WWE Programming's Best Matches for Week of August 22

Last week, you voted for an entertaining tag match that pitted Kevin Owens and Sheamus against Randy Orton and Cesaro. However, it was clear that plenty of talent was being rested ahead of last weekend's massive doubleheader in New York, and there wasn't much competition.

That was not the case over the past seven days. Both TakeOver and SummerSlam produced some amazing matches, making it difficult to pick just three to put in contention for match of the week.

In terms of match quality, SummerSlam may even have edged out this year's WrestleMania—and that's coming just a night after a terrific TakeOver event. All in all, it was a fantastic weekend of wrestling and a real credit to a company that's refocused on its in-ring product to great effect over the past few years.

Contender No. 1: John Cena vs. Seth Rollins at SummerSlam

The WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at SummerSlam was a perfect example of how a match that we've seen many times before can be made fresh—so long as the talent involved has the chops to pull it off.

There has been plenty of criticism of Seth Rollins' presentation since he won the title, but the in-ring depiction of his character on Sunday was pitch-perfect. The finish may have seen guest star Jon Stewart supply an assist, but everything ahead of that was evidence of a man at the top of his game.

From his Phoenix Splash to a neatly executed superplex combination, Rollins demonstrated that his ring work is among the best in the world at present. However, his eventual win came via interference and the illegal use of a steel chair.

That's the perfect summation of who Rollins is—a hugely gifted athlete who has no qualms about gaining an unfair advantage to make sure he gets the job done. While many of his recent matches have perhaps made him look a little weak, the storytelling here was much more focused.

This bout will be viewed as an important milestone in Rollins' WWE career. Early TV matches on Raw with Cena did much to build The Architect's reputation when he was part of the Shield, and it's great to see how far he's developed since that promising start.

Many were worried that Rollins would never reach the heights that Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns seemed destined for, but there are plenty of reasons to argue that he has surpassed them thus far. Matches like this one are proof that he's more than worthy of being world champion.

Contender No. 2: Bayley vs. Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn

The NXT women's division has been essential viewing ever since an excellent tournament bracket decided its first champion in 2013, but last weekend we saw perhaps the best match that it has produced so far. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks was the culmination of a two-year title hunt, and it was completely satisfying.

Many fans might have expected Bayley to hold the title by this point, but holding off for so long only made her eventual win all the more special. It's a tactic we saw play out in NXT with Sami Zayn last year—a truly old-school method of forging a fan favorite.

Credit: WWE.com

However, this bout wasn't just a triumph in terms of long-form storytelling, as the match itself was on a par with anything WWE has produced this year. When we're discussing match of the year candidates at the end of 2015, Bayley vs. Banks will almost certainly be in contention.

Over the past few weeks, we've seen Bayley display more of a mean streak than ever before. As a competitor who has often lost out for putting friendship ahead of victory, it's been a wholly logical build toward her title opportunity. Her offense in the match built upon the groundwork that had been laid previously.

Credit: WWE.com

Both women raised the stakes here, pulling off some memorable maneuvers that contributed to the high stakes of a title match as well as reiterating the talents of both women. Banks' dive to the outside was one such highlight, but the Poisoned Frankensteiner late on was nothing short of amazing.

This encounter felt like a passing of the torch from one chapter of NXT's women's division to another. The callback to the curtain call post-match was a great moment, particularly in front of the Brooklyn, New York, crowd. Of all of the great matches NXT has produced, few have excelled in as many areas as this one did.

Contender 3: Kevin Owens vs. Finn Balor at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn

While the NXT Championship picture hasn't been as focused as in the past in recent months, a program with the likes of Kevin Owens and Finn Balor is always going to be engaging. The second main event of last week's TakeOver broadcast was a terrific match and a showcase for both men.

Fans who have followed Owens' career will have seen him compete in a bevy of memorable ladder matches, but Balor hasn't had as much experience with the stipulation, given how much of his work has been based in Japan. That being said, you wouldn't have guessed it from the match.

Credit: WWE.com

The fact that we've only seen one ladder match in NXT to date served to make this one rather special. Everyone loves to see a match with a stipulation, but there are definite advantages to saving such bouts for special occasions.

The feud between Owens and Balor hasn't had quite as robust a build as previous NXT Championship rivalries—partly because of the fact that Owens has been engaging everyone from Samoa Joe to Michael Cole in quarrels as he splits his time between the main roster and NXT.

Credit: WWE.com

That being said, recent weeks have seen things become a bit more personal between the two. With William Regal as mediator, there's an added dimension to a program that was always going to deliver between the ropes.

In a relatively short space of time, Owens has left an indelible mark on NXT. It seems likely that this was his swan song before he refocuses on the main roster—and if that's the case, it's a fitting conclusion to an excellent run.

Which bout do you have down as match of the week? Vote in the poll and make your case in the comments section below.