WWE WrestleMania 40 - Night One

By Steve Ward

The 40th installment of the Showcase of the Immortals, WWE WrestleMania, emanated from the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia, PA. As has become the norm for the past few years, WWE again elected for a two night event in order to capitalize on their ability to produce to sellout gates with two mediocre cards padded with unnecessary vignettes and advertisements between every bout. This evening’s card featured seven matches with three titles contested and was headlined by Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins teaming up against The Rock and Roman Reigns to determine the stipulation for night two’s Universal Championship match.

Women’s World Championship

Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley (c)

Winner: Rhea Ripley via pinfall

The opening bout of the weekend would have the potential to set the bar high as Becky Lynch, winner of the Women’s Elimination Chamber, earned her shot at the dominant Rhea Ripley’s RAW Women’s Championship. Becky Lynch gave a commendable effort but was clearly slowed as she battled strep throat. In the closing moments, Ripley was simply too much for The Man as she delivered a Riptide into the turnbuckle and immediately followed it up with yet another Riptide to successfully defend her title.

Six Pack Challenge for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship Ladder Match

DIY (Tommasso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. Awesome Truth (R-Truth & The Miz) vs. New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) vs. The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) vs. The Judgement Day (Finn Balor & Damian Priest) (c)

Winners: Smackdown Tag Team Championship - Grayson Waller & Austin Theory; RAW Tag Team Championship - R-Truth & The Miz

Although this match was for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship, both the RAW and Smackdown Tag Team titles were suspended above the ring separately and the match would continue until both sets were retrieved. The first set of titles removed from their suspension above the ring were the Smackdown titles by Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. In the closing moments, R-Truth dumped Damian Priest out of the ring with an Attitude Adjustment and scaled the ladder to retrieve the RAW Tag Team Championship.

Rey Mysterio & Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio & Santos Escobar

Winners: Rey Mysterio & Andrade via pinfall

The leader of the LWO, Rey Mysterio, recently returned from injury and dove right back into his bitter rivalry with former stablemate Santos Escobar (who has since reformed Legado del Fantasma). Dominik Mysterio then decided to insert himself back into Rey’s business making tonight’s affair a tag team match. Rey was set to team with Dragon Lee initially, however, he was taken out on Smackdown last night leaving the door open for Andrade to step in after he decided he didn’t agree with Escobar’s tactics. The match reached its conclusion shortly after Dominik Mysterio attempted to get a chair from ringside to use on his father. Before he was able to crack Rey’s skull with the steel chair, a pair of men donning luchador masks emerged from the crowd to thwart his efforts. This left Escobar vulnerable to the Tadpole Splash from Rey Mysterio which secured the pinfall.

Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso

Winner: Jey Uso via pinfall

Following his departure from The Bloodline, Jey Uso left Smackdown for RAW in search of a new start - his brother Jimmy, however, would not allow this as he has continued to insert himself in his brother’s business time and time again which brought us to, tonight. The conclusion of the match saw Jey Uso deliver a spear and subsequent splash from the top rope to solidify the victory.

Damage Ctrl (Kairi Sane, Asuka, & Dakota Kai) vs. Bianca Belair, Naomi, & Jade Cargill

Winners: Bianca Belair, Naomi, & Jade Cargill via pinfall

Interestingly enough, WWE decided to book the Women’s Tag Team Champions, The Kabuki Warriors, in a six-woman tag team match instead of a title bout. The Kabuki Warriors teamed with fellow Damage Ctrl member Dakota Kai as Bianca Belair recruited Naomi and Jade Cargill who returned/debuted at the Royal Rumble. In the closing moments of a rather brief bout, Jade Cargill was left alone with Dakota Kai who she dispatched with Jaded.

WWE Intercontinental Championship

Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn

Winner: Sami Zayn via pinfall

Gunther put his record-setting Intercontinental Championship reign on the line this evening against the resilient Sami Zayn. “The Ring General” Gunther dominated the entire match and seemed to have an impressive victory at hand after delivering a barrage of power bombs and splashes. After Zayn kicked out of a late pinfall attempt, Gunther scaled the turnbuckles only to be intercepted with a Helluva Kick. Zayn then delivered a brain buster in the corner and immediately followed with another Helluva Kick to shock the WWE Universe and end the record championship reign of Gunther.

The Rock & Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman vs. Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins

Winners: The Rock & Roman Reigns via pinfall

The main event of Night One had significant implications for the stipulation of Cody Rhodes match with Roman Reigns on Night Two with the Universal Championship hanging in the balance. If Rhodes and Rollins were victorious, the Bloodline would be banned from ringside, however, if The Rock and Roman Reigns prevailed, then the Universal Championship would be contested under Bloodline Rules. This carnage-filled encounter showed that The Rock didn’t lose a step in his near decade away from the ring. With broken tables and broken bodies galore, the final moments of the match saw Seth Rollins incapacitated by Roman Reigns after being speared through the ringside barricade. This left The Rock and Rhodes in the ring alone. The Brahma Bull executed The Rock Bottom and immediately proceeded to hit the most electrifying move in sports entertainment, The People’s Elbow, to put away The American Nightmare and set up Bloodline Rules for Night Two’s main event.

WWE TLC 2018 Recap

By Steve Ward

WWE TLC-Table, Ladders, and Chairs, emanated from the SAP Center in San Jose, CA this evening. The loaded ten match card was highlighted by five title bouts, one of which also marked the landmark, first ever Women’s Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.

Mixed Match Challenge Finals

Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox vs. R-Truth & Carmella

Winners: R-Truth & Carmella via submission

It was nice to see R-Truth make an appearance on a pay-per-view doing something other than comic relief or a dance break. The former TNA/Impact Wrestling heavyweight champion who’s never seemed to have a legitimate push in WWE teamed with Carmella to battle Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox in the finals of Mixed Match Challenge, WWE’s Facebook Live program, with the winners being awarded spots in their respective matches at January’s Royal Rumble. Carmella put an end to this contest as she trapped Alicia Fox in the Code of Silence for the submission victory. With the victory, R-Truth and Carmella will not only be entered in the Royal Rumble but will also enter at number 30.

Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship

The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) vs. The Usos

Winners: Sheamus & Cesaro via pinfall

Sheamus delivered an abrupt end to this contest with a vicious Brogue Kick to the jaw of Xavier Woods to afford him the opportunity to capture the 1-2-3.

TLC Match

Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin

Winner: Braun Strowman via pinfall

There was a great deal on the line in this contest as Baron Corbin needed to win in order to become permanent General Manager of RAW, whereas, a shot at Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship was at stake for Strowman. Corbin expected to win by forfeit due to Strowman seemingly being out with an injury, however, as the official (who happened to be Heath Slater) began his ten count, Strowman‘s music hit and The Monster Among Men made his way to the ring in a sling. Strowman proceeded to grab a mic and remind Corbin that their match was a no disqualification match and anyone could help him. Shortly thereafter, accompanied by Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, Apollo Crews, Finn Balor, and Heath Slater, they proceeded to lay the smack down on the interim general manager. As Corbin attempted to flee the arena, Kurt Angle shocked the crowd and drove him back to the ring. After Corbin was victimized by those he had done wrong to on RAW, Strowman stood over him and pinned him with one foot. As a result, Corbin is no longer the GM of RAW and Strowman will face Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble for the Universal Championship.

Tables Match

Natalya vs. Ruby Riott

Winner: Natalya

Just as a refresher for you all, the only way to win a Tables Match is to put your opponent through a table, so no pinfalls or submissions. The odds were stacked as Ruby Riot had the rest of the Riot Squad in tow until Natalya put Liv Morgan and later Sara Logan through tables. Just when it appeared Ruby had the upper hand with Natalya seated on the top turnbuckle, Natalya blocked her attempt at a Frankensteiner and power bombed Riot through the table set beneath them for the victory.

Drew McIntyre vs. Finn Balor

Winner: Finn Balor via pinfall

McIntyre dominated the majority of this bout until the fight was taken outside. After McIntyre victimized Balor to the point where he easily threw his limp body back into the ring, his old running mate Dolph Ziggler emerged from the crowd to deliver a super kick to McIntyre. Dolph proceeded to obtain a steel chair, and as he attempted to strike him, McIntyre kicked him in the face. McIntyre then made his way back into the ring with the chair seeking to issue more punishment to Ziggler but lost sight of Balor who dropped him to the canvas and finished him with the Coup de Grace for the pinfall.

Chairs Match

Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton

Winner: Rey Mysterio via pinfall

The conclusion of this match arrived after Orton’s attempt at an RKO onto four chairs he lined up was thwarted. Mysterio knocked Orton onto the chairs and as he sat there in a daze, Rey rebounded off the ropes behind him and vaulted over The Viper into a unique rollup pin for the victory.

RAW Women’s Championship

Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nia Jax

Winner:  Ronda Rousey via submission

This contest followed the narrative of the unstoppable force attempting to impose her will on the much smaller Rousey. Jax attempted to put away Rousey with a Samoan Drop from the middle turnbuckle only to have her reverse it into a power bomb and subsequently lock in the armbar submission to retain her title.

WWE Championship

A.J. Styles vs. Daniel Bryan (c)

Winner: Daniel Bryan via pinfall

This bout was a rematch of Bryan’s shocking victory over The Phenomenal One on the final episode of Smackdown Live leading into Survivor Series last month. It appeared late in this contest that Styles had finally turned the tides in his favor as he landed a springboard 450 splash on a prone Bryan, and subsequently engaged him in the Calf Crusher submission. Bryan was able to reach the bottom rope which prompted the ref to break the hold and he escaped the ring. Once Styles was finally able to get Bryan back into the ring, he rolled him into an inside cradle only to have Bryan shift his weight so Styles’ shoulders were pinned for the 1-2-3.

WWE Intercontinental Championship

Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (c)

Winner: Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose’s betrayal of his Shield brethren came to a head this evening as he challenged Seth Rollins for the Intercontinental Championship. Aside from Seth Rollins’ execution of a top rope superplex that he rolled into a Falcon Arrow, this match was drawn out way too long with significantly less action than one would’ve expected from these two performers. At one point, the crowd even began a “This is boring” chant. In the end, Rollins became so frustrated with his inability to put away Ambrose that as he attempted to land a finishing blow, in the form of what appeared to be a stab at the Curb Stomp, Ambrose sprung to his feet and hit Rollins with the Dirty Deeds to win the title.

Smackdown Women’s Championship TLC Match

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka

Winner: Asuka

This match signified the first ever women’s TLC match earning itself the main event slot on the show. In order to win the match, one of the women needed to scale a ladder and retrieve the championship belt suspended above the ring. This bout finished in shocking fashion, as Charlotte and Asuka jockeyed for position at the top of the ladder directly below the hanging title belt, Becky returned to the ring with another ladder that she set up next to them just as Asuka was knocked off the ladder down to the canvas. Charlotte jumped over to the ladder Becky ascended in an attempt to halt her progress towards the belt. Just then, Ronda Rousey made her way to the ring and tipped over the ladder they were on and knocked them out of the ring. This allowed Asuka an open path up the lone standing ladder as she was able to retrieve the title and become the new Smackdown Women’s Champion!

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