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They showed Machine Gun Kelly, who played John Cena to the ring at Rock vs. Cena I in Miami, sitting in the first row.
They reviewed footage of Kevin Owens' WWE Intercontinental championship win on Raw this past Monday. Michael Cole wondered what this would do to the mindset of Dean Ambrose heading into the main event tonight.
WWE Intercontinental champion Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler was worked over early. Crowd was really into this one early since Ziggler is a hometown guy. Owens grinded him with a side headlock. He actually did more to work the hold than most would do these days. They actually did some nice back and forth grappling. It wasn't smooth stuff like you'd expect from a Dean Malenko or a Zack Sabre Jr. but they were aggresively going back and forth with reversal and were trying to "best" the other and it was enjoyable.
Owens reversed a whip into the corner and Ziggler hit the buckles throat-first. They played up that the referee wanted to check his condition and that he had hurt his shoulder. Owens pounced on him and beat Ziggler down. Owens pulled him up and slammed him back down, then nailed a standing senton for a two count. Owens cinched in a side chinlock.
Ziggler fought back but was nailed with a back splash senton for another two count. Ziggler was trapped in a side chinlock as Owens demanded he give it up. Ziggler was able to get to his feet but was kicked in the gut. Owens charged him in corner but Ziggler evaded him and Owens hit the ringpost shoulder-first and went to the floor. Ziggler came back to life striking with a series of rights, a neckbreaker and several elbows.
They continued to battle backl and forth. They fought to the top, where Ziggler went for a superplex but Owens cut him off and nailed his fisherman's buster variation. Ziggler rolled out to the floor. Owens went to grab him but Ziggler, in desperation, nailed a superkick. With both men down, the referee began counting them out. Ziggler rolled him back into the ring and went for the Zig Zag. Owens held onto the ropes and superkicked Ziggler.
They went back to the floor, where Owens went for a powerbomb on the apron. Ziggler reversed it into a rana, sending Owens head-first into the ring steps. Ziggler tossed him back into the ring and naled the Famouser for a close two count. Ziggler tesed a superkick but Owens avoided it and kicked him in the gut. Owens nailed the Pop-up Powerbomb for the pin.
Your winner and still WWE Intercontinental champion, Kevin Owens!
Really good match with some really competitive back and forth action. Owens getting the win clean is always a fresh breath of air. Ziggler looked good as well. I liked this one.
Backstage, Big Show said it was going to be the law of the jungle tonight. Ryback said the Wyatts bit off more than they can chew. Kane said they are sending the Wyatts straight back to hell. Kane popping up on screen got a big reaction live in Cleveland.
The Wyatt Family's Luke Harper & Braun Strowman & Eric Rowan vs. Kane & Ryback & Big Show
Bray took a seat from Byron Saxon at ringside so he could sit. JBL told Saxton he should come back in 2018.
Ryback and Rowan started out. Ryback worked him over with punches in the corner and came off the ropes with a dropkick. He tagged out to Show, who nailed some shots to the mid-section and rammed Rowan into the corner. Show drilled him with a hard chop across the chest and stomped him down in the corner. He rammed Rowan into the buckles head-first and tagged back out to Ryback.
The Wyatts took control on Ryback and Strowman tagged in. He mauled Ryback in the corner and used a knee across the back of the neck. Strowman whipped Ryback into the corner hard. Rowan tagged in and dropped a big knee across Ryback's chest. Show tried to rally the crowd by chanting "Feed Me More." Ryback blocked a suplex from Rowan and nailed his own.
Kane tagged in and drilled Rowan. He slammed Rowan and nailed a kick to the face for a two count. Kane clotheslined Rowan in the corner and nailed a big boot to the face. Harper hit the ring to break up a chokeslam attempt but was kicked through the ropes. Kane followed and when he returned, Rowan kicked him hard off the apron. Strowman worked him over on the floor and sent him into the ringpost.
The Wyatts worked over Kane in their corner for a long time Kane knocked Strowman over the top rope to the floor. Strowman tagged in Harper but Kane made it to Ryback for the tag. Ryback cleaned house on Harper and nailed several big running knees and a clothesline. He slammed Harper over and over again. He then nailed a running powerslam but Rowan broke up the pinfall. Kane hit the ring and chokeslammed him. Strowman took out Kane. Show shoved him over the top to the floor. Show then pressed Harper and tossed him over the top to the floor onto everyone. Strowman returned to his feet and Show speared him.
Ryback nailed Harper with the Meathook but Wyatt got on the apron. Ryback went after him but Harper rolled him up. Ryback kicked out and nailed the Shellshock on Harper for the pin.
Your winners, Ryback & Big Show & Kane!
That was far better than I expected it to be. They had a nice back and forth story and played to everyone's strengths, allowing everyone to have that one big spot to showcase them during the sequence where everyone hit the ring, leading to Show tossing Harper over the top to the floor. Show looked to have a spring in his step as did Ryback. Not bad. So far, an enjoyable show.
Jojo interviewed Roman Reigns about the main event. She asked whether his relationship with Dean Ambrose would ever be the same again after tonight. He said the WWE wouldn't be the same after tonight. He said a lot of things would change after tonight. Dean showed up and agreed saying that only one of them is going to be on the road to Wrestlemania. Dean said the other one is going to be watching. Dean said he's hitchhiked enough and wants to see what life is like in the Fast Lane. Roman said not to book that trip. Dean said he got a great deal on Priceline. Ugh. Awful. No one speaks this way. They agreed Brock was something they were going to have to deal with and then they would deal with each other.
WWE Divas champion Charlotte vs. Brie Bella
The announcers pointed out Bella wearing Daniel Bryan's kickpads, which he had created as a tribute to the late Bruiser Brody.
They locked up and Charlotte used Bella's hair to snap her to the mat. The second time, Bella gained control, but Charlotte was able to maneuver her into a head scissors. Bella escaped and drilled her with a series of right hands. Bella used a Fireman's Carry and locked in an armbar deep. Charlotte used her legs to toss Bella off in a delayed motion. They went back and forth with reversals, leading to Bella using an armdrag takedown on Charlotte, then strutted like Ric Flair and Woo'd.
Brie went for kicks but Charlotte went to the ropes, then flipped Bella out of the ring and to the floor with her longer legs. Charlotte chanted "Yes" to mock Brie and asked where her sister was as she worked over Brie on the floor. Charlotte brought her back into the ring and went for an Alabama Slam but Brie blocked it. Charlotte continued to work over the challenger and scored several two counts.
Charlotte focused on Brie's back and neck. Brie tried to go for the Yes Lock but instead went for a crucifix for a two count. Brie went for a sleeper as she rode Charlotte's back. Charlotte ran forward and slammed herself down, shaking Brie off. Charlotte continued to work over Brie's neck and manuevered her face-first on the mat, drilling her into it over and over again. She tied up Brie on the mat with her legs.
Charlotte went for a kick but missed. Brie used a drop toehold and nailed a running knee. She went for another but Charlotte met her. Brie drilled her with forearms for a two count. Charlotte fired back with chops and nailed a neckbreaker. Charlotte used a big boot to take down Brie and went for the Figure Eight but was kicked out to the apron. Brie dropkicked her to the floor.
Brie nailed a dropkick through the ropes to the floor. Brie tossed her back in the ring and ascended to the top, nailing a missile dropkick. Brie grabbed at her left leg, teasing she injured it. She began nailing kicks to the head and chest. She nailed a X-Factor for a two count. Charlotte went for the Figure-Eight but Brie turned it into a Yes Lock before turning it into a single-legged Boston Crab.
Charlotte was able to counter and sent her into the ropes. Charlotte nailed her and locked in the Figure-Eight, forcing Brie to tap.
Your winner and still WWE Divas champion Charlotte!
With the exception of a few rough spots where Charlotte seemed a step off, not a bad match at all. They told a nice story and had some decent near falls. I like the heel villain winning clean. Solid.
Backstage, Chris Jericho was asked if his loss to AJ Styles was really eating him up inside. He said that one loss doesn't tarnish Y2J's legacy in WWE. He said you are only as good as your last match and he won that. He said that AJ is under the pressure. If AJ wins, he sets his journey in WWE in stone. If he loses, he might be sent packing. He said that he respects AJ and he's great, but we'll find out right now if he's really phenomenal.
AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho
They locked up and muscled each other around the ring. Styles went for a forward roll for a two count. Jericho ran under a leapfrog and caught Styles with an attempted Walls of Jericho. Styles escaped and went for the Calf Crusher but Jericho scrambled to the floor. The crowd went back and forth with dueling chants.
Styles nailed a rana and nailed several rights and a chop in the corner. He slammed Jericho and nailed a big kneedrop for a two count. Jericho caught him with a big backdrop and then clotheslined Styles over the top to the floor. Jericho nailed a sliding kick to the outside, then whipped AJ into the barricade. Jericho nailed a flying bodypress for a two count and cinched in a side chinlock.
Jericho sent Styles into the corner and leapt into it but AJ moved and Jericho crashed and burnt to the floor. Styles nailed a slingshot pescado to the floor. Jericho cut him off in the ring and worked over Styles, who came back with several clotheslines and a leaping one in the corner. Styles nailed a flying forearm. He nailed the moonsault into the inverted DDT, although it wasn't smooth, and scored a two count.
AJ signaled for the Styles Clash but Jericho turned it into a Walls of Jericho attempt. Styles escaped but was nailed with an enziguiri for a two count. Jericho went for a bulldog but Styles slammed him facefirst and scored a two count. Jericho held onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick and nailed a Lionsault for a two count. Jericho continued working over Styles and placed him on the top turnbuckle but Styles slipped under and pulled Jericho down, nailing his jaw on the buckles.
Styles went for the springboard forearm but Jericho nailed him with a springboard dropkick. Styles crashed and burned down into the ring. Jericho went to the top but was nailed with the Pele Kick. Styles teased the Clash off the top but Jericho sent him back into the ring and locked in the Walls of Jericho. Styles fought until he made it to the ropes, forcing a break.
Jericho pulled Styles off the apron and flung him towards the barricade, only to come up a little short. He locked the Liontamer on Styles on the floor. Styles was close to being counted out but returned to the ring Jericho snapped him with the Codebreaker as he did, but Styles' arm landed under the ropes so there was no pinfall. Jericho began jawjacking Jericho, which led to the crowd chanting for him. Jericho slapped Styles, who fired back.
Jericho went for a Tiger Driver but Styles turned it into a rana. He followed through with a Styles Clash but Jericho kicked out at the last second. Jericho was immediately trapped in the Calf Crusher and finally tapped after trying to gut it out. Jericho's facial expressions and teasing of the tap was great.
Your winner, AJ Styles!
Really good match. This was Styles' best showing in the company to date and I think it may have been Jericho's best singles match since returning. There were a few rough spots from timing but it was during stuff that they were going all out with, so that's going to happen.
Jericho teased fighting Styles after but instead showed him respect and they shook hands. This was designed to make Styles something of a workhorse for the company and this match was the one designed to be the kickass wrestling match.
Coverage will conclude on Page 3!
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