(3) THE USOS vs. THE BAR (Sheamus & Cesaro) vs. RICOCHET & ALEISTER BLACK vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA & RUSEV (w/Lana) – WWE Smackdown Tag Team Title match
A couple minutes in Ricochet popped the crowd with a surge of offense, but Cesaro knocked him down quickly and then did the Cesaro Swing. It went on and on and on as Sheamus battered Black to prevent him from making the save. Cesaro then applied a sharpshooter mid-ring. Eventually Jimmy Uso broke it up. Jey clotheslined Sheamus over the top rope. Rusev tagged Cesaro’s back and entered the ring. Black also tagged in.
Black rallied and scored a two count, broken up by Shinsuke Nakamura. Ricochet tagged in and went after Rusev, but Rusev caught him and slammed him hard for a two count. Eventually they set up a big tower spot with everyone, with Ricochet on the top. He ended up landing on his feet. Ricochet leaped off the top rope with a 630 on Sheamus. Cesaro, Rusev, and Nakamura all broke up the cover. Jey Uso tagged himself in but Cesaro caught him mid-air with an uppercut Jimmy superkicked Cesaro. Rusev kicked him. Black kicked him. Nakamura kicked Black. Sheamus then hit a Brogue Kick and yelled to the crowd. When he turned, Jey went for a superkick. Sheamus blocked it. Both Usos stereo superkicked him. They positioned Sheamus mid-ring and then perched on opposite turnbuckles and landed stereo splashes for the three count.
WINNERS: Usos to retain the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Titles. (***)
Lots of action. As usual with this many wrestlers, it’s more about the spots than telling a usual story. The feel-good evening continues with a third babyface victory in a row on the main card.
(4) SHANE MCMAHON vs. THE MIZ – Falls Count Anywhere
Shane came out first. Then Miz came out without any family members. As soon as the bell rang, Shane bailed out to ringside. He ran from Miz, then jumped him as soon as he entered the ring. When Shane ran again, Miz chased him. Shane punched him out of mid-air as he was leaping toward him over the barricade. Shane threw Miz back into the ring. He threw him shoulder-first into the ringpost. Graves said Shane has been a step ahead the whole way. Shane rammed Miz with a monitor, then climbed to the top rope. Miz’s dad stepped between them to protect his son. Graves said the guy’s nuts.
Shane dropped down from the top rope. Miz’s dad followed Shane into the ring and put up his fists. Shane showed him proper positioning of the fists. Then Shane attacked him with a flying knee and some kicks. Miz charged into the ring like Davey Boy Smith Jr. last night and pounded away at Shane. Miz aggressively went at Shane at ringside, throwing him over the barricade into the crowd. Then he checked on his dad and called for medical help. Miz turned and charged and leaped onto Shane in the crowd. They brawled deeper into the crowd.
Miz bashed Shane across his back with a chair. Then Miz threw him onto an announce desk. The beating continued with a slam through a table and a near fall on the floor. Miz bashed Shane with a monitor and sent him bumping over a railing and onto the roof of a golf cart and then slipped to the floor about eight feet down. Miz scored a near fall. The beating continued onto a tech area platform. Miz delivered a Skull Crushing Finale. That was good for a near fall. Miz then knocked Shane over the barricade onto another platform. Shane bashed Miz with a metal case and then climbed the scaffolding. Miz grabbed at his leg, but Shane kicked him off. Shane made it to the top of the camera platform. Miz met him up there and gave him a death stare. Shane apologized and said he was so sorry. He kneeled and kept apologizing. Miz milked the moment, then punched away at Shane. Miz tried to throw Shane off the top. Graves said that was going too far. Miz set up a superplex and then delivered it. They landed on a landing platform below which gave in upon landing. Fans chanted “Holy sh–!” Shane landed on Miz and the ref made the three count. The announcers said Miz’s emotions got the best of him. They replayed the superplex in slo-mo from several angles. Graves said Shane can still claim to be the Best in the World.
WINNER: Shane in 14:00.
That delivered. Shane with an early advantage from being sneaky, then Miz with sustained offense leading to a big spot and a fluke win for Shane. A good payoff match at WrestleMania that gives Shane bragging rights, as absurd as the merits of the bragging will be.
