2020 Ongoing MOTY List: Lorcan vs. Thatcher

7. Timothy Thatcher vs. Oney Lorcan NXT 7/1

ER: This was the exact kind of 10 minute fight I wanted to see. You knew you were going to have to endure 7 or 8 different Mauro references to Stu Hart and the Dungeon for whatever reason, but they ripped at each other's limbs in the best way so who cares. The grappling was strong and I dug how they established that Lorcan was going to hit harder and take more risks, while Thatcher felt like he was going to endure some chops and some unfavorable mat positions just for the chance to take apart Lorcan's arm. I like Lorcan's specific level of crazed and focused, where he also has no problem leaning into Thatcher's strikes and has no fear about landing in a disadvantaged position. Thatcher works for a nice Americana and Lorcan takes a nice bump to the floor, and I adore Thatcher's big throw belly to belly, where the motion seems so graceful and the hangtime sublime. Lorcan lands like a sandbag. Lorcan really pays Thatcher back with a nasty half nelson suplex and then slaps him repeatedly down to the mat. I'm into the focus that guys like Lorcan and Gulak have brought back to a single leg crab, as they know how to lock them in so effectively that they make a hold WWE has phased out seem actually dangerous. But Thatcher's kneebar variation was my favorite thing here (if not this, then Lorcan's early match low angle headscissors takedown, one of the coolest headscissors I've seen in months), locking in a half crab of his own and then clutching Lorcan's shin, spreading pressure from the hamstrings to the knee to the quad. That's a disgusting hold and it needs to finish a few matches. Lorcan is a savage so of course tries to dig into Thatcher with a fishhook, and the way Thatcher shifted his weight and rolled across to a Fujiwara to break and win was a thing of beauty. I've seen these two square off several times over the years, and they always bring new fresh tricks to the table. Can't think of better ways to kill 10 minutes.

PAS: It is pretty great that Lorcan, Thatcher and Gulak were able to basically import wholesale what they were doing in 2014 to the WWE in 2020. I mean this is uncut stuff, not even a little watered down. Almost everyone who comes into the WWE has to work the house style, but somehow these guys were able to squeeze through and work an EVOLVE Style Battle match on a big show. I liked the pacing of the matwork, how they were testing limits with the holds early and by the end of the match they were sinking things in and trying to tear ligaments. The finish was about as cool of a mat exchange as I can remember seeing, that kneelock was sick looking, and I loved the counter of the fishook with the Fujiwara armbar. Loved this.


2020 MOTY MASTER LIST