•EVERY WWE PPV/NXT TAKEOVER OF 2020 RANKED FROM WORST TO BEST (Thread)•

Before we get started, check out the 2018 edition here: https://twitter.com/aaronisthebrand/status/1074816676657541122

And the 2019 edition: https://twitter.com/aaronisthebrand/status/1210591336887402496

21.) SUPER SHOWDOWN

OVERALL GRADE: D

Of course, the lone Saudi show of the year makes the very bottom of the list. A miserable card full of miserable performances that justifiably garnered a miserable reception. Only nice thing I’d say is at least it wasn’t the worst Saudi show

20.) SURVIVOR SERIES

OVERALL GRADE: C-

A pretty staggering jump in quality from SSD to this year’s Survivor Series, but I was not a fan of this show. The two elimination matches were about as phoned-in as you’ve ever see, Taker’s farewell underwhelmed. Drew/RR main highlight.

19.) THE HORROR SHOW AT EXTREME RULES

OVERALL GRADE: C

Weird ass branding aside, this show sort of just... happened. Some pretty good wrestling in parts like Asuka/Sasha and Seth/Rey. This show will become infamous for EYE FOR AN EYE. Yearly world title filler feud for Ziggler.

18.) NXT TAKEOVER: IN YOUR HOUSE

OVERALL: C+

I don’t think there’s been an outright BAD Takeover in the history of the world, but this definitely did not live up to that high standard. The nostalgia of the IYH concept coming back & great main event didn’t save this show overall

17.) MONEY IN THE BANK

OVERALL: C+

The two MITB ladder matches in WWE HQ were an incredible spectacle to behold, and McIntyre vs. Rollins was a great match, but looking back at this card, everything else was pretty rough to get through. I.E Tamina had a title match. Yikes.

16.) PAYBACK

OVERALL: C+

Only the second time in WWE history that two PPV’s happened within a week, and they had an entire show for the sole purpose of getting the UV title back on Roman. Everything else we got though definitely delivered. A night of entertaining matches.

15.) WRESTLEMANIA 36: NIGHT 2

OVERALL: B-

Watching live, I remember genuinely enjoying both nights of this year’s Mania equally. Looking back at the cards for each night though Night 2 was much, much weaker than Night 1. Still, here you had Funhouse, Char/Rhea, Drew vs. Brock.

14.) BACKLASH

OVERALL GRADE: B-

This was a very fun show with lots on offer. Bayley & Sasha’s first tag titles defense, Sheamus/Jeff was hard hitting, Asuka/Nia was fine enough, Drew/Lashley was one of the most underrated matches this year, and THE GREATEST WRESTLING MATCH EVER

13.) CLASH OF CHAMPIONS

OVERALL GRADE: B-

This is one of two PPV’s in 2020 that provided us what I think can be added to the conversation of greatest PPV openers in history, in Zayn/Hardy/Styles. Drew/Orton ambulance match and the masterful storytelling in Roman/Jey main event.

12.) WRESTLEMANIA 36: NIGHT 1

OVERALL GRADE: B-

WWE is unworthy of much praise this year, but they did an incredible job with WM considering how new the circumstances of the world were. Becky’s last match of her run, A TRIPLE THREAT SINGLES MATCH FOR TAG TITLES, KO/SR, Boneyard

11.) NXT TAKEOVER: XXX

OVERALL GRADE: B

Again, not a bad show by any means, but not necessarily reaching that level of Takeovers we’ve come to know. All-time great rookie debut for Pat, Io vs. Dakota, Vacant NA Title ladder match, Kross def. Lee for the NXT title.

10.) NXT TAKEOVER: WARGAMES IV

OVERALL GRADE: B

The booking of the Women’s WG match was all out of wack but both of the matches on the night were enjoyable. McAfee impressing again. Ciampa/Thatcher was a war, Lumis/Grimes was there to serve as a stopgap, NA Title was decent.

9.) HELL IN A CELL

OVERALL GRADE: B

And here is the second half of the shows which gave us an all-time great PPV opener. Roman/Jey was an emotional rollercoaster. Bayley/Sasha was awesome and Drew/Orton delivered. Everything in between though, was bad to awful. Slapjack/Bobby..

8.) TLC: TABLES, LADDERS AND CHAIRS

OVERALL GRADE: B+

The most recent show on this list and also one of the best. Drew/AJ was absolute sex, Sasha/Carmella overdelivered, HB won gold, Charlotte return, Reigns/Owens was an amazing match, THE FIEND WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. Good show.

7.) NXT TAKEOVER: BLACKPOOL II

OVERALL GRADE: A-

This was, as they’d say, “AN ABSOLUTE BLOODY BELTER, MATE. CRUMPETS LOL”. Bate/Devlin and the 4-way Ladder tag were both excellent, WALTER/Coffey main event was lovely stuff. Electric crowd. The UE appearance at the end >>>

6.) SUMMERSLAM

OVERALL GRADE: A-

SS has been one of the best shows of the year consistently since 2018. Asuka worked double duty against Bayley/Sasha and both were bangers, Dominik had the best debut you could ask for vs. Rollins, Drew/Orton had their best match, BIG DOG RETURN

5.) NXT TAKEOVER: 31

OVERALL GRADE: A-

Here we finally are with a Takeover that actually felt like a Takeover! Priest/Gargano was real good in the opener, Kushida snapped the nonce’s arm, Santos/Swerve, the long-awaited Io/Candice rematch, and that Balor/KOR main event.

4.) ELIMINATION CHAMBER

OVERALL GRADE: A-

This show doesn’t get NEAR enough love. An incredible night of wrestling. Bryan/Gulak in the opener, Andrade/Humberto was good, SD Tag Titles EC was insanity, Black/Styles w/ Taker return, Profits/SethMurphy, Sami finally won a title!

3.) WORLDS COLLIDE: NXT VS. NXT UK

OVERALL GRADE: A-

I KNOW THIS WASN’T TECHNICALLY A TAKEOVER. But as a show it was too damn good to not put in here. Balor/Ilja was hot opener, #DIY/MM took a bit to get going but got there in the end, Imperium/UE was an unholy level of awesome

2.) ROYAL RUMBLE

OVERALL GRADE: A-

One of, if not THE best Royal Rumble matches of all time, featuring the birth of a new top guy, dream interactions, one of the most surreal returns ever & more. Bryan/Fiend strap match ruled, Asuka/Becky II, Reigns/Corbin FCA was plenty of fun

1.) NXT TAKEOVER: PORTLAND

OVERALL GRADE: A

You look at one match from this card, and then look at the next. It keeps getting better & better. Banger after banger. EVERY match on this show delivered and wowed in it’s own way. Magic in the air. I can’t wait to get back to this.