WWE Programming's Best Matches for Week of October 17

Last week, Bleacher Report readers voted Dolph Ziggler's challenge for John Cena's United States Championship on Monday Night Raw as the best match of the week.

Yet again, the open challenge segment produced a standout match. We've seen plenty of surprises over 2015, but the transformation of "Big Match John" into the most reliable TV performer on the roster has been one of the most difficult to predict.

Cena has gone from being something of an albatross to a consistent highlight of weekly WWE programming. He's had plenty of help from a diverse and talented array of opponents—but in the end, it's the title he's holding that will benefit.

Contender No. 1: Baron Corbin vs. Rhyno on NXT

Signings such as Finn Balor and Apollo Crews will make NXT the definitive promotion for anyone looking to observe the future of pro wrestling. However, having someone such as Rhyno on the roster has its own unique merit.

Back when Baron Corbin was having matches that the Full Sail crowd could count along with, he had built up a certain measure of popularity. However, that momentum soon slowed once the question of whether Corbin could have a good match was raised.

Pairing the Lone Wolf with more established talent has done wonders for his abilities between the ropes. In the short term, it's produced matches that present Corbin in a different light—in the long term, it hopefully will give him a strong foundation to build upon.

Meanwhile, Rhyno has an opportunity to garner a new generation of fans. While his previous run with WWE produced plenty of memorable moments, his current spell with the company has led to far better matches.

NXT is built around stars of the independent scene, and as such that style of wrestling dominates its output. Wrestlers such as Corbin and Rhyno bring something a little different to the party—and hard-hitting matches like this one demonstrate just that.

Contender No. 2: Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins on SmackDown

It shouldn't be a surprise that a match featuring both Cesaro and Seth Rollins would make the cut as a match of the week contender.

The WWE world heavyweight champion has been having the most consistent year in terms of match quality of just about anyone on the roster. Likewise, Cesaro remains the go-to athlete for a standout match on short notice.

Credit: WWE.com

It's a winning combination, and one that this week's SmackDown used to great effect. The lack of any real stakes might lead some fans to disregard this bout, but it's still well worth your time if you're looking for eye-popping in-ring performances.

The great thing about Cesaro is his broad war crate. It's great to have a huge arsenal of techniques at your disposal, but someone like the Swiss Superman has the necessary awareness to execute them at the right time in the right bout.

Credit: WWE.com

While his power moves are impressive in one context, Cesaro also has the agility to bust out something like the flying crossbody he put on show here. That's just part of the talent that allows him to have spectacular encounters with just about anyone who shares the ring with him.

Of course, everyone knows what Rollins brings to the table. If his matches with wrestlers such as Cesaro only had a better foundation in the broader scheme of things, his title run would boast the best in-ring output of any world champion in recent memory.

Contender No. 3: Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler and Neville vs. Bad News Barrett, Sheamus and Rusev on Raw

Many different merits signify a good television match, but having a return bout added to the weekend's pay-per-view has to be up there. This six-man tag match will get underway once again on the pre-show, and in truth that's the perfect place for it.

The sextet of wrestlers involved all have their own strengths, which offers up a web of possibilities for the way the match plays out. Don't expect a rerun of last Monday's encounter, though, as there's more than enough ability here to mix things up considerably.

Multi-man matches live and die by the number of competitors in the ring. Great bouts will make full use of everyone in the contest to keep things moving and keep the competition entertaining. Bad ones will come off as stilted and overcrowded.

Happily, this match produced something that falls closer to the former category. Hopefully, the return match will be an engaging start to the pay-per-view Sunday night.

While everyone involved with this bout certainly had plenty to offer, it's the blossoming team of Sheamus and Bad News Barrett who made the most impact. Their long history makes for some potent chemistry, and WWE has capitalized on it in recent weeks.

However, it's fair to say that no one failed to pull his weight. This was a perfectly engrossing six-man tag match—hopefully, it can be topped at Hell in a Cell.

Which bout was your match of the week? Don't forget to make your choice by voting in the poll and then state your argument in the comments section below.