Opinion: Top 10 WWE Performers of the month(October)

It's Halloween! That means the month of October is at an end. The WWE Universe went through one hell of a roller-coaster this month as there was cause for celebration as well as heartbreak. From Roman Reigns' tragic news to the very first all women's Pay-Per-View, this month will go down in history regardless.

WWE SuperShow Down and WWE Evolution were the two Pay-Per-Views of the month. Both were historic in their own right. Super Show Down became the first WWE PPV in Australia while Evolution was the first ever all women's PPV. We saw 4 Title Changes across Raw, Smackdown, NXT and 205 Live and also crowned a new Mae Young Classic Winner. There has been amazing storytelling and in-ring action throughout the month on all brands.

Here I will be looking at the 10 best performers of the month in WWE. Also, heartfelt wishes go out to Roman Reigns and his family.

---

#10. Buddy Murphy

For someone who had just one match early during the month, one might question Murphy's inclusion on this list. But considering that match perhaps was the best Men's match of the month, he has to be on the list. Murphy became the Cruiserweight Champion after beating Cedric Alexander at Super Show Down. He did so in his home country of Australia to a huge ovation from the crowd.

His match against Alexander was the first Cruiserweight match on a Main Roster PPV in quite a while and these two proved why they should be featured more. They put on amazing spots and got the crowd invested easily. Murphy's win was easily the best moment of the show and the crowd reacted accordingly. Their match was cheered more than any other match on the card and this proves that the Cruiserweight Championship should be defended on PPV more often

Murphy hasn't wrestled on 205 Live since winning the title but has maintained a presence on TV. His work on TV has been amazing too and is a more believable Champion than any other Cruiserweight. A match against Mustafa Ali seems to be somewhere down the line and we can't wait to see that.

#9. Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre has been booked to perfection since he debuted on the Main Roster. He has been made to look strong and is a believable main event level talent. He has the looks, a crisp finisher, nice promo skills and the in-ring ability necessary to become a world champion. He also is one of the only men to get offense on Braun Strowman without any comeuppance.

After Strowman fell out with McIntyre and Ziggler, he attacked Ziggler but was blindsided by McIntyre. The next week McIntyre attacked Braun again and got the upper hand on him, a feat managed only by Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar previously. He seems set to receive a singles push as he even lost the Raw Tag Team Championships that he held with Dolph Ziggler. He even beat Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins on Raw clean.

McIntyre will surely hold the Universal Championship when his time comes as WWE is slowly building up to his big moment. We can be sure that McIntyre will have his eyes on whoever wins the title at Crown Jewel. If WWE continues their perfect booking of the man we have a bona fide main eventer ready on our hands.

#8. Johnny Gargano

Triple H's amazing booking of NXT continued this month as it was revealed Johnny Gargano was Aleister Black's mystery attacker. Honestly, Triple H managed to maintain Black, Gargano, and Ciampa at the top of the card and even managed to insert Nikki Cross into the story-line to provide a satisfying conclusion. Props to Triple H for being able to pull this off.

Gargano had just one match on TV this month against Tony Nese which he won via submission but his actions in the segment with William Regal and Aleister Black earned him a spot on this list. Not only was he revealed to be the attacker, Gargano turned heel and attacked Black in the ring. Turning Gargano heel has to be the boldest decision Triple H has ever taken as he was the most over babyface on the entire roster.

Gargano had been receiving Daniel Bryan levels of support when he shocked the entire universe by turning heel much to the amusement of former tag team partner Tomasso Ciampa who teased a DIY return following this segment.

Sometimes you just need to DIYWith a tear in my eye, #BigDaddyCiampa is proud... pic.twitter.com/XsYEYi57M2

— BLACKHEART (@ProjectCiampa) October 25, 2018

Whatever the future holds for these two, it will be great without a doubt.

#7. Shayna Baszler

The Queen of Spades regained her NXT Women's Championship after defeating Kairi Sane at WWE Evolution. Her victory was the only title switch to happen at Evolution. But the main talking point of her victory was the official debut of MMA's Horsewomen. Baszler's match against Sane ended after Baszler's MMA buddies Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke got involved and assisted her in her victory.

The match itself was amazing and all hell broke loose once Sane threw Baszler into the crowd where a few NXT Superstars were seated. This prompted Duke and Shafir to jump the barricade and get themselves involved in the match. Eventually, Duke's distraction allowed Baszler to lock in her Kiriufuda Clutch. Sane went on to pass out in the middle of the ring instead of tapping out and Baszler became a two-time NXT Women's Champion.

The only other televised match Baszler has had this month was against Britt Baker in an episode of NXT. She won the match by pinfall. Baszler's win made her the only 2-time NXT Women's Champion in history. This unique achievement, coupled with her amazing match against Sane landed her a spot on this list.

#6. Toni Storm

One of NXT UK's brightest female talents Toni Storm won the second annual Mae Young Classic this year. She beat Io Shirai in the finals of the tournament at WWE Evolution. Their match was very well received and Storm's victory was praised by fans and critics all over the world. The match introduced Storm to the WWE Universe and she didn't disappoint.

After losing in the semifinals of last year's Mae Young Classic to Kairi Sane, Storm finally made it to the finals in this year's edition. Her opponent was yet another Japanese superstar in Io Shirai. Storm finally got her redemption and won the coveted tournament. She capped off her victory by celebrating with Stephanie McMahon and Triple H in the ring.

Storm will surely impress in NXT and can have wonderful matches against every woman on the roster. We saw just a bit of her potential at Evolution and she will have a bright future up ahead.

#5. Seth Rollins

Rollins is Raw's top star today. Maybe after Braun Strowman though. The Architect had a bittersweet month, he held on to his Intercontinental Championship throughout the month and even became Tag Team Champions but had to suffer the loss of both his Shield brethren. As if Roman's tragic exit wasn't enough, Ambrose betrayed Rollins too and attacked him brutally to cement the break up of The Shield.

Rollins has had 6 matches this month. He lost to Drew McIntyre on Raw on the first Raw of the month. Then he teamed up with Reigns and Ambrose to beat McIntyre, Strowman, and Ziggler at Super Show Down. The 6 men had a rematch on Raw which The Shield lost. They had another match on Raw which The Shield finally won. He also defeated Ziggler and McIntyre for the Raw Tag Team Championships with Ambrose to become Champions.

The only episode of Raw he didn't wrestle on was perhaps his best performance as Rollins cut a heartfelt promo on Ambrose questioning why he betrayed him. The crowd was completely behind Rollins throughout the show and their feud should be the feud of the year easily.

#4. AJ Styles

WWE Champion AJ Styles has had one hell of a month. He began the month by defeating Samoa Joe at Super Show Down in an amazing No Holds Barred match. At the very same event, Daniel Bryan became the #1 contender to his title. He had 4 matches on Smackdown Live this month including a WWE Title Defence against Daniel Bryan on the Halloween edition of the show.

He got a singles victory over Shelton Benjamin before losing in two back to back episodes to The Usos. His partner in those matches was none other than Daniel Bryan. The two finally settled their feud on the final episode of the month and had a fantastic match which AJ won by submission. AJ's victory celebrations were cut short as a returning Samoa Joe attacked Styles and got himself a Championship match at Crown Jewel.

AJ's ability to deliver great matches continued as he had two amazing matches this month. Also, AJ's WWE Championship reign is currently at 357 days and counting. If he retains against Samoa Joe at Crown Jewel he will be holding the Championship for over a year. Only Brock Lesnar Universal Championship reign and CM Punk's 2011-13 reign has been longer than AJ's in the modern era.

#3. Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey is amazing. She has taken to pro wrestling like a fish to water and is the top star in all of WWE today. Rousey had 4 matches this month, two singles and two 6 women tag team matches. She managed to get the victory in every single case and even main evented WWE Evolution. She is massively valued by the WWE and we can see the faith they have put on her.

She beat Ruby Riott on Raw before teaming with The Bella Twins to beat The Riott Squad at Super Show Down. Rousey picked up the victory for her team at the event and did so again in the rematch on Raw. Her final match was against Nikki Bella at Evolution which she won again using her signature Arm Bar submission move.

Rousey is perhaps WWE's most valuable superstar today. No full-time wrestler possess the aura she does. With Roman out, for the time being, we might just get out first ever Women's Main Event at Wrestlemania this year.

#2. Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch is still the favorite superstar of the WWE Universe. She receives monstrous reactions wherever she goes and is immensely over with the crowd. Everybody loves her and her Championship Reign has gone wonderfully as well. Lynch had 3 matches this month, all against Charlotte Flair. She defended her title successfully all 3 times.

Her first match against Charlotte was at Super Show Down where she was disqualified. Their rematch on Smackdown Live had a stipulation that Lynch would lose her title if she was disqualified. The match ended with a double count out. The final match was at Evolution in a Last Woman Standing Match. This was perhaps the best match of the month. Charlotte and Becky put up the most extreme, hard-hitting and legitimate match of the year.

Her amazing matches were coupled with great promos as well. She had an amazing segment with Edge at Smackdown 1000 as well. Finally, her amazing month was topped off with the announcement that she will face Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series. It will be an understatement if I said that this is one of the most anticipated matches of the year.

#1. Dean Ambrose

The most hated man in the world right now is my #1 performer of the month. We all saw this turn coming, we all did. But the way Ambrose and Rollins sold it and the brilliance of WWE's booking made this heel turn legendary. With one simple beat down, Ambrose brought nuclear heat upon himself. After just winning the Tag Team Championships with Rollins, Ambrose destroyed him throwing him around all over the ringside.

Ambrose had 6 matches in this month. He teamed with Roman and Seth against Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre in 3 matches winning twice and losing once. He was beaten by Ziggler on Raw and beat Strowman via DQ as well. But his best work was on the mic as Ambrose teased his heel turn relentlessly. Ambrose voiced his displeasure on Raw and teased turning on Reigns and Rollins multiple times but didn't.

His performance at Super Show Down made everyone believe that his heel turn isn't even happening. But when it did, all hell broke lose. We had just learnt about the tragic situation with Roman Reigns and everyone hoped for Ambrose and Rollins to win the tag titles later on. They did so but Ambrose shocked everyone in the arena and all over the world with his actions afterward giving us one of the greatest moments of the year.