Overall Rating: 5/10 due to the utter predictability of the whole show. The only parts that weren't predictable were an injury (I worried at his reaction that it was much worse than it's being reported that it was) and the unpredictable-because-it-was-stupid (maybe that should make it predictable, because....Vinny) ending to the Women's Title match. That ending coupled with the completely unnecessary overbooking of the main event really hurt the overall show.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
Roman Reigns (c) def. AJ Styles
There were terrific in-ring performances from both men. It had a classic big guy vs. little guy feel, but Reigns sold well for Styles and played the babyface-in-peril role very well. Unfortunately, the audience hasn't been sold on Styles being a heel (and this was definitely going to be a problem in Chicago, where Styles was going to get cheered and Reigns was going to get booed by a segment of the audience anyway). The two faux endings gave it a very unnatural feel and, then, Roman Reigns won anyway with a "spear out of nowhere". This is the typical booking style that's gotten WWE bad reviews for several Cena-era main event matches over the last 12 years and it's good to see that they're consistently going to book this way going into the future.
WWE Women’s Championship Match
Charlotte (c) (with Ric Flair) def. Natalya (with Bret Hart)
What. The. Fuck. I mean, seriously...did we need another Montreal Screwjob rehash? Was that just completely necessary? Had everybody forgotten that it happened? The really sad part is that the match was entertaining and didn't need that finish to give these two women an excuse to have another match. Charlotte has grown as a big-game player and obviously was going to work extremely well with Natalya. This, sadly, is also a hallmark of recent WWE booking: a great match ruined by a shitty ending.
Dean Ambrose def. Chris Jericho
This was a decent little match that had so much potential to be something great. I don’t know if it’s Jericho slowing down. I don’t know if we’ve all just overrated Ambrose’s ability to actually wrestle because he’s such a great brawler. I just know that Ambrose and Jericho, who click so well together in promos, didn’t click in this match. Maybe it was a one-time thing and another match would be much better, but I’m almost afraid to find out.
Intercontinental Championship Match
The Miz (c) def. Cesaro
It’s sad when a match for the Intercontinental Championship comes across so poorly. This match had some good wrestling from Cesaro and some good heel tactics from Miz. The real saving grace, however, was the commentary of Kevin Owens. The distraction finish leads to a definite build to Extreme Rules and a fatal 4-way, which will, hopefully, be won by either Cesaro or Zayn, because they both need something.
Kevin Owens def. Sami Zayn
I’ll second (or third, or fourth, or whatever) the stance that seems to be the going thing that this was the match of the night. Owens and Zayn just have such great chemistry. It was a coin flip as to who “should” have won, but I know that the fans get to call themselves winners just for getting to watch this match.
WWE Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contenders’ Tournament Final, sponsored by Booty-O’s
Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. The Vaudevillains ended in a No Contest (Enzo suffered a concussion)
I have nothing really to say about this match in review except to hope that Enzo recovers quickly and completely. It’s a scary moment when a legitimate, possibly very serious injury occurs during a wrestling match.
United States Championship Match (WWE Payback Kickoff)
Kalisto (c) def. Ryback
How important is the United States Title? It’s important enough for Kalisto and Ryback to put in a very good effort in a classic big man-little man matchup even though WWE doesn’t seem to think it’s important enough to include on the main show. I don’t have a problem with Kalisto retaining as I’m not a fan of Ryback’s “big guys are better” gimmick, which seems to be just a rehash of his “bully” gimmick…and Sheamus’ “big guys are better” gimmick or Vince McMahon’s “WBF guys are better than WWE guys” gimmick…which is kinda his real-life stance.
WWE Payback Kickoff
Dolph Ziggler def. Baron Corbin
This was a well-put-together match that had an odd ending. All I can say is that it does nothing for Corbin for him to lose this match and Dolph Ziggler’s career might be past saving at this point, so it doesn’t make sense to give him the duke…but they did it anyway.
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