1. The Undertaker vs Triple H - Wrestlemania XXVIII
For the second consecutive year, The Undertaker clashed with Triple H at Wrestlemania. The stakes were raised this year, as the match would take place inside Hell in a Cell with none other than Shawn Michaels as special guest referee. Billed as "The End of an Era," the two old foes faced each other for the third time on "The Grandest Stage of Them All," 11 years after their first Wrestlemania match. The addition of "The Heartbreak Kid," who has a long and complicated history with both competitors, was a great touch. What followed was an epic clash between two legends of the business, and a masterclass in ring psychology. The action slowly rose to a crescendo, with the use of both the steel steps and chairs ensuring that the contest was as brutal as anything seen during the PG era. HBK played his role to perfection, creating an emotional involvement in the match. Booked to perfection, many thought "The Streak" was in real danger, as Triple H scored some of the closest near-falls you're ever likely to see. However, "The Deadman" would not be denied, and he finally manged to put down the "King of Kings" with the Tombstone to extend his winning run to 20-0. One of the all-time great Wrestlemania matches, The Undertaker and Triple H crafted both a physically and emotionally gripping contest, and the sight of the three legends embracing at the top of the ramp was the perfect way to end the best match of the year.
2. Cm Punk vs Daniel Bryan - Over The Limit 2012
Fans around the world rejoiced when Daniel Bryan became the No. 1 contender to the WWE Championship, setting him on a collision course with old foe CM Punk. Expectations were incredibly high going into the match, and the two former ROH stalwarts more than delivered, giving us one of the best technical contests seen in the WWE in recent years. Both men used moves from their repertoire rarely seen in today's WWE, and the momentum went back and forth as the action spilled to ringside. And in the squared circle, we were treated to a wrestling clinic featuring great technical spots. The audience knew they were seeing something special, and were vocally appreciative of the match. "The Voice of the Voiceless" picked up the hard-fought victory when he pinned Bryan's shoulders to the mat, moments before tapping out to the Yes Lock. Despite failing, yet again, to capture world title gold, Daniel Bryan looked highly competitive in defeat and remained incredibly over. This excellent contest added another chapter to the storied history between the two stars, and CM Punk proved himself once again as "The Best in the World" by retaining the belt.
3. Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan - Extreme Rules 2012
After dropping the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus in a humiliating 18 seconds at Wrestlemania, Daniel Bryan invoked his rematch clause four weeks later in a 2-out-of-3 falls match. What followed was a gripping contest—stacked with drama and near falls—that turned out to be one of the year's best. The match showed that the two had great chemistry in the ring together, and the powerful style of the "Celtic Warrior" meshed well with the technically proficient Bryan. The stipulation also ensured that the match would be a lengthy one, and the quality of in-ring action almost made up for the Wrestlemania disappointment. Bryan intentionally conceded the first fall via disqualification when he exceeded the referee's five count. The score was soon leveled as "The Great White" passed out in his weakened state when trapped in the Yes Lock. Ultimately, Sheamus would score the decisive pinfall just shy of the 23 minute mark when he connected with the Brogue Kick. It is a wonder why these two were only given 18 seconds in the ring at Wrestlemania when they were capable of putting on a show like this. Bryan's popularity was reaching fever pitch and the loss did nothing to harm his momentum, while Sheamus proved himself a credible World Heavyweight Champion with his spirited effort, more than holding his own against a supremely talented opponent.
4. Cm Punk vs Chris Jericho - Extreme Rules 2012
In what became an increasingly personal feud, CM Punk and Chris Jericho sought to settle their differences, once and for all, in a Chicago Street Fight. It was a nice touch for both stars to compete in street clothes, as it made it clear to the audience that this would be an all-out war. And with the title of "Best in the World" up for debate, both men gave everything in a match filled with action from start to finish. Tables, kendo sticks, chairs—and even a fire extinguisher—made their way into the match at some point, and the immense skills of Punk and Jericho led to some great weapon-based spots. Most notably, Jericho executed a dangerous-looking Codebreaker onto a chair, while "The Voice of the Voiceless" used his signature flying elbow to put Y2J through the announcer's table. Punk finally hit Jericho with the Go To Sleep for the feud-ending pinfall. Once again Jericho selflessly put his opponent over, but both stars deserve credit for what was the most entertaining Street Fight seen in the WWE for some time
5. The Shield vs Team Hell No & Ryback - TLC 2012
The Shield were under immense pressure going into their match with Ryback and Team Hell No at TLC. The three newcomers were making their in-ring WWE debuts against three high-profile opponents in one of the company's greatest gimmick matches. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns proved they could back up their words with actions, and scored the massive victory. This was one of the rare occasions where the creative team got it dead right. The Shield kept their momentum going and looked impressive doing so, and new main-event star Ryback was protected in the finish. All six competitors made great use of the stipulations, including an impressive double superplex by The Shield on Bryan. Ryback, once again, went through the announcer's table, and the decision to give "Big Hungry" a breather before the finish was the right one, as he tossed Rollins from a ladder and through the tables waiting below. Kane was taken out after being tackled through the barricade by Reigns and with Ryback otherwise occupied, Bryan was the man to be pinned. Proving themselves as the newest major threat to the WWE, The Shield more than matched their opponents and gave us one of the best-ever TLC matches in the process.
No comments:
Post a Comment