Every month, our own Scott Edwards compiles his own list of the best WWE matches of each month. From Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, the options are seemingly endless. The matches will include ones you may not think about as well as one’s you hear about on social media as soon as they finish. PPV or TV, these matches will be the best of the best from the previous month of WWE action and receive a rating out of 100. (DISCLAIMER: This list is subjective and is compiled exclusively by Scott Edwards; there will obviously be matches he may have missed that you may feel deserve credit – we encourage you to list some of your best matches of the month in the comments section below to help add to the list!)
After a month of June that included an NXT TakeOver and a regular WWE PPV, it was going to be tough for WWE to follow up in terms of great matches without that extra TakeOver event to help it out. However, July did deliver a number of excellent television matches that helped make up for the slack. NXT having a special two-week event almost mirrored a TakeOver as well. Here are July’s best WWE matches of the month. Spoiler alert, it was a strong month for women’s wrestling.
Io Shirai vs. Sasha Banks
(NXT: Great American Bash Night 1, 7/1/20
“Dream match” can be considered an overused term, however, the WWE kicked off July with one of their own. NXT Women’s Champion, Io Shirai, faced off with Sasha Banks for the first time ever in the main event of the Great American Bash, Night 1. And did they deliver? A match with so much anticipation can only be either a disappointment or a huge success. Success was the fate of this one, as Shirai and Banks gave a taste of what they could do in the future if given even more time and perhaps a title match. The return of Asuka to NXT on the show made it even better, as she aided Shirai to the huge win.
Rating: 76/100
Tegan Nox vs. Mia Yim vs. Dakota Kai vs. Candice LeRae
(NXT Great American Bash Night 1, 7/1/20)
On the same night came more impressive women’s action, as four of NXT’s best had a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match to determine the first opponent for Io Shirai’s championship reign. In doing so came a great match full of action as Tegan Nox shocked many by pinning Dakota Kai to win the match and move on to her first NXT Women’s Championship match.
Rating: 70/100
John Morrison vs. Matt Riddle
(SmackDown, 7/3/20)
The best match of the entire month may have been this randomly made match between John Morrison and Matt Riddle. These two went on to tear the house down, showing that the future of the Universal Championship picture could be in great hands if they were given the opportunity down the line. Morrison, even more than Riddle, showed a different side to him since he returned earlier this year. His mixture of power and athleticism was on display and despite the loss, it was a showing that should go a long way. Riddle continued his fantastic few months since debuting with this one as well.
Rating: 76/100
Asuka vs. Bayley
(Raw, 7/6/20)
The Golden Role Models took Asuka to the ringer this month as both gave some great in-ring action against “The Empress of Tomorrow.” This is the first of the bunch as Bayley and Asuka fought in a Champion vs. Champion match that main event Monday Night Raw and rightfully so. In the near 25 minute battle, Asuka managed to walk out as the winner over Bayley, only furthering their feud in what can be considered a rare must-see match on Monday Night Raw.
Rating: 72/100
NXT & NXT North American Championship Match: Adam Cole (c) vs. Keith Lee (c)
(NXT Great American Bash Night 2, 7/8/20)
Some matches on this list were non-title, while others were. And then there was this one on Night 2 of the Great American Bash as the first-ever NXT Double Champion would be crowned in the match between NXT Champion Adam Cole and NXT North American Champion Keith Lee. The anticipation was high for this one and even with a spoiled finish, the match was one to watch. Lee solidified his spot at the top of the card when he managed to pin Cole, finishing Cole’s historic reign as the NXT Champion. Before long, Lee’s next opponent for the NXT Championship was named that same night. But that didn’t ruin the celebration, as it was Keith Lee’s night following one epic match.
Rating: 75/100
NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai vs. Tegan Nox
(NXT, 7/15/20)
A match two years in the making, Io Shirai and Tegan Nox finally squared off in NXT for the NXT Women’s Championship. For those who may not remember, this was a match destined for the second Mae Young Classic before Nox was injured and effectively removed from the tournament. Two years later, they lived up to the anticipation with a title match worthy of NXT TakeOver. And while Nox failed to capture the title in her first attempt, she made it clear she has what it takes to be the NXT Women’s Champion down the road. It just happens that she ran into the “Joshi Judas,” who is hitting all cylinders.
Rating: 72/100
Raw Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs. Sasha Banks (Extreme Rules, 7/19/20)
Asuka and Sasha Banks proved in the month of July that they have some incredible chemistry as opponents, producing not only one, but two great championship-caliber matches. The first came at Extreme Rules, as the two battled to an excellent match that was only faulted by the questionable finish that left both without a true solution as to who the champion really was. And while a shady finish can at times ruin a match, this one was just another feather in the cap for both women in the month of July.
Rating: 73/100
Raw Women’s Championship: Asuka vs. Sasha Banks
(Raw, 7/27/20)
The final match of July worthy of being on the “best of” list came at the doing of Asuka and Sasha Banks yet again. Like I said in the match before, these two had something special this month and it showed, as this title match may have topped their PPV one considering there was a clear winner — even if the finish wasn’t what anyone had hoped for. Asuka lost her Raw Women’s Championship as she went to attend to Kairi Sane in the back, making Sasha Banks the first five-time Raw Women’s Champion in history. The two both showed desperation at times, but for at least a few weeks, Sasha Banks and Bayley hold all the gold on SmackDown and Raw. A perfect way to top off July and continue their dominant summer.
Rating: 73/100
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