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KO came back and hit a cannonball in the corner. He went to the top and grabbed Reigns. He pulled him up as he eyed the chair of each set up but Reigns got out and hit the Superman Punch and KO went through the Chairs of Death. Crazy spot.
Reigns got up and went over to drag Owens to the ring. He stopped and looked at the announce table. He cleaned it off and did the Shield Powerbomb, destroying the announce table. He rolled Owens into the ring and Reigns set up for the Superman when Braun Strowman come out of nowhere and choke slammed on the announce table, which didn’t break. He then drove Reigns through the table and put Owens on top, 1-2-3. KO retains. The boobirds can take a chill pill now. And while they are at it, give Roman some freakin’ credit. That was a hell of a match. Both guys tore the house down. And Owens retained. If a “smart” fan can’t appreciate that, he ain’t that smart.
They announced that the attendance is 52,020. The announcers are back at the area but have no table.
After a lengthy Royal Rumble retro package, the commissioners and GMs were in the back working on drawing numbers when Sami Zayn came in. They had him playing goofy Sami. As he was opening it Dean Ambrose came in. Dean wanted churros but grabbed his number. Sami couldn’t open his number so Dean did it. He said he got 8. No, it’s upside down. 8. Dean didn’t open his. He wants a surprise.
Rich Swann vs. Neville for the Cruiserweight Title is next.
Neville is out first and he is angry. Swann is next. This should be really good. I like that it wasn’t the opener.
WWE through into the various different country announcers before the match.
Swann started really hot but then Neville got control after a brutal missile dropkick from the top. Neville was largely in control for the next few minutes. The tide turned when Neville came off of the top into a Swann superkick. It knocked both men down. Swann was up first and hit some big spots on Neville, including a 450 kneedrop combo from the ropes to the floor. Swann took Neville into the ring and started throwing hands and kicks, getting a two on the challenger.
Swann got another two with a jumping splash. Swann went to the top but Neville came over and took out his legs. Swann got out and they hit each other with big kicks. Neville went for a German but Swann rolled through for a two. He got another when Neville got his leg on the ropes after a super kick. Neville hit a Superplex and got a two. Neville locked on a choke and made Swann tap. New Cruiserweight Champion.
These guys worked really hard and had a great match. Both looked excellent here.
AJ Styles vs. John Cena is next.
Of course, the champ was out first. Then John Jack, typical reaction. After the way Cena treated Styles on Tuesday, if he wins here it’s a travesty. We shall see. AJ got a nice reaction as well. And, we’re off.
John Jack was in control for the first few minutes but AJ then turned the tide. The crowd is really live for this. I have a feeling it will go a while.
Cena came back and went for the AA and the boos were audible. AJ got out and retook control. Cena went for a slam and AJ turned it into a head scissors. AJ was largely in control with Cena making comeback attempts. Finally Cena hit a big running clothesline. Then Cena wen for the Five Knuckle and there were a lot of boos. He went for the AA but AJ got out on the top turnbuckle. Cena went up AJ slipped through and put Cena in a backbreaker and power bombed him for a two. AJ is so damn good.
AJ went for the Forearm but Cena moved and caught him in the AA for two. Cena then took control for the next few minutes with a lot of fans not wanted to see him get the pin. AJ came back with a Pele kick and hit the Phenomenal Forearm for a two. There were boos.
Cena made a comeback with a Facebuster from the Electric Chair position. That led to them standing in the middle of the ring and trading hands. And in AJ’s was feet. Cena went for the AA but AJ rolled into the Calf Crusher right in the middle of the ring. Cena rolled through and locked on the STF in the middle. As AJ got to the rope, John pulled him back to the middle. AJ got out and locked the STF on John. Cena got out and locked on the Figure Four. AJ got out the arm bar on but Cena picked him up and slammed him down to break it. Cena went to the top rope and went for the leg drop but AJ caught him and turned it into the Styles Clash. Two count only!
Styles went for the 450 but Cena got the knees up. He got a two with a sunset power bomb. AJ got a two by dropping Cena over his leg back first. Dueling chants started. They both have earned it. Cena got a two with a god knows what to call it. A chest breaker?
Cena took AJ up and hit a Jumping AA off of the second rope. He made a cavalier cover and was shocked when AJ kicked out. Great selling by Cena.
Cena brought Cena up for the AA but AJ reversed it to the Styles Clash. The pop was louder for AJ. I hope Vince is listening. He isn’t. AJ went for the forearm but Cena caught him and hit an AA. Rather than cover he got up and hit another, and then made the cover, 1-2-3. New WWE Champion. He got mostly cheers because the match was awesome but I think it was the wrong way to go (unless they change it back to AJ in two weeks). One of the main problems WWE has is that they put older names in big positions for all the people that come back for WrestleMania season, and then leave. As Mike Epsenhart has said, if they showed the fans that things have changed since last time they were watching, maybe they would stay around and keep watching instead of leaving for a year after Mania is over.
The other thing I hated was that Cena totally dogged AJ on Smackdown and AJ just took it. He never fired back. And now he has lost.
So for the match, I will give the work an A+ and the booking a D-.
Please click to Page 3 for more thoughts from tonights show!
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