(7) SHANE MCMAHON & DANIEL BRYAN vs. KEVIN OWENS & SAMI ZAYN
Shane came out first. Graves said backstage Shane hugged Pat Patterson and he winced. He said he is clearly not recovered from his medical issues, but he’s going to “try to play the part.” Interesting choice of words. Then a video aired on the “Yes”! chant going viral. Bryan then stepped onto the stage as the crowd chanted “Yes!” Loudest ovation of the night, it seemed. Bryan was teared up and bubbling over with emotions. Fans chanted “Daniel Bryan!”
KO and Sami came out next. But they attacked Bryan and Shane from behind. There had to be a reason the babyfaces came out first. Sami threw Shane into the front row where his wife and kids were. His kids yelled back at Sami angrily. KO threw Bryan into the barricade seconds later. Sami then delivered a Helluva Kick. Then they powerbombed him onto the edge of the ring apron again. Graves said Bryan was removed from the equation. Shane came out to check on Bryan, who was on the ground. He called for somebody, while also clutching his own abdomen. Two referees and a medic came out. Shane looked concerned. He stood on the ring apron and yelled at KO and Sami for a cheap shot. He entered the ring and yelled for the bell to be rung.
The match was officially on. Graves called it ill-advised. Shane punched Sami off the ring apron, then punched away at KO. They cut to a camera angle that didn’t actually show the punches but showed Shane’s back. Good move after the close-up exposed their awfulness. He kicked way at Sami and then hit a spinning elbow. He pump kicked KO and then grabbed at his abdomen. KO kicked him there. He stomped awayat him in the corner. KO leaped onto him. He clutched his abdomen. They continued to beat on him for several minutes. Graves said an umbilical hernia would keep anyone else bed ridden. The background showed medics and refs still checking on Bryan at ringside.
Graves said Shane shouldn’t worry about losing because the problems he’ll have if he keeps fighting will be way worse than having a couple guys on the roster he doesn’t like. Shane was winded, but made a comeback and knocked KO out of the ring. Sami was hanging upside down in the corner. Shane thought about it and then climbed to the top rope. Graves said there is no way in his condition he can do it. Shane leaped and landed it. The crowd gasped more than popped. “Shane connected, but at what cost?” Graves said. Shane crawled over to make the cover but KO brake it up with a senton. Shane clutched his abdomen. KO landed a frog splash. Bryan broke up the pin. The crowd cheered and chanted “Yes!”
Shane avoided a cannonball in the corner. Shane crawled over officially tag in Bryan. Owens held onto his boot, then tagged in Sami, who cut off Shane and applied a chinlock. The crowd seemed deflated, like they were fearing they weren’t going to see Bryan wrestle and maybe concerned for Shane legitimately. Shane stood and walked over, with Sami on his back, to try to make the tag. Sami held him back, though. Shane back suplexed Sami and then crawled over and finally made the tag. The pop wasn’t what you’d have expected.
Bryan entered the ring and then the crowd began to finally roar. He punched Sami over and over, and also took a shot at KO on the ring apron. Bryan turned it up full speed and took down Sami with a flying clothesline. Bryan slidekicked KO off the ring apron to the floor and then hit a running flying knee off the ring apron. He climbed to the top rope and hit a flying dropkick. Bryan kipped up. KO came up behind, but Bryan suplexed him onto his head. Bryan gave Sami a running dropkick in the corner. Then one to KO. Then Sami. Then KO. He smiled and looked around. Saxton said Bryan hasn’t missed a beat. Bryan gave Sami a top rope huracanrana. Owens held Bryan’s foot, and then Sami gave him a Helluva Kick for a two count.
Owens superkicked Shane off the ring apron and he bumped into the ringside barrier. Owens yelled at Bryan that he should have stayed retired. He hit a Pop-Up Powerbomb for a near fall. Owens tagged in Sami, but when he charged at Shane, Shane pulled the top rope down and then clotheslined KO. He grabbed his abdomen again (so you hope he’s milking this all along). Sami stood over Bryan as he struggled to recover from the Pop-up Powerbomb. Bryan rallied and hit Sami with his signature running knee and then a Yes Lock for the tapout win.
Bryan hugged and kissed his wife Brie at ringside. They went to a wide shot of fans doing the “Yes!” gesture/ Shane entered the ring and held up Bryan’s arms. Bryan celebrated some more as his music played. Graves said it was 77,000 in unison. Shane kept holding his abdomen.
WINNERS: Bryan & Shane in 15:00.
Bryan got in his signature spots and KO and Sami played their parts well. I just hope Shane was embellishing his abdominal pain because otherwise that was too risky. Either way, the crowd seemed at times uncomfortable with cheering on Shane because he seemed so rough. The best is yet to come with Bryan. They didn’t even tease any dissension with Bryan and Shane. I hope you enjoyed KO and Sami’s WWE career. ROH fans, get ready!!!
