WWE No Way Out 2012 Matches: Ranking Best Pure Wrestling Bouts on PPV Card

Even though a bigger focus has been placed on storylines in recent years, there's still a large segment of the WWE Universe which simply enjoys a good wrestling match. They have become much harder to find, but there should be some at No Way Out on Sunday.

Let's take a look at the three best matches at this month's pay-per-view card in terms of pure wrestling. They might not have had the best build-ups, but the in-ring work should be tremendous, and that's always a huge positive for second-tier PPV shows.

1. Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler

Quietly, both Sheamus and Ziggler have developed into top-notch workers. Sheamus has improved his overall ability markedly since his first big push, and Ziggler has also raised his level by leaps and bounds in recent years.

The World Heavyweight title match was originally scheduled to feature Sheamus defending against Alberto Del Rio. An injury to Del Rio opened the door for Ziggler to become the No. 1 contender, and is actually a big upgrade for the card, in my opinion.

Even though the late addition makes it unlikely we see a title change, the match itself should steal the show. Both Sheamus and Ziggler are on the rise, and it could actually be the start of a feud that lasts for awhile, which would be good news for wrestling fans.

2. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane

If this match was only between CM Punk and Bryan, it would have taken the top spot. Adding Kane to the mix not only lowers the level of wrestling we'll get to see, but will also cause the pace of the match to drop since he doesn't move like the two fan favorites.

It would have been nice for the WWE to give CM Punk and Bryan more time to carry an angle on their own, because every time they are in the ring together, something special happens. It will be harder to pull that off with Kane in the picture, though.

That said, it should still be a terrific match. Kane is a savvy veteran, so he might have a couple tricks up his sleeve knowing how much attention the match will draw. His performance will ultimately decide how good the match ends up being, because the other two guys will be solid.

3. Christian vs. Cody Rhodes

The most underrated match on the card will have Christian defending his Intercontinental Championship against Rhodes, a former title holder. They had a pretty good match last month at Over the Limit, and should build off that.

Christian doesn't get the respect he deserves for his in-ring prowess, probably because he spent so much of his career in Edge's shadow. Hopefully he doesn't have any more injury setbacks and he can continue to showcase his talent.

As for Rhodes, he's still somewhat of a work in progress, but he did get better during his multiple runs as champion recently. Those high-profile matches seemed to make him more comfortable in the ring, and working with Christian should bring the best out of him.