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It's go time for Ronda Rousey. WWE has made a big investment in her and there's far more media here vs. last year's Wrestlemania. Here we go with the moment of truth as we get the first clear indication of what Ronda will look like under the WWE umbrella.
Big entrance for Stephanie and Hunter, driving to the ring as part of a big motorcade of bikes. They did the HHH "spit shot" in stereo.
Ronda came out dressed in tribute to Roddy Piper, so you know that I loved it. Piper was the man and I truly love that she’s trying to keep is legend alive. The crowd popped huge when she came out and Angle got a big reaction too.
Stephanie antagonizing Ronda, including snapping her to the mat before the match was great. Steph plays a great heel, although I still feel like her evolution from her usual character to badass warrior happened overnight. Still, here in the Dome, it’s a big fight feel.
The early portion of the bout was Ronda being antagonized and almost losing her cool as HHH and Angle battled it out. Team HHH kept control for a good portion. Lots of "We want Ronda" chants in pockets of the dome. Ronda wanted in and almost tagged in but HHH pulled Angle when he was just centimeters from touching her fingers. HHH was tricked into almost running into Steph and the look on her face was amazing.
Angle caught HHH with a suplex and the live crowd was buzzing for the hot tag but Steph ran around the ring and yanked Rousey off the apron. Angle went for the tag but Rousey wasn't there. She finally returned and got the tag and the place went nuts as she beat the hell out of Stephanie. Rousey looked awesome with some of her offense, especially a clothesline that she somersaulted out of. There was a scary moment where it looked like she was going to pull Steph's arm the wrong way but they saved it. She beat the hell out of McMahon with strikes and finished up with a big punch to the gut.
Ronda went for the armbar but it was reversed, which NO ONE expected. They went back and forth and it was good. Steph nailed a great DDT and several kicks, then locked in a surfboard. The crowd chanted for Rousey to make a comeback but Steph continued the assault. Steph loaded her boot like The Iron Sheik but was grabbed by Ronda, who gave her the LOOK as she grabbed her by the throat. Ronda nailed a F5 like toss but HHH pulled the referee out of the ring before he could count three.
Ronda had words with HHH and told him she was going to keep beating up his wife. He grabbed her by the leg and yanked her out of the ring to the floor. Angle attacked him and they teased a German suplex on the table but HHH took out Kurt. He checked on Steph only to discover Ronda was behind him ready to spar. This was great. The ref wanted to stop it but HHH told him to let it go. He's the boss, after ll.
Ronda unloaded with punches and beat the piss out of him. She then rolled through a Samoan Drop and set up to do the F5 move on HHH but Steph saved him. Realizing she was alone with Ronda, Stephanie ran like she had robbed a bank, but was caught and trashed on the floor, including some really rough bumps on the floor and into the barricade.
HHH was distracted by this and Angle snatched him with a series of German suplexes. This is a hell of a spectacle. He locked in the anklelock but was kicked off. HHH went for the Pedigree but Angle reversed it into a catapult into the corner for a CLOSE near fall after the Olympic Slam. Down came the straps, but Stephanie got in his face, ripping Angle and then trying to kick him. He caught her leg and since HHH had said to let the action go before, he locked in an anklelock.
HHH attacked and nailed the Pedigree but Ronda made the save with perfect timing. HHH went for a pedigree but Ronda escaped and turned it into a rana. She snatched his arm in a cross armbreaker but Stephanie made the save. She worked on Ronda but it didn't last long before Ronda snatched her in the armbar. HHH went for the save but was trapped in an anklelock. Are we going to get the double submission I predicted?
Nope! HHH did a forward roll to escape, sending Angle into Ronda, breaking her submission attempt. Steph snapped her into the ringpost. They attempted stereo pedigrees but Angle backdropped HHH over the top and followed while Ronda reversed hers into an armbar submission. Ronda looked down at her as Stephanie begged for mercy but instead snapped the arm and Steph immediately tapped.
THIS WAS EXCELLENT ON ALL LEVELS. It was every bit the spectacle you'd want this to be and a hell of a better match than anyone ever would have expected. This really was better than anything they hyped it to be. Ronda looked great here and I hope it's the start of something great for her. It was the best Kurt Angle match in years as well. They really took the crowd here on a roller coaster ride and it was everything that we love about pro wrestling.
Now, the question is what does WWE do with Ronda next? We will see.
How do we follow this? With the New Day dancing with a troupe of little people who are dressed in pancake costumes. Yeah, um, OK.
Time for the Smackdown Tag Team title bout. It was all brawling and back and forth action and it was solid early on. I was worried their big problem would be that they are placed after Ronda, but the crowd has been with them thus far. It was a short match but I was glad to see the Bludgeon Brothers get the win here. Luke Harper especially has been beyond underrated for years. Interested in seeing where they go with the Tag division from here, especially with the Superstar Shakeup coming.
Coverage continues on Page 4!
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