This wasn’t as bad as it could have been. To be honest, it seemed this PPV was an afterthought compared to the hype Elimination Chamber had. Probably should have switched the order, and put this one closer to Mania. Fastlane was good, but didn’t feel like a big dramatic push for WrestleMania.
The pre-show started off with Breezango & Tye Dillinger defeating Chad Gable, Shelton Benjamin, and Mojo Rawley. Guess they had to get on the PPV somehow. Some comedy spots to liven the mood. Was it just my network feed where the sound cut out during Dillinger’s entrance?
First match of the night saw Shinsuke Nakamura defeat Rusev. Would have been a shocker if Rusev won, but despite his newfound cult following, did not. I thought it was just weird to make this match. However, this was a good match. One great spot, saw a running Nakamura go right into a Machka Kick which nearly turned him inside-out. Two Kinshasas did away with Rusev.
Next up, big moment time, Randy Orton defeats Bobby Roode to become United States Champion. Good back and forth, a couple big spots. Roode went to the corner one-too-many times and ate an RKO off the second-rope for the pinfall. Post-match, Jinder Mahal came out, attacking Orton. Roode returned to plant Mahal with the Glorious-T, but then delivered one to Orton as well.
Okay, it was a good match. But the announce team drove the point over and over this was “the one championship Orton never won.” Pretty annoying. Why do we need to feel bad for guys like Orton? He’s been around for over a decade and did pretty well for himself. We don’t need to treat him like some hapless underdog.
Next up, we get a ten minute promo for the hype of Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle vs. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
I don’t know what is up with the network tonight. More than one time it cut out, and restarted.
The Usos vs. The New Day started off intense, great action, the feud did not lose a step. However, after a number of ring dives, all competitors were found down and out. The Bludgeon Brothers arrive and destroy everyone. This mauling lasts a long time.
I’m not impressed. We have seen how Luke Harper is insanely talented on his own, while Rowan… Meh. The brutality post-match meant for us to feel intimidated and get the message across, but I don’t feel it.
Charlotte Flair retains the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship against Ruby Riott
Good match. Very entertaining, although Riott winning tonight was not a viable option heading into WrestleMania. The post-match scene upped the stock, as Asuka showed up to point at the WrestleMania sign, signally she will face Charlotte at WrestleMania.
That, will be a great match.
AJ Styles retained the WWE Championship in the main event against Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and John Cena.
Very entertaining match. Cena drops everyone with AAs at the start which backfires later when everyone recovers and stomps mudholes in him. Bacon Rorbin even had some good shots during the match, but overall this was the AJ Styles show. Zayn teased laying down for Owens, which eventually turned into a fight. Zayn and Owens really can fight forever. Styles gets plowed through an announce table by Cena. Shane McMahon is at ringside too, had some words with Zayn, who ducks in time for Mr. KO to deliver a superkick to Shane. Guess they get their WrestleMania match. Shane powerbombs Ziggler, but Shane pulls out the ref, stopping the count. Zayn goes to pin Owens following a Helluva Kick, and Shane breaks up the pinfall attempt as well. Triple Threat at Mania it is! In the end, Ziggler came up short, Cena eats powerbomb, Owens is blindsides via Phenomenal Forearm, and AJ Styles goes to WrestleMania.
But yet, the focus of the announce team is on John Cena. He isn’t getting a main event match. Neither is Ziggler, Corbin, and half the SmackDown roster. No, we don’t need to feel sorry for Cena. He, like Orton have been around a long time and don’t need the boo-hoo underdog sympathy card.
This was a good PPV. Nothing spectacular, just a decent, watchable show.
