2020 Ongoing MOTY List: Riddle vs. Thatcher

15. Matt Riddle vs. Timothy Thatcher NXT 5/13

ER: Their first singles match in over two years, and it's not surprisingly a nifty TV main event. I didn't love their very brief chemistry as a tag team, but them twisting limbs and kneeing lats is the kind of chemistry I seek from them. Their kind of chemistry is the kind that is always working towards something, always trying to outpace, always looking to finish things. The big stuff looks cool, the small stuff looks cool, the kind of joy that can be found with a slick judo throw or a KO kick. The strikes played well to the empty arena, as the slaps and body shots really landed with a deep thud. When Thatcher grabbed Riddle by the jaw and unloaded open hands, not even the Lucha Underground FX crew could have made those sound more damaging, and Riddle's grounded body shots sounded like he was trying to find the ripest cantaloupe at the market. I love when these two try to cross each other up, and my favorite moment of the match was when Riddle hits a knee strike, fakes Thatcher low, and then knocks him into the commercial break with a head kick.

My only real fault with the match is that Thatcher heads into the commercial break sliding head first to the floor, and when we return Thatcher is standing over Riddle holding an ankle lock. Nobody wants a movie where the hostage negotiator is staring down the barrel of a gun, only to blink and suddenly find he's the one holding the gun. The recaps fill in a few of the gaps (including a savage foot stomp by Thatcher), but it felt like we missed something important. I'm not 100% sure what all Thatcher did to gain control, but I liked what he did once he had it, dumping Riddle with a German, stomping some more feet, big uppercut; and I love how Riddle is never inactive against Thatcher, always working in strikes when he can and trying to power through offense when possible (including a sitout powerbomb out of a triangle that had to take some unreal strength). Big move stretch run that never felt like move spamming, and the final submission/pin was handled great. Thatcher really looked like he was going to walk away with Riddle's leg, tying him up to such a degree that he has nowhere to go once Riddle leverages his shoulders to the mat. The two of them tagging together when Thatcher was brought in sounded great on paper, but it turns out the classics still play better.

PAS: This was really good, these guys always had great chemistry and it is cool that they got to do their match on a bigger scale. I loved how they both were always looking for an advantage, constantly struggling in holds, always moving to improve their positions, throwing in little body shots. Thatcher stomping right on Riddle's insole was really nasty, looked like the kind of thing that would hurt for weeks. Finish was nifty too, Thatcher getting too enamored with torture, so he gets rolled up really fits with his unhinged character.


2020 MOTY MASTER LIST