10 Awesome Wrestling Matches From 2017 (That You've Already Forgotten About)

5. Bayley Vs. Charlotte - WWE RAW February 13

Wyatt Styles EC
WWE.com

Bayley received jeers on this week’s RAW when she withdrew from SummerSlam through injury. Charlotte is on the back burner on the blue brand. She’s being saved for something for other. You’d be forgiven, then, for misremembering just how good their pre-Fastlane RAW Women’s Title bout was.

Bayley, at her best, is the prototypical babyface, but the opening exchanges didn’t follow the prototypical pattern; Charlotte dulled any chance of an opening shine by immediately attempting to wrench Bayley’s shoulder out of joint. Bayley rolled around the ring with the grace of a luchador as Charlotte failed to compound her agony. Charlotte, outsmarted, bristled and shoved Bayley in the chest. Bayley responded with a stiff slap to the face. This is the Bayley fans fell in love with: smart, fiery, and, when Charlotte smashed her into the bottom turnbuckle, totally sympathetic. Charlotte trained on Bayley’s neck with a vicious laser focus. Bayley had the crowd then - and it’s almost depressing to revisit it now, with the knowledge of how badly the abysmal booking she’s been a victim of has severed this heated, heartfelt connection.

The best spot of the match - logical and spectacular - saw Charlotte drill her knee into Bayley’s neck with a moonsault off the guardrail. Bayley recovered to win in a match that reinforced how gutsy she is. Well, was.

WWE botched the third act into oblivion - but the second was sensational.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!