The name of this pay per view should be Paid Back- as in anyone who paid for it gets their money back. While the matches were decent, there were no swerves, no title changes, nothing to get excited about. It makes you think why the WWE continues to think people will tune into monthly events when they have no real effect on the show. With Elimination Chamber a few weeks away as well, you have to wonder what the real logic in Stanford.
Have they lost touch with the fans? Do they ever get their own product anymore?
How can NXT be more exciting in an hour a week than the WWE?
Bottom line, something needs to get done and fast.
Matches:
Kick-Off: Stardust vs. R-Truth: A good back and forth, even if the crowd didn’t seem to care much. After Stardust couldn’t put R-Truth away, Truth hit the modified Drop Kick and finished off Stardust with the Little Jimmy for the win. A good back and forth, even if the crowd didn’t seem to care much. After Stardust couldn’t put R-Truth away, Truth hit the modified Drop Kick and finished off Stardust with the Little Jimmy for the win.
Kick Off: Damien Sandow and Curtis Axel vs. The Ascension: Konnor and Viktor: Sandow and Axel had the early advantage, but Konnor and Viktor hit The Fall of Man for the quick win.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus: An athletic encounter that dragged terribly in the early going. It wasn’t until the counters and near-falls became more frequent that things picked up. After Sheamus kicked out of a Fameasser, Sheamus scored a near-fall with the Sit-out Powerbomb and then another one with a Running Powerslam. After the White Noise, Sheamus latched on the Cloverleaf, but Ziggler was able to get to the ropes (Sheamus kept the move on for the four-count.) Ziegler battled back with a Headbutt and a Super Kick, but that seemed to only infuriate Sheamus more. Bloodied from his own Headbutt, Ziggler was left weakened and the Celtic Warrior nailed Ziggler while he was down with the Brogue Kick for the win.
Two-Out-of-Three Falls: Tyson Kidd and Antonio Cesaro w/Natalya Neidhart vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Big E. Langston and Kofi Kingston w/Xavier Woods: Cesaro and Kidd dominated the first fall, getting the win with the Dropkick following the Giant Swing, but Langston beat on Kidd on the outside with a nasty Bely-to-Belly Suplex. The New Day continued to utilize quick tags and work on Kidd, but couldn’t put him away. Kidd countered a Kingston top rope maneuver with a Dropkick but had no one to tag in, with Cesaro out on the outside. Eventually, Langston and Kingston hit the modified Big Ending to even things up. With Cesaro out, Kidd continued to get pummeled, but he continued to fight back and counter offense. This was probably one of Kidd’s best matches in years. Once he tagged in Cesaro, the Swiss Superman destroyed Langston and Kingston with European Uppercuts, but couldn’t get a win. Kidd, who made the blind tag, nearly got the win following the Backbreaker/Elbow Drop combo, but Kingston still had something left. After Kingston escaped the Sharpshooter Cesaro nearly won with the Uppercut again, but Woods snuck in and hit the Rollup for the win. Obviously the ref only saw shoulders down and had no idea that Woods, who tried to get in the match earlier claiming the Freeboard rule, but was denied, was in the match.
Ryback vs. Bray Wyatt: Ryback hit Wyatt with all of his High-Powered offense, but Wyatt was vigilant and fought back every chance he could. A ton of back and forth, Wyatt stayed in the match thanks to his striking ability and speed. Going for the Shellshocked, Wyatt countered and sent the two to the turnbuckle, but Ryback hit the Splash from the top rope for the near-fall. Wyatt fought back and threw Ryback into an exposed turnbuckle and used the Sister Abigail and got the win.
“I Quit†Match: United States Champion John Cena vs. Rusev w/ Lana: Rusev was up to his usual antics early, putting Lana on a chair, forcing her to sit down and of course, hitting Dropkicks and strikes at will. Things got hairy after Rusev got the steel steps involved, but Cena refused to give up, even after a Swinging Urinage Suplex on them. The action then spilled to beyond the guardrail, courtesy of a Cena Spear that changed the complexion of the match. With Rusev in deep trouble, Cena continued to beat on the Bulgarian Brute. Using everything he could, including a laptop, Cena beat on the younger Rusev, but couldn’t get him to quit. After Rusev hit the Alabama Slam through a Table on Cena, Cena fought back and hit the Attitude Adjustment on the pyro stand, which forced Lana to head to where the action was. Cena then hit Rusev with the guardrail, but Rusev quickly hit a Snap Suplex on the same rail to even things up. though Rusev was able to lock in The Accolade, Cena fought back and tried to counter. Unable to, Cena’s mouth was covered by Rusev’s hands while in the move and he couldn’t say “I Quit.†Infuriated, Rusev ripped off the turnbuckle and the top ring rope and using the metal piece that attached the two, Rusev tried to hit Cena, but Cena countered into the STF and used the ropes for added leverage. Never quitting, Lana ultimately told the referee Rusev quit instead to give Cena the win.
Naomi and Tamina Snuka vs. Divas Champion Nikki Bella and Brie Bella: There was a lot going on in this match, but in the end, it was all filler. After a counter off of Nikki top rope maneuver and Brie out of the match on the outside, Naomi was able to get the win over the Divas Champion.
Adrian Neville vs. Wade Barrett: Neville got the win via count-out, but Barrett beat on Neville from behind after the bell. Overall, it was a joke of an encounter. Definitely not what anyone expected between these two.Neville made it worth it with a delayed German Suplex and the Red Arrow after the match.
Fatal Four Way: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins w/Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble vs. Randy Orton vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Roman Reigns: The action was frenetic early on as J & J security got involved, but Suicide Dives from Ambrose and Reigns kept them honest. While all four competitors fought amongst themselves, they seemed to especially work together at times to beat on Rollins. Kane also got involved on the outside, allowing Rollins to take a breather and stay in the match. Even when Ambrose appeared ready to hit the Dirty Deeds, Kane stepped in with the Chokeslam again to keep Rollins in the match. With Ambrose out of the ring, Orton then hit his share of signature maneuvers, including the Capture Suplex and Superplex, but he couldn’t put Rollins away.
At one point, Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose even teamed up to Triple Powerbomb Orton through the announce table, but that alliance was a short one after Reigns and Ambrose took out Rollins and then Powerbombed Kane on the Spanish Announce table, twice. With just Reigns and Ambrose left, the two slugged it out, with the two trading near-falls and high-powered offense. After Ambrose kicked out of the Superman Punch, Reigns went for the Spear, but Ambrose countered before eventually being hit by the Spear. It was here where Rollins jumped back in the ring to break up the pin-fall and J & J security continued to get involved. After Reigns hit Rollins with a Superman Punch, Ambrose followed with the Dirty Deeds, but Kane broke up the pinfall and took out Reigns with a Chokeslam on the stairs.
It was here where Orton got involved again, taking out Noble and Kane with an RKO, but Rollins was able to use the Pedigree- and a crappy-looking on at that for the win.
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