2020 Ongoing MOTY List: Lorcan vs. Thatcher Rematch

Oney Lorcan vs. Timothy Thatcher NXT 7/15 (Aired 7/22)

ER: These two had a hot 10 minute match just three weeks ago, and we get to see them run it back and work things totally different. This was all about Lorcan surprising Thatcher on the ground, getting convincing single legs and working over his shoulder in the second half of the match. Thatcher was more powerful standing, winning grappling exchanges and landing an awesome belly to belly, so Lorcan starts throwing uppercuts. I like the mid match plot point of Thatcher getting his shoulder run right into the post, love how it made Lorcan smell blood the rest of the match and becomes fixated on going after that arm. Oney works like a real bulldog, constantly bending Thatcher's arm at the shoulder and looking over and over for wrist control. Lorcan throws heavy chops (including one to Thatcher's shoulder), hits a big uppercut off the middle rope, paying Thatcher back with a half nelson suplex, and has by favorite sequence of the match: Snagging a nasty half crab, bending back on it, but using it as a distraction so that he can drop down into a Fujiwara armbar, and I thought things were actually over for Thatcher. But we get a nasty way to break the armbar when Thatcher fishhooks Lorcan to break, meaning this match has the most fishhooking seen in a WWE match. Thatcher has been real good at showing how he is going to win by literal hook or by crook, and the dickhead finish was awesome, Thatcher getting a desperation cover while Lorcan is working that Americana, discreetly holding the tights. I think we might just have to work this as a best of 7, to make sure we get a definitive winner of this feud. It's only fair.

PAS: It is pretty cool that the pandemic means we get to see these guys work small show grappling matches again. Thatcher's selling is always a bit major key, but I think it works in the context of this match, and Lorcan's frenzy always works well as a contrast to Thatcher's more subdued stuff. I thought all of the shoulder work by Lorcan was great, including chopping the joint and the nasty Americana, and I dug the hell out of the finish. They seemed to have put this feud on the back burner, but I have no idea how pinning someone while you are in a submission doesn't lead to a Submissions match. WWE has so much TV time these days, run it back.


2020 MOTY MASTER LIST