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WWE Yearly Review: Pay-Per-View Rankings 2019

WWE Yearly Review: Pay-Per-View Rankings 2019
Imranbecks, via Flickr

WWE

WWE Yearly Review: Pay-Per-View Rankings 2019

Hello, and welcome to the year-end TSJ listing of the top 21 WWE Pay-Per-View events of 2019. This list has been compiled by our former writer, now guest contributor Thom Cunningham; he took the time to put WWE under the microscope to bring you the rankings from least to greatest.

Now, he’s not saying that the shows were bad, not at all; he put them in the order of entertainment value from least to greatest.  And so, let’s dive in and see which PPVs were merely okay, which ones good, and which ones deserved true replay value.

21 – Stomping Grounds

WWE Stomping Grounds

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Jun. 23, 2019

Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA

Venue: Tacoma Dome

Match of the Night: Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler in a Steel Cage Match – WWE Championship

Honorable Mentions:

  • Daniel Bryan & Erick Rowan vs Heavy Machinery – WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • Becky Lynch shoves Lacey Evans’ handkerchief down her throat
  • Ricochet wins the WWE United States Championship
  • Otis catches a cross-body splash attempt from Erick Rowan
  • Nikki Cross accidentally costs Alexa Bliss the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship
  • Shane McMahon drags a referee out of the ring and hits a Coast-to-Coast on Roman Reigns
  • Kofi Kingston hurdles Dolph Ziggler to go outside of the cage and retain the WWE Championship
  • Seth Rollins powerbombs Baron Corbin through the announce table
  • Lacey Evans is the special guest referee and counts slow for Seth during a pin attempt and count out on Baron Corbin
  • Lacey Evans makes the WWE Universal Championship match No Count-Out and No DQ
  • Seth Rollins hits a falcon arrow on Baron Corbin onto a chair
  • Becky helps Seth retain his championship by taking Lacey Evans out

 

20 – Fastlane

WWE Fastlane 2019

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Mar. 10, 2019

Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Venue: Quicken Loans Arena

Match of the Night: The Shield vs Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin & Bobby Lashley

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • N/A

Memorable Moments:

  • The Usos frog splash on The Miz is intercepted by a Shane McMahon Coast-to-Coast
  • Shane McMahon attacks The Miz after they lose their championship match
  • Sonya Deville accidentally costs Mandy Rose her championship match
  • Vince McMahon tricks Kofi into thinking he is in the WWE Championship match, and instead givens him The Bar
  • Chad Gable hits a German suplex on Aleister Black into a pin that’s broken up by a Scott Dawson frog splash, who is then hit with a shooting star press by Ricochet
  • Ricochet launches himself over the ring post to land on Robert Roode as Chad Gable tags in
  • Rey Mysterio hits a hurricanrana on Andrade from the top rope onto the outside floor
  • Andrade hits a horizontal corkscrew over the top turnbuckle onto Samoa Joe on the outside floor
  • Nia Jax and Tamia attack Beth Phoenix and Natalya after their match

More Moments:

  • Ali is put into the WWE Championship match
  • Ali hits a reverse DDT onto Daniel Bryan from the top rope to the outside floor as Kevin Owens catches him and hits a ring apron powerbomb
  • Daniel Bryan hits a running knee as Ali is attempting a corkscrew moonsault to win the WWE Championship
  • Ronda Rousey gets Charlotte Flair disqualified so Becky Lynch is added to their Wrestlemania match
  • Randy Orton RKO’s Elias after a performance, but is then hit with a phenomenal forearm by A.J. Styles
  • The Shield reunite for one final match before Dean Ambrose leaves WWE
  • Seth Rollins jumps out of the crowd onto everyone below
  • The Shield triple powerbomb Drew McIntyre through the announce table
  • Seth Rollins curb stomps Bobby Lashley into an announce table

 

19 – Clash of Champions

WWE Clash of Champions 2019

WWE Clash of Champions 2019. Photo by Trend Shoots, via Flickr.

Date: Sept. 15, 2019

Location: Charlotte, NC, USA

Venue: Spectrum Center

Match of the Night: Becky Lynch vs Sasha Banks – WWE Raw Women’s Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • N/A

Memorable Moments:

  • Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship
  • Bayley uses an exposed turnbuckle to beat Charlotte Flair
  • The Revival win the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship
  • There is a 24/7 Championship chase during the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match, as Alexa Bliss almost wins the former championship
  • Sasha Banks tries an Eddie Guerrero tactic to win the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
  • Becky hits the referee with a chair to get DQ’d
  • Sasha & Becky fight into the crowd after the match and puts Sasha into a Dis-Armher through a chair
  • Erick Rowan powerbombs Roman Reigns through the announce table
  • Erick Rowan Iron Claw Slams Roman Reigns through a table in the crowd
  • Luke Harper returns to help Rowan beat Reigns
  • The Fiend attack Seth Rollins after his WWE Universal Championship match

 

18 – Super ShowDown

 

Date: Jun. 7, 2019

Location: Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Venue: King Abdullah International Stadium

Match of the Night: Randy Orton vs Triple H

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • N/A

Memorable Moments:

  • Baron Corbin loses his WWE Universal Championship match arguing with the referee, so he hits Seth Rollins with an End of Days as Brock Lesnar comes out to cash in his MITB contract
  • Seth low blows Lesnar before he can cash in his contract and beats him with a chair
  • Finn Balor’s entrance
  • Lars Sullivan makes his WWE match debut
  • Lars Sullivan beats down the Lucha House Party on the entrance ramp after they get themselves DQ’d
  • Triple H’s entrance
  • First-ever 50-man Battle Royal
  • Mansoor wins the 50-man Battle Royal

 

17 – Extreme Rules

Extreme Rules 2019

Extreme Rules 2019 poster, via Wikipedia.

Date: Jul. 14, 2019

Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA

Venue: Wells Fargo Center

Match of the Night: Braun Strowman vs Bobby Lashley in a Last Man Standing Match

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Cesaro vs Aleister Black

Memorable Moments:

  • Elias hits The Undertaker with a guitar
  • Shane McMahon hits an elbow drop on The Undertaker off the turnbuckle through the announce table
  • Shane hits a Coast-to-Coast on The Undertaker with a trash can
  • Cesaro reverses Aleister Black’s double-knees attempt with an uppercut
  • Braun Strowman suplexes Bobby Lashley into an arena wall
  • Lashley spears Strowman through a barricade
  • Lashley dumps the announce table on top of Strowman, who gets up to break a 10-count
  • Strowman tosses Lashley into the international commentary area
  • Strowman powerslams Lashley off the stands to win
  • The New Day win their sixth WWE Tag Team Championship
  • Gallows & Anderson helps A.J. Styles win the WWE United States Championship – hitting a Super Styles Clash to win
  • Kevin Owens beats Dolph Ziggler in quick fashion
  • Becky Lynch hits Becksploder on Lacey Evans onto a pile of chairs
  • Baron Corbin hits Becky with an End of Days
  • Brock Lesnar successfully cashes in MITB and wins the WWE Universal Championship

 

16 – Elimination Chamber

Elimination Chamber 2019

Poster for Elimination Chamber/No Escape 2019. Poster via Wikipedia.

Date: Feb. 17, 2019

Location: Houston, Texas, USA

Venue: Toyota Center

Match of the Night: 6-Team Elimination Chamber Match – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • 6-Man Elimination Chamber Match – WWE Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • 1st ever women’s tag team Elimination Chamber match
  • The IIconics pinning combination on Naomi
  • The Riott Squad hit a cross-body splash off the pod on to everyone below
  • Nia Jax crashes herself through a pod door
  • Sasha Banks hits a backstabber on Sonya Deville into a Bayley-to-Belly
  • Sasha & Bayley win the 1stever WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • The Usos counter a Shane McMahon Coast-to-Coast with a superkick
  • Shane McMahon hits an elbow drop on to a Uso through the announce table
  • The Usos wins the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship
  • Finn Balor wins the WWE Intercontinental Championship by pinning Lio Rush
  • Becky Lynch attacks Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey with her crutch
  • Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley put Braun Strowman through two tables
  • Kofi Kingston jumps off the chamber wall onto Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan
  • Jeff Hardy hits a Swanton Bomb off the pod onto A.J. Styles who is laying on the turnbuckle
  • Randy Orton hits an RKO on Styles mid-phenomenal forearm to eliminate him
  • Bryan reverses a Kingston bulldog by throwing him into a pod door

 

15 – SummerSlam

WWE

Alexa Bliss in action at SummerSlam 2019.
Photo by Celebrity Photos Daily, via Flickr

Date: Aug. 10, 2019

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Venue: Scotiabank Arena

Match of the Night: Becky Lynch vs Natalya in a Submission Match – WWE Raw Women’s Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins – WWE Universal Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • Natalya locks a sharpshooter onto Becky Lynch on top of the turnbuckle
  • Dolph Ziggler repeatedly calls out Goldberg, who continually spears him
  • Carmella and R-Truth disguise themselves as international broadcasters with Drake Maverick looking for them
  • Ricochet walks on Gallows and Anderson’s shoulders to hit a hurricanrana on A.J. Styles
  • Bayley hits a Super Bayley-to-Belly on Ember Moon
  • Shane McMahon makes Elias the special enforcer in his match with Kevin Owens
  • Randy Orton taunts Kofi Kingston in front of his family, causing Kofi to snap
  • Bray Wyatt debuts The Fiend
  • Seth Rollins frog splashes Brock Lesnar through the announce table
  • Seth Rollins wins the WWE Universal Championship

 

14 – Crown Jewel

 

Date: Oct. 31, 2019

Location: Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Venue: King Fahd International Stadium

Match of the Night: Seth Rollins vs Bray Wyatt in a Falls Count Anywhere Match – WWE Universal Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Mansoor vs Cesaro
  • Natalya vs Lacey Evans

Memorable Moments:

  • Brock Lesnar beats Cain Velasquez with a chair after their match, so Rey Mysterio comes out and beats Brock with one
  • The O.C. win the Tag Team World Cup (largest Tag Team Turmoil in WWE history)
  • Cesaro counters a Mansoor moonsault with an uppercut
  • Mansoor counters a Cesaro super gut wrench suplex into a powerbomb
  • Tyson Fury’s entrance
  • Natalya and Lacey Evans compete in the first-ever women’s wrestling match in Saudi Arabia and share a moment after
  • Randy Orton reverses a Roman Reigns’ superman punch into an RKO
  • Seth Rollins curb stomps The Fiend outside the ring, but he gets up instantly – curb stomps him on the exposed floor too
  • The Fiend pushes Seth off the top turnbuckle into two tables outside the ring
  • Seth kicks The Fiend off the stage into a pile of fireworks that go off, but Fiend gets up instantly and wins the WWE Universal Championship

 

13 – Hell in a Cell

Hell in a Cell 2019

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Oct. 6, 2019

Location: Sacramento, California, USA

Venue: Golden 1 Center

Match of the Night: Becky Lynch vs Sasha Banks in a Hell in a Cell Match – WWE Raw Women’s Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns vs Erick Rowan and Luke Harper in a Tornado Tag Team Match

Memorable Moments:

  • Sasha Banks hits a double-knees onto Becky on a standing ladder
  • Becky hits a Becksploder on Sasha into the cell
  • Becky sits Sasha in a chair that is held up against the cell wall with three kendo sticks and dropkicks her
  • Sasha hits double-knees onto Becky through a table
  • Roman Reigns spears Erick Rowan through the announce table
  • Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns hug after their match
  • Asuka uses green mist on Nikki Cross
  • The Kabuki Warriors win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • Braun Strowman knocks out A.J. Styles, who comedically tries to stand after the match
  • R-Truth wins the 24/7 Championship with help from Funaki
  • Charlotte Flair wins her 10th WWE Women’s Championship
  • Seth Rollins frog splashes The Fiend through a table
  • The Fiend uses an oversized mallet to attack Seth with
  • Fiend gets up after multiple curb stomps and a pedigree
  • The Fiend kicks out after Seth uses a ladder to smash a chair on The Fiend’s face
  • Seth uses a toolbox to smashes a ladder and chair on The Fiend’s face
  • The Fiend mandible claws Seth and hits a Sister Abigail after laying on a stretcher

 

12 – TLC

WWE TLC 2019

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Dec. 15, 2019

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Venue: Target Center

Match of the Night: Aleister Black vs Buddy Murphy

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • The New Day vs The Revival in a Ladder Match – WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship
  • Roman Reigns vs Baron Corbin in a TLC Match
  • The Kabuki Warriors vs Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair in a TLC Match – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • Kofi Kingston hits a cross-body splash off the top rope on to The Revival who are holding a ladder
  • Big E misses his patent apron splash and lands on a ladder
  • Kofi jumps off a falling ladder and lands on a rope, then jumps and hits a tornado DDT onto Scott Dawson
  • Dawson superplexes Big E onto a ladder that then Dash Wilder Frog Splashes Big E through
  • Big E hits a Big Ending onto Wilder off the ladder
  • Kofi uses the hanging belts to knock Dawson off the ladder onto another ladder below
  • The Viking Raiders powerbomb Karl Anderson through the KFC table
  • Baron Corbin chokeslams Roman Reigns through a table after hitting him with a can of dog food
  • Reigns hit a Samoan Drop on Corbin through the announce table
  • Dolph Ziggler throws a chair at Reigns’ face
  • Corbin hits Reigns with an End of Days on a chair

More Moments:

  • Daniel Bryan returns after Bray Wyatt ‘speaks’ with The Fiend after his match with The Miz
  • Lashley side slams Rusev through a steel barricade
  • Lana helps Bobby Lashley beat Rusev
  • Kairi Sane hides under the ring and uses a fire extinguisher on Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch when they pull her out
  • Asuka and Kairi Sane tie Becky to a ladder
  • Becky Lynch leg drops Asula through a table
  • Charlotte powerbombs Sane through a table
  • Charlotte is powerbombed off the top rope through a table outside the ring

 

11 – NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool

NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Jan. 12, 2019

Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, England

Venue: Empress Ballroom

Match of the Night: Pete Dunne vs Joe Coffey – WWE United Kingdom Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • N/A

Memorable Moments:

  • Tyler Bate hits an airplane spin on both James Drake & Zach Gibson at the same time
  • Bate breaks a submission by tossing Gibson into Drake causing him to break his submission on Trent Seven
  • Jordan Devlin injures Travis Banks prior to their match, prompting an impromptu match with Finn Balor
  • Eddie Dennis reverses a cross-body splash attempt by Dave Mastiff into a Sidewalk Slam on steel steps
  • Toni Storm wins the NXT United Kingdom Women’s Championship
  • Walter shows up after Pete Dunne retains his title against Joe Coffey

 

10 – NXT TakeOver: Phoenix

NXT TakeOver: Phoenix

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Jan. 26, 2019

Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Venue: Talking Sticks Resort Arena

Match of the Night: Ricochet vs Johnny Gargano – NXT North American Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Undisputed Era vs War Raiders – NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Shayna Baszler vs Bianca Belair – NXT Women’s Championship
  • Tommaso Ciampa vs Aleister Black – NXT Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • War Raiders Entrance
  • War Raiders win the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Ricochet counters a Gargano suicide dive into a Fireman’s Carry, which Gargano reverses into a reverse Spikearana on the outside floor
  • Johnny Gargano wins the NXT North American Championship
  • Shayna Baszler ends Bianca Belair’s undefeated streak
  • Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa end the show on stage together, both with championships

 

9 – NXT TakeOver: Toronto

NXT TakeOver; Toronto 2019

TakeOver: Toronto poster courtesy of Wikipedia

Date: Aug. 10, 2019

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Venue: Scotiabank Arena

Match of the Night: Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match – NXT Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Street Profits vs Undisputed Era – NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Io Shirai vs Candice LeRae
  • Triple Threat Match – NXT North American Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • Io Shirai hits a super Spanish Fly on Candice LeRae
  • Matt Riddle calls out Killian Dain, starting a brawl between the two
  • Killian Dain powerbombs Riddle and a security guard off the stage through a table
  • Velveteen Dream’s entrance
  • Velveteen Dream breaks a Pete Dunne finger lock on Roderick Strong with a Purple Rain Maker across the ring
  • Mia Yim hits a super Sunrise Powerbomb on Shayna Baszler
  • Johnny Gargano takes a selfie with a fan
  • Gargano flips Adam Cole through the announce table
  • The third fall match between Gargano and Cole is revealed to be a steel cage that is surrounded in barbed wire and weapons
  • Gargano uses a fire extinguisher on Cole and then hits a tornado DDT onto the edge of a steel chair
  • Gargano hits a super Canadian Destroyer on Cole
  • Cole and Gargano crash through tables, falling off the top of the cage

 

8 – Survivor Series

WWE Survivor Series 2019

Survivor Series 2019 poster, courtesy of Wikipedia

Date: Nov. 24, 2019

Location: Rosemont, Illinois, USA

Venue: Allstate Arena

Match of the Night: Adam Cole vs Pete Dunne – NXT Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • 5-Man Elimination Survivor Series Match
  • Brock Lesnar vs Rey Mysterio in a No Holds Barred Match – WWE Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • Io Shirai and Candice LeRae leave the women’s Survivor Series match, only to return later
  • Carmella hits a Hurricanrana on Charlotte Flair, who lands on Bianca Belair
  • Asuka spits green mist into Charlotte’s eyes
  • Toni Storm is put into the Bank Statement and sharpshooter at the same time
  • Adam Cole counters a Pete Dunne Moonsault with a kick to the face
  • Cole reverses Dunne’s Bitter End with a Panama Sunrise
  • Cole hits a Panama Sunrise onto Dunne on the ring apron
  • Braun Strowman and Keith Lee staredown
  • Roman Reigns spears and helps eliminate teammate Baron Corbin
  • Lee counters a Reigns spear into a massive sit down powerbomb
  • Reigns then shakes Lee’s hand after the match
  • Dominic begs Brock to stop beating up Rey Mysterio, but Rey and Dominic both low blow Lesnar
  • Then Dominic hits Brock with a chair
  • Dominic and Rey hits Brock with a 619
  • Becky Lynch attacks Shayna Baszler after their match

 

7 – Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank 2019

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: May 19, 2019

Location: Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Venue: XL Center

Match of the Night: Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
  • Seth Rollins vs A.J. Styles – WWE Universal Championship

Memorable Moments:

  • Naomi walks across horizontal ladders to dropkick Mandy Rose
  • Carmella injures ankle during the match and comes back for revenge on Mandy
  • Naomi hits a split leg moonsault onto Bayley who’s laying on a ladder
  • Ember Moon hits an Eclipse on Natalya off the top of a ladder
  • Mandy hits a Fairytale Ending on Moon onto a ladder
  • Sonya Deville stops Carmella from winning and carries Mandy up the ladder
  • Bayley wins MITB
  • Rey Mysterio wins the WWE United States Championship
  • Ariya Daivari’s entrance
  • Lacey Evans’ entrance
  • Sami Zayn is found upside down and beaten up, so Triple H sends Braun Strowman home (thinking it was him) and out of the MITB match

More Moments:

  • Charlotte Flair wins the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship thanks to Lacey Evans
  • Bayley successfully cashes in MITB and wins the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship
  • Elias hits Roman Reigns with a guitar backstage
  • Seth Rollins hits an inverted superplex on A.J. Styles
  • A.J. Styles backflips off turnbuckle into an inverted DDT onto Seth
  • Styles reverses a Rollins’ curb stomp into a Styles Clash
  • Finn Balor stomps a ladder into Baron Corbin
  • Andrade sunset flips Balor off a ladder onto a horizontal ladder
  • Ali hits Spanish Fly on Andrade off a ladder
  • Corbin chokeslams Ali through a table and Balor onto the edge of a ladder
  • Drew McIntyre suplexes Balor on a ladder, then hits an inverted Alabama Slam on Andrade onto Balor who is laying on the ladder
  • McIntyre tosses Ricochet over a rope and through a ladder
  • Brock Lesnar shows up as Strowman’s replacement to win MITB

 

6 – NXT TakeOver: War Games III

NXT TakeOver: War Games III

Poster courtesy of Wikipedia

Date: Nov. 23, 2019

Location: Rosemont, Illinois, USA

Venue: Allstate Arena

Match of the Night: Women’s War Games Match

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Men’s War Games Match
  • Finn Balor vs Matt Riddle
  • Triple Threat Match – NXT Championship #1 Contender

Memorable Moments:

  • 1st ever women’s War Games match
  • Io Shirai hits running double-knees onto Candice LeRae in between the rings
  • Rhea Ripley powerbombs Shirai and Kay Lee Ray on chairs – as they super backdrop suplex LeRae onto the same chairs
  • Bianca Beliar hits a 450-splash on Ripley on a pile of chairs
  • Dakota Kai attacks Tegan Nox when it’s her turn to enter War Games
  • Shirai hits a moonsault on Belair and LeRae from the top of the cage
  • Ripley handcuffs herself to Shayna Baszler and hits her with a Rip Tide through two chairs to win
  • Killian Dain cannonballs Damian Priest through a barricade
  • Kevin Owens is the surprise entrant on Team Ciampa in War Games
  • Adam Cole hits a Panama Sunrise onto Owen in between the rings
  • Dominik Dijakovic choke slams Roderick Strong off turnbuckle through a table
  • Owens frog splashes Kyle O’Reilly through a table which breaks a sleeper hold he had on Dijakovic
  • Keith Lee powerbombs Bobby Fish through a table
  • Tommaso Ciampa hits a white noise onto Cole off the top of the cage through two tables to win

 

5 – Royal Rumble

Royal Rumble 2019

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Jan. 27, 2019

Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Venue: Chase Field

Match of the Night: Asuka vs Becky Lynch – WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Ronda Rousey vs Sasha Banks – WWE Raw Women’s Championship
  • Brock Lesnar vs Finn Balor – WWE Universal Championship

 

Memorable Moments:

  • Asuka hits a fisherman’s suplex on Becky Lynch off the apron on the outside floor
  • Asuka gets Becky to tap with an inverted Asuka Lock
  • Shane McMahon & The Miz win the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship
  • Sasha Banks locks a double armbar on Ronda Rousey into a Bank Statement
  • Natalya locks a sharpshooter on Lacey Evans and Mandy Rose at the same time
  • Billie Kay refuses to enter the Royal Rumble without Peyton Royce
  • Nikki Cross enters the Royal Rumble by throwing Billie Kay into the barricade, smashing her head repeatedly into the turnbuckle and then hits a cross-body splash onto everyone from the turnbuckle
  • Ember Moon saves elimination with her feet hooking to the bottom rope
  • Naomi saves elimination by climbing on the barricade and jumping on the steel steps
  • Candice LeRae, Lacey Evans, Xia Li, Kacy Catanzaro, Io Shirai, and Rhea Ripley all make their WWE in-ring debuts

    More Moments:

  • Ruby Riott enters the Royal Rumble with the Riott Squad eliminating multiple women
  • Hornswoggle chases Zelina Vega out from under the ring
  • Catanzaro saves elimination by landing on her hands and climbing the outside of the ring post
  • Natalya lasts 55 minutes and 58 seconds in the Royal Rumble match – longest duration for any woman in a Royal Rumble match
  • Becky Lynch takes Lana’s spot in the Royal Rumble match and wins it
  • Erick Rowan returns to help Daniel Bryan retain the WWE Championship against A.J. Styles
  • Finn Balor uses the corner of the announce table to gain an advantage over Brock Lesnar
  • Jeff Jarrett interrupts Elias as the number two entry, only for Elias to smash him with a guitar
  • Kurt Angle enters the Royal Rumble at No. 4
  • Drew McIntyre destroys No Way Jose’s conga line as he enters the Royal Rumble
  • Bobby Lashley puts Seth Rollins through the announce table after Seth eliminates him
  • Nia Jax attacks R-Truth and takes his spot in the men’s Royal Rumble, eliminating a few competitors
  • Rey hits a 619 and Randy Orton hits an RKO on Nia Jax
  • Seth Rollins wins the Royal Rumble

 

4 – NXT TakeOver: XXV

NXT TakeOver: XXV

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Jun. 1, 2019

Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Venue: Webster Bank Arena

Match of the Night: Johnny Gargano vs Adam Cole – NXT Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Matt Riddle vs Roderick Strong
  • Fatal-4-Way Ladder Match – NXT Tag Team Championship

 

Memorable Moments:

  • Montez Ford leapfrogs Wesley Blake who is laying on a ladder and flapjacks Steve Cutler on the same ladder
  • Undisputed Era hit a codebreaker into a german suplex onto Ford on a ladder
  • Blake powerbombs Kyle O’Reilly into a ladder Bobby Fish is climbing
  • Forgotten Sons hit an inverted DDT-stomp onto Fish off a ladder
  • Jaxson Ryker comes down and beats everyone with a ladder until the other teams join forces against him
  • Street Profits win the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Velveteen Dream takes a selfie with Tyler’s phone and again with Tyler after their match
  • Io Shirai attacks Shayna Baszler after their match and hits a moonsault with a chair
  • Josiah Williams raps Adam Cole’s entrance song
  • Cole hits a Panama Sunrise on Johnny Gargano outside the ring
  • Adam Cole wins the NXT Championship

 

3 – NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff

NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff

Poster via Wikipedia

Date: Aug. 31, 2019

Location: Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales

Venue: Motorpoint Arena

Match of the Night: Walter vs Tyler Bate – WWE United Kingdom Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Cesaro vs Ilja Dragunov
  • Noam Dar vs Travis Banks
  • Triple Threat Match – NXT UK Tag Team Championship
  • Joe Coffey vs Dave Mastiff in a Last Man Standing Match

 

Memorable Moments:

  • Cesaro hits 40 swings on Ilja Dragunov
  • Cesaro shakes Dragunov hand after the match and hugs him
  • Zach Gibson and James Drake hold Wolfgang on their shoulders and hit a suicide dive
  • Mark Andrews & Morgan Webster win the NXT UK Tag Team Championship
  • Dave Mastiff whips Joe Coffey into turnbuckle so hard it pops out
  • Mastiff hits a DVD on Coffey onto the announce table
  • Both Mastiff and Coffey fall off a platform through tables below
  • Kay Lee Ray wins the NXT UK Women’s Championship
  • Tyler Bate hits an exploder suplex on Walter off the ring apron onto the outside floor

 

2 – Wrestlemania 35

 

 

Date: Apr. 7, 2019

Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA

Venue: MetLife Stadium

Match of the Night: Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston – WWE Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Shane McMahon vs The Miz in a Last Man Standing Match
  • Triple Threat Match – WWE Smackdown and Raw Women’s Championship
  • Triple H vs Batista in a No DQ Match

 

Memorable Moments:

  • Yolanda Adams sings God Bless America
  • Seth Rollins low blows Brock Lesnar when the ref is not watching and hits three curb stomps to win the WWE Universal Championship
  • Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura powerbomb Usos off the turnbuckle, who back suplex The Bar off the turnbuckle, who try to do the same to Ricochet – but Ricochet rolls through to avoid the fall
  • Hall of Fame inductees come out
  • Shane McMahon attacks The Miz’s father
  • The Miz sends Shane through an international announce table
  • Miz hits Shane with a TV monitor as he lands on a golf cart
  • The Miz suplexes Shane off a TV tower but Shane lands on him and wins
  • Bret Hart escorts Natalya and Beth Phoenix to the stage
  • Beth Phoenix hits a Super Glam Slam on Bayley, but IIconics get the pin and win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

More Moments:

  • Kofi Kingston wins the WWE Championship
  • Drew McIntyre’s entrance
  • Elias plays the drums, piano, and guitar to play a short song but is interrupted by ‘heel’ John Cena
  • Batista and Triple H’s entrances
  • Triple H hits Batista with a toolbox and uses pliers to rip his nose ring out
  • The Game uses bolt cutters to smash Batista’s fingers
  • Triple H spears Batista through the announce table
  • Ric Flair helps Triple H win by handing him a sledgehammer and distracting Batista
  • Baron Corbin beats Kurt Angle in his final match – as Angle gives a speech after
  • Finn Balor fights as the demon and wins back his WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • Women main event Wrestlemania for the first time ever
  • Charlotte Flair arrives in a helicopter while Ronda Rousey has live music perform her theme song
  • Becky Lynch pins Ronda Rousey to win both the WWE Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championship

 

1 – NXT TakeOver: New York

NXT TakeOver: New York

NXT TakeOver: New York poster, courtesy of Wikipedia

Date: Apr. 5, 2019

Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Venue: Barclays Center

Match of the Night: Adam Cole vs Johnny Gargano in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match – NXT Championship

 

Honorable Mentions:

  • Velveteen Dream vs Matt Riddle – NXT North American Championship
  • War Raiders vs Aleister Black & Ricochet – NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Fatal-4-Way Match – NXT Women’s Championship
  • Pete Dunne vs Walter – WWE United Kingdom Championship

 

Memorable Moments:

  • War Raiders’ entrance
  • Aleister Black and Ricochet have a sendoff moment with the NXT crowd after their match
  • Velveteen Dream’s entrance
  • Matt Riddle german suplexes Dream into the ring and then follows it with a Floating Bro
  • Walter hits a super powerbomb on Pete Dunne
  • Walter wins the WWE United Kingdom Championship
  • Kairi Sane and Io Shirai powerbomb Shayna Baszler who superplexes Bianca Belair
  • Shirai launches Sane over the top rope as she hits an Insane Elbow on Baszler and Belair
  • Johnny Gargano wins the NXT Championship

Written by Thom Cunningham

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