Written by Matt Widdis
We open with a recap of the Royal Rumble wins for Becky Lynch and her appearance on RAW the next night to challenge Ronda Rousey for the RAW women’s championship at Wrestlemania… and that brings The Man out to the ring (still selling from Sunday night like a true pro.)
She says that, unlike Ronda, The Man doesn’t crumble when she loses. After tapping out to Asuka, Becky dusted herself off and won the Rumble. Just like how she got knocked down to the bottom of the card and worked her way back up; from last year’s ‘Mania pre-show to this year’s main event! After a chorus of “You De-serve It!” chants. Becky says that if Ronda doesn’t believe that she’ll break her arm so that she’ll know it.
That brings out Charlotte. Charlotte congratulates Becky before going on to take credit for who Becky has become. This gets her a sucker punch from Becky who walks off to her music. But Charlotte recovers and attacks her from behind on the ramp. The Queen and The Man brawl on the outside until refs and agents manage to finally get them apart.
The Fabulous Truth make their way down the ramp and we get a recap of Truth getting taken out from behind by Nia Jax. Truth says he got jacked up. They say that he earned his #30 spot and deserved to be in the Rumble (true dat) and, if he hadn’t have been sly rapped by Nia, he’d have won (I’m less in consensus here.) But Truth believes it and, apparently, so do The McMahons: They’ve given him a US Title match right now!
R-Truth w/Carmella vs US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura starts strong with forearm shots and a reverse exploder (which I’ve dubbed “The Cena Killer”.) He looks to get The Kinshasa in early but Truth recovers just in time to hit The Lie Detector and send Nakamura to the outside. Truth gets Nak back inside for a few pin attempts and a face-front suplex but that seems to wake The Artist up. The King of Strong Style takes his name to heart and starts picking R-Truth apart like Sonny Corleone with a grudge. He goes for The Landslide but Truth rolls him up for a… three count? Neither competitor seems to notice and continue to fight but referee, Mike Chioda, confirms that Shinsuke did not kick out in time. The video replay is borderline but, despite Shinsuke’s protests, legit.
Winner by pinfall and NEW United States Champion: R-Truth
This brings out Rusev and a booted Lana. He says that the title deserves better than Shinsuke Nakamura so it must deserve better than R-Truth. He challenges for a title match immediately and the fans chant “No! No! No!” as Truth starts to think it over. The ladies jaw more than the men and Carmella shoves Lana down. Rusev gets riled up and shoves Truth down. The match is on.
US Champion R-Truth vs Rusev
Rusev grinds R-Truth down with chinlocks after a big dropkick. Truth elbows his way out but Rusev sends him into the corners for avalanches. Truth slings himself up and over Rusev and twists into a roll up… and gets it! R-Truth retains in his first title defense.
Winner by pinfall: R-Truth
As Truth goes to leave, Nakamura blasts him and rolls him into the ring. Rusev has a decision to make and goes to the dark side, stomping on Truth. The two recent rivals combine to beat on R-Truth and even taunt the crowd by swinging one of Truth’s unseated braids. Nak holds him in place for a machka kick and Rusev returns the favor for a Kinshasa. They leave the new US Champion in a heap and walk off.
In the back
Kayla Braxton tries to get a word with Becky Lynch but she insists that she doesn’t need any doctors or any more time on the shelf.
R-Truth has a similar tone, telling the trainers that he’s good while being iced down.
In ring
Rey Mysterio comes down to the ring and, after a recap of Samoa Joe’s interruption of the best-two-out-of-three match he had with Andrade, Zelina Vega comes out. She blames Rey for getting her banned from ringside. She asks him he finds her too distracting. Judging by their reaction, the audience doesn’t blame him if so. It must be so because Rey doesn’t even notice Andrade sneaking into the ring and gets drilled in the back of the head with forearm shots. Andrade gives Rey The Three Amigos to the disdain of the crowd but Rey slips out the back and enziguris him across the middle rope. Rey dials up the 619 but his call cannot be completed as dialed and El Idolo recovers in time to give him a mouth full of elbow and a hammerlock DDT.
In the back
Rusev is looking pensive when he gets approached by a couple of good brothers. They say that R-Truth beat Nakamura and him back-to-back. Their two-on-one beatdown was totally uncalled for. Rusev tells them to mind their own business and get back to catering. Anderson says that Nak and Rusev wouldn’t fare so well against him and Gallows. Shinsuke Nakamura appears suddenly and accepts the challenge. Rusev says that he will team one time but that he’d better not get screwed over.
The Best Tag Team Champions in the World are in the building.
In ring
Miz and Shane McMahon come out to celebrate their Royal Rumble victory to become Smackdown tag champs. Miz asks where the champagne, confetti, and balloons were because Phoenix is ready to party. Shane says that he has something special planned. We see a video package of the Miz-n-Mac Connection, starting with WWE World cup tournament up to their title win. Shane build up the real surprise, Miz’s dad! George Mizanin makes his way to the ring as Corey Graves wonders when Smackdown Live became Dr Phil. To a big pop and crowd chants of “Mis-ter Miz!,” George Mizanin tells the future Hall of Famer that he loves him and is proud of him.
Shane then announces the #1 Contenders’ 4-way Elimination match that starts… right now!
In the back
…but not before Kayla Braxton gets a few words with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville. They are officially joining the field for the six team Elimination Chamber match to determine the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Nia Jax & Tamina and Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan are already announced with three more spots to be filled. Mandy addresses that people keep trying to bring her down. She plays footage from Tough Enough where Naomi was tough on the contestants, including Mandy. She reveals that she developed a complex that led to her boyfriend dumping her. That’s why she hates Naomi.
The Usos vs The New Day vs The Bar vs Heavy Machinery
Constant action in and out of the ring. Otis Dozovic starts out dropping Usos and Kofi until Big E meets muscle with muscle to slow down the O-train. Big E and Kofi hit a knee drop power bomb on Sheamus. Heavy Machinery eliminates New Day with a compactor on Kofi. Cesaro distracts Jey Uso with a blind tag that leads to The Bar overhead pressing him and tossing him into the timekeeper’s area. They then hit a double fallaway slam on Jimmy into the barricade. Otis Dozovic slingshots Cesaro and Tucker Knight catches him in mid-air for a powerslam. Brogue Kick on Tucker Knight eliminates Heavy Machinery. After emptying the magazine of superkicks, and Jimmy diving onto Cesaro at ringside, Jey Uso splashes down on Sheamus for the win.
Winners by pinfall and new #1 contenders: The Usos
In ring
After smacking a burger out of someone’s hands in the back, the new Daniel Bryan walks out to the ring with one heck of a shiner going. He asks the crowd if they know who won at the Royal Rumble. They chant “Bec-ky! Bec-ky! Bec-ky!” he tells them that they all won… and their children… because he won. They don’t understand but he found someone who does: Rowan! Rowan chokeslammed AJ Styles not for himself or for Daniel but for each and every one of us.
Daniel says that AJ Styles called him a hypocrite and he says that it’s true: because he carries the WWE belt. It is a symbol of excellence but also a symbol of extravagance and oppression and suffering of a cow named “Daisy.” Daniel does his MaduSA impression and tosses the belt in the trash to chants of “Good-bye Dai-sy!” He has a new symbol. Rowan brings out the new WWE belt made of burlap and wood and turquoise. It actually is pretty neat-looking. As Daniel tells the crowd how sustainably the belt was made, AJ Styles comes out. He asks Daniel if he smoked the hemp prototype to that belt? He wasn’t going to sit in the back while Daniel throws the WWE title in the trash. And, apparently, neither will The Viper as Randy Orton’s music hit and he walks out.
Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, D-Bry and Rowan are all in the ring when Mustafa Ali comes out to remind him that he pinned Daniel Bryan but Randy reminds him that he got eliminated by a girl at the Royal Rumble. Ali begins his retort but Samoa Joe comes out saying he’s not waiting in line; he’s there to put a champion to sleep. He says that he’s going to defang the viper. He says that Jeff should treat this like an AA meeting and be quiet while he shares with the group. He calls Mustafa Ali a boy among men. When he gets around to asking AJ how Wendy’s doing, the brawl erupts.
Daniel stands on the announce table with the new belt raised above his head, declaring that not one of the men beating each other to a pulp will be getting a title opportunity. The big screen comes on and it’s Triple H! He confirms for Daniel that he will not be defending his title against one of them… he will defend it against all of them inside The Elimination Chamber. Daniel screams “No!” but the crowd chants “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Daniel and Rowan run off as the rest continue to beat the snot out of each other.
Final thoughts:
Sting & Lex Luger. Hulk Hogan & Macho Man. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens. Professor X & Magneto. The “Good Friends, Better Enemies” dynamic is proven to work. It’s Becky’s time but maintaining that Charlotte link (especially as they’re working an injury angle) is great long game.
Good to see R-Truth’s loyalty and reliability getting recognized. The Rusev/Nakamura pairing isn’t as awkward as it seemed it would be. And, if nothing else, it gets us some OGBC in the mix.
Rey likely passing the torch onto Andrade is bittersweet for his fans but exciting overall.
Mandy rose and Sonya Deville have certainly earned their spot in Elimination Chamber as of late but they could certainly put the Mandy/Naomi bit on the back burner for a while… let it fester.
The 4-way helped introduce the Smackdown crowd to Heavy Machinery and I think that they could find a good home in that mix.
Daniel Bryan, the naturally-likable unexpected babyface whose organic rise in popularity soured the audience on John Cena and Roman Reigns and even got Rey Mysterio booed at a Royal Rumble, manages to get heel heat while wearing a shirt that denounces violence and bigotry. That’s a commitment to character. The usual suspects are in the Elimination Chamber but with Mustafa Ali taking the Rey Mysterio “little big man” spot. Great move putting Triple H on the big screen to announce as it grabbed the audience attention.
Overall, it feels like we’re stepping past royal rumble fallout and moving right into The Road to Wrestlemania.
Comments are closed.