Opinion: Match & Show Ratings for December 19 to December 25, 2021

Welcome to TPWW’s Emperor Smeat’s Match and Show Ratings for the week of December 19th to December 25th, 2021.

Match and show star ratings (out of 5):

WWE

WWE RAW (Dec. 20)
* Bianca Belair vs. Doudrop – 2.5
* Finn Balor vs. Austin Theory – 3.0
* AJ Styles & Omos vs. Dominik & Rey Mysterio – 2.0
* Randy Orton vs. Chad Gable – 2.5
* United States Championship Contender’s match – Dolph Ziggler vs. Damian Priest – 2.0
* Rhea Ripley vs. Queen Zelina – 1.5
* Big E & Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens & Seth Rollins – 3.0
Overall – 2.0
Best – Big E & Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens & Seth Rollins match.
Worst – Liv Morgan’s rough delivery of her lines for her promo with Becky Lynch & the taped wrestling school brawl between the two.
Show Notes – Opening MVP promo about Lashley’s gauntlet win last week, interruption response by Big E, & retort by Lashley about not needing help to win, & sneak attack by Rollins & Owens was okay. Belair’s KOD to Doudrop was impressive. Belair vs. Doudrop was a solid back-and-forth match. Theory’s leaping Spanish Fly to Balor on the top rope was cool. Balor vs. Theory was a pretty good match, especially the latter half. Miz TV segment with Styles & Omos about their team issues was mostly dull. Styles & Omos vs. Mysterios was decent at best. Post-match Styles & Omos brawl was decent but also feels WWE pulled the trigger too early for Omos’ big singles run based on what he’s shown so far in the ring. Gable’s spiked sell of Orton’s RKO was cool. Orton vs. Gable was a solid match. 24/7 title Christmas lights show segment with Dana Brooke, Reginald, Tozawa, Tamina, & R-Truth was a bit funny. Priest’s stiff clothesline to Ziggler was sweet but his Falcon Arrow afterwards looked ugly. Ziggler vs. Priest was going on well until the lame shenanigans & countout ending with Roode. Vince & Theory backstage segment about Vince teasing firing Theory & his ramblings was strange. Cutting Edge segment with Maryse about her family issues with Miz, Edge not believing her, & ambush attack by Miz was somewhat decent. Zelina’s pre-match boasting promo stunk. Ripley vs. Zelina was nothing special. Liv Morgan promo about her issues with Becky Lynch & taped training school brawl was very rough while Lynch’s interruption response was fine. Lashley flexing off while hitting a stalling suplex on Rollins was sweet. Big E & Lashley vs. Owens & Rollins was a pretty good back-and-forth match despite the weak ending. This week’s show was somewhat average at best overall but also boring at times.

NXT (Dec. 21)
* Street Fight – Raquel Gonzalez vs. Dakota Kai – 3.0
* The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans – 3.0
* Trick Williams vs. Dexter Lumis – 2.5
* Von Wagner vs. Edris Enofe – 1.5
* Elektra Lopez vs. Io Shirai – 2.5
* Tony D’Angelo vs. Pete Dunne – 3.5
Overall – 3.0
Best – Tony D’Angelo vs. Pete Dunne match.
Worst – Cora Jade’s awful promo delivery during the Jade, Raquel Gonzalez, & Mandy Rose promo segment.
Show Notes – Opening Ciampa & Breakker promo about NXT title match setup, Ciampa bashing Breakker for not being ready to be a champ, & Breakker’s response was splendid. Ouch at Kai after her rough landing from Gonazlez’s Flapjack drop onto a chair. Kai’s double foot stomp onto a trash can to Gonzalez on the outside was nice. Gonzalez’s powerbomb to Kai onto the steps was cool. Gonzalez’s Chingona Bomb to Kai onto a trash can was nice. Street Fight was a quite good hard hitting hardcore match. Gonzalez Cora Jade, & Mandy Rose promo segment about NXT Women’s title & ambush attack by Toxic Attraction was decent at best despite Cora’s rough promo delivery. Drake’s slingshot elbow drop & Gibson’s backbreaker combo to Julius on the outside was nice. Creed Bros vs. GYV was a pretty good match despite the lame DQ ending shenanigans with Jacket Time. Hayes & Williams backstage interview bashing Lumis & Lumis’ spooky video response was all fine. Waller & Styles promo banter about Waller boasting about himself & mocking Styles, Styles retort mocking Waller’s star potential, & brawl fakeout was all right. Riddle & MSK outdoors segment about scooters was very goofy. Wagner losing via a quick random roll-up in a big nothing match was a very dumb booking decision considering his big heel run only just started. Lopez vs. Shirai was a mostly decent match despite the ending ringside shenanigans by Xyon Quinn & Legado. Yikes at Dunne’s head after his rough landing from D’Angelo’s modified T-Bone Suplex. Dunne’s loud sound stiff chop to D’Angelo was nice. Ouch at D’Angelo’s head after Dunne’s stiff kick. D’Angelo’s Exploder Suplex counter of Dunne’s Triangle lock was cool. D’Angelo’s Exploder Suplex to Dunne in the corner looked brutal. D’Angelo vs. Dunne was a very good back-and-forth action match. This week’s show was mostly enjoyable overall.

Friday Night SmackDown (Dec. 24)
* SmackDown Women’s Championship – Toni Storm vs. Charlotte Flair (c) – 2.5
* #1 Contender for Intercontinental Championship “12 Days of Christmas” 12-Man Gauntlet match – Angel vs. Mansoor vs. Erik vs. Shanky vs. Ivar vs. Sheamus vs. Drew Gulak vs. Cesaro vs. Ricochet vs. Humberto vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Sami Zayn – 2.5
* Miracle on 34th Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team match – Madcap Moss & The Usos vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston & King Woods) & Drew McIntyre – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Ricochet vs. Sami Zayn portion of the Gauntlet match and the Miracle on 34th Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team match.
Worst – The awful sounding piped in fake crowd audio throughout the show and the bulk of the Gauntlet match being just time wasting filler.
Show Notes – Opening Paul Heyman sitdown interview about Reigns firing & attacking him last week and retirement tease was splendid. Flair legit needs to stop doing moonsaults since they rarely, if ever, look good or connect whenever she does them. SD Women’s title was a mostly solid match despite the anti-climatic finish & dragging at times. New Day & McIntyre backstage segment about the Usos & Moss was decent despite the corny jokes. Xia Li’s “Protector” promo video was okay. Angel vs. Mansoor portion of the Gauntlet was decent at best. Erik’s catch & slam of Angel’s moonsault to the outside was cool. Angel vs. Erik portion was also decent at best. Angel vs. Shanky portion was a nothing special squash. Shanky vs. Ivar portion was a decent at best squash. Ivar vs. Sheamus portion was a solid hard hitting bout. Sheamus vs. Gulak was nothing special. Sheamus vs. Cesaro portion was a solid hard hitting bout despite the ringside shenanigans by Ridge Holland. Ricochet springboard moonsault to Sheamus on the outside was nice. Ricochet’s standing moonsault to Sheamus was cool. Sheamus vs. Ricochet portion was a pretty good back-and-forth action bout. Humberto’s flying sell of his failed moonsault to Ricochet was funny. Ricochet vs. Humberto and Ricochet vs. Mahal portions were nothing special.Ricochet’s leaping rana to Zayn from the top rope was cool. Zayn’s Blue Thunder Bomb to Ricochet was smooth. Zayn’s knees counter & Exploder Suplex into the corner combo of Ricochet’s Shooting Star Press was nice. Ricochet vs. Zayn portion was a quite good back-and-forth action bout. Gauntlet match was mostly solid despite a big chunk of it being dull & a waste of time. Heyman’s career retrospective video package was superb. 6-Man Tag was an entertaining back-and-forth action match. This week’s show was mostly average overall but mostly enjoyable.

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AEW

AEW Dark Elevation (Dec. 20)
* Emi Sakura, The Bunny, & Nyla Rose vs. Jessica James, Gigi Rey, & Lady Bird Monroe – 2.0 (Squash)
* Madi Wrenkowski vs. Red Velvet – 2.0 (Squash)
* Chaos Project vs. Bear Country – 2.5
* Andrade El Idolo vs. Kaun – 2.5 (Squash)
* Thunder Rosa vs. Amber Rodriguez – 2.5
* Hardy Family Office (Matt Hardy, Isiah Kassidy, & The Blade) vs. Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, & 10) – 3.0
Overall – 2.5
Best – Hardy Family Office vs. Dark Order Trios tag team match.
Worst – The low energy feeling throughout the show.
Show Notes – Women’s Trios tag opener was a decent squash style match. Wrenkowski vs. Red Velvet was a decent mostly squash match. Bear Boulder’s Gorilla Press Slam & backbreakers fest combo to Serpentico was nice. Chaos Project vs. Bear Country was a mostly solid back-and-forth match. Kaun’s stiff slap to Andrade in the corner & Andrade returning the favor afterwards was nice. Kaun’s gutbuster counter of Andrade running attack was nice. El Idolo vs. Kaun was a fine mostly squash match. Rosa’s running dropkicks to Rodriguez into the ropes looked painful. Rosa vs. Rodriguez was a solid back-and-forth match. Hardy’s Twist of Fate to Grayson on the outside was nice. Kassidy’s springboard dive to Dark Order on the outside via Hardy assist was cool. Grayson’s release German suplex to Kassidy bending him in half was nice. Dark Order’s Fatality & Full Nelson finisher combo to Blade was cool. This week’s show was mostly average overall but also mostly skippable outside of the main event.

AEW Dark (Dec. 21)
* Gunn Club (Austin & Colten Gunn) vs. Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson – 3.0
* Abadon vs. Charlette Renegade – 1.5 (Squash)
* Eddie Kingston vs. Colin Delaney – 3.0
* Penelope Ford vs. Willow Nightingale – 2.5
* Brandi Rhodes vs. Robyn Renegade – 2.5
* Jora Johl vs. Julius Coleman – 2.0 (Squash)
* Isaiah Kassidy vs. Carlie Bravo – 3.0
* Kiera Hogan vs. Shalonce Royal – 2.0 (Squash)
* Bear Country vs. Zack Clayton & Mike Orlando – 2.5
* 10 vs. Leroy Patterson – 2.0 (Squash)
* Red Velvet vs. La Rosa Negra – 2.0 (Squash)
* “Captain” Shawn Dean vs. Lucas Chase – 2.0 (Squash)
* Serpentico vs. Matt Sydal – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Best – Isaiah Kassidy vs. Carlie Bravo match.
Worst – Abadon vs. Charlette Renegade match.
Show Notes – Gunn Club vs. Johnson & Anderson opener was a pretty good back-and-forth style bout. Abadon’s tilt-a-whirl tijera to Renegade was nice. Abadon vs. Renegade was a somewhat decent mostly squash match. Kingston’s chop fest to Delany was nice. Delany’s step over Stunner to Kingston from the ropes was cool. Kingston vs. Delany was a good hard hitting match. Ford’s release German to Nightingale was nice. Nightingale’s pounce to Ford sending her flying across the ring was sweet. Ford vs. Nightingale was a solid match. Sonny Kiss & Joey Janela backstage promo segment about their upcoming No DQ match was splendid. Rhodes vs. Renegade was a solid back-and-forth match. Wingmen backstage segment about their Christmas presents wishes & beatings gift to Best Friends was okay. Kassidy’s corkscrew splash to Bravo on the outside was cool. Bravo’s scissor kick to Kassidy spiking his head on the mat was cool. Kassidy vs. Brao was a good back-and-forth action match despite Kassidy’s botched springboard cutter finisher. Taz & Excalibur corpsing on commentary over Royal’s opera signing antics to Hogan was funny. Hogan vs. Royal was a decent mostly squash match. Bear Country vs. Clayton & Orlando was a solid bout. Bear Country & Acclaimed post-match promo demanding better competition & The Acclaimed’s interruption response was all right. Negra’s delayed vertical suplex & gordbuster combo to Red Velvet was nice. Velvet vs. Negra was a fine mostly squash match. Serpentico vs. Sydal was a pretty good back-and-forth action match. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

AEW Dynamite “Holiday Bash” (Dec. 22)
* Adam Cole vs. Orange Cassidy – 3.5
* Wardlow vs. “Captain” Shawn Dean – 2.0 (Squash)
* TBS Championship tournament Semifinals match – Nyla Rose vs. Ruby Soho – 2.5
* Malakai Black vs. Griff Garrison – 2.5
* The Pinnacle (MJF & FTR) vs. Sting, Darby Allin, & CM Punk – 4.0
Overall – 3.5
Best – The Owen Hart tribute video segment and The Pinnacle vs. Sting, Darby Allin, & CM Punk match.
Worst – The terrible fan with the transphobic sign in the crowd during the Nyla Rose vs. Ruby Soho match.
Show Notes – Cassidy’s spiked Tornado DDT to Cole was nice. Cole’s Ushigoroshis to Cassidy’s neck looked brutal. Cassidy’s Michinoku Driver to Cole was nice. Kyle O’Reilly’s surprise appearance was awesome. Cole vs. Cassidy opener was a very good action filled bout. Young Bucks’ puzzled reactions to Cole & Pals was interesting. Danielson vs. Page AEW title match recap video was splendid. Hangman Page promo about last week’s match with Danielson, interruption by Danielson mocking Page, & Page’s retort was superb. MJF & Pinnacle backstage promo segment about MJF bashing CM Punk & teasing a bigger rift with Wardlow was all right. Dan Lambert’s promo mocking the fans, Tony Khan’s favoritism, & Cody Rhodes was splendid. Britt Baker & Tony Schiavone’s Christmas Party segment about Baker’s bad blood with Riho & A Christmas Story reference was all right. The Owen Hart tribute video was great. Rose’s Alabama Slam counter of Soho’s Poison Rana into the corner was nice. Soho’s Dragon Sleeper counter of Rose’s suplex was cool. Rose vs. Soho was a mostly solid match despite being rough at times. Deeb’s promo vignette about her blood feud with Shida was splendid. Sting’s Punk logo face paint & Punk’s Surfer Sting face paint was sweet. Holy crap at Allin’s head after nailing the apron from his hard landing to the outside via MJF’s ropes shove. Sting’s spinebuster to MJF was nice. Sting’s accidental headbutt to MJF’s yambags was funny. FTR’s Big Rig counter of Punk’s GTS was nice. Yikes at MJF landing on his head from Sting’s yeeting him to FTR on the outside. Sting’s dive to MJF & FTR on the outside was crazy. Punk’s GTS, Sting’s Scorpion Death Drop, & Allin’s Coffin Drop finisher combo to Harwood was awesome. Pinnacle vs. Sting, Allin, & Punk was a great action packed match. This week’s show was very enjoyable overall.

AEW Rampage “Winter Bash” (Dec. 25)
* Isiah Kassidy vs. Jungle Boy – 3.0
* HOOK vs. Bear Bronson – 3.0
* Kris Statlander vs. Leyla Hirsch – 3.0
* TNT Championship – Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara (c) – 3.5
Overall – 3.5
Best – TNT Championship match.
Worst – Cody Rhodes winning the TNT belt at the expense of Sammy Guevara’s somewhat underwhelming title reign in the end.
Show Notes – Jungle’s rebound lariat & Fisherman Falcon Arrow combo to Kassidy was nice. Kassidy’s Poison Rana to Jungle was nice. Kassidy vs. Jungle Boy opener was a pretty good back-and-forth style bout. Miro promo video about the return of the Redeemer was splendid. Bronson’s spiked sit-out piledriver to HOOK was cool. HOOK’s release Northern Lights suplex to Bronson was nice. HOOK’s vicious looking high collar suplex to Bronson was cool. HOOK’s overhead punches & Redrum submission finisher combo to Bronson was nice. HOOK vs. Bronson was an entertaining match & another very good outing by HOOK. Kingston, Santana, & Ortiz vs. 2point0 & Garcia match hype video was all right. Hirsch’s running double knees & swinging dropkick to Statlander in the corner was nice. Statlander’s powerslam to Hirsch was smooth. Statlander’s reverse bodyslam & Spider Crab submission finisher combo to Hirsch was cool. Statlander vs. Hirsch was a quite good back-and-forth action match. Hirsch teasing a potential heel turn after the match was interesting. Rhodes, Arn Anderson, & Guevara feisty split-screen backstage pre-match interview was all right. Guevara busting out the Cross Rhodes to Cody was nice. Guevara’s 450 splash to Rhodes on the outside was cool. Rhodes’ powerbomb into the crowd counter of Guevara’s rana was sweet. Yikes at Guevara’s neck after getting spiked hard from Rhodes’ Cross Rhodes. Guevara’s escape & GTH counter of Rhodes’ reverse Avalanche Suplex was awesome. Rhodes’ back-to-back Cross Rhodes into a spiked Tiger Driver 98 finisher combo to Guevara was nice. TNT title was a very good back-and-forth action filled match, especially the latter half, although mixed feelings about Rhodes winning the belt back again. Guevara’s TNT title reign was somewhat underwhelming though. This week’s show was very enjoyable overall.

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NJPW, Impact, & Other Wrestling

NJPW XTRA (Dec. 20)
* Brody King, Karl Fredericks, & The DKC vs. Stray Dog Army (Barrett Brown, BATEMAN, & Misterioso) – 3.0
Overall – 3.0
Show Notes – The “Week in NJPW” and NJPW Strong Detonation Night 3 show highlights segments were all right. DKC’s rolling crucifix submission hold to Brown was nice. Brown’s suplex to DKC into the corner looked brutal, especially DKC’s rough landing on his neck. King chucking Brown onto Misterioso’s shoulder into a stiff chop to Brown into an assisted Poison Rana to Misterioso was awesome. King’s lariat to BATEMAN bending him in half was sweet. Misterioso’s Swanton dive to King & Fredericks on the outside was cool. Brown’s dropkick & BATEMAN’s tombstone finisher combo to DKC was nice. King, Fredericks, & DKC vs. Stray Dog Army was a quite good back-and-forth hard hitting bout. This week’s show was enjoyable overall.

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Weekly Awards:

• Best match of the week – The Pinnacle (MJF & FTR) vs. Sting, Darby Allin, & CM Punk (AEW Dynamite “Holiday Bash”)
• Best match of the week runner-up – TNT Championship – Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara (c) (AEW Rampage “Winter Bash”)
• Worst match of the week – Rhea Ripley vs. Queen Zelina (WWE RAW)
• Worst match of the week runner-up – Von Wagner vs. Edris Enofe (WWE NXT)
• Best show of the week – AEW Dynamite “Holiday Bash”
• Worst show of the week – WWE RAW