FanPost

Ranking every WWE main roster Premium Live Event match from 2022: #70-61

WWE.com

Hey everyone, hope you all had the happiest of holidays! We're back with another installment of ranking the best PLE matches from WWE's main roster in 2022.

The holidays, some sickness, and also proposing to my long-term girlfriend (she said yes!!!!) got in the way, but worry no more. Now that all those annoying slices of life are out of the way, we can go back to doing what we love best; arguing about men and women playfighting in their underwear!

For the newly initiated: #90-81 & #80-71. Also, keep a lookout because the next installment or two may be 20 match installments, just to speed along the process and get to the good stuff before the new year!

#70: Becky Lynch def. Doudrop to retain the Raw Women’s Championship; Royal Rumble

Listen, heel vs. heel is very hard to do. It’s even harder to do when the booker doesn’t pay any attention to the division you’re booked in.

#69: Sheamus & Ridge Holland def. Cesaro & Ricochet; Day 1

Hey, Cesaro made this list! That’s the only nice thing to say about this very forgettable preshow match.

#68: Ronda Rousey def. Charlotte Flair in an "I Quit" match to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship; Backlash

Perhaps the high water mark of Ronda’s most recent WWE run. The submission-heavy stipulation meant that both competitors could focus on what they did best; lock up their opponent in unpleasant deathgrip after unpleasant deathgrip. Charlotte’s heel persona (or maybe actual persona, depending on who you ask) was also a heat magnet during this feud, which made a lot of people cheer for Rousey during this time. In fact, whether face or heel, Ronda is yet to find a dance partner that works as well with her as Flair did during this program. Not saying much, tbh.

#67: Madcap Moss def. Happy Corbin in a No Holds Barred match; Hell in a Cell

Give Happy Corbin credit; he’s such a despicable character that he even makes rooting for an otherwise bland babyface like Madcap Moss fun. This match lands in the 60s due solely to Schadenfreude purposes.

#66: Rey Mysterio def. The Miz; Elimination Chamber

If you forgot about this match, no one would blame you. While the Mystrio v. Miz feud culminated in an incredibly fun Wrestlemania match that featured Miz and Logan Paul tearing the house down and getting the win, the match had a lackluster build. This was part of that lackluster build.

#65: Drew McIntyre def. Karrion Kross in a Steel Cage match; Crown Jewel

This was a lukewarm feud, no doubt about it. At least it culminated in a semi-compelling manner, though. Karrion Kross’s underhanded tactics got the better of him, and Drew McIntyre picked up the win, letting him come out on top in this feud and keeping him looking strong after losing to Roman Reigns.

#64: The Usos def. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championship; WrestleMania, Night 1

This is an unfortunate example of a match ranking low through no fault of the performers themselves. This match seemed destined to be a great one, from the hype intros to the great recent in-ring resumes from at least 3 of the 4 wrestlers involved. Then, disaster struck. Rick Boogs’s knee collapsed while he was doing his best John Cena impression, lifting up both Usos. John Cena, it turns out, is built differently. Rick Boogs is sadly mortal. The destroyed knee meant the match had to audible, and the Usos eventually overpowered Nakamura en route to a victory before the match had a chance to pick up any real momentum.

#63: Ronda Rousey def. Natalya to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship; Money in the Bank

Natalya was an otherwise uninspiring challenger to Rousey here, but she did serve one purpose; be a heel submission specialist who could bang up Ronda’s knee enough to give Liv Morgan a cash-in window. It’s a good callback to the fact that Natalya is, in fact, a Hart. I have less of a problem with boring and uninspiring when there’s a method to the madness, and this match fits the bill because it was a necessary step to set up something awesome.

#62: Roman Reigns def. Goldberg to retain the Universal Championship; Elimination Chamber

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar was such a dominant storyline from August til April that it’s easy to forget Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, and Goldberg squeezed out some title opportunities in the cracks. The Goldberg match was uninspiring, but all things considered it was a good effort from both involved. Nothing was egregiously bad about it, it was over quick enough, and Roman got a clean win over a big meaty man to continue his dominance en route to Brock and Wrestlemania 38.

#61: Finn Balor def. Edge in an "I Quit" match; Extreme Rules

Gonna be honest, "I Quit" matches are sorta becoming a cop-out to me. The Roman Reigns-Jey Uso match at Clash of Champions is the one I go back to, where Jey wouldn’t quit so Roman beat Jimmy senseless til he did quit. That’s pretty much the formula used here, with Edge not quitting and Rhea Ripley beating up Beth Phoenix til he did. Good match, but the ending had been done before.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Cageside Seats readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cageside Seats editors or staff.