WWE Programming's Best Match for Week of December 6

With Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2014 and NXT Takeover: R Evolution on the horizon, it's of little surprise that a great deal of this week's in-ring action was in service to upcoming bouts.

However, a match that's meant to hype up something in the future can still be engaging in its own right, and the best matches this week did just that, serving their purpose admirably while still delivering the goods from bell to bell.

Honourable Mentions

Curtis Axel might not get the chance to show off his skills all that often, but his match with Sin Cara on Superstars this week gave us a glimpse of what he can do with such an opportunity. The Ax Man hasn't quite found his niche yet, but he's got enough talent between the ropes to deserve his spot on the roster.

A spell in NXT might be just what Axel needs; it's certainly done Tyson Kidd a world of good in bringing his character work up to the level of his in-ring acumen. Kidd competed in two excellent tag matches this week, with two different partners, and it's great to see him start to get his dues for his consistently excellent work.

The Dungeon-Dweller teamed with Tyler Breeze to face Finn Balor and Hideo Itami on this week's NXT, giving us our best look yet at two of the hottest prospects in the developmental division. Understandably, it's taking a moment for Itami to acclimatize to WWE, but Balor looks like a star already.

Then, on SmackDown, Kidd teamed with Cesaro to take on Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of the New Day. Kingston and Woods have a plethora of double-team manoeuvres at their disposal, which could really help make this promising new stable take flight.

The New Day also made an appearance in the entertaining Tag Team Turmoil match on Monday Night Raw, with Big E teaming with Kofi Kingston on that occasion. The tag team division is beginning to flesh out its ranks—hopefully we'll see more of a focus on it in the coming months.

Match of the Week for December 6: Luke Harper vs. Dolph Ziggler on SmackDown

There are a bevy of reasons why Harper and Ziggler is an excellent pairing. Both men have proved time and again that they can deliver in the ring, no matter the occasion, excelling in a much-hyped pay-per-view match and a cobbled-together title defence on weekly television.

However, Harper's big man offence and Ziggler's endless appeal as the underdog give their matches a little bit of something extra beyond two excellent wrestlers doing what they do best. They're a perfect fit, and it's great to see WWE taking advantage of that by letting them tear it up regularly.

Credit: WWE.com

Back-and-forth promos aren't going to sell people on this match; it's seeing what they can do in the ring that will excite the fans. Neither man could be accused of being formulaic, and it's clear that making their matches different depending on who they're facing is a big focus for both.

Harper and Ziggler had a great match on SmackDown, and the way it finished will undoubtedly have left many wanting more. That will come at TLC, when they square off for the Intercontinental Championship in a Ladder match—just the sort of undercard encounter that will sell people on the show.

Credit: WWE.com

In fact, it's a bout that looks quite capable of upstaging everything else on the card. It's difficult to get all that excited about a Chairs match—or even a Stairs match—but the Ladder match has an appeal all of its own. And when two of the most talented men on the roster are the participants, it's difficult not to get excited about it.

Was a different bout your Match of the Week? Did Fandango vs. R-Truth have you dancing? Were your dogs barking after Jack Swagger vs. Titus O'Neil? Let us know in the comments section below.