This is a new weekly feature we are starting at Sportskeeda where we take a look and rank the top five matches of the week on WWE television. The only matches that will be up for consideration are matches held at PPVs, on Raw, SmackDown Live, or NXT. The matches will be ranked from fifth best to the best match of the week.
This week, we had plenty of matches to choose from since we had Fastlane added onto our other weekly WWE programming.
With matchups such as Samoa Joe’s first main roster match with Sami Zayn, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns finally getting their hands on each other, and a match that was billed as the “greatest main event in SmackDown history”, which match will come out on top?
Let’s find out!
#5 Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn at Fastlane
For weeks leading up to this match, Samoa Joe and Sami Zayn beat the hell out of each other any chance they got. After a month of growing animosity between the two, they finally got their hands on each other in the squared circle at Fastlane.
Samoa Joe was advertised as a ruthless Superstar that stops at nothing to be the best. However, in this match, he proved to be just as cerebral as he is vicious.
Knowing the bulk of Zayn’s offence was dependent upon his quickness and his non-stop motor, Joe used several different submissions and holds in an attempt to cripple Zayn’s patented offence.
“The Underdog from the Underground” displayed his guts and determination but was no match for the overpowering nature of Samoa Joe.
After Joe dominated most of the match, Zayn found an opening and got some offence in on “The Destroyer” (even hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb on the much larger Samoan Superstar). Joe would kick out before three and the tables would quickly turn back in Joe’s favour.
After another short back and forth that saw Zayn seemingly set Joe up for a Helluva Kick, Joe caught Zayn for a huge Uranage and locked in the Coquina Clutch for the win. Zayn, in true underdog fashion, refused to tap, but instead passed out from the move, giving himself a bit of a moral victory.
#4 Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman at Fastlane
This was a matchup that most fans were looking forward to, even if they weren’t completely thrilled with the outcome. For months now, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns have been at each other’s throats.
Each man cost the other his shot at the WWE Universal Championship and for weeks leading up to their Fastlane match, it looked as if Strowman was just too much for “The Big Dog”.
From the beginning of the match, Strowman seemed unstoppable and on pace to keep his monstrous run going.
Throwing Reigns around the ring like a rag doll, reversing most of Roman’s offence, and hitting Reigns with almost every big move in his arsenal, it was obvious Strowman was in complete control and it was going to take a Herculean effort from Reigns to pull off the upset.
And that’s exactly what Roman Reigns did. After Strowman hit his patented Running Powerslam on Reigns through the announce table, Reigns had every reason to call it a night. However, he somehow got himself up off the remains of the table and the two monsters were back it.
After a short comeback attempt by Roman, “The Monster Among Men” regained control and went for the most devastating move we’ve seen from him to date, a huge splash from the top rope. However, Roman was lying in wait and rolled out of the way just in time to elude Braun’s splash.
As Strowman stumbled back to his feet, Reigns hit the monster with the second spear of the contest and handed him the first clean loss of his short WWE career.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. TJ Perkins on NXT
This was Shinsuke Nakamura’s highly anticipated return to NXT television since losing his NXT Title to Bobby Roode at NXT Takeover: San Antonio a few months ago, and “The King of Strong Style” didn’t waste any time testing his rehabbed knee.
Nakamura and TJP know each other extremely well having trained together in the dojos of New Japan Pro Wrestling many years ago and it showed during the early part of this matchup, with each man reversing or avoiding the other’s deadly strikes. They even traded dabs with each other!
However, Perkins turned the tables in his favour eventually by targeting Nakamura’s injured knee, even locking Nakamura in his patented kneebar. Shinsuke was able to crawl to the ropes for a clean break, however, and eventually nailed “The Fil-Am Flash” with his Kinshasa to pick up the victory.
#2 Neville (Champion) vs. Jack Gallagher for the WWE Cruiserweight Title at Fastlane
In a true clash of styles, Neville and Jack Gallagher were scheduled for a match at Fastlane with the Cruiserweight Title on the line. And although most fans didn’t expect it given the Cruiserweight division's lack of excitement lately, these two Superstars absolutely stole the show.
In what was voted as the “Match of the Night” from several different sites, Neville was able to retain his Cruiserweight title after a long, hard-fought victory over “Gentleman” Jack. Gallagher tried everything he could to dethrone the self-proclaimed “King of the Cruiserweights”.
From several high-flying manoeuvres (which is not his forte) to hitting him with a belly-to-back Superplex and several jaw-shattering headbutts, the champ proved to be too much for Gallagher, who gave Neville his closest contest yet since joining the division at the end of 2016.
Late in the match, Neville was looking to return the favour with a top rope Superplex of his own when Gallagher elbowed his way out of it and turned the tables on Neville with a stiff headbutt, knocking Neville unconscious for a moment while he laid across the top turnbuckle.
Gallagher going for the knockout blow looked to steal Neville’s top rope Superplex, but when he did, Neville held on to the rope and Gallagher’s momentum took him down.
A Red Arrow seconds later put the final nail in the coffin of “Gentleman” Jack Gallagher and Neville retained his title after one of the best matches in Cruiserweight history.
#1 Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles on SmackDown Live (Winner advances to the main event at WrestleMania 33)
This matchup is one that most of the WWE Universe has been dreaming of for over a decade.
The match was forced to take place when last week on SmackDown, Styles won a #1 contender’s match to main event WrestleMania and Orton also announced his plan to go after Bray Wyatt’s title at Mania after weeks of joining forces with Bray.
Orton, the Royal Rumble winner, had Daniel Bryan’s blessing, and Styles, the #1 contender match winner, had Shane McMahon’s blessing, so the GM and Commissioner decided to have “The Phenomenal One” face off against “The Viper” to determine the true #1 contender for the WWE Title.
And the match that was billed as the “greatest main event in SmackDown history” did not disappoint.
Orton and Styles went back and forth for the majority of the match, with both Superstars displaying their classic offence (Orton's stomps and the Superplex he got from his dad and Styles with his Calf Crusher and Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker).
However, it was the final minute of this match that made it special. Orton blocked Styles’ first attempt at The Phenomenal Forearm by sending him crashing down from the ropes and hit his patented Rope-Hung DDT on Styles, setting him up for an RKO.
However, when Orton went for his finisher, Styles slipped away and nailed Orton with a Pele Kick to the back of the head. Orton stumbled to the corner and countered Styles’ attempt at a forearm in the turnbuckle by sending him to the apron.
However, Styles would then hit a forearm on Orton and set him up for his finisher, The Phenomenal Forearm.
Being the wily vet Styles is, he knew Orton would most likely be laying in wait to counter Styles’ finisher into an RKO, so AJ faked out Orton by jumping on the ropes to springboard, but instead of finishing the move, just went back down to the apron.
Indeed, Orton pounced and attempted an RKO, but had been out-smarted by Styles, or so we thought. After Orton hit the mat hard on his RKO attempt, Styles finally had Orton in position to hit The Phenomenal Forearm.
When he went for the move, though, Orton moved out of the way. Styles landed on his feet then came at Orton, Orton tossed Styles in the air and hit a Pop-Up RKO for the victory in what was truly one of the greatest finishes in recent wrestling history.
Now “The Viper” moves on to WrestleMania 33 to face his former friend and mentor, Bray Wyatt, for the WWE Championship.
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