WWE Programming's Best Match for Week of October 25

Not so long ago, the week before a pay-per-view could be rather bereft of matches to sink your teeth into. Feuds set to play out at the event itself were typically rested to build anticipation, so the actual in-ring content of WWE programming could sometimes feel like filler.

Now, that's not the case—television feuds are becoming more commonplace on secondary programming, meaning that rivalries can progress outside of the pay-per-view structure. It's a solid first step away from the main event centric WWE of recent year, and it's improving WWE TV across the board.

Honourable Mentions

NXT continued its run of excellent women's matches this week with a spirited contest between Sasha Banks and Bayley. The way that the women's division is presented on NXT could not be any further removed from the Divas of the main roster—which is nothing but a good thing.

Elsewhere on this week's show was a very enjoyable match between Titus O'Neil and Adrian Neville. The underutilized O'Neil used his size and power to play off the speed and agility of Neville, with an extended bear-hug being particularly well executed.

Superstars, coming off several weeks of strong programming, boasted two super matches this week. Bo Dallas and Jack Swagger might never have seemed like the most fruitful pairing, but their TV rivalry has been a pleasant surprise. Their match this week is certainly worth watching.

If you want to see two tenured wrestlers who have been renewed and re-energized in recent weeks, look no further than Tyson Kidd vs. Kofi Kingston on Superstars. Few would have ever doubted that these two are both very talented, but as of late they've really been firing on all cylinders.

Match of the Week for October 18: Cesaro vs. Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown

It might seem like a foregone conclusion at this point that Cesaro will be part of the match of the week, but the truth is that he deserves it. There is hardly anyone who can claim to be on the Swiss Superman's level when it comes to in-ring acumen—but Dolph Ziggler comes very close.

Cesaro could have a great match with just about anybody, but when he's paired with someone as good as Ziggler, you know you're in for a treat. The two met on both Raw and SmackDown, and both bouts were absolutely brilliant.

Presenting the same match twice in a week—especially ahead of a 2-out-of-3 Falls match at the weekend's pay-per-view—runs the risk of overexposure. This pair of bouts neatly circumvented that by playing off the Raw encounter during their match on SmackDown.

That's why the SmackDown bout edges out its predecessor; the way that it referenced the events of the match earlier in the week added a sense of continuity that's sometimes absent from WWE programming.

If Cesaro and Ziggler can play up a similar sense of familiarity in their Hell in a Cell match, then we're set for another classic; as it is now, we've already had two excellent matches over the course of a single week.

Despite the fact that the King of Swing and the Show-Off have met many times before, they always manage to make their matches feel fresh. It's a testament to their talent and their chemistry that they could wrestle twice in a week and still leave fans hungry for a 2-out-of-3 Falls match.

It's clear that both Ziggler and Cesaro are hungry for the opportunity to prove that they are two of the very best wrestlers working today. Expect their Hell in a Cell match to be a showcase for both men—just like every time either of them steps between the ropes.

Are Ziggler and Cesaro the two most talented wrestlers on the WWE roster at present? Can anyone else claim a similar level of ability and consistency? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!