The week of August 11-17 was very solid in terms of in-ring action, as every show this week offered something entertaining and quality. There were no candidates for Match of the Year in WWE And AEW programming, but there were still several contenders for the best game of the week.
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TheSportster’s ratings system looks at RAW, SmackDown, Dynamite, NXT, Rampage and Collision to determine which matches went best during the week of August 11-17 and which company had the better fight.
8 Otis and Akira Tozawa vs. American Made (WWE RAW, 12.08.2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 6.75/10
|
Storytelling |
1.75/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
1.5/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
1.5/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2/2.5 |
Thanks to good storytelling, a fairly average to solid match turned into a good one when Otis & Tozawa took on the Creed Brothers in a tornado tag match. It wasn’t as wild as many would have expected given the conditions, but it was still a lot of fun for fans. There were some big moments, but there were also some disjointed moments. Ivy Nile’s entrance at the end of the match was expected, but good, adding another member to Chad Gable’s American Made faction.
7 Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes (WWE SmackDown, August 16, 2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 7.25/10
|
Storytelling |
1.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
1.5/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2/2.5 |
Another week, another strong match between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes. In truth, however, this was a slight step down from their previous matches for the sole reason that it was simply more of the same and nothing that fans hadn’t already seen at this point. It was still impressive and had many great spots and beautifully executed sequences, but there was nothing that took it to a higher level. However, their chemistry is growing and if they can add more intensity and storytelling, their series will be one to remember fondly.
6 Orange Cassidy vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Roderick Strong (AEW Dynamite, August 14, 2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 7.25/10
|
Storytelling |
1.5/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
2/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
1.75/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2/2.5 |
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With a spot in the Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW All In on the line, there were some good bets that added to the story of this Triple Threat Match between Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong. There were some strong intertwined storylines here involving the Conglomeration and The Undisputed Kingdom, but this was more about the strong work in the ring from the three men, each bringing their own styles to a unique and entertaining encounter. O’Reilly and Strong had some very entertaining interactions that were the highlight of the match, but Cassidy brought his own quality.
5 The Acclaimed vs. FTR (AEW Collision, August 17, 2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 7.25/10
|
Storytelling |
1.75/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
1.75/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
1.5/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2.25/2.5 |
With a win over the Young Bucks at stake at All In: London, there was a lot at stake in this match between FTR and The Acclaimed. Their animosity had been building over the past few weeks, and that was reflected here. However, a 30-minute time limit was just too long for this encounter. Some parts were strong, others dragged, which dragged the match down a bit, especially when it became obvious that they were dragging the match out. However, the crowd in Arlington, Texas was engaged, and the match was mostly strong and one of the best either team has had this year.
4 Nathan Frazer and Axiom vs. Chase U (WWE NXT, August 13, 2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 7.5/10
|
Storytelling |
2/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
1.75/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
1.5/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2.25/2.5 |
The NXT crowd is one of the most engaged and loudest any week and they were back in full force on the August 13 episode of NXT in the main event as Chase U picked up a victory over Nathan Frazier & Axiom to become the brand new NXT Tag Team Champions – a celebratory and satisfying moment for the popular act. The match itself had a high pace and good performance, although the psychology was nothing special as they had to pack a lot into just 10 minutes.
3 Mercedes Mone vs. Hikaru Shida (AEW Dynamite, August 14, 2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 7.5/10
|
Storytelling |
1.75/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
1.75/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
2/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2/2.5 |
In the opening match of the August 14 episode of Dynamite, Mercedes Mone successfully defended her TBS title against Hikaru Shida. The outcome was never in doubt, which took away from the intensity, but the match proved to be very solid. The pair developed some decent chemistry in their very first meeting, with the champion in particular appearing to be in very good shape both in the ring and in character, with some strong heel action from her and her new heavy, Kamille. Shida was in good form as always, but she seemed to be a step or two off her usual pace.
2 Bron Breakker vs. Sami Zayn (WWE RAW 12.08.2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 7.75/10
|
Storytelling |
1.75/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
1.75/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
2/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2.25/2.5 |
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The feud between Bron Breakker and Sami Zayn was good, but it took until the August 12 episode of RAW for them to have a really strong match together. The 2 out of 3 falls rule certainly helped, giving the match more structure and story. Zayn got the first fall, but in the end it was Breakker’s youthful power and intelligence that helped him win the last fall with a huge spear in the air. Their chemistry had been building well over the past few months, leading to a very solid RAW main event.
1 The Street Profits vs. DIY (WWE SmackDown, August 16, 2024)
Overall rating by TheSportster: 7.75/10
|
Storytelling |
1.75/2.5 |
|---|---|
|
Technical skills |
2.25/2.5 |
|
Character/Psychology |
1.5/2.5 |
|
Reaction of the crowd |
2.25/2.5 |
The best match of the week in WWE and AEW took place on SmackDown, as The Street Profits and DIY put on a great TV match to determine the new number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships. The action was fast-paced, exciting, and full of impressive moves and counters. It felt like a tag team match straight out of the days of NXT TakeOver, and these two teams had the crowd going wild. While it lacked a little psychology with the constant moves and lack of selling at times, it was still very entertaining.
