0. The Usos vs. Breezango
The Usos vs. Breezango on the Kickoff worked as a bizzaro WWE-style match, with them basically working the match and especially the finish around you expecting the lame Usos win. Self-Aware WWE is my favorite WWE. Helped that the Usos are now getting consistent boos, while Breeze/Fandango got a god damn Road Warrior pop. **1/2
1. Sasha Banks & Bayley (debut) vs. Charlotte & Dana Brooke
Bayley debut was so awesome, as was the Charlotte and Dana pre-bell attack to huge heat. The week-to-week storytelling of the women’s division has been awful, but the entire arc really has been cool – Charlotte heel turn, Charlotte/Becky feud, Bayley debuting as Sasha’s partner, the eventual Sasha turn on Bayley. Decent match, with Bayley getting her shit in and Charlotte/Dana doing an admirable job of controlling most of it. Charlotte’s sell of the Bank Statement tapout was tremendous. **3/4
2. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan & Braun Strowman)
The Wyatt Family vs. The New Day was decent, just too short to be anything special. Woods was really the star here, and has been totally compelling working Wyatt. He’s not only gotten himself more over; he’s made Wyatt more interesting. **3/4
3. WWE U.S. Title: Rusev [c] w/ Lana vs. Zack Ryder
Rusev/Ryder was alright. I love Rusev the Wrestler more than most things in wrestling these days, even if the individual matches aren’t the most exciting things in the world. Mojo debut was fun. Mojo might look like a total goofball outside of the wrestling bubble but is sooooooo pro wrestling. Really, really interested to see how he does on the main roster. **1/2
4. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens was them doing everything a lot of people hate about the independent wrestling scene actually correctly inside a World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling ring. Epic match. They had a solid first 10 minutes, with some fun brawling, a tremendous Kevin Owens chinlock shit talk session, and some solid high spots. Then Zayn nearly killed himself on the Arabian moonsault (I kind of think he blew it on purpose) and Owens took the suplex on the god damn apron and the match entered another world. And it wasn’t just the crazy stuff here that was fun – the buzzing as Owens headed up for the frog splash was just confirmation that this crowd was their’s. I mean this match got a standing ovation during the match. The finish was incredible, Michaels/Flair level Shakespearian pro wrestling shit. Amazing. ****1/4
5. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya
Natalya/Becky was a totally serviceable follow-up to Owens/Zayn. Natalya leg work and taunting. Becky Lynch comeback. Yeah! **
Then Daniel Bryan gave a pep talk to Dean Ambrose. YES!
6. WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ Maryse vs. Darren Young w/ Bob Backlund
The Bob Backlund soundbites in Darren Young’s entrance music makes all those stupid ass videos worth it. The Miz and Maryse facemasks were incredible, JBL overemphasizing that they were from Eyes Wide Shut was not. I liked Young vs. Miz; it felt really old school – coach in the corner, shoulder tackles, a backslide struggle. Finish was a bit of a cluster but up until that I was digging it. And even that at least had Bob Backlund being a psycho. **1/2
7. John Cena, Enzo & Big Cass vs. The Club (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson)
The Cena, Enzo & Cass vs. The Club 6-man was an Enzo and Cass formula match with John Cena and AJ Styles randomly wrestling each other during it. So it was pretty great. Fucking LOVE when Enzo gets pounced out of his dive for the tag. ***1/2
Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel w/ Randy Orton
Heavily Medicated Orton is an interesting character. Highlight Reel had an “ELLEN” chant! Randy shooting! Jericho cosplaying as Heyman! Jericho’s “now?” bit! Just a fantastic bit of sports entertainment.
8. Triple Threat Match – WWE Title: Dean Ambrose [c] vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins
Shield Triple Threat was dumb fun but just like the (almost non-existent) build-up: nowhere near as awesome as you’d hope. The video packages and commercials had been the best build for like the biggest match in current WWE outside of like Undertaker vs. Cena or a Stone Cold return. Liked each roster watching in the locker room. The match was fine, just non-stop hijinks. A fun main event that made me feel kind of empty inside. ***1/4
Loved Owens/Zayn and the Cena/Enzo/Cass vs. The Club 6-man; everything else was solid. Solid show! Plus, Bayley! 6/10
