2020 Ongoing MOTY List: Ripley vs. Raquel

48. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Gonzalez NXT 10/28

ER: This match kicked a ton of ass. This is the kind of match that would have killed in front of a big crowd. Gonzalez has not looked like a long match worker so far in NXT. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen her in a singles match that went longer than 5 minutes, but this match was compelling from bell to bell. My brain got tricked midway through this match into thinking that it was the main event, because they worked this match like it was the most important match of the night, and it really felt like a main event. Ripley is able to work bigger than she actually is, making up the size difference, and Gonzalez basically comes off as if she was Rhea Ripley at the size they want to bill Ripley at. There are a lot of strikes in this match, and there was really only one brief section I didn't like, and thought the rest of it played great. Ripley was working body shots the whole night (a smart strategy of cutting that size gap, targeting nothing but Raquel's ribs until Gonzalez is naturally hunching down to her level) and both had cool moments of swinging hard at the other's head. You knew this match was reaching the next level after a standing clothesline exchange that saw Rhea throw a couple of the hardest lariats ever seen in a WWE women's match, really made it look like she was bouncing a baseball bat off Gonzalez's chest. Gonzalez got in one of her own late in the match, and also caught Ripley on a cannonball and powerbombed her into the railing and onto the floor. And they kept doing big slams and throwing bombs, most of the sequences looking strong, really kept me hooked the entire match. The nearfalls were strong, they smacked each other around a bunch, and honestly this was the first time Rhea has felt like a big deal to me since the Charlotte feud mercifully ended. 

PAS: I hadn't seen Ripley in a while, her "Ivanka during her punk phase" look isn't great. This match was pretty great though, just a heavyweight wrestling match between two big strong ladies.  I loved Ripley going to the body so much, makes a ton of sense when you are working someone so strong. The big belly to belly throw off the top rope by Gonzalez was awesome looking, Ripley waited a long time to rotate to her back and it looked like she was going to get spiked on her crown. I also liked Gonzalzes' monster powerslam. Gonzalzes is clearly still a little green, but green powerhouse is actually a good look for a wrestler as long as they aren't tentative. Goldberg was awesome from the jump, as were the young Road Warriors. 

2020 MOTY MASTER LIST