Breaking Down the Best and Worst of the WWE for Week of Nov. 24

A pair of heart-pulling moments salvaged what was mostly a lackluster pay-per-view.

WWE leaned on Survivor Series' final match, and it delivered thanks to Sting's surprise arrival and Dolph Ziggler's refusing to stay down. Sting stepped into a WWE ring for the first time, something many believed they would never see. Meanwhile, The Showoff showed off his readiness for a place in the spotlight.

The company's miscues during Thanksgiving week included a cheap win in a title match and a plot hole on the pay-per-view pre-show.

Luckily, the powerful end to Survivor Series was enough to have people talking more about what WWE got right. The short journey to TLC has already begun. Ziggler possesses plenty of momentum, and The Authority is now a memory. 

Best: Sting Arrives

WWE welcomed Sting after years of him crafting his legacy elsewhere.

Fans have long dreamed of seeing The Stinger in a WWE ring. He finally made the leap into Vince McMahon's company. With the crowd stunned around him, he stepped out of darkness and into the spotlight, making sure The Authority would be around no longer.

Sting attacked Triple H, slid Dolph Ziggler onto a fallen Seth Rollins and helped Team Cena to a win. 

That made Survivor Series a pay-per-view that was more than just a collection of matches; it was a piece of history.

Seeing Sting, a childhood hero for many, pounce on Triple H was a surreal, moving, unforgettable sight. In an era where folks nitpick the product far too often, it's a moment like this that strips away snark and transforms us into wide-eyed fans again.

Worst: Divas Championship Match

On a night where WWE crammed filler into every crevice, one would think that would be a great time to let the premier Divas match get sufficient time.

Instead, WWE went with a homage to the opening match from WrestleMania 28—a kiss distracting the champion. Nikki Bella defeated AJ Lee in about 30 seconds, WWE trading in an actual match for the cheap shock of the kiss-aided result.

Too often the women on the roster are given the smallest cut of the match card. This was one of the worst examples of that in recent memory. The Bunny got more ring time than Nikki and AJ. 

That's the best way to make the Divas title feel important and the Divas division feel like more than cheap filler.

Best: Dolph Ziggler's Moment

Survivor Series launched Dolph Ziggler by allowing him to play the part of the gutsy hero.

WWE wisely didn't have the bout be yet another showcase of John Cena's ability to overcome the odds. Instead, being down 3-1 in the Elimination match was Ziggler's chance to elevate his career.

He eliminated Kane, Luke Harper and, with some help, Rollins. Few Superstars can draw fans in as Ziggler did, guiding them on an emotional journey.

He now feels like a main event player. That kind of career advancement is what a match like this should do.

Ziggler's triumph would have been enough to leave Survivor Series a mighty success. WWE outdid that, though, by adding Sting to the mix as well.

Worst: No-Selling Jack Swagger's Injury

On the Raw before Survivor Series, The Authority left Jack Swagger out cold. That beating was supposed to put him out of action so that he couldn't join Team Cena.

Well, he healed up. He wrestled Cesaro on the pay-per-view's pre-show.

If he was healthy enough to compete, why wasn't there any mention of him trying to get back onto John Cena's squad? If the attack wasn't bad enough to keep him on the shelf, why have it be part of the story at all?

WWE could have tightened the plot hole with some sort of explanation. Instead, it just trotted Swagger out there as if his removal from the team hadn't happened.

That's an issue that's easily fixed and is frustrating when it's not addressed.

Best: NXT Does Thanksgiving Right

Thursday's NXT fell on Thanksgiving, and rather than let the holiday overshadow the action, the show tipped its hat Thanksgiving's way and let the wrestling be the centerpiece.

Had it been an episode of SmackDown, there would have been a food fight, or the Divas would have clashed in a Battle Royal where they wore headdresses and pilgrim shoes. WWE too often veers toward the ridiculous when the holidays come around.

NXT didn't. It featured Thanksgiving-themed graphics between matches but not a single food gag.

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch attacked Bayley after her anti-bully speech. The Lucha Dragons gathered momentum before their upcoming tag title match. Finn Balor earned his biggest NXT win to date.

When Christmas comes around, WWE should pop in this show again, reminding themselves that Raw and SmackDown need not be dragged down by putting their wrestlers in Santa outfits.