Clash of Champions is approaching fast and predictions are all over the internet on who will come out as the winner. I’ve taken the time to look over the last few years of Clash of Champions and I’ve identified the Top Five women’s matches that I believe are some of the best.
5 – Eve Torres vs. Layla (WWE Divas Championship) Night of Champions 2014
Now before Clash of Champions, the PPV used to actually be called Night of Champions. Before the women’s revolution occurred, the then women’s championship’s used to be the Divas title. It wasn’t as respected as much and even the matches they put on didn’t really have the flair of what we see now.
Back in 2012, the Divas title was held by the fantastic Layla. She won the title at the end of April 2012 after recovering from a year’s injury. Eve Torres was thrown into the match last night after Kaitlyn was attacked. The match lasted 8 minutes, but I think people forget how good Layla was. She doesn’t really get the respect she now deserves, and this was a decent match that deserves a nod within the top 5.
The crowd wasn’t really into the match, but then there never did appreciate the women’s wrestling back when the Diva’s title was around. It took someone like AJ Lee to make the title relevant. Both Eva and Layla used to be a tag-team, so seeing them go back and forth proved they have chemistry. The match had a lot of submission holds and after a failed attempt at a move, Eva Torres capitalised with a neck breaker for the win.
4 – AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella vs. Paige (WWE Divas Championship) Night of Champions 2014
Back in 2014, the landscape of WWE changed. The Divas title was slowly becoming more relevant due to new superstars like AJ Lee and Paige. Paige brought the title into this match against the former Diva’s champions. AJ Lee was the longest reigning Diva’s champion at the time, and the chemistry between AJ and Paige was clear to see.
The problem with this match was again the crowd signing ‘CM Punk’ every second they could. The match started with both Paige and Nikki taking out AJ Lee, and the two started their back and forth. Nikki actually showed excellent ring skill during this match, and even though she doesn’t get the respect she deserves, she definitely put on a good show.
AJ Lee returned to the match and the crowd ate it up, and whilst watching this match it made me really miss both AJ Lee and Paige. Paige really is something special in that ring, and the fact she had to retire early is hard to swallow. Whilst Nikki may have looked out of place, the three put on a really strong match. The match ended with AJ Lee putting Paige in the Black Widow and getting the submission win making her the three-time Diva’s Champion.
3 – Charlotte vs. Natalya (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship) Lumberjack match, Clash of Champions 2017
If you don’t love a good lumberjack match then I don’t know what is wrong with you. This match had some classic moments and really helped push Charlotte Flair’s run as SmackDown women’s champion.
Natalya had gone full heel at this point and it was refreshing to see her character change. Charlotte on the other hand was the face of the division and quite similar to Becky, she was on a role as that character. The ring was surrounded by the usual faces and heels of the division with each taking the turn to beat the competitors down.
The match went the usual back and forth with Natalya dominating the first half of the fight before Charlotte brought it back. The match brought in the women who fought in and out of the ring and ended with Charlotte Flair getting the win by submission.
2 – Charlotte vs. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (WWE RAW Women’s Championship) Clash of Champions 2016
This match had it all, with Charlotte Flair riding high after winning the first-ever WWE Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 32, there was nothing she could do wrong. Her run included defeated Natalya and Paige before losing to Sasha Banks on an episode of Monday Night Raw.
Charlotte would go on to win the title again, becoming the first-ever Women’s RAW Champion after the brand split in 2016. Banks and Charlotte continued their back and forth for months whilst Bayley started to be involved in the feud. The three ended up facing each other in this iconic match at Night of Champions.
This match had it all and the chemistry of three of the women who have paved the way for change in the industry was clear to see. The match could have been anyone’s to win, and the screw job finish was a great way to end as it was fitting for all three superstars.
1 – Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (RAW Women’s Championship) – Clash of Champions 2019
2019 was definitely the year of ‘The Man’ Becky Lynch, and there is no more evidence needed than the match between Lynch and Sasha Banks at Clash of Champions 2019. Whilst Becky eventually became a little too stale for me, this match proved why these two can put on an outstanding game of play.
Sasha Banks had actually been away from the company for 6 months, and she was making it very vocal on social media platforms that she wasn’t happy. When she returned she went straight into heel mode and attacked Becky Lynch and Natalya.
Sasha beat down Becky Lynch with a chair and was making it clear she was there to get her title. Adding to that how Becky had held the title since WrestleMania 35, it had all the hallmarks to be an instant classic, and it didn’t disappoint.
The match had literally everything a women’s title match should have. From violence, weapons, and fighting in every corner of the stadium, it’s not hard to see why this is number one on my list. This was hands down Becky’s best match of her entire title run, and it showed why both of these women have to be in the talk of two of the greatest of all time.
Do you agree with ‘Fazza’s Thoughts’, are these the five best women’s matches from Night/Clash of Champions? Let us know below or tweet us @SLTDWrestling
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