WWE Programming's Best Match for Week of April 4

With WrestleMania 31 a week behind us, we're at a fork in the road for WWE.

The summer can be a time for underused stars to shine in the wake of the biggest show of the year—or, it can just as easily be a dead zone until things gear up for SummerSlam.

It's too early to tell which eventuality will play out this year, but there's still some semblance of WrestleMania momentum coursing through the veins of the WWE. Newly debuted NXT stars are doing great, and there's plenty of the usual suspects producing excellent matches on a weekly basis.

A strong roster seems to be getting progressively better as more and more NXT talent graduate. WWE is changing, week by week—and the future looks bright.

Honourable Mentions

Tyson Kidd and Cesaro met The New Day on SmackDown, and they produced a very entertaining match. Hopefully we'll see this rivalry continue—both teams are capable of having great matches, and that could be all that's required for The New Day to dawn.

NXT featured some great tournament matches from WrestleMania Axxess, but the fact that we knew the outcome diminished its overall impact. This week's broadcast is well worth watching, but it's difficult to shake the thought that it could have been better presented.

Elsewhere, John Cena faced Stardust on Raw in a very entertaining television match. Cena's open challenges have been great so far—let's hope his competition remains as strong in the remaining weeks ahead of Extreme Rules.

Match of the Week for Week of April 4: Seth Rollins vs. Neville on Monday Night Raw

How do you follow up a week that saw a career-defining WrestleMania performance and a commanding debut on Monday Night Raw the following evening? It's simple—pit the two wrestlers involved against one another and watch the sparks fly.

Seth Rollins and Neville are unquestionably two of the most talented men on the WWE roster, and last Monday they were given ample opportunity to demonstrate why. This duo tore the house down, leaving fans eager to see more of this pairing down the line.

All too often, pro wrestling can get caught up in the outcome of matches rather than the action from bell to bell. Happily, that wasn't the case last Monday night.

Credit: WWE.com

Rollins, scarcely a week into his run as WWE World Heavyweight Champion, was in need of a win. The concept of the Money in the Bank contract can result in an unearned reign, and while Rollins is certainly an opportunist, a key aspect of his character is that he's a commendable talent in the ring.

Having dodged Brock Lesnar the week before, a decisive win in a competitive match was just the ticket for Rollins. However, conventional thinking might suggest that his opponent was in just as dire need of a victory.

Neville won on his debut against Curtis Axel—a common occurrence in modern WWE, as the company works to establish the proper way to elevate NXT talent to the main roster. However, rather than follow it up with a lengthy winning streak ahead of a momentum-killing loss, The Architect prevailed over The Man That Gravity Forgot.

Still, Neville looked electric throughout. At this early stage of his exposure to the masses, a win against the world champion is not going to stagger his progress—however, pulling off some of his gripping offence and looking like a credible threat is sure to buoy his growing reputation.

Neville's loss gives him something to aim for—a wrong that he can revisit further down the line. This is the sort of conflict that Roman Reigns' ascent to the top was lacking; a clearly defined struggle that the athlete takes head-on and overcomes. Without seeing a wrestler tested, it's difficult for fans to cheer them on.

Much like WrestleMania's main event, this match did a huge service to both competitors involved. Of course, both men could get by using only their in-ring ability, but the way Rollins is being presented—and, by extension, how those around him are being presented—is giving him every possible opportunity to succeed.

What's more, this showdown between two former NXT champions is a very promising sign for the future of the main roster. The main roster is set for an influx of excellent wrestlers to join its ranks, and if its storylines can match the in-ring action, NXT might have some serious competition for the title of WWE's best weekly show.

What was your favourite match this week? Did The Miz vs. Mizdow live up to its months of build? Were your eyes glued to Ryback vs. Luke Harper? Could you believe that a six-man tag team match provided SmackDown's main event? Let your thoughts be heard in the comments section below.