For the 32nd time, WWE presents Survivor Series. So before I get into this, I wonder if it’s worth taking up my buddy Brian’s drinking game. Every time the following phrases are used, take a shot; ‘Never before seen’, ‘dream match’ or ‘the one night of the year that Raw and Smackdown go head to head in competition’ I also wondered about throwing ‘get these hands’ into the mix as well. I also decided against this because I thought I might actually die.
Joking aside, I’m actually kinda pumped for this event. The two TV shows prior to this PPV were really strong and gave a nice build to it. I was starting to worry that it was becoming a bit of an after thought following Crown Jewel. Luckily, the card pretty much writes itself but for any other PPV, i don’t think WWE could have gotten away with little to no build up.
The Raw v Smackdown womens match is up first.
One can’t help but think this is to get it over and done with so we can quickly move on from the inevitable heat Nia Jax is going to get.
I’m calling a Smackdown win.
Cue the 20 second entrances for everyone… Becky chants ring out
Smackdown team is made up of Carmella, Naomi (team captain), Mandy Rose (The last minute entrant due to the card change) Sonya Deville & Auska.
Raw team is made up of Alexa Bliss (none competing team captain) Mickie James, Tamina, Nia Jax’s music hits and the boos ring out, louder than her music. Graves refers to it as ‘a raucous ovation’ It’s not raucous, people are mad at her, genuinely pissed off. She then blows and rubs her fist. She was never going to get anything other than booed and I think it’s wise to own it but yeah, the fans are clearly mad at her. Sasha Banks and Bayley replace Natalya and Ruby Riott. I’m guessing it’s to take the heat off Nia as they are always fan favorites.
The ‘Becky’ chants are loud.
Naomi and Tamina start the match. Naomi immediately puts her in a side headlock, Tamina lifts her up and Naomi springs off the top rope, flips Tamina, 2 count. Both bounce back up and Naomi lands a standing dropkick. Tamina hits the ropes and starts throwing forearms at the Smackdown team.
Everyone jumps into the ring, chaotic in the early going but one by one they get thrown out. Naomi bounces of the middle rope and lands a boot up the side of Nia’s head, the crowd clearly enjoying that spot.
Tamina super kicks Naomi and gets the 1,2,3 Naomi is the first eliminated. Carmella instantly jumps in and rolls up Tamina and 1,2,3, Tamina is out.
Dance Break!!
Jax is in. More boos. Carmella flails around trying to get her down and Jax drops her. Carmella tags Mandy Rose in and is instantly shoved down, 2 count. Mandy fights back. Running knee off the ropes. Mickie is tagged in. Neck breaker by Mickie, Rose kicks out. Mandy Rose ties up Mickie in a nice abdominal stretch. Weird, clumsy reversal into a submission move, Rose gets to the ropes and Auska tags in. Rough lock up, James puts Auska in a head lock, she shoves Mickie off the ropes and blocks a shoulder barge. Back off the ropes, butt bounce by Auska who puts Mickie in another abdominal stretch. Series of strikes from Auska who tags in Deville who shoulder barges Mickie in the corner. Ref moves her off and she runs into Mickies boot. Hurricanrana by Mickie. Snapmare by Mickie and Bayley tags herself in. Clothes line and elbow drop, 1 count for Bayley. Sasha tags in.
Deville in the raw corner, Mickie tags back in, bench press from Mickie and 2 count. Misses Mick Kick, Sonya lands a spear, Mandy tags in, running knee from Deville. Mandy shoves Sonya off and pins Mickie 1,2,3 Bayley jumps in, quickly rolls up Mandy for a 2 count. Carmella in, boots Bayley in the corner, exchange of forearms before Bayley hangs up Carmella on the middle rope and heads to the top. Bayley misses whatever she was going to do, Carmella ducks the clothesline and boots her. Headlock moon walk and drops a DDT.
At this point I stopped writing a play by play as it’s all getting a little tedious. The crowd have lost all interest too. I had to go back and re-watch this match to remember what happened.
Bayley eliminates Carmella. Rose is in. It’s very clear she is taking this opportunity seriously but she should take more time to wrestler rather than trash talking and wasting time. Sasha tags in and quickens the pace. Mandy Rose taps to the Bank Statement and Deville is back in but not for long. Auska comes in and it’s back to body shots and butt bounces. Quick tag to Deville. She applies a body scissors which just slows the match again. She breaks the hold and tags Bayley. Attempting to liven things up, her and Deville have a brief back and forth, hair flailing, near fall. Spinebuster and near fall for Deville, broken up by Nia who tries to shoulder barge Deville and misses, the crowd cheers, Auska punts her a couple of time, the crowd cheers. Sasha jumps off the apron, meteora
onto Auska. Back in the ring a back suplex from Bayley and another near fall.
Another clumsy spot as Bayley and Deville fall out of the ring. Deville kicks her, Bayley gives her a Bayley to Belly and both are counted out.
Nia and Sasha for Raw and Auska for Smackdown are left.
Sasha dropkicks Auska, Auska drop kicks Sasha, it’s all very polite. More showboating, Auska delivers a knee to the face and picture perfect German Suplex. More running and kicking and hair from Sasha and Auska inside and now outside the ring. Auska throws her back in the ring. Top rope, missile drop kick, 2 count for Auska. Attempted sequence of holds and reversals, near fall for Sasha. Sasha to the top rope, Nia pushes her off?? Auska locks in the Auska lock and Sasha taps out.
Nia comes in, leg drop, leg drop, leg drop, shows her fist, Samoan drop, pins Auska 1,2,3
Nia is the sole survivor. She crunches her face up, blows her fist again and the crowd boo’s her into oblivion.
For all I’ve written about this match, please don’t take it to mean that it’s any good. The girls are clearly airing on the side of caution. It was all very polite and very soft. The best move of the match was Auska’s suplex. Deville and Auska put on an alright showing but for the most part, this match was very dull.
Backstage segment between Corbin, Stephanie, Shane and Paige.
Next up Seth Rollins v Shinsuke Nakamura.
My prediction – Rollins to win
I can’t help but think how irrelevant the United States title is at the moment. I sure hope after this they do something more constructive with it.
The first five minutes of this match is these two trying to scope each other out. A few tentative lock ups, arms twists, and goading each other with a ‘Come oooonnnnn’. At one point Seth laid across the corner giggling.
These guys have two very different styles. Seth is quicker and more technical and Nakamura is slower, more of a ground and pound. in the early going, I’m not sure quite how they are going to pull this off but ever the professionals, they manage to find some momentum after a nice arm drag from Seth.
Nakamura has clearly prepared for this match and seems to block Seth at several points in the match. Nakamura is pretty relentless at wearing Rollins down. after a couple of misses, he drops Makamura on his head out side the ring, Seth goes to bounce of the ropes and mid run changes direction as Nakamura moves around outside the ring. Seth was going for a suicide dive and runs face first into a knee. He sets Seth up on the apron and delivers a knee to the chest.
He tosses Seth back in the ring.. near fall.
Both are back up and Nakamura continues to wear Seth down. The slow pace suits him and he looks very much in control. More headlocks and front face locks and knee strikes. Seth drops Nakamura face first into the middle turn buckle and re groups. Seth whips him off the ropes. Slingblade. Nakamura charges and runs into Seth’s boot. Seth jumps to the middle turnbuckle, jumps towards Nakamura and ducks jumps to the top. Seth picks him up, Nakamura pummeling his back. Seth drops him over the top rope. Runs off the rope for a suicide dive, back in the ring and does it again. ‘One more time’ chants. Rollins jumps back in the ring and a 3rd suicide dive. Ref starts the count. Both back in the ring. Seth lands a flying clothes line and a near fall. Forearm to the face. Attempted suplex, reversed, catches Rollins chin with a flying boot. Hard kicks to Seth, whipped into the corner, sets Rollins up across the top rope, knee to gut, Seth falls, near fall for Nakamura. Seth blocked a reverse exploder but lands a backstabber. Superkick to Nakamura, near fall for Seth.
Seth sets him up for a buckle bomb, rake of the eyes, Seth dives into the top turn buckle, Nakamura pulls him off after he lands a couple of boots to the head. Seth unleashes the same on Nakamura and ref pulls him off.
Clothesline countered into an arm bar, triangle submission.
Seth picks him up and plants a buckle bomb. Seth is really strong. Shake his head, grits his teeth and starts tuning up, kicks, kicks, forearm. Nakamura landslide, near fall, Seth kicks out.
Nakamura up high. Seth pounces, lands a superplex into a falcon arrow. 2 count for Seth. I love that sequence of moves. Exchange of blows. Both men reeling. Nakamura taps his chin for Seth to hit him again. Seth tries and Nakamura unleashes his fists and lands a reverse exploder. sets up for kinshasa, Seth ducks, lands his own ripchord knee, 2 count for Seth who quickly heads to the top turnbuckle, misses a frog splash, kinshasa to the back of the head and Rollins kicks out.
Seth gets up slowly, Nakamura signalling for another. Seth lands a super kick, misses the curb stomp, Nakamura attempts a kinshasa, misses, Seth lands a curb stomp, a sloppy cover but Seth picks up the win.
I’ve watched this match back because to start with I wasn’t particularly thrilled at it but watching it a second time I enjoyed it more. Two very conflicting styles but somehow a match of great storytelling.
Backstage segment of the Raw team. Brawn acting like the big boss but he says he likes Finn, so yeah, that. Drew and Brawn have an interesting back and forth. I’m calling it now, Drew to win the Royal Rumble. R-Truth’s comical interjection is exactly that, comical.
Next up The Bar V AOP
AOP to win.
At this point I’m changing my prediction to a Raw whitewash.
AOP have some good momentum on Raw and The Bar have been consistent all year. Although there’s an obvious size difference, I expect The Bar to give AOP a good run for their money.
It’s at this point some bleached blonde twerp erupts from his seat making loud noises and being a massive tool. Enzo, you were fired, deal with it and go away.
Regrettably I still can’t tell AOP apart so am relying on commentary to tell me who is in the match. Sheamus starts off with one of them. Lock up and he’s thrown into the corner. Sheamus and Cesaro bounce Razaar off the ropes and a locked arm clothes line drops him the ground. Cesaro delivers convincing upper cuts and drops him the to the mat. Acomb runs over knocking out Sheamus as Cesaro swings the other one.
Acomb near fall on Cesaro.
AOP are very ground and pound. They are larger than life guys but they’re quick and ruthless. I kinda like them. Headbutt to Cesaro. Quick tags between AOP. The Bar are good competition for them. Cesaro tries to claw out of the headlock. elbows to the guts, Acomb tackles him to the ground and a tag, Razaar in, lifts Cesaro and drops him in Acomb’s knee. Sheamus and Razaar exchange blows and the ref misses the cover. Another series of uppercuts, bounce off the ropes and flattened by a solid clothesline. Acomb locks the chin lock in, wearing down Cesaro further.
Further upper cuts, Cesaro bounces off the ropes, ducks the arm and lands a missile elbow. Nice spot. Sheamus and Razaar in. Quite evenly matched but Sheamus is quicker and delivers a series of high knees and hangs Razaar up before delivering ten strikes to the chest. Sheamus goes up top and lands a flying clothesline, near fall for Sheamus.
Signalling for a brogue kick, Maverick is on the apron trying to distract him. Cesaero jumps in, upper cut and Razaar walks into a brogue kick. 2 count as Maverick pulls his foot onto the ropes to break the count.
Cesaro chases down Maverick who runs off and straight into the Big Show. Big Show picks him up by the throat and Maverick clearly squeezes something in his groin and appears to pee himself.
Confused, The Bar look on as Maverick appears to cower on the apron. Show walks off laughing.
Sheamus gets knocked from behind, gets picked up into a power bomb and the double team by AOP plants him firmly into the mat 1,2,3 AOP win.
Backstage segment of Smackdown team. The Miz has Shane give a speech about how everyone IS Smackdown and The Miz hilariously repeats what he says and plugs the Marine 6 again.
205 live takes the stage Mustafa Ali taking on Buddy Murphy (c) for the Cruiserweight
championship.
This match is quick and high flying, the athletic spots, the way these guys sell their moves is like watching art.
The match starts with Ali jumping over Murphy who then picks him up and runs him into the corner, shoulder barging him until Ali whips out and chops him across the chest. he shoves Ali, who responds with a forearm and another. He flips Ali over throws him into the corner, Ali flips over him again, bounces off the rope and lands Ali lands a hurricanrana. Murphy on the apron, drop kick from Ali who goes up top and somersaults into Murphy on the outside.
Back in the ring. 1 count, barely.
Murphy rolls out the ring, drops Ali on his back in the ring, Ali kicks him off and tries to climb the turn buckle, blocked by Murphy who pushes him off, back first into the barricade. Landed well and sold perfectly by Ali. Murphy tosses him about on the outside before throwing him back in the ring, 2 count for Murphy.
Murphy in control, Ali whipped into the corner and Murphy flips him over with a huge back drop.
Murphy locks in a reverse chin lock to wear Ali down. Ali powers out. Murohy goes for a reverse suplex, countered by Ali into a near fall. series of kicks to Murphy who catapults Murphy into the corner, bounces off the ropes and lands a standing drop kick. Forearms to Murphy in the corner, Ali slides into the corner, jumps the ropes and kicks Murphy in the head, Ali rolls through and Murphy throws him out of the ring, then bounces over the rope and somersaults over the top rope.
Murphy throws Ali back in the ring and up top he goes, ali ducks and lands a couple of well placed super kicks. reverse hurrincanrana, amazing spot. 2 count.
Ali is back up. Picks up Murphy. Forearm from Ali and another. blocked and a series of quick shots from Murphy, Ali lands a spinning heel kick. Murphy on the out side, in the middle rope, Ali comes out of the corner, flips himself round and delivers a DDT whilst Murphy is on the ropes. Another near fall for Ali.
Ali drags Murphy to the corner. Looking for the 054, Top rope and Murphy moves his legs and Ali’s face bounces off the apron on the way to the floor. Murphy goes to pick him up but pulls the cover off the announce table, Murphy climbs, grabs his hair and Ali lands an overhead kick, lands a Spanish flyby off the announce table. the crowd is chanting ‘205’ understandably so, this match is amazing. Ali gets them both back in the ring.
Ali goes up, Murphy grabs his hair, boots his face, power bomb and then a sit down powerbomb from Murphy and another near fall.
‘This is awesome’
Sets up for Murphy’s Law, Ali reverses into a near fall. Ali off the second rope, caught with a knee. Murphy hooks in Murphy’s law and lands it perfectly. Pin fall. Murphy retains.
What an incredible match. 205 needs to be a regular feature of every PPV going forward.
Backstage segment with Daniel Bryan. An attempt to interview him and he walks off pulling a smug face. Are we buying into heel Bryan?
Lars Sullivan vignette. Hmmm. Odd call up. Discuss….
Next up Men’s traditional Survivor Series match.
Corbin is the none competing Team Captain. The team is made up of Lashley, Finn, Ziggler,
Mcintyre and Strowman. If Lio Rush commentates this match with a microphone, I’m fast forwarding it.
Smackdown team is made up of The Miz (captain) Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio and Shane McMahon. The question is, on a roster stacked like Smackdown, why is Shane on this team? What about Orton or Almas? It baffles me.
The match is clearly heated from the start and all are in the ring. After a bit of back and forth, it’s Strowman and Joe to start things off.
McIntyre immediately tags himself in, Strowman is annoyed. Joe applies the cocquina clutch straight off the bell. Drew flips him over to escape but Joe locks it in again. Drew flips and reverses, lands a claymore and pins Joe. Joe is out, barely one minute in.
The crowd call bullshit and Jeff Hardy comes in.
Lock up and Jeff is pushed back into the corner, delete chants ring out. Jeff grabs a swift waist lock before being on the receiving end of a back elbow. Jeff off the ropes and boots drew, lands a couple of elbows before Drew drops him with a clothesline. Ziggler tags in. On any given day Ziggler v Jeff could main event any PPV. Jeff gets up, ducks a superkick and Shane tags in. Shane unleashes sharp jabs on Dolph who lands a couple of his own before planting Shane with a beautiful standing dropkick. Shane punches him in the gut before landing a series of deep arm drags. Tries for a DTT which Dolph reverses into a near count. Dolph lands a famasser and another near fall.
Dolph goes for a superkick which Shane counters with an elbow, bounces off the ropes and Dolph lands a zigzag. The Miz breaks up the count, tags in. Quick sequence of attempted moves, ducks and reversals before Dolph lands another perfect drop kick. Strowman tags himself in, gets in the ring before Drew tags himself in again. Strowman and Drew exchange blows in the ring, the rest of team Raw rush in to break them up. Smackdown team come in to capitalize.
Team Smackdown start putting a beat-down in Strowman who scatters them but he ends up on the ropes and Rey delivers a 619. They have Strowman outside the ring, the cover comes off the announce table. They lay Strowman out of the table as Shane goes to the top turn buckle, he lands a coast to coast on Strowman through the table. Definitely the biggest spot of the night. Corbin throws a dicky fit on the outside of the ring.
Drew and the Miz in the ring, Miz scores a near fall. Cut backstage to a smug looking Paige as Miz beats down on Drew. Glasgow kiss to the Miz. Drew crawls towards the corner where Finn has his hand outstretched to receive the tag but Drew hesitates and changes his mind. Miz tries to lock on the Skull crushing finale, Drew counters and chops Miz across the chest as Finn reaches over the top rope and tags himself in, gives Drew a look and then plants him with a overhead kick to the head. Finn enters the ring and shoves Miz to the mat, chops him in the corner. He flips Miz out of the corner, Miz reverses and throws Finn back into the corner, Finn pushes back off the ropes as Miz ducks under him, Finn is on the receiving end of Miz’s boot. Miz sits on the top turn buckle and Finn lands a step up boot to his face. Miz is on his back as Finn delivers a slightly clumsy double foot stomp and ends up laying on top of the Miz. He quickly gets up, attempts a slingblade, which Miz reverse to attempt the skull crushing finale which Finn then reverses into a near fall. Miz is in the
corner, Finn jumps the rope and catches him with a boot to the head. Finn goes to the top rope, Miz rolls out of the ring, sliding dropkick from Finn to the Miz on the outside. Finn delivers a slingblade to Jeff Hardy, dropkick to Miz, throws Miz back in the ring who tags in Rey.
Rey bounces off the top rope to land a seated senton to Finn, back and forth off the ropes, Rey lands a springboard cross-body off the middle rope, boots Finn in the gut, upside down, Rey reverse jumps off the middle rope, Finn catches him, picks him up and reverse into the 1916 reverse DDT, near fall for Finn. He chops Rey, bounces him off the ropes, Rey boots him in the chest. Hurricanrana sets Finn up on the ropes. rey executes a 619, misses and Finn lands a slingblade on Rey. Rey dropkicked into the corner, Finn climbs the turnbuckle for the Couple De Gras. Rey rolls out of the way, he flips Finn again, sets him up on the ropes, lands a 619, frogsplash and pins him. Finn is out.
Drew back in and plants Rey, throws him round the ring, picks Finn up and lays him out before throwing him out of the ring. Rey kicks Drew from behind and sets him up on the ropes for another 619. lashley tags in and runs rey down with a big boot. Picks Rey up high over his head, Rey works himself free and lands on his feet, bounces off the rope, slides under Lashley who picks him up from behind and throws him into the corner. Neck-breaker to Rey. Lashley picks Rey up for a vertical suplex. Rey knees him in the head and rolls out of the suplex.
Step up ensiguro from Rey, ziggler tags in but neither Rey or Lashley realize. Lashley charges at Rey and he gets tipped over the top rope. Ziggler grabs Rey from behind but Rey rolls though to counter. Ziggler flips him and Rey boots him in the face. Both men down in the middle of the ring. Jeff tags in, back and forth off the ropes, Jeff lands an inverted atomic drop and a double leg drop to Dolph. Near fall.
Delete chants
This match is soooo good.
Jeff attempts a twist of fate but Ziggler reverses. Jeff is in the corner, blocks Dolph with an elbow but when he tries to move, Drew pulls at his legs. Jeff steps to the outside and plants Drew with a tornado DDT. Dolph lands a DTT and a near fall on Jeff.
Ziggler tuning up the band. Jeff blocks and lands a twist of Ziggler pulls his knees up and Jeff bounces off them. Miz is back on the apron and gets tagged. He runs into Dolph in the corner, Shane is back on the apron, Miz tags him in, signalling for him to go up top. Shane lands another coast to coast on Ziggler and pins Ziggler, 1,2,3.
Lashley comes in and bulldozes through Shane, who is clearly done. Belly to Belly on Shane who is getting beaten down by Lashley in Raw’s corner, another belly to belly sees Shane back in his own corner, where he tags Miz, Lashley flips him into the ring and drops him. Goes for a spear and misses, shoulder first into the post he goes. Miz capitalizes with a running knee. Lashley is laid out in the corner and Shane gets tagged in to deliver another coast to coast. He flies and gets totally laid out by Strowman’s arm. Lashley goes for the pin and Rey saves the count, dragging Shane back into the corner.
Jeff is tagged in. Strownman in. Jeff tries to pound on him, attempts a twist of fate, reversal by Strowman, lands a power slam and pins Jeff. Hardy is eliminated. Rey flies off the rope with a drop kick, followed up by a step up ensiguri, sets up for a 619, Strowman catches him, lands another powerslam and eliminates Rey. Miz is next in. Miz is hesitant getting in the ring and steps down to rally Shane who gets shoulder barged by Strowman. Strowman tosses Miz into the ring, lands another power bomb, pins him 1,2,3 and Shane is now on his own. He tries to stand up. Corbin starts mocking Shane. He squares up to Strowman.
Strowman drop kicks Shane, barges him into the corner, picks Shane up, delivers a running
powerslam and pins Shane. Raw win with Drew, Lashley and Strowman as the survivors. Corbin cheap shots Strowman before exiting the ring quickly. Corbin continues to mock Strowman on the ramp.
Red Cross appeal to help those affected by the California wildfires – please give if you can.
Backstage interview with Seth where they announce he’ll face dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental
title at TLC.
Womens match up next. Raw womens champ Ronda Rousey v Charlotte. Charlotte was selected by Becky as her replacement as she was not medically cleared to compete at the event. They recap this build up and the events of Raw and Smackdown.
I think the way this was set up Becky was likely to win and give Ronda her first loss but having changed the match at last minute, I can’t see Charlotte winning.
I still have some pretty severe issues with Ronda’s presentation. if they are going to market her as the baddest woman on the planet, she needs to develop her character into this role. She also looks ridiculous. I’m sorry, I still don’t get her appeal but.. that’s not say I don’t expect a strong showing, I just don’t like her and clearly the crowd aren’t having it either.
Hard lock up start and back and forth with intensity from both. Ref separates them and Charlotte shoves Ronda to the mat. Ronda is really fluid and great at counters. Lots of rolls and reversals from both in the early going.
Ronda grabs her from behind and Charlotte flips her over locking in a headlock on the ground. Knee to the gut and Ronda is thrown into the corner. Great suplex from Charlotte and the first near fall. Charlotte starts to soften up Ronda’s legs.
Charlotte is in control in the early going. Charlotte has Ronda face down pinned to the mat and lands an elbow in her face busting her open. Blood is pouring out of Ronda’s mouth. Rousey hangs Charlotte up on the rope to try and buy some time.
Top rope, Charlotte knocks her down and climbs to the second rope to attempt a superplex. Ronda throws her off the rope and slithers to pick her up, rolls Charlotte up to attempt an arm bar. Charlotte scores a near fall. She ties Charlotte up which is reversed into a boston crab, twists to attempt a figure 4 and then boots Ronda in the face. Charlotte lands a natural selection but its reversed into another attempted arm bar.
Back-breaker from Charlotte and a kick and Ronda goes down, catches her breath a little.
Charlotte climbs the ropes for a moonsault, Ronda gets a leg up, rolls through and picks Charlotte up, rolls over and plants her. Ronda starts shouting in the ring and is then on the receiving end of a spear. Near fall for Charlotte.
This match has been quick paced. Charlotte locks in a figure 4 leg lock. Ronda reverses and
Charlotte rolls out of the ring. Ronda throws Charlotte into the barricade and back in the ring, delivering a series of judo throws before jabbing Charlotte. Charlotte fights back with chops to the chest. Ronda blocks and throws her again, Charlotte responds with a boot and gets another near fall.
‘This is awesome’ yeah, you know what, it kinda is.
Ronda tries for another arm bar. Charlotte wriggles free, gets her up on her shoulders and lands a pipers pit. Signals for the arm bar again, which Charlotte fights out of. Both women end up outside the ring. The ref taps Ronda to release the hold due to the awkward angle. Ref starts counting as Charlotte is in the outside. Charlotte rolls back in to break the count. Ronda gives chase and runs into Charlotte who is armed with a kendo stick. Charlotte strikes Ronda repeatedly with it and then throw her into the steps. Instant DQ.
Charlotte absolutely loses it and tears the kendo stick to bits all over Ronda. She throws her back in the ring and continues the kendo stick attack. Ronda takes these shots but Charlotte looks wild as she rolls out the ring to get a chair from ring side. She shoves the ref and drops the chair. She goes to leave but climbs back in the ring and lands a natural selection, bouncing Ronda’s head off the chair. Several refs descend on the ring and Charlotte lays them all out, picks up the chair, wraps Ronda’s neck in it and stomps down hard. Totally incensed she leaves the ring as Ronda slowly gets to her feet and leaves the ring too, of her own accord.
The crowd are chanting ‘Thank you Charlotte’ and Ronda leaves to a chorus of boos.
So why are the crowd booing her? Please share your thoughts on this. Are they booing because they expected her to win? Are they booing because they don’t like her? Are they booing because they don’t feel she belongs? It appears to be a harsh reality check for Ronda as the audience grows tired of her contradictory character and will quickly turn on her if she doesn’t deliver as expected.
I can’t wait to see AJ Styles 365
Recap of Smackdown where Daniel Bryan beat AJ Styles for the title.
Final match Brock Lesnar (Universal Champion) v Daniel Bryan (WWE Champion)
I hate Brock Lesnar so much I don’t even want to write this match up.
Bryan spends the first few minutes playing cat and mouse with Lesnar, thinking he’s being clever. Lesnar blocks the initial offence attempt from Bryan and immediately begins the suplex onslught. 7 suplexes and Lesnar’s relentless offence leaves me feeling just pissed off.
Bear hugs and suplex after suplex and then throwing Bryan into the barricade and he’s just laid out like a rag doll.
Lesnar plans an F5 and picks Bryan up after the two count, saying he could do this all night. He throws Bryan across the ring.
Bryan kicks Lesnar once and then twice. Lesnar picks him up and F5’s him into the ref.
Low blow to Lesnar! The crowd goes bananas. Followed by a running knee. Lesnar kicks out a blink away from 3. You actually start to believe Bryan could do it.
Bryan lands a heap of yes kicks on Lesnar and stomps his head, a lot, in fact I think I can see a boot print on the side of Lesnar’s face.
Lesnar attempts to pick Bryan up but he reverses and he tips Lesnar out of the ring. He attempts a high flying move and Lesnar catches him but Bryan slides off and Lesnar goes face first into the post on the outside of the ring.
Bryan on the apron catches Lesnar with a running knee. Bryan re-enters the ring and attempts a suicide dive through the ropes but Lesnar catches him and rams him into the post, picks him up and does it again. Lesnar picks up the steel steps to throw them at Bryan but he moves out of the way. The steps bounce back at Lesnar and he lays himself out. Another running knee as Bryan jumps off the apron. They are both down as the ref counts. They exchange kicks to the gut and Lesnar throws Bryan back in the ring.
Bryan is lurking in the corner, lands another running knee and another near fall. Bryan continues the offence by chop blocking Lesnar, wraps his leg fiercely round the post. Bryan goes up top and lands a missile drop kick as Lesnar goes down again. Bryan launches another knee and then a drop kick. Third time running Lesnar tries to block him but Bryan turns it into a yes lock. Is Lesnar gonna tap?
He powers out but Bryan blasts his face with forearms and reattaches the yes lock.
Lesnar rolls out, Bryan attempts a triangle submission, Lesnar stands up, picking up Bryan, landing an F5 and picking up the win.
That guy in the crowd at the end had the best reaction. He is totally done with this.
This match was more than I expected. I expected Lesnar to lay him out and it look like a total massacre but Bryan turned it round and actually mounted some decent offence. I’m not surprised at the outcome but it could have been worse. I guess this is the last we’ll see of Lesnar until the Rumble.
All in all, it was a decent enough PPV. There were some stand out spots and some half decent matches. A Raw white wash furthers my theory they are about to can Smackdown completely and merge the rosters. Somethings are becoming ever more apparent. Nia Jax continues to be protected despite her lack of ability. The womens locker room is missing Alexa Bliss. Ronda Rousey needs to sort her character out. Seth Rollins doesn’t need a title to be the best thing on TV. They still have no idea what to do with Finn Balor. Daniel Bryan has a lot of work to do to become a convincing heel. There is a serious lack of legit baby faces across the entire product. The United States Championship needs a revamp and the Universal Title means absolutely nothing. If they merge the roster, I would happily see if retired and just have one main title for both brands. Charlotte can flip her character like no-one else can. The Raw tag team division is reinvigorated by AOP. 205 live needs a
permanent spot on PPV’s going forward.
