offical wwe thread

[Arcademan]

WWE Elimination Chamber PPV Results: 2-21-21

Results courtesy of ProWrestling.net (direct link to Powell's real-time report).

WWE Elimination Chamber Kickoff Show result: John Morrison defeated Mustafa Ali, Ricochet, and Elias in 7:10 in a four-way match to earn a spot in the U.S. Championship match on the main card.

1. Daniel Bryan vs. Jey Uso vs. Cesaro vs. King Corbin vs. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens in an Elimination Chamber match for a WWE Universal Championship match.

Cole and Graves called the match. The four men who started in the pods were introduced, and then Chamber video package aired. Bryan and Cesaro made their entrances as the first two entrants.

Bryan backdropped Cesaro over the top rope onto the covered area outside the ring. Bryan leapt from the top rope and hit Cesaro with a flying knee. Bryan sent Cesaro back inside the ring and then gave him a missile dropkick that led to a pin attempt. Bryan applied an armbar. Cesaro rolled onto him and got a two count, forcing Bryan to release the hold.

Powell’s POV: My hope going into the match was that they would have Bryan or Cesaro go the distance, put up a helluva fight against Reigns, and earn a rematch at Fastlane. I’m not sure if that’s what they have in mind, but it started with the right entrants to start.

The third entrant in the match was King Corbin at 5:25. Corbin went right after Cesaro. Bryan tried to intervene, but Corbin ran him into the steel chains that make up the Chamber wall. Corbin hit both opponents with a Deep Six and covered Bryan for a near fall. Corbin rolled onto Cesaro and covered him for a two count as well.

Corbin picked up Bryan while standing on the outside and then ran his knee into Zayn’s pod. Corbin and Zayn jawed at one another. Corbin shoved Cesaro into Zayn’s pod. “Keep him away from my pod,” Zayn shouted. Corbin wrenched Bryan’s left leg around the ring post and then stood on his neck in front of Uso’s pod.

The fourth entrant was Sami Zayn at 10:30. Corbin went to Zayn’s pod, but Zayn held the door closed. Bryan hit Corbin from behind. “That’s what you get,” Zayn said while laughing at Corbin. Cesaro approached Zayn from the open panel behind him. “What the hell?” Zayn asked before Cesaro roughed him up. Bryan ended up running Zayn into the steel chain wall multiple times.

Zayn rallied and went for a Helluva Kick on Bryan, who moved, causing Zayn to kick Owen’s pod. Corbin superplexed Bryan back into the ring. Zayn DDT’d Cesaro outside the ring, then followed him back inside the ring and covered him for a two count.

Outside the ring, Zayn ran at Cesaro, who hoisted Zayn onto the top of an empty pod. Cesaro followed Zayn onto the pod and worked him over with uppercuts. Zayn climbed the steel chain wall to avoid Cesaro, who followed him and ran his head into the chains. Zayn held on by one arm. Cesaro used the chain roof to pull himself up to deliver a kick that sent Zayn crashing to the outside. A short time later, Cesaro forced Corbin to submit to a Sharpshooter.

King Corbin was eliminated by Cesaro in 17:45.

The fifth entrant was Kevin Owens at 18:15. Zayn tried to tell Owens that “they” don’t want them in the match because they are not the poster boys. Zayn said they should work together like old times. Owens grabbed Zayn and ran him into a pod wall. A short time later, Owens performed cannonballs on each opponent, then asked Uso if he was watching.

Zayn came back with a suplex on Owens. Cesaro performed a Popup Uppercut on Zayn. Bryan hit Cesaro with a running knee. Owens gave Bryan a Popup Powerbomb that left all four men down. Owens got up and had a run of offense on all three men.

The final entrant was Jey Uso at 23:05. Owens went right after Uso and shoved him into the chain wall multiple times. A short time later, Owens performed a moonsault off the top of a pod onto all four opponents. Owens hit Bryan and Cesaro with Stunners. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick on Owens and missed, then Owens gave him a Stunner and pinned him.

Sami Zayn was eliminated by Kevin Owens in 25:30.

Zayn left the pod. Uso closed the door on right arm of Owens, then blasted him with several superkicks. The officials opened the door and freed Owens. Uso threw another superkick and then followed up with a top rope splash and scored the pin.

Kevin Owens was eliminated by Jey Uso in 26:50.

Cesaro and Bryan fought while Uso sold outside the ring. Bryan avoided a Popup Uppercut and caught Cesaro in a backslide for a two count. Bryan threw a kick to the head of Cesaro and covered him for another near fall. Bryan stomped the head of Cesaro several times, then went to the corner for his finisher.

Cesaro cut off Bryan’s running knee, but Bryan dropped him with a kick. Bryan went up top and sold a left knee injury while doing so. Cesaro hit Bryan with several uppercuts, then climbed onto the middle rope and put Bryan on his shoulders. Cesaro performed a gutbuster from the middle rope, then grabbed Bryan by his bad leg and gave him a single leg Swing that Uso broke up with a superkick. Uso went up top and frgosplashed and pinned Cesaro.

Cesaro was eliminated by Jey Uso in 32:50.

Uso performed a frogsplash on Bryan, but only got a two count. Uso went to the top of a pod and went for another splash, but Bryan put his knees up. Bryan blasted Uso with a running knee and then pinned him to win the match…

Daniel Bryan pinned Jey Uso in 34:20 to win the Elimination Chamber and to earn a same night shot at the WWE Universal Championship.

A good Chamber match that followed the formula that I hoped it would. It’s good to see Bryan get a meaningful win again after all the losses he’s taken recently.

The Chamber structure was raised. Bryan was still lying on the mat when Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman made their entrance…

2. Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Universal Championship.

Cole told the story that Reigns knew his challenger would be “beaten to hell” inside the Chamber match. Reigns took his usual sweet time getting to the ring despite the circumstances.

Once in the ring, Reigns went for a spear, but Bryan countered into the Yes Lock. Reigns broke free and punched Bryan repeatedly with his gold gloved hand. Reigns powerbombed Bryan. Reigns threw more punches to the head of Bryan. Reigns applied a guillotine submission hold and the referee called for the bell…

Roman Reigns defeated Daniel Bryan in 1:35 to retain the WWE Universal Championship.

After the match, Reigns celebrated his victory. Suddenly, Edge speared him, then pointed at the WrestleMania sign. Edge knelt down with his arms behind his back and said something to Reigns. Edge stood up and looked at the WWE Universal Championship belt. Edge looked down at Reigns and pointed at the WrestleMania sign, then pyro shot off around the sign while the broadcast team hyped Reigns vs. Edge for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania…

That wasn’t much of a match and they didn’t really go with the story of Bryan putting up a helluva fight before losing, but they can obviously still have a rematch at Fastlane given the circumstances. It would be a terrific match, but it’s going to feel a bit anticlimactic if they do now that Reigns vs. Edge is set for Mania. They’ll have to work hard to make viewers think there’s a chance of Bryan winning and facing Edge instead.

3. Bobby Lashley (w/MVP) vs. Riddle vs. John Morrison in a Triple Threat for the U.S. Championship.

Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Samoa Joe were on commentary. MVP used a single crutch to get to the ring following his knee injury on Raw. Morrison stood back while Lashley dominated Riddle to start. Once Lashley backed off, Morrison attacked Riddle.

Lashley tossed Morrison into the other corner and then performed a shoulder block. Riddle put Lashley in a sleeper, but Lashley shook it off and sent Riddle to ringside. Lashley worked over Morrison and put him in a Torture Rack before running him into the ring post. Riddle took a running leap off the steps and dove at Lashley, who caught him and suplexed him on the floor.

A short time later, Riddle and Morrison decided to work together. The duo roughed up Lashley in a corner of the ring for a moment, but Lashley came right back with a single-arm spinebuster on Morrison, and then he dumped Riddle with a slam. Lashley fist-bumped MVP, then charged at Riddle, who was able to dump Lashley to ringside.

Morrison and Riddle took turns hitting Lashley with moves on the floor. Morrison ran Riddle into the ring post, then threw him back inside the ring and covered him for a two count while Lashley was still down on the floor. Riddle rallied with an offense flurry on Morrison that concluded with a suplex into a bridge for a near fall.

Lashley returned to the ring and was hit with a ripcord knee by Riddle, who followed up with a Floating Bro. Morrison attacked Riddle and then hit Lashley with Starship Pain and covered him for a two count. MVP asked Morrison if he really thought he could beat the All Mighty. Morrison rolled to ringside and argued with MVP, then stole his crutch.

Morrison tried to hit Lashley with the crutch, but Lashley ducked it and put Morrison in the Hurt Lock. Riddle grabbed the crutch and hit Lashley with it twice, then performed Bro Derek on Morrison and pinned him to win the match and the title…

Riddle defeated John Morrison and Bobby Lashley in 8:40 in a Triple Threat to win the U.S. Championship.

More domination from Lashley for the majority of the match. I suspect that the idea was to free him of the championship without having him factor into the finish so that he can challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. I suspect that Keith Lee would have won this match had he been able to work this show.

4. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles.

Cole and Graves called the match. Cole officially announced Reigns vs. Edge for WrestleMania. In between entrances, Banks and Belair were interviewed by Kayla Braxton on the Gorilla Position set. Reginald interrupted and praised both women and said they would win the title. He said he would put a bottle of his finest champagne on ice. Belair teased that she might make her WrestleMania decision too.

Banks was isolated by the champions early on. Belair eventually tagged in and was put in a Kirifuda Clutch, but she backed Baszler into her corner. Banks made a blind tag. Belair slammed Baszler to the mat, then Banks performed a top rope frogsplash and covered her for a near fall.

Belair performed the KOD on Baszler and had her pinned, but Jax pulled Belair to ringside to break the pin. Back inside the ring, Belair threw punches at Jax and tried to hoist her up, but she couldn’t lift her. Jax got a near fall on Belair when Banks broke up the pin. Banks made another blind tag while Jax performed a Samoan Drop on Belair.

Banks hit Jax with a meteora and covered her for a near fall. Reginald walked out with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. Banks went for the Bank Statement, but Jax reached the ropes. Reginald slid the champagne bottle to Banks. The referee spotted Banks with the bottle. Banks tried to explain that she didn’t do anything wrong. Jax clubbed Banks and then put her down with a Samoan Drop and then pinned her…

Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler defeated Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair in 9:35 to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Titles.

A forgettable match. It looks like Reginald is messing with Banks on behalf of Carmella. It remains to be seen whether this is setting up something at Fastlane or if they are going to add Carmella to the Smackdown Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania. Barring a title change this week, we will be getting Jax and Baszler vs. Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles on the March 3 edition of NXT TV.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE Elimination Chamber PPV Results: 2-21-21

5. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus vs. AJ Styles (w/Omos) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Jeff Hardy in an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship.

Phillips, Saxton, and Joe called the match. Sheamus earned the right to be in the last pod to open. The first two entrants were Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton. Orton took a lap around the ring and had a moment with each wrestler in a pod. Hardy hit Orton with a splash from the middle rope and covered him for a two count.

The third entrant was Drew McIntyre at 4:25. McIntyre worked over Orton and ran him into the steel chain wall, then shoved his face against it. McIntyre tossed Hardy to the outside area and suplexed him. McIntyre picked up Hardy and ran him headfirst into a pod wall. Orton caught McIntyre coming through the ropes with a DDT and covered him for a two count. Orton worked over Hardy, then dropped McIntyre with a sidewinder backbreaker and covered him for a near fall.

The fourth entrant was Kofi Kingston at 8:30. Orton got the better of Kingston briefly, but Kingston rolled onto him and pinned him.

Randy Orton was eliminated by Kofi Kingston in 8:55.

Orton delivered RKOs to the entrants before leaving. Styles told Omos to get him out of his pod, so Omos ripped the pod wall off.

The fifth entrant was AJ Styles, who ran in and covered Kingston and then Hardy for two counts. Adam Pearce came out and ejected Omos from ringside while Styles protested from inside the Chamber. Kingston rallied by monkey flipping Styles into the Chamber wall.

Kingston returned to the ring and put McIntyre in a submission hold, but McIntyre powered out with a suplex. Sheamus was shown standing with his hands on the pod wall and his back to what was happening inside the ring. McIntyre suplexed Kingston against the Chamber wall. McIntyre gave Styles a high back body drop.

The final entrant was Sheamus at 15:45. Sheamus immediately went face to face with McIntyre, who punched him. McIntyre and Sheamus traded punches. McIntyre ended up clotheslining Sheamus over the top rope and went with him. Kingston ended up diving onto both of them a short time later.

At 21:20, McIntyre set up to suplex Sheamus from the top of a pod. Styles and Hardy slipped under them to turn it into a tower of doom spot. Styles and Hardy went for pins. Kingston leapt from the top of a pod with a trust fall dive onto his opponents. Kingston covered Sheamus for a two count, then covered Hardy for a two count, and then covered McIntyre for just a one count.

Kingston went for another trust fall dive, but Sheamus caught him. Sheamus followed up moments later with a Brogue Kick and then he pinned Kingston.

Kofi Kingston was eliminated by Sheamus in 23:35.

Hardy hit a Twist of Fate on Sheamus, and then another on McIntyre. Styles went after Hardy and also ate a Twist of Fate. Hardy removed his shirt and climbed to the top of a pod and performed a Whisper in the wind on McIntyre and Sheamus, who were outside the ring. Hardy returned to the ring and performed a Swanton Bomb on Styles. McIntyre blasted Hardy with a Claymore Kick and pinned him.

Jeff Hardy was eliminated by Drew McIntyre in 25:15.

Sheamus caught McIntyre with a kick and covered him for a near fall. Sheamus barked at the referee about the count. Sheamus hoisted up McIntyre, who slipped away and hit him with a Glasgow Kick. Sheamus came right back with White Noise, but he couldn’t make the cover. Styles performed a springboard flip onto McIntyre and covered him for a two count.

Styles performed a springboard 450 splash on McIntyre for another near fall. Sheamus hit Styles with kidney punches and took issue with his failure to put away McIntyre. Sheamus hit Styles with the clubbing forearms and then ran him into the Chamber wall. Sheamus threw Styles back inside the ring and then went up top and came down with a clothesline.

Sheamus set up for his finisher, but McIntyre dropped him with a Future Shock DDT. McIntyre sold as he backed into the corner, then he got up for his finisher, but Sheamus blasted him with a Brogue Kick. Styles hit Sheamus with a Phenomenal Forearm and pinned him.

Sheamus was eliminated by AJ Styles in 30:15.

The final two entrants were McIntyre and Styles. Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but McIntyre caught him with a Claymore Kick on the way down and the pinned him.

Drew McIntyre defeated AJ Styles, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Jeff Hardy, and Randy Orton in 31:10 in an Elimination Chamber match to retain the WWE Championship.

McIntyre celebrated with his WWE Championship while replays were shown. Suddenly, Bobby Lashley appeared and speared McIntyre. Lashley worked over McIntyre. The Miz ran out and ring announcer Mike Rome announced that Miz was cashing in the Money in the Bank contract.

6. Drew McIntyre vs. The Miz for the WWE Championship.

The referee waited for McIntyre to stand up and then called for the bell. Miz put McIntyre down and got a near fall. Miz followed up with a Skull Crushing Finale and scored the pin…

The Miz defeated Drew McIntyre in 0:30 to win the WWE Championship.

Great, we now have one of the weakest WWE Champions in history. And that’s coming from someone who has been a Miz defender over the years. I can’t imagine that Miz will be going to WrestleMania as champion, so I assume that this is their way of moving the belt to Lashley, who will then defend against McIntyre at WrestleMania.

 

[famicommander]

Progress, one of WWE's affiliate promotions in the UK, had a guy who was accused of getting a 16 year old girl drunk and taking advantage of her working backstage at their last show (and no, it wasn't Marty Scurll... he's a different UK wrestler getting 16 year olds drunk and taking advantage...). When confronted about it, Progress basically said they asked "everyone" backstage and they were all "cool" with the guy. So that solves that, I guess.

 

[jro]

Nick Aldis says multiple AEW guys have made a terrible impression among the roster in Impact. We know one of them was Sammy Guevara as he was supposed to go to Impact for a few tapings but tried to change all his matches via text messages and was banned from entering the tapings upon arrival and sent back to Jacksonville.

As far as the others, the only ones to appear so far are
Matt Hardy, who has had two separate runs with Impact
Private Party
Kenny Omega, whose friendship with fellow Canadians and Impact executives Callis and D'Amore is why this relationship happened to begin with

So it sounds like Private Party has been a pain in the ass. Could be them refusing to take a pin at the PPV, which resulted in Impact throwing Sabin and Storm into that match.

Guevara better watch it, he's really pissed off a lot of people in the past year or so. Great talent but got some issues upstairs.

 

[wataru330]

I’m sad hiromu is hurt again. That guy is my favorite in this era.

 

[famicommander]

Next week's ROH TV is two title matches

Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship, contested under Pure Rules:
The Foundation (Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham) (c) vs La Faccion Ingobernable (Kenny King and Ring of Honor) World Television Champion Dragon Lee)

Ring of Honor World Championship:
Rush (c) vs Shane Taylor

I don't think this is the right time to put the belt on Taylor. Has to be a PPV, either the Anniversary Show next month or Best in the World in summer. Shane Taylor has been on a roll lately and Shane Taylor Promotions just won the World Six Man Tag Team Championship, so he can afford to eat a loss (likely due to Ingobernable shenanigans) and be rebuilt for the eventual title change while Rush takes out all the other guys due a title shot.

 

[famicommander]

AEW has signed the Big Show to be both a wrestler and a commentator on their newest show, AEW Dark: Elevation.

Last time he wrestled he was serenaded with a "please retire" chant by even the WWE crowd.

 

[famicommander]

Marty Scurll was seen backstage at the most recent NJPW Strong tapings and he is said to be trying to get back into NJPW. No word of if they're going to sign him but the fact that they let him back stage in the first place indicates they probably will.

NJPW has proven to give even less of a fuck than WWE when it comes to sexual assault and domestic violence.

 

[famicommander]

MLW is showing an episode of Underground from 2003 or 2004 tonight instead of Fusion. Watching it now, complete with Powerman 5000 into. Nice to see Joey Styles calling wrasslin from the ECW Arena.

 

[famicommander]

What about Jocephus/Question Mark?

Is he still part of the NWA cabal?

Speaking of, he unfortunately passed away unexpectedly today/yesterday. He leaves behind a young son. No cause of death has been announced.

 

[famicommander]

EDIT:
never mind, accidentally posted boxing news in here

 

[famicommander]

Hopefully MLW learns a lesson from Filthy Island (the horrible episode from last week shot in Kerry Von Erich's back yard).

MLW Fusion viewership for the previous 5 episodes
#118: 70,000
#119: 75,000
#120: 101,000
#121: 116,000
#122: 63,000 (Filthy Island)

They lost almost half their viewers and completely cratered their momentum. Of course this is just Youtube and not any of the TV channels that air them, but I'd imagine the same trends would apply there.

 

[norton9478]

Speaking of, he unfortunately passed away unexpectedly today/yesterday. He leaves behind a young son. No cause of death has been announced.

That sucks.

I hope the goverment of Mongrovia flies it's flags at half mast in his honor.

 

[wataru330]

Ka-Ra-Tay?

 

[famicommander]

https://www.youtube.com/c/nwa/featured

Not sure why but all of NWA's videos have been pulled from Youtube.

Did they get in trouble like AAA?

Did they sell the company to someone who is putting all their content on their own platform?

Did they get a media deal (lol no)?

Are they just waving the white flag?

Literally the only people left at NWA are people with belts, Thunder Rosa whose husband is actively posting on Twitter about how she can't wait to leave, and Nick Aldis' valet.

 

[famicommander]

I guess NWA really did get another media deal of some kind. Nothing has been announced yet but they're saying they got a deal and it has nothing to do with WWE or AEW. I dunno who would pay for them at this point but they're running a set of tapings in late March. I guess wrestling promotions just don't die anymore. Somehow stuff like Impact, AAA, and modern NWA which have never been profitable still keep trucking along.

NJPW has officially unified the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships to create the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

It pretty much had to be done. The two belts have been together for so long and the way NJPW does singles matches there really wasn't a way to separate them again without stupid booking.

Hiromu Takahashi is out long term again and has vacated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, which was put up for grabs last night and won by El Desperado, who is also one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.

Enzo and Cass are apparently a thing again and they're threatening to bring their complete inability to wrestle back to TV promotions. Hopefully nobody is stupid enough to sign them. Enzo is literally one of the worst wrestlers to ever appear on a major show. The guy broke his own leg trying to reverse a wristlock one time.

 

[norton9478]

Enzo (or more likely someone like him) only works as a manager or as the shit talker (Michael Hays) in a 3 man tag team.

 

[famicommander]

Last night during the Canelo fight, DAZN aired a promo for LA Park vs Hammerstone. MLW is also airing an exclusive live special in mid-March on DAZN. And owner Court Bauer says that another media deal is imminent and that their viewership on BeIN is up 40% year over year. The promotion is blowing up while they're putting out the worst product they ever have.

 

[Syn]

The old WWE trick of getting a billion for a crappy product has set the bar,lol.

 

[Arcademan]

We're back

 

[AppleiDog]

We're back

Yes we are.

 

[Arcademan]

Yes we are.

And apparently so is my long lost signature picture

 

[Arcademan]

WWE Fastlane PPV Results: 3-21-21

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (No link available due to new forum functions).

(1) NIA JAX & SHAYNA BASZLER vs. BIANCA BELAIR & SASHA BANKS – WWE Tag Team Title match

Graves saw Reginald accompanying Jax and Baszler and said he looked rejuvenated from his spa treatment. The announcers commented early about how Belair and Banks seemed to be getting along. After a mere successful tag without incident, Graves said maybe their dispute was a ruse all along. The heels controlled Belair for a while until Belair ducked a charging Banks. Banks got a hot tag and hit both Jax and Baszler with Meteoras in opposite corners. Banks knocked Jax out of the ring and then executed a strange looking DDT for a two count. Graves gave Sasha credit for “innovating offense in a precarious situation.”

Belair tagged in and landed a 450 splash. Reginald stood on the ring apron. The ref decided to yell at him rather than count the cover. Banks moved toward Reginald. Reginald leaped off the ring apron. Banks dove at him, but he avoided her. Belair then hit him. Baszler then put Belair in a Kirafuda Clutch. Belair tagged in Banks. Banks applied a Bank Statement on Baszler as Belair fended off Jax. Jax, though, shoved Belair onto Banks. (Those inadvertent incidents that get misunderstood only happen to tag team partners who have preexisting issues.) Banks yelled at Belair that she had it won and she was about to tap. She shoved Belair in the face and called Belair a rookie. Belair turned her back to diffuse the situation. Baszler rolled up Sasha for the three count.

WINNER: Jax & Baszler in 10:00. (*3/4)

The match wasn’t really designed for anything other than to fill some time with decent action, peak with a flurry of chaos after a hot-tag, and then inject Reginald into the mix to cause strife between Banks and Belair. Banks came across very unlikable here – except to some of her super-fans for whom she can do no wrong, of course.

(2) BIG E vs. APOLLO CREWS – Intercontinental Title match

Crews came out with his new entrance. Big E came out being serious and enthusiastic without being corny. He eyed Crews with a look that said he’s eager to tear him apart. Crews stared right back at him. They gave off the vibe of this being a big fight. The bell rang and they came out of the chutes aggressively. Big E speared Crews off the ring apron to the floor a few seconds into the match. Big E got down and yelled in Crews’s year, “This is what you wanted?! This is what you wanted!?” Big E threw Crews back into the ring, then shoved his boot into Crews’s throat. The yelling by Big E continued as he delivered more of a beating to Crews.

Crews kicked Big E’s knee as he charged at him, and he took over with sustained offense for several minutes. The ref admonished Crews for holding the ropes for leverage when shoving his boot into Big E’s throat. Graves asked if the new attitude could be the missing piece Crews needed. Crew landed a top rope splash for a two count. Crews went for a standing moonsault, but Big E lifted his knees. Big E then set up a Big Ending, but Crews ducked and small packaged Big E. Big E reversed the roll-up and bridged his shoulders up and scored a three count on Big E. The announcers seemed confused about whether Big E’s shoulders were down during that. The ref restarted her count, adding to the confusion as their shoulders shifted positions.

WINNER: Big E in 6:00 to retain the Intercontinental Title. (*3/4)

The match was a letdown if only because it was so short. That said, it’s the start of the feud, and an ambiguous and fluke roll-up reversal is the – in retrospect, at least – obvious finish for this first match between these.

(3) BRAUN STROWMAN vs. ELIAS

Braun beat up Elias for a minute. Elias bailed out to ringside. Braun beat him up at ringside. Ryker jumped onto the ring apron, so Braun turned his back to Elias to yell at Ryker. Elias attacked Braun from behind. (Shane was right.) Elias leaped off the rope with a flying elbowdrop for two count. Braun powered out with force. Braun won with a powerslam shortly thereafter.

WINNER: Strowman in 4:00. (1/2*)

(4) SETH ROLLINS vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA

Early in the match, Seth settled in methodical, sustained offense against Nakamura. Nakamura made a comeback and delivered a running knee to Seth’s face as he had him leaning over the ring apron, then a leaping knee to the back of his neck to send him flipping hard to the floor. Next he threw him back into the ring. He delivered a knee to Seth’s midsection after putting him over the top rope in the corner. When Nakamura climbed to the top rope, Seth shoved him down and then did his obligatory dive through the ropes to knock Nakamura hard into the ringside barricade. He leaped back into the ring with a knee to Nakamura’s head, then landed a slingblade for a two count.

Nakamura blocked a Falcon Arrow mid-ring. They exchanged strikes mid-ring. Seth took Nakamura down with an enzuigiri. He went for a bucklebomb, but Nakamura escaped and charged in the corner. He delivered a cool slide-under Seth to the floor while German suplexing Seth along the way. He signaled for the Kinshasa, but Seth blocked it and delivered a bucklebomb and falcon arrow. Seth set up a running stomp, but Nakamura avoided it and landed a landslide for a near fall. Nakamura gave Seth a reverse exploder and then kipped up. He set up a kinshasa, but Seth countered, escaped, and gave Nakamura a hard elbow to the back of his neck. Seth delivered a hook kick to the back of Nakamura’s head, with a twist to the delivery mid-move that the announcers marveled at. Seth delivered a Stomp and got the pin.

WINNER: Rollins in 13:00. (***1/4)

I liked this quite a bit. Three-star matches have a bad reputation, but they fit a really good match into a 13 minute window. Seth is the priority right now, and so be it, but this met my expectations, especially for a mid-card match that wasn’t designed to steal the show. That’s where Nakamura has been a letdown.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE Fastlane PPV Results: 3-21-21

Continued from previous post...

(5) DREW MCINTYRE vs. SHEAMUS – No DQ match

Drew wore blue and white facepaint to battle. Joe said it represents the colors of his ancestors. They threw a barrage of strikes at each other in the opening seconds. Sheamus took over against Drew at ringside, but Drew came back with an overhead suplex. Drew took the lid off the announce desk and then threw some kendo sticks into the ring. Sheamus recovered during this time and threw Drew into the ringpost. He then grabbed a kendo stick. Drew ducked the swing and gave Sheamus another overhead suplex.

Sheamus took over in the ring and shoved a kendo stick into the mouth of Drew. Drew came back with a headbutt and a big boot. Drew jabbed the end of the stick into Sheamus’s eye socket. Drew threw Sheamus to the floor. Drew wound up with a kendo stick, but Sheamus used a drop toe hold to send him into the ringpost. Sheamus then set up a White Noise on the table. Drew fought out of it and set up a Future Shock DDT. Sheamus fought free. Drew threw Sheamus into the barricade instead. He tore at Sheamus’s mouth.

They fought into the open floor area. They battled up amongst the ThunderDome monitors. Sheamus gave Drew a rolling senton. He set up a suplex, but Drew slipped out and he threw Sheamus into monitors. Sheamus broke through part of the wall of monitors and fell a level down. Sparks flew. Drew looked down on him. The camera avoided showing Sheamus, oddly (reminiscent of the lack of camera angle when Crews dropped the steps onto Big E). Drew waited a few seconds, then went after Sheamus on the next level down. Drew put a limp-bodied Sheamus onto a rolling crate and pushed him back to ringside. He suplexed him to the floor.

Drew carried Sheamus to the announce table, but Sheamus slipped free and delivered a sudden Brogue Kick. I was half expecting a Peacock commercial break here. Drew was out on the other side of the ringside barricade. Sheamus went after Drew. He yelled at him that he should be in the main event of WrestleMania. He then delivered a leaping White Noise through the announce table. Phillips said this was savage and brutal. They piped in a loud “This is awesome!” Drew eventually landed a Future Shock DDT and a Claymore to get a decisive three count.

WINNER: McIntyre in 20:00. (****)

Really good, intense, hard-hitting match start-t0-finish with the intangibles of Drew and Sheamus making it feel like a believable personal grudge all-out-fight. Big spots and a good variety, but all in the context of trying to destroy their opponent en route to getting the win.

(6) RANDY ORTON vs. ALEXA BLISS

As Orton walked out, Phillips said this isn’t a conventional match and doesn’t make any sense to a conventional human being. He asked what Orton is supposed to do against Bliss tonight. Joe said he had no idea. As Orton stood on the turnbuckle during his entrance, he began coughing up black gunk. He asked for a towel and wiped the gunk off his face. Bliss then made her entrance to a spooky remix of the Firefly Funhouse theme. She entered the ring and waved at Randy, then giggled. The bell rang and Orton, without taking off his vest, moved in on Bliss. Fire blasted mid-ring, so Orton recoiled and jumped backward. He then dove at Bliss, but she moved and he went flying into the ringpost and to the floor. When Bliss walked near Orton at ringside, a lighting grid dropped in front of Orton. Back in the ring, Bliss threw a lighting bolt out of his wrist and dropped Orton. The announcers noted that Orton blocked it with his wrist.

An arm reached up through the canvas and grabbed Orton’s boot. Some fire blasted up and then The Fiend popped out. He was a charred mess. Orton looked terrified. Bliss shoved Orton into Fiend, then Bliss made the cover. The ref counted to three.

WINNER: Bliss in 7:00. (N/R)

If WWE is going to do something this, uh, unconventional, you at least want them to go all in on it. They sure did that here, I think. The new-look Fiend is pretty frightening! I mean, there aren’t enough words to properly describe how stupid this is within the usual context of wrestling, but it’s where WWE has decided to go and at least they keep the Fiend stuff in a somewhat separate track from everything else.

(7) ROMAN REIGNS (w/Paul Heyman) vs. DANIEL BRYAN – WWE Universal Title match

Edge came out first. Then Bryan. Then Roman with Heyman. The announcers talked a lot about Bryan’s vow to submit Reigns. Graves said Bryan has a lot of submission holds other than the Yes Lock. Cole said, “There’s a big fight feel here tonight.” Reigns pushed Bryan into the corner. He said, “Take your ass home now or I’m going to send you there!” Bryan went for a leg takedown. Reigns grabbed the rope. Graves said Reigns knows he doesn’t have room for error in this match-up. Reigns took Bryan down with a knuckle lock. Bryan countered with an armbar. Reigns rolled quickly to the bottom rope to force a break. Reigns powered Bryan down into a side headlock. Graves said Bryan incensed the champion. Bryan countered into nasty standing arm contortion. Reigns’s shoulders ended up down. He powered out and stomped on Bryan’s head.

Reigns controlled the action for a few minutes. They went to ringside where Bryan showed a little fight, but Reigns threw him into the ringpost and went back on the attack right away. Bryan avoided a charging Reigns a minute later and sent Reigns into the corner with a drop toe hold. Edge was a non-factor thus far as a regular referee was in the ring and Edge stood and watched at ringside. Bryan went for a top rope huracanrana, but Reigns dropped it and turned into a Boston crab mid-ring. Heyman grinned at ringside. Bryan countered into an inside cradle for a near fall. Bryan hit a flying forearm and both were down and slow to get up. Graves asked who wants the Universal Title more and who wants the WrestleMania main event worse.

When they stood, Bryan got in a few punches. When Reigns charged, Bryan ducked and Reigns landed on the floor. Bryan launched over the top rope. Reigns caught him, but it shifted into an accidental powerslam. Reigns picked up Bryan to send him into the ringpost, but Bryan slipped free and shoved Reigns into the ringpost. Bryan then leaped off the ring apron with a flying knee. He threw Reigns back into the ring, then leaped with a knee to the back of Reigns’s head. Bryan connected with a top rope missile dropkick. Bryan took a few seconds to crawl over onto Reigns for a near fall. Bryan threw some Yes Kicks. Reigns sold them great. After a big wind-up, Reigns finally grabbed one of Bryan’s leg and drove Bryan into the corner. Reigns threw a barrage of kneelifts to Bryan’s chest and face. Bryan countered seconds later with a head scissors and a running Yes Kick for a dramatic near fall. They cut to a relieved and worried Heyman at ringside.

Bryan stood and told Reigns he’s about to be broken. He grabbed Reigns’s arm and then stomped on his head. He then applied a Yes Lock. The announcers reacted dramatically. Reigns powered out and then shifted to punching away at Bryan’s head. Reigns paused to rub the numbness out of his left arm. He stack covered Bryan for a near fall. Both were down and slow to get up. Cole said it could come down to who wants it more. Bryan went for a running knee, but Reigns moved and the ref took the knee. Reigns then speared Bryan. The ref was down, so Edge entered the ring and counted to two. It wasn’t a suspiciously slow or fast count; maybe, if anything, slightly slow. Edge had a few words for Reigns. Reigns sat up and talked back at him. Reigns then mounted and pounced on Bryan. Bryan caught Reigns in a triangle submission. Reigns stood and powered Bryan up, but Bryan held on and shifted back into a Yes Lock. Bryan threw some forearms from behind, then reapplied the hold.

Jey Uso entered the ring and superkicked Edge and then superkicked Bryan. He then checked on Reigns, then left the ring. He grabbed a chair and brought it into the ring. He threw Edge into the ringpost shoulder-first. Then he swung at Bryan, but Bryan ducked and gave Jey a running knee. Jey went down. Bryan bashed him across his back four times. Jey rolled to the floor to safety. Bryan then swung the chair at Reigns, but Reigns ducked and the chair bashed Edge in his shoulder. Reigns then hit Bryan with a sudden Superman Punch. When he charged with a spear, Bryan took him down into another Yes Lock. No ref, not Edge. Reigns got wide-eyed and tried to break the grip, but couldn’t. Reigns looked near passing out. Bryan yelled, “Tap! You’re gong to break!” Reigns tapped. Edge then entered and bashed Bryan with the chair. Edge then bashed Reigns with the chair. He snarled and yelled, “Mine! Mine!” He then rolled out of the ring and slapped the mat and returned to the back, fuming and growling.

A new ref came to the ring. Reigns covered Bryan. The ref counted to three. Reigns was announced as having retained the Universal Title.

WINNER: Reigns in 30:00 (****1/4)

Tremendous match. The finish worked in terms of forwarding the story, but this match with a clean finish would have been a level higher since it didn’t seem like anything was settled between them. Clearly Bryan is not done with the Universal Title picture, whether that means a rematch with Reigns before or after WrestleMania or being added to the WrestleMania match. It’s hard to imagine Edge as a heel against Reigns as a heel at WrestleMania at this point, and it sure seems Edge turned heel there.

 

[Arcademan]

WWE Fastlane PPV Results: 3-21-21

Results courtesy of PWTorch.com (No link available due to new forum functions).

Since we cannot edit for the duration, I did find the link option (chain link symbol above).