WWE Programming's Best Match for Week of April 11

This week, WWE visited the United Kingdom—and presented some excellent bouts while they were over there.

In the past, we've seen similar overseas tours sometimes stop forward progress for the television product—even Monday Night Raw is taped because of the time difference, so major developments are often put on hold thanks to the prevalence of spoilers.

The same could be said for this week's broadcasts, but at least the usual suspects were present to deliver the goods in the ring. Though outcomes can be spoiled, an engaging match will always yield interest. Here are the best bouts from the past week.

Honourable Mentions

CJ Parker delivered what is likely his last NXT appearance this week and did so in a great match with Solomon Crowe. Parker was never quite given his chance to shine during his WWE run but is currently making a splash on the independent scene—expect to see him back once he's earned his stripes elsewhere.

NXT also played host to a thoroughly enjoyable encounter between Sami Zayn and Rhyno. Zayn's journey back to the NXT title is progressing very nicely, and his Blue Thunder Bomb on the Man Beast in this match is a must-see.

Elsewhere, Neville continued his excellent start on the main roster with standout matches on Raw and Smackdown. He faced Dolph Ziggler on Monday, and the pair demonstrated some excellent chemistry for a first encounter.

The Man That Gravity Forgot met Sheamus on Thursday—these Superstars seem primed for a significant feud down the line. Neville is proving doubters wrong; in just a couple of weeks, he's cemented himself as one of the most exciting parts of Monday Night Raw.

Match of the Week for Week of April 11: John Cena vs. Bad News Barrett for the United States Championship on Raw

In an age of international broadcast deals, the geographical location in which match takes place can all too often be overlooked.

Cena's feud with Rusev has irked many WWE fans outside of the United States for its nationalist bent, but the focus this week shifted to Bad News Barrett as he challenged for Cena's title in his native England—albeit farther than an hour away from his home town, Preston, no matter what JBL might tell you otherwise.

As much as Cena might be criticized for his repetitive ring-work, his weekly title defences have been excellent post-WrestleMania entertainment. However, there's a need to keep such a program interesting, and Barrett's status as the home-town hero delivered the twist this match needed.

With the crowd firmly behind Barrett, Cena was given the chance to employ the quietly villainous persona that's emerged at various times in the past few years. He's far from your classic wrestling heel, but shades of the character we saw at shows such as Money in the Bank 2011 and One Night Stand 2006 certainly shone through.

Today's Cena is at his best in front of a hostile crowd—and Barrett was exactly the sort of fan favourite the crowd at the O2 were looking for on Monday night. He's a rowdy brawler who's as convincing in his delivery of bad news as he is making football predictions on the BBC.

Credit: WWE.com

This sort of pairing brings out Cena's A game. When he wants to—and when he's got a capable opponent—he can take the crowd into the palm of his hand.

Cena might trot out a questionable new move to answer chants of "you can't wrestle"—the springboard stunner we've seen in recent weeks being just one example—but the only answer he really needs to give is energized performances such as this one.

It's easy to criticise Cena for relying on a formula that works for him, but anyone who's in action as much as him is bound to develop in-ring habits. However, it's matches such as this that demonstrate just why he's a much more palatable part of the show when he's not the centre of attention.

What was your favourite match this week? R-Truth vs. Bray Wyatt? Kane vs. Seth Rollins? Adam Rose vs. Fandango? Let us know in the comments section below.