Csonka’s Top 7 Desired WWE Matches in 2017

– Welcome back to column time with Larry. Today I want to look at some WWE matches that I’d really like to see in 2017. I have largely stayed away from matches that we’re likely to get (for example, Lesnar vs. Strowman is a fascinating match to me), and have tried to be original and mostly realistic, although I am not sticking to the brand split; I’m also not trying to make matches that draw money or ratings, I’m just trying to make great matches that I would enjoy. I hope that you enjoy, and feel free to share your desired matches. The only rules are “have a take, be respectful of other’s opinions and don’t be a dick.” We all have opinions, we’re going to disagree, just be cool about it.

7. Neville vs. Tyler Bate: Triple H had previously stated that he wants to see more cross over between NXT, 205 Live and the UK Brand. We’ve seen some of that, so a Neville vs. Tyler Bate isn’t completely out of the box in terms of hoping to see it. Neville has been absolutely tremendous since his heel turn, and has been a highlight of 205 Live. Bate is an amazing performer at his young age, and I think that they can play off some of the same dynamics that made Dunne vs. Bate such a success. Neville is a tremendous heel, has a great power game, and can obviously fly with the best of them. Bate can work with anyone, but I feel that a match with Neville (either for the Cruiserweight title or under the UK brand umbrella) would kick ass, and is certainly a match I would tune in for.

6. Survivor Series Rules Match (WWE UK, NXT &205 Live Feature Match): Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, Trent Seven, Neville, & Mark Andrews vs. Drew McIntyre, Roderick Strong, Kassius Ohno, Akira Tozawa, & Jack Gallagher: Like I said above, Triple H had previously stated that he wants to see more cross over between NXT, 205 Live and the UK Brand. There will be a Takeover Special over Survivor Series weekend, so what better way to incorporate that synergy than to put on a classic Survivor Series match at Takeover. The lineup doesn’t have to be set in stone, because November is a long while away and we don’t know what these guys will be doing. I just tried to pick guys from the NXT, 205 Live and the UK Brands that I like and or have been heavily featured. I think the idea is sound though, and allows the company to play off of the Survivor Series tradition while utilizing multiple brands on a big PPV weekend.

5. American Alpha vs. The Revival: Due to the fact that the DIY vs. Revival series of matches were so great, the American Alpha vs. The Revival feud and matches are largely forgotten by many. But these two teams had an awesome chemistry, in many ways setting the template for the great Revival matches. The Revival is old school tag team wrestling at its best with some modern day flare added in. Their “no flips, just fists” mentality worked amazingly well as they battled athletic & resilient teams like Alpha & DIY. Unfortunately American Alpha’s main roster run has been pretty disastrous. They were brought up to the main roster, WWE didn’t have plan for them, the fans were apathetic and largely stayed that way no matter what kind of performance they put on. And then they have basically disappeared from TV; they have no direction, no buzz and they need saved. They need to see the light. They need to be reborn. They need to attend a good old-fashioned Revival. At this stage, American Alpha has to be completely rebuilt, because while they are a great team, WWE has given their fans no reason to care about them and they are extremely damaged. Outside of Kurt Angle taking them under his wing, I think the best way to make people care about them is by booking them in a fed where they can be comfortable, show what they have and do it with a team that they have achieved great success with in the past. I think this gives us a great match, and also rehabs Alpha, which is something that needs to be done and quick.

4. Drew McIntyre vs. Aleister Black: Drew McIntyre & Aleister Black have been kicking ass and taking names in NXT. Guys like Ohno, Strong, McIntyre, Black, Almas and Lorcan have been bringing a newer, hard hitting style to NXT and it is not only entertaining, but it feels fresh and sets their matches apart from the rest of the roster. Lorcan is unfortunately “just a guy,” it’s difficult to see what their plan for Almas is, Strong is slowly being built up so that they can tell his story and allow you to become invested in him, and Ohno is clearly there to be a player coach, acting as a one man finishing school to prepare guys for the next level. Drew McIntyre vs. Aleister Black is a destination that NXT should be building to, a clash of two bad asses wrecking their way through the roster, and building to a clash of the titans at one of the company’s big Takeover events. Let these guys work a 12-minute, balls to the wall, ass kicking sprint (playing off of the hard-hitting, no nonsense style they have been specializing in) and it will be awesome, especially if they keep building them up as they have been.

3. The Shield vs. Balor Club: Part of me wants this match because I think that it would be awesome, and also because Reigns and Balor have good chemistry and are going to be top guys built around. But Reigns isn’t getting the reaction WWE wants and Ambrose and Rollins feel directionless. Add in the fact that Anderson & Gallows have been booked like shit since their debut, a mix of not knowing how to handle them, bad comedy and having them lose way too much after hyping them up as a big deal. The Shield had some excellent trios matches with the Wyatts & Evolution, as well as the long run of great matches against a large variety of teams that were essentially “Daniel Bryan and Friends.” There have always been rumors of a Shield reunion, WWE wants Reigns to be their big babyface star, and the reunion may provide that chance. On the other hand, Balor really thrives as a heel, it would be new for WWE, and would really give Anderson & Gallows real direction and purpose. Plus I love kick ass trios matches, and a major feud like this could not only be built around the world/universal title, but also the tag titles and could easily headline PPV events.

2. AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: At NJPW WrestleKingdom 10, Shinsuke Nakamura defeated AJ Styles to retain his IWGP IC title. It was an amazing match (*****), with both guys being in top form, and that’s always great to see from Nakamura. The best thing about the match was that it was a completely different match than anything else on the card, it felt effortless, and it constantly built and went home at the right time, which made me appreciate it more. This was everything I love about wrestling. This was the last major singles match for both in NJPW, as just after Styles made his debut at the Rumble and Nakamura would debut at Takeover and put on a killer match with Sami Zayn. Unfortunately Nakamura set the bar really high in that NXT debut, and ever since then, he’s been… fine. Nakamura is well known for relying on the friends and family plan and phones performances in based off of his charisma. I think that’s part of the reason that he left Japan; because he knew he couldn’t get by for much longer putting on those efforts, and I think that he also knew that his body couldn’t handle putting in the full throttle, strong style performances going forward. And that’s why I think he came to the US, because he knew that he could get by doing less, and would be able to save his body. He knew WWE was more about entertainment & character work, which is what he’s been doing, saving his body and relying on charisma to carry him through. Some will say that “WWE changed him and or ruined him,” but if you’ve watched Nakamura for any amount of time, you know that there are three kinds of Nakamura matches; 1) steal the show “G1/WrestleKingdom” style Nakamura, 2) sketchy selling, solid match Nakamura, and 3) get by on my charisma and do next to nothing “house show” Nakamura. If we want to get back to #1, like he was with that Sami Zayn match, we need AJ Styles and for these men to have a WrestleKingdom 10 rematch. I really feel that not only is Nakamura saving his body, but that he’s generally unmotivated. Working an older, slower, past his prime Samoa Joe didn’t fire him up. Working Bobby Roode didn’t fire him up, and working Dolph Ziggler sure the hell hasn’t fired him up. I think a rematch with Styles would not only motivate him, but would be a match that many fans want to see on the WWE stage.

1. Pete Dunne vs. Tyler Bate III: During the finals of the WWE UK tournament, Dunne & Bate delivered an absolutely tremendous finals match, putting on a (****½) lower end MOTY contender. The young lads delivered and showed the world what UK fans already knew, that they were ready to deliver on a bigger stage. The UK project has unfortunately been delayed, Bate made some NXT appearances, and WWE then held the UK Special and set up a UK Title match at NXT Takeover: Chicago. And it was there, on the biggest stage available to them, that the lads stole the entire Backlash weekend, outdoing their tournament final bout, and not only put on the best WWE match of the year, but in my opinion, the best match held in North America in 2017. The match succeeded because they took everything that they did in their UK tournament final match, streamlined it and made it even better in front of an absolutely insane crowd. The match had great action from bell to bell, tremendous action and pacing as it never slowed or threatened to overstay its welcome. It also featured something I absolutely love, and that is both men FEELING as if they are doing everything in their power to win; it makes you care, it makes the title feel important and overall the match felt really special. This was easily one of the best matches in NXT’s history, and for me the best match in North America in 2017 as well as a top tier MOTC contender at *****. Bate is 20 and Dunne is 23, these men are special talents, and WWE is extremely lucky to have them. I am not sure of they can top Chicago, but I am all for these two men having another clash before the end of the year, because I’d love to see them try and out do themselves.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

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