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heartsoulrocknroll · 4 days

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WrestleMania 40 Night Two 4/7/24

Seth Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship -- Drew lands a Claymore for two in the first five seconds!!!! Drew lands a chopblock to Seth's knee, then absolutely hurls Seth with a belly to belly suplex on the floor!!! Drew takes a selfie, drives Seth's spine into the ring post, and lands another huge belly to belly on the floor!!!! Seth reverses a Futureshock DDT attempt into a Pedigree on the floor! Seth lands a curb stomp for two!!! Drew reverses a Pedigree attempt with a back drop! They trade chops, Drew lands a big boot, Seth lands a superkick, Drew lands a headbutt!!! Drew with a neckbreaker and a kip up!! Seth catches a Claymore attempt with a powerbomb, then rolls Drew through for a Pedigree, then lands a curb stomp for two! Seth misses off the top rope, Drew misses a Claymore, Seth misses a stomp, Drew lands a Futureshock DDT for two! Seth's eye is messed up from that big boot earlier. Drew goes for a GTS, but Rollins reverses into a roll up for two! Drew lands a Claymore and stacks Seth up, but Seth kicks out at 2.5! Drew goes for a powerbomb onto the announce table, but Seth escapes with elbows to the head, and curb stomps Drew's head into the table!!! Seth rolls Drew in the ring, but Drew gets right up with a Claymore out of nowhere, but Seth kicks out at two!!!! Drew lands another Claymore!!!! Cover! 1, 2, 3!!!

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DREW FINALLY GETS HIS REAL MANIA MOMENT!!!!!!!!! This match is the perfect example of how a match doesn't have to be long to be great. Fantastic back and forth, great counters, really great nearfalls. Absolutely loved the nearfall after the Claymore in the first five seconds, as well as the Claymore out of nowhere after the stomp on the announce table! Loved how Drew just couldn't be killed. Loved the finish!! Thankfully, having Punk on commentary didn't detract from the match like I feared it would. Rating: 4

Drew is clearly trying not to cry and get emotional after the match. Seth is crying and mouths to Drew that he deserves this. 🥺 What a nice moment.

Then we're back, as Drew climbs on the announce table, gets in Punk's face, and tells Punk that he is going to end his career. Punk gets up, takes off his arm brace, weakly hits Drew in the head with it, then delivers some pathetic stomps to Drew on the floor.

Priest's music hits. Oh god, help me. He comes running out with the MITB briefcase, smacks Drew in the head with it, rolls Drew in the ring, and lands a chokeslam for three. Drew's reign ends at less than 6 minutes.

I can't remember the last time I went from extremely happy to extremely pissed this quickly. I cannot believe this shit. They didn't even do enough to weaken Drew before the cash in to make him not look like an absolute chump. A few pathetic, old man stomps from Punk, a briefcase shot to the head. It's not enough. And the reward we get here is Priest, the boring, charisma vacuum, as a world champion. I could throw up.

Bobby Lashley and the Steet Profits vs. Karrion Kross and the Authors of Pain (Street Fight) -- Bubba Ray Dudley is announced as the special guest referee. Snoop Dogg is announced as a special guest commentator. Lashley lands a nice belly to belly on Kross. Montez launches himself in a flip over the ring post onto the AOP outside!! Lashley lands a spinebuster onto a chair. Kross lands a suplex and a DDT onto a chair. Kross gets in Bubba Ray's face. Lashley spears Kross. Lashley and the Profits land the headbutt to the groin off the top on Kross at Bubba Ray's instruction. Bubba Ray tells them to get the tables. They get a table and lay Kross on it too aggressively, and the table crumbles underneath him. Lmaooooo. They have to get another table. Montez goes nuts on Kross with the kendo stick!!! Lmao!!!!!! Montez lands a frog splash off the top on Kross, and Lashley pins him for three.

That wasn't a great match, but my god, it was funny. Rating: 2.5

Kayla asks Heyman what Bloodline Rules means backstage. Heyman says Bloodline Rules are whatever Roman and the Rock say they are. No DQ, no rules, one fall to an absolute finish.

AJ Styles vs. LA Knight -- Knight smashes Styles' face into the announce table. Styles with stomps to the knee and a knee breaker over his own knee. Knight lands a tornado DDT for two. Styles slams Knight's face into the turnbuckle, lands a German suplex, then smoothly transitions into a facebuster for two. Knight bites Styles' head on the top rop. Styles with fingers to the eyes to take Knight down, but Knight quickly gets back up with an avalanche German suplex for two! Styles locks in the Calf Crusher, but Knight gets to the ropes. Styles wraps the leg around the ring post, then dropkicks the knee into the post. Knight pulls up the mats on the floor outside and goes for something, but Styles reverses with a back drop on the exposed floor. Knight makes it back in the ring at 9. Styles goes for a springboard 450, but Knight gets his knees up. They trade strikes. Right hands by Knight. Styles respond with an elbow, a round kick, and a pele kick. Knight avoids a Phenomenal Forearm attempt by Styles and goes for BFT, Styles reverses and goes for Styles Clash attempt, but Knight escapes. Styles goes for the Phenomenal Forearm again, but Knight the grabs top rope to take him down and lands BFT for the pinfall.

This was a good match, because Styles can carry basically any match, and he looked great here as usual. I still don't get LA Knight, and I think having him pin Styles is terrible. I knew it was gonna go that way, but I still hate it. Btw, Snoop was losing it on commentary here. Who's idea was that? Major distraction from the match. Rating: 3.25

Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton for the United States Championship -- Kevin drives a golf cart out onto the stage. Orton enters and Kevin gives him a ride to the ring. Lol.

Kevin and Orton with some one-upsmanship to start, taking turns slamming Logan onto the announce table and seeing who can throw him higher. Lmao. Kevin and Orton gang up on Logan inside with stomps to the arms, then to the legs. Kevin lands a senton on Logan, and Kevin and Orton fight over who will pin him. Orton goes for an RKO on Kevin, Kevin blocks it, and they go at each other with punches. Logan comes from out of nowhere with a double clothesline. Owens lands two cannon ball sentons into the corner and goes for a Swanton bomb, but Logan gets his knees up. Logan lands a Swanton of his own on Kevin, then immediately follows up with a standing splash on Orton for two. Orton and Logan trade uppercuts, Orton with a thumb to the eye. Orton with lariats and a powerslam to Kevin. Logan goes for a Buckshot lariat (shout out to Hangman), but Orton catches him with a powerslam, then lands a double draping DDT on both Logan and Kevin. Kevin with the codebreaker/back senton combo on Orton and Logan, then covers Logan for two. Kevin goes for fisherman buster or something, but it turns into more of a powerslam. Kevin with a nice moonsault off the top on Logan for two. Orton escapes a pop-up powerbomb attempt by Kevin and lands an RKO for two. Logan grabs the brass knuckles. Orton tries to take them away, but Logan gouges the eyes, nails him with the knuckles, and covers. Orton kicks out at two! Kevin tries to take the knuckles, but Logan ends up nailing Kevin with them on the apron. Orton lands an RKO on Logan, but can't follow up. Orton gets his hands on the knuckles. He hands the knuckles to the ref and sets up for Legend Killer punt!!!!!! But Logan rolls outside. Orton takes out the guy in the Prime bottle suit, and RKOs him on the announce table. Logan sends Orton into the ring post and rolls him inside. Logan misses off the top rope. Kevin comes in with a pop-up powerbomb to Logan, then a stunner to Orton for two!! Kevin goes for a pop-up powerbomb on Orton, but Orton turns it into an RKO in midair! Logan comes in from behind, throws Orton into the ring post, and lands a frog splash off the top on Kevin for the pinfall.

🙄🙄🙄 This was a good match with solid action throughout. Owens and Orton looked good here, but the involvement of the Prime Bottle and Logan retaining basically clean (aside from kind of stealing the pin off Orton's RKO) really take this down a notch. Rating: 3.25

Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women's Championship -- LET'S GO!! Iyo goes for a topé to the outside, but Bayley stops it with a forearm, then hangs Iyo over the second rope, sending her tumbling outside. Bayley lands nice low topé to the outside!!! Dang! Bayley tries to slide under the ropes through the corner of the ring outside with a dropkick, but Iyo stops her and slams her previously injured knee into the ring post, then hangs her over the edge of the apron with a knee/leg submission hold for 5!!!! Nice!! Iyo hangs Bayley up the in corner and lands a nasty dragon screw! Iyo starts to roll Bayley up, but rolls through into a double stomp, then covers for two! Bayley throws Iyo over the barricade into the timekeeper's area outside! Iyo jumps off the barricade, but Bayley reverses and slams Iyo onto the floor! Bayley rolls Iyo inside for two! Bayley lands a nice running knee and a corner lariat. Bayley with a fireman's carry on Iyo into a slide slam for two!!! Wow! Bayley goes to the top, but Iyo stops her with a shotei! Bayley gets hung up in the ropes, and Iyo dropkicks her to the floor! Geez!!! Iyo lands a moonsault off the top to the outside!!! Back inside, Iyo lands a springboard missile dropkick, then aggressive, running double knees to the back for two!!!! Ahh!!

Bayley lands a nasty, low sunset flip bomb, driving Iyo's head into the bottom turnbuckle!!! Damn!! Small package by Bayley for two! Iyo with two ridiculously high angle German suplexes into a bridge for two!!!! Damn!! Iyo goes for a moonsault off the top, but Bayley gets her leg up to block, further damaging the knee Iyo has been targeting. Bayley comes off the top, but Iyo moves and locks in a cross face with the arm trapped! Bayley escapes and lands a corkscrew uppercut to the back, then Iyo catches her in the cross face again! Bayley gets close to the rope, but Iyo rolls her back into the middle and locks in an STF!! Bayley escapes with repeated elbows to the head and lands a Bayley to Belly for two!!!!!!!! Iyo lands a huge right hand that drops Bayley!!! Bayley slaps Iyo in the face!! Iyo comes back with a slap of her own!! Bayley tees off on Iyo! Bayley goes for a Bayley to Belly, but Iyo reverses into a roll-up for two! Iyo lands a nasty double underhook backbreaker and then lands a moonsault off the top!!!! Bayley kicks out at two!!! Wow!! Iyo lands a standing moonsault, then lands a second rope moonsault, then goes for a top rope moonsault, but Bayley moves and goes for the Rose Plant!!!! Iyo kips out of it and up to her feet!!!!! Wtf, what a moment!!! Iyo runs for something, but Bayley stops her with a lariat!! Bayley lands a high angle back suplex!!! Then an elbow drop off the top! Then the Rose Plant! Cover by Bayley!!! 1, 2, 3!!!!

I loved this match. I thought the back and forth action and counters were fantastic, the leg work by Iyo and the selling of the leg by Bayley were perfectly done, and the storytelling was excellent, despite WWE doing a minimal amount to hype this up beforehand. Bayley plays the babyface so well, and both she and Iyo can work like few others in this company. I loved that spot with Iyo springing up to her feet out of the Rose Plant, and I loved how the crowd, who was already into this, really got hyped for the finish after that. Great stuff. Great to see Bayley get this awesome WrestleMania moment! Rating: 4.25

Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship -- Here we go. We've finally made it. Cody with a drop-down right hand, then sends Roman into the ring post. Cody takes a table out from under the ring, but Roman puts it back. Lol, good stuff. Cody sends Roman into the steps. Kendo stick shots by Roman. Cody with a Figure Four, but Roman breaks it with fingers to the eyes. Roman with stomps to Cody's knee. They make their way into the crowd. Roman goes for a suplex on a platform in the crowd, but Cody reverses into a vertical suplex of his own! Heyman is shown with grimace on his face lol.

Back in the ring, Cody goes for a disaster kick, but Roman catches him and plants him with a huge, high powerbomb. Roman lands vertical suplex for only one! Roman drives Cody's face into the rope, and yells that he will send Cody to Hollywood. "This is my company, you little bitch." Roman lands a back suplex for barely more than a one count, then locks in a kravat. Roman with a nice fisherman suplex, then repeated corner lariats, but Cody stops him with a superkick. They trade superkicks and big boots, then collide at the same time with lariats and both go down! Nice exchange there. They trade right hands. Roman runs into the corner, but Cody flips over and lands a powerslam then a disaster kick for two! Roman blocks a Cody Cutter attempt and lands a Cross Rhodes of his own for two!!! Roman says afterwards that the move sucks. Lmao, awesome.

Cody ducks a Superman punch, then lands some left jabs and a bionic elbow. Cody sees Roman laying on the floor and decides to clear off the announce table. He turns back to Roman, and Roman meets him with a low blow, then powerbombs Cody through the announce table! Roman rolls Cody inside and lands a Superman punch, but Cody kicks out at two! Romam goes for a spear, but Cody stops it with a kick and lands a Cody Cutter for two. Roman escapes a Cross Rhodes attempt with a knee to the head. Roman goes for Rock Bottom, but Cody reverses with an arm drag and lands a spear of his own for a close two!!

Cody lands one Cross Rhodes and goes for another, but Jimmy comes out of nowhere with a superkick to stop it! Roman lands a Superman punch as Jimmy holds Cody, but here comes Jey to even the odds! Jey spears Jimmy off the stage through tables!!! Oh my god!! Cody with a roll-up from behind while Roman is distracted for a close two!! Roman lands a spear for an even closer two! Omg!!

Roman locks in a guillotine, but Cody drives him into the corners repeatedly, then drives him to the outside to break the hold! Cody spears Roman through the barricade outside! Then rolls Roman inside and lands two Cross Rhodes! Cody goes for another, but this time, here is Solo with a Samoan spike to stop it! Solo drags Roman onto Cody, but Cody kicks out at two! Solo pummels Cody on the mat and yells at Roman to finish him. Roman says, "I know." Lmao. Stereo Samoan spike by Solo and spear by Roman, but Cody kicks out at 2.5!!!! Wow!!!! Close!!!!

Cena's music hits! Wtf is happening! He takes out Solo, hits an AA on Roman inside, then an AA on Solo on the announce table! Here comes the Rock! He and Cena stare each other down in the ring. The Rock lands Rock Bottom on Cena and tells him to get the fuck out of the ring. Lol.

The Shield theme hits!!!! Where is Rollins??? Rollins comes from behind in his old Shield gear, and I am going to cry, but Roman intercepts him with a Superman punch before he can do anything! Undertaker's music hits! What is this??? The lights go out and he shows up behind the Rock in his jeans and sweatshirt and toboggan! Lmao!!! Hilarious. Undertaker lands a chokeslam on the Rock! Rollins gets back up! Roman takes him out with a chair to the back!!! Poetry!!!!!!!!!! Oh my god, it's 2014 again!!! Roman turns back to Cody and goes for a spear, but Cody stops it with a kick!! Cody finally manages to land three consecutive Cross Rhodes without interference! Cover by Cody!!! 1, 2, 3!!! Wow.

This was a pretty good main event. The work in the ring between Roman and Cody was good. Much better than whatever the hell was going on in last night's main event. There were some great nearfalls. It was long, but it didn't overstay its welcome. The interference was done very well, with someone else cutting Cody off each time he was about to put Roman away with the three Cross Rhodes. The involvement of past stars to intervene on Cody's behalf to thwart the Bloodline was well done. The Undertaker's appearance was cool, but it did feel a little out of place. At least Cena has recent history with Solo and the Bloodline. Undertaker obviously has history with Roman and the Rock, but it was pre-Bloodline. Anyway, the interference on Cody's behalf wasn't overdone in my opinion. It was just enough. Their involvement allowed Cody to finally hit the three Cross Rhodes that he had been trying for the whole match, and this got him the pinfall. It was a nice passing of the torch kind of thing, and a nice way to finally take down the Bloodline. I do love that Roman is still so affected by Rollins' betrayal of the Shield that seeing Rollins in the Shield gear was his undoing in the end, as he took his eyes off of Cody at a critical moment to deal with Rollins. That was a great way to go. The match overall was about as good as it could have been. I had been becoming more convinced of the probability of a Cody win over the last few days, but I was still surprised to see it actually happen. Anyway, I liked this, but I can't bring myself to rate it any higher. Rating: 3.75

Samantha is crying as she announces Cody as the new Undisputed WWE Champion. Brandi comes in the ring and congratulates Cody. Then a bunch of guys from the locker room come out. Orton, Sami, Rollins, Kevin, Knight, etc. Cody's mom gets in the ring, and Cody hands the belt to his mom. Cody calls for Bruce Pritchard and Triple H to come out. He says he wouldn't be there if not for them. He shakes Pritchard's hand and hugs Triple H. Triple H raises Cody's hand. Sami and Orton put Cody on their shoulders. Cody goes outside the ring and shakes the announcers' hands, and hugs Michael Cole. Then Cody shakes Rollins' hand and thanks him as he leaves. Cody stands alone in the ring as the pyro goes off, then holds his title up high.

If anyone knows me, they know I was a big Cody Rhodes fan back in 2011-2012, but his "Indy Sensation" run of 2017 killed my interest. He has won me back over a little, but he certainly wouldn't have been my choice to end Roman's reign of over three and a half years. To be clear, that's not because I'm some kind of Roman Reigns fan. It's because that is a huge, career-making spot that I 100% would have given that to Gunther. But blah blah blah, it has to be a babyface, blah blah blah. I know. I get it. It is what it is. It's a nice moment for Cody. I'm not crying like everybody else, but I'm happy for him.

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heartsoulrocknroll · 8 days

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WWE WrestleMania 40 Night One 4/6/24

Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women's World Championship -- Beautiful Northern Lights suplex by Rhea. Becky reverses a vertical suplex attempt by Rhea into an inside cradle for two. Nice delayed vertical suplex by Rhea. Becky with an arm drag off the top! Commentary mentions Rhea's taped arm. Becky lands a tornado DDT off the ropes for two! Becky lands a leg drop on the apron, as Rhea hangs over the ropes. Becky lands an exploder into the barricade outside! Becky lands a leg drop off the top inside for two! Rhea catches Becky off the top, slams her down to the mat, and lands a nasty knee to the face for two!! Damn! Becky escapes a Riptide attempt and yanks back on Rhea's arm, pulling it into her double knees, then transitions into an arm bar. Rhea muscles Becky up and lands two consecutive powerbombs with Becky still hanging onto the arm, then Rhea lands a third, huge sit-out powerbomb for two!!! Geez!!! Rhea with a big boot for two! They exchange overhand chops, Rhea lands a big headbutt! Becky locks in Disarmher in the ropes for 5 and slams Rhea's head into the ring post! Becky goes for a leg drop off the top, but Rhea catches her in a standing, inverted Cloverleaf! Rhea falls to the mat and maintains the hold with body scissors as well. Becky gets Rhea's shoulders down for two. Becky reverses another Riptide attempt into a Manhandle slam for two! Rhea finally lands Riptide into a high stack, but Becky kicks out at 2.5! Wtf!! Becky lands a superplex off the top, holds on, and quickly transitions into Disarmher! Rhea escapes by maneuvering Becky onto her shoulders in electric chair position and standing up!! Becky flips Rhea over the ropes to the outside. They both go over, but Rhea manages to hold onto Becky, who is still on her shoulders on the outside. Rhea falls back and slams Becky back-first to the floor!!!! Damn! Rhea lands a frog splash off the top for two! Becky goes for a Manhandle slam off the top, but Rhea reverses and lands Riptide onto the top turnbuckle!!! Holy shit! Then another Riptide in the middle of the ring for the pinfall!!! Hell yeah!!!!!

This was an awesome match. Great arm work by Becky, great power stuff by Rhea as usual, awesome finish with the Riptide on the top turnbuckle. Loved it. Rating: 4

Finn Bálor and Damian Priest (c) vs. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa vs. Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate vs. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. The Miz and R-Truth vs. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller -- Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships -- Bate with the airplane spin on Bálor, then hurls him into a ladder in the corner! Bate and Dunne land beautiful stereo moonsaults off a ladder to the floor outside!!! Bate climbs the ladder inside, but Priest hurls Dunne into the ladder and Bate falls down! Truth with a five knuckle shuffle, then an AA on Bálor onto a ladder! Truth pins Bálor for three and thinks he has won the match. Miz lands a SCF on Priest. Gargano hits Sweet Chin Music, then Ciampa hits a Pedigree at Truth's encouragement. Waller and Theory sneak in, climb the ladder, and grab the SD tag titles. Wtf is going on???

Bate comes in with a right hand to Theory, then Dunne and Bate land a double powerbomb over the top rope onto a ladder laid horizontally between the apron and announce table on Waller!!!! Damn!! Gargano lands a somersault senton off the apron! Xavier with an elbow drop off the top rope onto Ciampa onto a ladder propped horizontally on the ropes! Nasty looking. Kofi and Xavier are on the ladder inside, and Kofi falls backward onto everyone on the floor! Theory comes in and climbs. Bate and Dunne land a Birminghammer on Theory off the ladder!!!! Damn!!

Gargano lands a slingshot DDT over the ropes/apron and through a table on the floor on Dunne!!! Holy shit!!! Ciampa lands White Noise on Bate off the top of the ladder inside!!! Oh my god!!!!!! Truth climbs the ladder, but JD McDonagh comes in to suplex Truth off the ladder and tries to help Bálor climb. Kofi stops it with chair shots to Bálor. Xavier and Kofi tip the ladder and send JD flying through a table outside! Priest comes in with Razor's Edge on Kofi onto a chair! Geez. Priest grabs a ladder. Truth comes in to stop him, and lands an AA over the ropes, dumping Priest to the floor! Truth climbs the ladder and grabs the RAW tag belts!

This was a very entertaining match, but Theory and Waller winning the SD titles in the middle of the match was not only confusing (because I didn't ever hear anyone state that there could be two winners before), but an absolutely ridiculous choice that sucked the wind out of the match for me. Truth grabbing the RAW titles was pretty obvious and not necessarily something I needed to see, but it's a nice moment for Miz and Truth. Overall, this was a great, fast-paced, chaotic match with lots of awesome spots, especially Gargano's slingshot DDT through the table and Ciampa's White Noise off the ladder. DIY and Dunne/Bate were the obvious stars of this match, and should have been the winners. Rating: 3.75

Rey Mysterio and Andrade vs. Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio -- LET'S GOOOOOO, ANDRADE. Andrade fakes a boot, then absolutely MURDERS Escobar with a disgusting back elbow!!! Damn!! Andrade has Rey in electric chair position on the top and jumps, and they land a double cross body to the outside! Nice lol. Escobar with a nice tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Rey for two. Dom blocks a 619 with a spinning elbow. Escobar has Rey upside down on his own back, but Rey reverses into a Code Red! Andrade lands his aggressive running double knees to Dom in the corner, and goes for a moonsault off the top. Dom moves, and Andrade follows with a standing moonsault for two! Rey lands 619 on Escobar, and Andrade lands a beautiful moonsault off the top rope to Dom on the floor! Escobar lands a hurricanrana on Rey off the top! Zelina lands a moonsault off the ropes to Elektra on the outside! She kinda misses, and only really hits Elektra with her legs. Looked kinda nasty. Rey lands a double 619 on Dom and Escobar, and Andrade lands his beautiful double underhook neckbreaker on Dom! Rey lands a frog splash off the top on Escobar for the pinfall!

Very good match! Very entertaining. Andrade looked fantastic here, outshining everyone else in the match by a mile. I am so happy to see him get a nice WrestleMania moment here. Rating: 3.25

Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso -- Jey jumps Jimmy before the bell. But Jimmy turns it around and dominates the match. Jimmy with multiple superkicks to Jey. Jimmy comes off the top, but Jey avoids it and catches him with a superkick. They trade shots in the middle of the ring. Drop down uppercut by Jimmy, and Jey responds with one of his own. Enziguri by Jimmy, and Jey responds with one of his own. Superkick by Jimmy, same by Jey. Superkick by Jimmy, same by Jey. Two more superkicks by Jey. Dropkick by Jey. Jey goes for another superkick, and Jimmy covers his face. Jey hesitates. Jimmy says he is sorry for everything and he was wrong, and reaches out a hand to Jey. Jey takes it. Jimmy has suckered him in for another superkick. Jimmy lands a frog splash off the top for two. Jimmy sets up for a spear, but Jey cuts him off with a spear of his own, then lands a frog splash off the top for the pinfall.

That was so mind-numbingly boring. It only went 11 minutes, and yet I felt like it would never end. If I had to see one more superkick, I was going to start crying (and people talk about the Bucks). It never felt like the big, animosity-filled grudge match that it should have been. There was no heat at all really. The crowd didn't care. The Usos didn't seem like they cared. I didn't care. I hated this. Rating: 1

Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Jade Cargill vs. Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Dakota Kai -- Sane with a big elbow drop! Bianca goes nuts with a backbreaker to Asuka, delayed vertical suplex to Sane, nice tilt-a-whirl gutbuster to Dakota, spinebuster to Asuka, press slam to Sane onto Asuka and Dakota, and a springboard handspring moonsault into a cover on all three! They all kick out! Jade comes in with a chokeslam to Dakota, then catches Sane off the top and lands a backbreaker on her knee, then just hurls Dakota over her shoulder and lands a Michinoku Driver! Jade covers, but Asuka and Sane break up the pin. Bianca ducks a kick by Asuka, whips the hell out of Asuka with her hair, then lands KOD! Jade lands the Jaded facebuster on Dakota for the pinfall.

This was a technically solid match with good action in the ring, but it didn't really go anywhere or mean anything. The obvious team wins, and Jade gets a big moment that I'm not sure she's ready for. Rating: 2.75

Sami talks to his wife and son backstage before his match. Oh god, not the family. This does not bode well for Gunther. Gable asks Sami if he is ready. Sami says, "Let's go do this." Gable says he wants Sami to go out there by himself. He says Sami's got this on his own, but Sami owes him a favor. Kevin meets Sami as he is about to walk through the curtain, hugs him, and screams for him to go do it! I am not crying, Hunter!!!!!!! No matter what you do, you can't make me want Sami to win this match!!! It's not working!!! Lmao.

Gunther makes his entrance, and now I am crying. My god. I love that man. Help me.

Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship -- Gunther with some disrespect to Sami from the beginning. Sami lands some chops, and Gunther catches him off the ropes with a German suplex! Gunther lands a HUGE chop!! And boots to the face!! Gunther with more nasty chops and uppercuts! He hangs Sami over the top rope, lands a chop, and stretches his back/neck over the ropes for five!! Gunther with a nasty chop to the back!!! Then an uppercut, a knee, and more chops!!!! Sami slaps Gunther in the face, and Gunther responds with CHOP FROM HELL!!!!! HOT DAMN!!!!! They exchange chops! Sami lands a big lariat! Gunther lands nasty overhand chops to the throat!!! Geez!!! Sami responds with a flurry of strikes and lands two half and half suplexes!!! Gunther turns Sami inside out with a huge lariat for two!!!! Sami with a big overhand chop and a tornado DDT off the ropes! Sami goes for a Helluva kick, but Gunther stops it and catches him in a sleeper! Sami escapes! Gunther blocks a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt! Sami lands clubbing blows to the back of Gunther's head, and goes for the Blue Thunder Bomb again, but Gunther reverses again and locks the sleeper back in deep, falling aggressively back to the mat with body scissors!!!! Ahhhh!!!! Sami gets to his feet and reaches for the ropes, but Gunther stops him with a German suplex! Gunther runs at Sami, but Sami stops him with an exploder into the corner! Sami goes for a Helluva kick, but Gunther cuts him off with a big shotgun dropkick, then lands a NASTY powerbomb into a high stack!!! Sami kicks out at 2.5!!!!!!!!!

Gunther lands a HELLUVA KICK OF HIS OWN!!!! But Sami follows up immediately with a Helluva kick and covers, but Gunther kicks out!!!! Sami goes for another Helluva kick, but Gunther turns him inside out with a lariat, then lands two consecutive powerbombs without letting go into a high stack!!!! I AM CRYING!!!!!!! Sami kicks out at 2.5!!!!! Wtf!!!!!!!

Gunther yells at Sami's wife in the front row!! Dreamy sigh!!!!!!!!!!! Gunther with chops to Sami on his knees, a boot across the throat, and STOMPS TO THE HEAD!!!!! OH MY GOD, I AM FREAKING OUT!!! Gunther lands a huge lariat!!!!! Gunther gestures at Sami's wife to come on!!! Beautiful shit!!!! Gunther lands ANOTHER POWERBOMB!!! Gunther lands two frog splashes off the top!! He goes for another, but Sami fires himself up on the mat and finally comes back with a Helluva kick to Gunther on the top!! Sami lands a BRAINBUSTER ON THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!!!!! Sami lands two more Helluva kicks!!!! Cover by Sami!!!!! 1, 2, 3!!!

Oh my god, I am freaking out. That match rocked so hard. Both guys were absolutely amazing. It was structured perfectly with Gunther doing the dominant, heel shtick to perfection and wrestling like the badass that he is, and Sami playing the perfect babyface, rallying at the end, and having to pull out something absolutely insane like the top turnbuckle brainbuster to put Gunther away. Needless to say, I am devastated about Gunther losing. Just devastated. As well done as this match was, the build to the match was not given nearly enough time and focus for Gunther's historic 660+ day reign to have ended here. I'm so upset. I love Sami, and I have waited for a moment like this for him for a long time, but the only thing I didn't want was for it to happen at Gunther's expense. I am overcome with emotions. Rating: 4.5

Roman Reigns and The Rock vs. Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes (If Reigns and the Rock win, Reigns vs. Cody tomorrow night will be Bloodline Rules) -- Roman and Seth start the match. Cody tags in. He and Roman do a bunch of nothing. Seth and Rock tag in. They lock up. Seth shoves Rock. Rock and Seth trade rights. Rock lands a lariat to Seth. Rock gestures for Cody to come on. Seth tags Cody. Cody with a drop-down right and some kicks to Rock in the corner. Seth and Cody land double back elbows to Rock. Seth lands a slingblade on Roman.

The match breaks down with all four throwing hands in the ring. Seth and Rock fight on the outside. Rock yells at the ref that if he counts, he's fired. Cody and Roman fight on the ramp. Rock and Seth take it out into the crowd. Cody with a vertical suplex to Roman on the stage. Rock with a plastic trash can to Seth's head. Seth lands a double axe handle off the barricade to Rock.

Roman makes it back into the ring before Cody, despite being the one on the receiving end of the suplex on the stage. Roman with a chopblock to Seth's knee on the apron, and Seth tumbles to the floor. Renowned technical wrestler The Rock with the work on Seth's knee!!!!!!! Lmaoooo. He wraps the knee around the post. Roman tags in with stomps to Seth's knee, then wraps the knee around the rope, then locks in a single leg crab! Seth escapes. Rock slings Seth back-first into the ring steps twice. Rock and Roman sling Seth repeatedly into the turnbuckles. Roman with corner lariats to Seth, then a boot to the face. Roman goes for a Superman punch, but Seth intercepts it with a swinging neckbreaker. Rock with a low blow to Seth right in front of the ref, who does nothing, because he supposedly will be fired if he does. Rock with repeated right hands to Seth. Seth responds with an enziguri. Seth tries to make the tag, but Roman pulls Cody off the apron. Rock with a sharpshooter on Seth!!! Lmao!!!! Cody breaks it up with a right hand to Rock's face. Seth lands the curb stomp on Rock!!

Cody and Roman tag in. Cody with a nice powerslam on Roman, then a disaster kick, then a Cody Cutter for two! Roman reverses a Cross Rhodes attempt. Cody goes for another Cody Cutter, but Roman stops him in midair with a Superman punch. Roman's nose is busted and bleeding. Roman goes for a spear, but Cody avoids it with a sunset flip into a roll up for two. Then Cody lands a Cody Cutter and make the tag to Seth as he does it. Seth lands a top rope frog splash on Roman for two! The crowd sings Seth's theme. Heyman: "I HATE THAT DAMN SONG." Lmaooo. Seth goes for a stomp, but Roman stops it with a powerbomb. Roman goes for a spear, but Seth stops it with a kick. Cody tags in. Stereo superkicks by Cody and Seth. Curb stomp by Seth! Cody lands Cross Rhodes on Roman and covers, but the Rock pulls the ref out of the ring at 2.5!

Roman with a low blow and a spear to Cody, and the Rock throws the ref back in the ring, but Cody kicks out at 2.5! Roman locks in a guillotine on Cody. Cody keeps the arm up. Roman drops to the mat and keeps it locked in, as Rock holds onto Cody's feet. Seth lands a curb stomp to Roman to break it up! Cody with jabs to the Rock's face, then a bionic elbow. Cody runs the ropes, but Rock catches him with a spinebuster. Rock goes for the People's Elbow, but Cody stops it with a Cody Cutter. Cody goes for Cross Rhodes on Rock, but Roman stops it with a Superman punch from out of nowhere! Roman goes for a spear on Cody, but Seth dives and pushes Cody out of the way! Roman spears the Rock instead! Stereo Pedigrees by Seth and Cody and covers on both Rock and Roman for 2.5!

Seth lands a cross body off the top on Roman. Rock slams Cody's head into the ring steps, then tells Cody's mom in the front row to look at her son, as he goes for Rock Bottom on the announce table. Seth interferes, and Cody reverses with a Rock Bottom of his own on the announce table! Roman spears Seth through the barricade outside! Cody rolls the Rock into the ring, but Roman comes in with a drive-by dropkick to Cody on the apron! Cody and Roman trade right hands in the middle of the ring! Cody lands two Cross Rhodes on Roman and goes for another, but the Rock comes from behind with the weight belt to Cody's back! Roman lands a spear on Cody, then tags in the Rock. The Rock lands a Rock Bottom, then the People's Elbow, then covers Cody for the pinfall.

I was bored to tears for the majority of this match, but that's no surprise. I'm not sure exactly how long it went on, but at least the first half was completely pointless. Nothing happened. The match was entirely too long. All of that walking around the arena doing absolutely nothing in the beginning could have been cut out. 30 minutes would have been too long for a match involving 51-year-old Rock, but 45 minutes is obscene. It picked up a little toward the end with some solid spots, but it was never going to be enough to save this match from being a disaster. Also, the Rock threatening the ref into allowing them to do whatever they wanted in this match made the stipulation of "Bloodline Rules tomorrow night if Rock and Roman win" totally irrelevant. I guess it's Bloodline Rules regardless if the Rock says so. I knew Rock and Roman would win, but Rock getting the pinfall on Cody is iffy for me. But I guess it couldn't be Roman before they face each other tomorrow. There was really no good way to finish it. Anyway, with the horrendous beginning and the solid ending, this evens out to an average match, I guess. Rating: 2.5

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