(9) A.J. STYLES vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA – WWE Title match
They locked up mid-ring and there was a palpable buzz in the crowd. Phillips noted Styles seems really emotional and that’s something Nakamura believes he can take advantage of that. First gear pace for the next six minutes after some intensity early. The crowd seemed to welcome the rest as it’s now six hours since the Kickoff Show began.
At 11:00 Nakamura caught Styles on a springboard and turned into a “landslide” sitout cradle slam out of a Samoan drop position. Nakamura put Styles on the top rope and then high kicked him. Styles escaped and then worked over Nakamura’s knee. Nakamura trapped Styles in a head triangle. Styles lifted and then dropped Nakamura on his head. The crowd gasped at the impact. Both were down and slow to get up.
At 16:00 Nakamura kicked Styles, but clutched his left knee in pain afterward. Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm for a near fall. Styles misfired on a springboard flip splash, landing Nakamura’s knees. He scored a two count. Styles head butted Nakamura as soon as both stood. They exchanged blows mid-ring. Styles landed a Pelé kick. Nakamura fired back with a knee to the back of his head for a near fall. Next he signaled for his finisher, but Styles moved and hit the Styles Clash for the clean win.
WINNER: Styles in 21:00. (***1/2)
It was good, no doubt, but considering expectations, it felt like a letdown.
-Styles helped Nakamura up and they hugged. He kneeled and presented Styles with the belt. Then he delivered a low blow. Nakamura began mocking Styles and he kicked at him and shoved him out of the ring. He beat him up some more including a Kinshasa Kick. The crowd booed as Nakamura walked up the ramp.
Had Nakamura’s push gone better, I’d be against this. I think this is a potentially invigorating change for him in WWE. I wonder if he’ll end up with a manager, though?
-Braun said everyone wants to know who his partner is. He said it’s one of the fans. They showed fans volunteering. Strowman circled ringside and scanned the crowd. He then walked into the crowd and kept looking. Graves said he has 78,000 options, so this could take a while. He picked out a boy in the crowd. Strowman asked him his name. It’s Nicholas.
(10) SHEAMUS & CESARO vs. BRAUN STROWMAN & A KID NAMED NICHOLAS
Strowman beat up Cesaro at first and made the cover. Sheamus broke up the pin. Strowman chased him out of the ring. Graves criticized Nicholas for not tripping Sheamus. The heel duel took over with a double-team. Nicholas watched nervously. Nicholas reached for a tag. Nicholas entered the ring. He looked scared and tagged right back out. Strowman caught Cesaro and gave him a running powerslam or the three count.
Strowman and Nicholas celebrated mid-ring, holding up the belts. Graves said he hopes Nicholas doesn’t get first class tickets before he does. Strowman led a smiling Nicholas up the ramp.
WINNER: Strowman & Nicholas in 5:00 to capture the WWE Raw Tag Team Titles.
Cute, I suppose. It’s one of those Pure Sports Entertainment Moments that will get some mainstream media play and certain type of fan will like, but another big portion won’t at all.
(11) BROCK LESNAR vs. ROMAN REIGNS – WWE Title match
More boos for Reigns during formal ring introductions. Heyman stopped Jo Jo from introducing Lesnar. He took over. The crowd talked along with him.
Lesnar took it to Reigns early with some suplexes. Reigns followed with Superman Punches, which drew boos. He knocked Lesnar over the top rope with a clothesline. Lesnar took it too Reigns at ringside and suplexed him on top of his head. He hit his head hard. The crowd began chanting “C.M. Punk.” Lesnar then threw Reigns hard and awkwardly into the announce table. Back in the ring, he gave Reigns a released German suplex. More suplexes. Lesnar jogged in place.
Lesnar overhead suplexed Reigns onto his shoulder. They replayed it in slo-mo. Lesnar whipped Reigns hard into the barricade a minute later. Reigns came back by slipped out of Lesnar’s grip and shoved Lesnar hard into the ringpost. Reigns struggled to stay standing. Reigns charged and speared Lesnar onto the announce table, which switched
(Cole’s mic to be heard in the entire arena briefly. That was quite a visual. Reigns threw Lesnar back into the ring. A beach ball broke out in the crowd. Reigns signaled for the Superman Punch and hit it. Then he hit a spear. Then he hit a second spear. Two count.
Reigns went for a spear, but Lesnar kneed him out of mid-air and scored a very near three count. Then an F5 for a near fall. Another F5 and another kickout. Lesnar yelled out in frustration. The crowd didn’t care either way. Then a third F5 and Reigns kicked out again. “Boring!” chanted the crowd. Lesnar then gave Reigns an F5 onto the table. Not much of a reaction. Tired and disinterested crowd. Lesnar hit a fifth F5. “This is awful!” chants the crowd. Lesnar not sure what to do with this. Reigns came up bleeding heavily, perhaps hard-way from a vicious elbow. That’s a lot of blood. Wow.
Reigns slipped out of another F5, speared Lesnar twice and got a near fall. His face was covered in red blood. Lesnar lifted Reigns and gave him another F5 and scored the pin. Big pop.
WINNER: Lesnar to retain the WWE Title.
Disaster.
