Daniel Garcia vs. Eddie Kingston, Santana, & Ortiz – 3.0
* Wardlow vs. Colin Delaney – 2.0 (Squash)
* TBS Championship tournament Semi-finals match – Jade Cargill vs. Thunder Rosa – 3.0
* Trios Tag Team match – Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, & Adam Cole vs. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor, Trent, & Orange Cassidy) – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – Jim Ross’ return to the commentary booth after his cancer treatment and the Dan Lambert & Brandi Rhodes heated promo segment.
Worst – AEW having too many shenanigans endings for tonight’s set of matches.
Show Notes – Fenix’s Senton Atomico to Quen was cool. Quen’s Reverse Slice Bread DDT to Fenix via Kassidy assist was cool. Fenix’s moonsault to FTR was sweet. 10-Man Tag opener was an entertaining action filled match & surprised Christian ate the pin loss. Kingston’s chops fest to Garcia & T-Bone Suplex to Parker was cool. Trios tag was a good back-and-forth action match despite the abrupt ending. Jericho being extra late saving Kingston & Pals from 2point0 & Garcia’s post-match attack was funny. MJF backstage promo bashing Sting and CM Punk, & bossing Wardlow around was splendid. Dan Lambert promo trashing Cody, Arn Anderson, Brandi, & Cody’s shitty looking tattoo, interruption fiery response by Brandi, banter between Brandi & Lambert, & ambush attack by MotY to Dustin Rhodes was awesome. Rosa’s Wolverine style gear & claws was cool. Cargill’s catch & vicious backbreaker counter of Rosa’s apron leap was cool. Cargill vs. Rosa was a quite good hard hitting match despite the shenanigans ending with the masked woman. Post-match brawl was okay but Mercedes Martinez being revealed as the mystery person was sweet. CM Punk promo praising JR & Brodie Lee, bashing MJF, & his AEW title goals was superb. Shida promo video about her issues with Serena Deeb was all right. Pillman Jr. heated promo about his bad blood with Malakai Black & Black’s mind games response was all right. Trent’s Half & Half suplex to Fish onto the ropes looked brutal. O’Reilly’s catch & assisted DDT counter of Cassidy’s Tornado DDT into a high angle suplex by Fish was cool. Taylor & Trent’s back-to-back piledrivers to Cole was sweet. Best Friends Half & Half and Soul Food combo to Fish was nice. Cole, O’Reilly, & Fish vs. Best Friends was a very good action packed match despite the ending shenanigans by Cutler & Young Bucks. This week’s show was very enjoyable overall.

AEW Rampage “New Year’s Smash” (Dec. 31)
* Darby Allin vs. Anthony Bowens – 3.5
* Street Fight match – Penelope Ford & The Bunny vs. TayJay (Tay Conti & Anna Jay) – 4.0
* TNT Championship – “All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Cody Rhodes (c) – 3.5
Overall – 4.0
Best – Street Fight match.
Worst – All of Cody Rhodes’ poor looking Cross Rhodes to Ethan Page during their match.
Show Notes – Max Caster’s pre-match promo mocking Allin & Sting was all right but not one of his better diss efforts. Bowens’ reverse swinging DDT to Allin off the corner was nice. Allin’s Code Red outta nowhere to Bowens was cool. Allin vs. Bowens was a very good back-and-forth action filled match. Post-match interruption by Andrade El Idolo was interesting while the post-match ambush attack by Acclaimed on Allin & Sting was all right. Taz’s Technique segment showcasing HOOK’s arsenal of moves was wonderful. Yikes at Conti’s face after Ford’s top rope moonsault to the outside didn’t break the table. Ford’s beer bottle smash to Conti’s head was crazy. Holy crap at Bunny’s head oozing out blood. Yikes at Bunny’s back after her rough landing from Jay’s suplex onto prone chairs. Ford’s Stunner to Conti onto a ladder was a bit brutal. Bunny getting superplex onto thumb tacks by Jay was crazy & also ouch at Jay’s back afterwards. Conti’s Gotch Style Pildriver to Ford from the apron trough a table on the outside was crazy. Jay’s Queen’s Slayer submission to Bunny via her arm wrapped in barb wire was awesome. Ford & Bunny vs. TayJay was an insane bloody hardcore style battle. Danielson vs. Page AEW match hype video was superb. Dan Lambert & Pals and Arn Anderson & Cody split-screen backstage pre-match interview was splendid. Page taking a nap during Cody’s long winded entrance routine was a bit funny. Page’s flying shoulder tackle to Cody on the outside was nice. Page’s DDT to Cody spiking him on his head was nice. Page’s Avalanche Powerslam to Cody was cool. Page & Cody’s strikes fest was nice. All of Cody’s Cross Rhodes to Page looked really bad but his spiked Tiger Driver finisher was sweet. TNT title was a very good back-and-forth action match. This week’s show was amazing overall.

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NJPW, Impact, & Other Wrestling

NJPW XTRA (Dec. 27)
* Wheeler Yuta & Fred Yehi vs. Hikuleo & Jay White – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Show Notes – The NJPW “2021 Year in Review” recap segment was all right. Hikuleo’s sneaky big boot to Yuta on the outside sending him spinning to the floor was nice. Yehi’s chops & slugfest to Hikuleo was nice and same for his jumping knees fest to Hikuleo in the corner afterwards. White’s twisting suplex & Hikuelo’s splash combo to Yehi was nice. Yehi & Yuta’s strikes in the corner into an Exploder Suplex by Yehi into a sunset splash by Yuta combo to White was cool. Yuta’s suicide dive to White on the outside was nice. White’s Bladerunner outta nowhere finisher to Yuta was cool. Yuta & Yehi vs. Hikuleo & White was a pretty good back-and-forth hard hitting match. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – Street Fight match – Penelope Ford & The Bunny vs. TayJay (Tay Conti & Anna Jay) (AEW Rampage “New Year’s Smash”)
• Best match of the week runner-up – WWE Championship Fatal 5-Way match – Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Big E (c) (WWE Day 1)
• Worst match of the week – Harland vs. Andre Chase (WWE NXT)
• Worst match of the week runner-up – Anthony Ogogo vs. Duncan Mitchell (AEW Dark Elevation)
• Best show of the week – AEW Rampage “New Year’s Smash”
• Worst show of the week – WWE RAW