WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville vs. Akira Tozawa (Neville wins by pin fall)
Cruiserweight matches need to be fast. They can rely on big power moves, but the action needs to be quick. This match was that, fast with power moves sprinkled in. Tozawa was fired up, attacking Neville and leaving him bruised. Neville mocked at the beginning, but quickly had to take his challenger seriously. There were little rest periods for either men. Neville having to cheat in order to keep his belt shows that the self-proclaimed “King of the Cruiserweights” might not be able to survive on talent alone.
Highlights: Tozawa dives headfirst out of the ring onto Neville…twice in a row.
Neville kicks a running Tozawa right in the head.
Grade: 9 out of 10
Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt (Wyatt wins by pin fall)
Wyatt needed this win. His character is still one of the most interesting in the WWE, but only wins will validate him. Rollins looked strong, but Wyatt looked deranged. This is the way forward and to make him relevant again. Rollins fought with everything he had, but he was against a monster. There was a fire in Wyatt’s eyes, and he looked stronger than ever. Hopefully this is just the first in a long reign of wins for “The Eater of Worlds”
Highlights: Wyatt spikes Rollins on the ring apron
Rollins shoulder blocks from the top rope
Quotes: “Fight Me!” Bray Wyatt
“This is what a God looks like” Bray Wyatt
Grade 9 out of 10
Enzo Amore vs. Big Cass (Cass wins by pin fall)
Enzo could never win against Cass. This match, however, was not about winning. This was about anger and a desire for revenge. Enzo threw everything at Cass, and then had to take all of the punishment. Cass was great as a sneering, cocky heel who loved to see his former best friend in pain. When the bell rang, we might not be seeing the end of this story, but just the beginning.
Highlights Cass throws Enzo over the top rope into the ring barrier
Quotes: Enzo uses this Sinatra song “That’s Life” to describe his situation with Cass
“Casshole” The Crowd
Grade 8 out of 10
Raw Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus vs. The Hardy Boyz (30-Minute WWE Iron Man Match) (Cesaro & Sheamus win 4-3)
This was amazing, no doubt due to the talent involved. Hard hitting with the proabaly greatest last 45 seconds of an Iron Man match ever. The Hardy’s were down early, and had to fight out of a hole for the entire match. Cesaro and Sheamus played keep away, resulting in some very dirty tactics. This might be the end for this feud, but what a way to go out. If you want to convince people to watch WWE, show them this match.
Highlights: Poetry in Motion, Side Effect, and Twist of Fate in a row
Matt dribbles Cesaro’s head off all three levels of the corner ring post
Twist of Fate on Sheamus from the top rope.
Matt Hardy is busted open.
Quotes: “Isn’t it Delightful?” Matt Hardy
“All the time in the world” Cesaro
“Delete!” The Crowd
Grade 10 out of 10
Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks (Banks wins by count out, Bliss retains)
The ending hurt what was a great match. While a count out is never a good choice in a championship match, it fit Bliss’s character. Banks revenge afterwards brought attention to the fact that this is not over. The match itself was full of hard hitting action, with both Bliss and Banks taking some hard shots. The only real question is who will be champion when Nia Jax enters the picture.
Highlights: Bliss is double jointed and pretends to dislocate her elbow.
Banks jumps from the announcer table right on Bliss.
Quotes “Why won’t you give up?” Bliss
Grade 9 out of 10
Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose (Miz wins by pinfall)
When two wrestlers wrestle two different styles, the result can be mixed. Fortunately, Ambrose and Miz made it work. Ambrose was all energy, while Miz slowed things down. The main problem is the heavy reliance on Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. While a heel can cheat, he must also be able to win by himself. It devalues the Miz, and the Intercontinental championship, if all wins come from the Miztourage.
Highlights Miz misses his last It kick
Ambrose is busted open
Grade 7 out of 10
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Ambulance Match) (Strowman wins)
This match had a lot to live up too. There were people who literally thought someone would die in this match. Reigns and Strowman delivered, throwing everything they had at each other. This was a battle of two people who hated each other and it showed. We need more of this Reigns. The post-match made both men look great. Reigns as the competitor who would do anything, and Strowman as an almost indestructible monster.
Highlights Strowman takes three chair shots to his elbow and no sells all of them.
Reigns throws Strowman through the screen.
Strowman throws Reigns on and off the ramp
Reigns backs the ambulance into a semi-trailer
Quotes: “This is awesome” Crowd
Grade 10 out of 10
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe (Lesnar wins by pin fall)
There was no good guy and bad guy. Think more Godzilla vs King Kong. This was not going to be a long match, but it delivered. Both men looked like absolute beasts. Joe took everything Lesnar had and kept coming. Lesnar won, but looked much worse for wear. Given a longer time frame, this two could put on a classic. Joe lost, but looked as good as he could. Lesnar, for the first time in awhile, looked human.
Highlights Joe drives Lesner through a table
Lesner counters the Coquina Clutch in an F-5
Quotes: “He’s stalking you!” Paul Heyman
Grade 8 out of 10
Final Thoughts: I HATE the name, but this was a great pay per view. There was no time for silliness and every match felt like it had a ton of stakes. If a few missteps were corrected, this could have gone down as one of the greats of all time. The fallout on Raw on Monday should be explosive. If you have the WWE app, give this one a look.
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