WWE Programming's Best Matches for Week of December 12

Last week, Bleacher Report readers named a predictably engaging bout between Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler as the best match of the week.

Ziggler has been tied up with a lengthy feud with Tyler Breeze recently, so it's good to see him competing against a more varied range of opponents. He's one of the very best in the company in terms of ringwork, and he's been a vital element of the television product for the past few years.

Someone who can have a good or great television match with just about anyone in the roster is always going to be in high demand when there are three hours of Raw to broadcast every Monday—and Ziggler certainly fits that bill.

Contender No. 1: Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger at TLC 2015

The chairs match is a stipulation that is rightly maligned among wrestling fans, but Sunday's pay-per-view was host to the best example of this match type to date.

The feud between Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger was nothing special, but the bout demonstrated the finesse and psychology El Patron brings to the ring. Subverting expectations of a villain, it was Del Rio who spent much of the middle section of the bout taking a beating from Swagger.

Credit: WWE.com

However, after wriggling free from an ankle lock, things turned in Del Rio's favour. If he were wrestling as a fan favourite, this is where he'd be poised to win the match and soak up some adulation from the crowd—instead, things took a different turn.

Del Rio finished off his opponent with a double foot stomp from the top onto a large quantity of steel chairs, a more brutal use of the stipulation than we've typically seen. Crucially, there was no implication he needed to go to such extremes to get the win. He was simply employing a violent strategy that worked.

Credit: WWE.com

This finish reinforces that Del Rio is cold, calculating and willing to turn a blind eye to ethics to get the results he's looking for. That's a great set of qualities for a hated heel to possess, and it's even better to see them delivered in-ring over the course of a match.

Del Rio is deservedly praised for his technical work but sometimes criticized for a lack of personality. However, these criticisms often miss the fact his best character work is done between the ropes.

Contender No. 2: Bayley vs. Nia Jax at NXT TakeOver: London

It's been said many times at this point, but there's no one on the roster with as much potential for mainstream popularity as Bayley.

When Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch were sent to the main roster, it was clear a lot of weight was going to be put on Bayley's shoulders. On Wednesday night, we were given yet more proof—as if it were necessary—that she's capable of excelling as the defending champion.

Bayley is at her best with the deck stacked against her, so the dominant Nia Jax was a great opponent. In many ways this bout was reminiscent of the style of opposition the world champions of the New Generation era typically found themselves up against.

Despite her relative inexperience, Jax played her role well on Wednesday. She'll certainly need to work hard to match some of her rivals in the women's division, but there's every reason to believe she can improve in leaps and bounds over the coming months.

Bouts that tell a story from bell to bell have become a trademark of the NXT Women's Championship, and this one was no exception. It was clear Bayley would need to hack Jax down to size, which is exactly what she did to defend her title.

A tremendous champion, a promising challenger and a hot crowd all contributed to an excellent bout. The Diva's Revolution has been talked about a great deal on Raw—but in reality, the Revolution has always been taking place in NXT.

Contender No. 3: Asuka vs. Emma at NXT TakeOver: London

It's a true testament to the women of NXT that Wednesday's NXT TakeOver show featured not just one great contest between women but two.

On the main roster, this would perhaps result in two throwaway pay-per-view matches devoid of substance and more than likely less than five minutes long. However, these two were both standouts, each being built around a story that was worth telling.

The feud between Asuka and the pairing of Emma and Dana Brooke has been one of the most engaging parts of WWE television over the past few months. While the program has largely been an introductory period for Asuka, it's also been rather revelatory for her opponents.

Emma was one of NXT's most popular performers in her initial run but couldn't replicate that same connection on the main roster. However, her villainous spell on the show this year has demonstrated exactly why she's not one to be taken lightly.

The match itself was about the stiffest contest you're likely to see in a WWE ring. Asuka has some of the best kicks in the business, and they were put into full effect here.

This was a dominant win for Asuka that should give her plenty of momentum moving into 2016. What's more, Emma's future looks much brighter just for having an opportunity to show what she's capable of. A great bout on the night—and one that will benefit its division greatly in the immediate future.

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—and if you're tweeting about the contenders over the next seven days, use the hashtag #BR_MOTW.