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Gunther defends his IC Title against Sami Zayn.
Before the match, Sami was in the back. His wife and son came up. His wife said, “You can do it.” Sami asked her to keep his son in the back. He doesn’t want him to see it. He is also eliminating the kid factor that hurt Chad Gable.
Speaking of which, there he is. He ran into Chad. Sami said let’s go. Chad said no, you go out there alone. You got this, you always did. He then told Chad when he wins remember, you owe me a favor. Soooo good. Man, they might pull the trigger. Sami got fired up walking through the back. He ran into Kevin Owens at the entrance. Kevin hugged him and smacked him and told him to go do it. They MAY PULL THAT TRIGGER!
Sami got a big reaction. Of course.
Gunther came out with his guys. He took off his jacket and left them on the stage. I am psyched for this.
Sami made an early charge but then Gunther started doing Gunther things. The crowd sounds split for them, with each man getting Let’s Go chants.
The ref asked Sami if he wanted the beating to stop. Of course he doesn’t.
Sami’s wife is at ringside cheering him on. He needs it, Gunther is killing him early on.
They have pounded the snot out of each other’s chests, they are red.
Sami came back with a few suplexes but then ate a STIFF clothesline that send him spinning. But Sami came back with a tornado DDT. He went for the Helluva kick but was blocked. Sami is staying on the attack. Gunther now has the sleeper on right on the Prime logo. But Sami made his way up and went for the rope. He almost got there Gunther did a suplex. Sami kept coming back.
Gunther ran into Sami with a stiff kick. He looked at Sami’s wife but Sami hit a Helluva for a two. The crowd is getting behind him now. He went for another kick and ate a clothesline. Gunter did a powerbomb and picked him up and did another, TWO COUNT ONLY!
Sami’s wife is great at selling at ringside. Gunther talked smack to her. She said it’s over for you. YES! She is Apollo Creed saying BE MORE MAN THAN HIM ROCK!
Gunther is kicking the snot out of Sami. Sami is getting up. A clothesline put him back down. Gunther went back to mocking Sami’s wife. She is yelling for him to get going. Gunther did another powerbomb. They are saying they should stop it. Sami is saying no. Gunther did a splash from the top. He didn’t go for the pin. It’s about inflicting pain. He went back up to the top and did a second splash. Some fans are chanting one more time. Sami started spazzing up. Gunther is shocked. Gunther went up. Sami hit a Helluva. Sami got Gunther from the top and hit what I guess was a mid air brainbuster. Helluva kick. Gunther is in trouble. Cole asked us if we believe in miracles. YES! Sami hit the kick and got the pin. NEW IC CHAMPION.
Great, great stuff!
He picked up the belt and raised it. The fans popped. He did again and they popped again! He left the ring and hugged and kissed his wife.
Remember a month or so ago when people wondered what Sami would do at Mania? Triple H didn’t. I loved it. It’s what pro wrestling is all about. Great work and greater drama.
The two GMs hit the ring to ask the crowd to keep bringing through the main event. They announced 72,543 in attendance. Damn, these tix were expensive so the gate is HUGE. They showed celebs. I knew George Kittle. I am old.
Main event time. You all know the people involved.
The recap of all of this, post mistake, is so compelling. To me you can’t have a five star match without a five star storyline.
Cody is our first. The fans are totally into him. Of course he walked around looking for his mom. She is wearing Eagles colors. He gave his weight belt to his wife’s dad, who’s a survivor. Cody is the ultimate babyface and guess what, fans still want to get behind babyfaces. Seth is out next to sing along with Philly.
Cody is such a great babyface that he took a knee so that Seth could get his love. Little things matter.
Rock got a big entrance. He came out with the People’s Title that he got at the Hall Of Fame. Roman got his usual entrance. The entrances may go longer than the match, and that’s OK.
The faces got the expected reaction. Rock got a bit of mixed one. During his intro, Roman walked over and got in Cody’s face. He got the same reaction that Rock did.
The bell rang and the fans cheered. That’s called anticipation. The fans are chanting for Cody. They faced off. For a while. They are in no hurry and they shouldn’t be.
Roman will start for his team. Seth for his. And, we’re off! The fans are lit! Let’s watch it all go down.
Early on Cody wanted to tag in. Seth sold the build for it. I apologize if at some point I just start watching and stop typing.
Seth is in. Will Rock tag in? The fans are chanting his name. He wants it, here he comes.
I watched the match while I had dinner so I didn’t do rapid fire recaps. I just watched it with my wife, and I loved it. We were both engrossed in the story and to people like me, that’s what’s needed to have a five star experience. Moves are fine. Drama makes it all matter and work. That happened tonight in the main event.
Some random thoughts:
Props to Rock. He more than held up. He did great.
As I said, the drama in the match was palpable. They took us on a ride and that’s why I watch.
They made the right call with the finish. Sure, most of us wanted Cody to win but it’s more important that he wins tomorrow night. Tonight was the bring you down so that hopefully tomorrow they bring us up super high.
As I have said many times, Bloodline Rules go both ways. Rock made a point of telling the ref he will fire him if he calls the match correctly. Now it’s Bloodline Rules tomorrow. What happens if Rock threatens the ref and then he gets bumped? What anti authority guy will be glad to show up and count the pin for Cody given his history with Rock? Break that glass. Even if not, Cody scored the visual pin today. He should, somehow, score the real one tomorrow. Last year night one gave us the happy ending. This year, we should get it in night two.
Thanks for reading! See you tomorrow.
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