Main Event – September 5, 2019: Even Byron Saxton Finds It Absurd
IMG Credit: WWE
Main Event
Date: September 5, 2019
Location: Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Renee Young, Byron Saxton
We’re another step closer towards Clash of Champions and that means it’s time to look back at the foot print that the week has left. I’m not sure what to expect this week, though you can probably guess on a few highlights. Maybe that can include some more from the King of the Ring, which isn’t getting the most attention on this show. Let’s get to it.
Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.
Opening sequence.
No Way Jose vs. Mojo Rawley
Jose knocks him down a few times to start as Renee thinks some liquid courage could get her into the conga line. A clothesline puts Rawley on the floor but he’s right back with a Pounce for two back inside. Rawley hammers away in the corner for two but the chinlock doesn’t last long. Two Stinger Splashes connect so Jose is ready for a third. Rawley charges into a boot and a Backstabber puts him on the floor. A flip dive from the apron and a high crossbody give Jose two but Rawley rams him into the corner again. The Alabama Slam gives Rawley the pin at 6:03.
Rating: C. This was roughly 385% better than I was expecting with both guys working hard in a match that means a grand total of nothing. I understand why both of them are on Main Event as neither has been able to make anything stick on the main shows, but they can still get in a surprising match like this if they are given a chance.
King of the Ring chat. Much better than showing it of course.
From Raw.
Here are Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins to open things up with a contract signing. Rollins knows they can work together to beat Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler but his intentions are to walk out of Clash as a double champ. Strowman says he’ll win but Rollins brings up slaying the beast to win the Universal Title, which is something Strowman doesn’t know about. At Clash, he’ll slay the monster.
Seth signs but here’s the OC to interrupt before Strowman can do the same. AJ explains the double title concept and asks who he’s going to face. He’ll just walk around showing off his title because that’s how you get a title shot around here. AJ wants to know why the Good Brothers aren’t getting their title shot and threatens to slap Cole’s teeth down his throat. Once inside, he rips up the contract that Strowman hadn’t signed, so the table is turned over and the fight is on.
Also from Raw.
Braun Strowman/Seth Rollins vs. OC
Non-title and joined in progress with Rollins kicking at Anderson before it’s off to Gallows for the power. Strowman comes in and kicks Gallows down without much trouble so it’s back to Anderson for an armbar on Rollins. Seth gets sent outside and into the barricade for a knockdown as we take a break.
Back with Rollins hitting an enziguri on Gallows and bringing Strowman in for the house cleaning. The running powerslam is broken up and everything breaks down, with AJ getting on the apron for a distraction. That’s broken up and Rollins grabs a rollup to finish Anderson at 11:43.
Rating: C-. Just a match here with the break in the middle breaking up the momentum. That being said, I’m much happier with the champs winning instead of having them lose so soon into their title reign. I know they’re not going to be long term champions or anything, but there is no need to have them lose here. For once WWE gets that and doesn’t have the champs lose, which is nice for a change.
Post match Strowman does the run around the ring shoulders but hits Rollins by mistake. Cue Roode and Ziggler to help with the beatdown as all five lay out Strowman and Rollins.
We look at Sasha Banks’ explanation, setting up Bayley’s heel turn on Monday Night Raw.
From Smackdown.
Here’s Bayley to open things up with her usual entrance, including the tube men. The fans are rather happy to see her after what she did. Bayley doesn’t understand what people expected because she gives her whole heart out there very time. She wants the fans to feel the way she did when she was a kid and she’s trying to show the younger fans what it means to be loyal. That’s why she had Sasha’s back last night when it got rough.
She’ll prove that when she beats the selfish Charlotte at Clash of Champions, so here’s Charlotte to interrupt. Charlotte admits to being selfish but what you see is what you get. There is no hugging so Bayley should hug the title goodbye. Cue Sasha so Charlotte decks Bayley before fighting Banks. Bayley comes in with the chair though and they both beat Charlotte down.
Clash of Champions rundown.
Dana Brooke vs. Sarah Logan
ROUND SEVEN!!! Even commentary is pointing out how well these two know each other by now. Logan dropkicks her before the bell, likely wanting to get on to anything else as well. Some early stomping has Brooke in more trouble and Logan knees her to the floor without much trouble. We hit the chinlock for a bit until Dana fights back and hammers away, including sending Logan outside. Back in and Dana’s Swanton gets two so Logan pops up and hits a running knee to the back of the head for the pin at 4:04.
Rating: D+. Yeah they certainly can do that match. I mean they’ve done it so many times now that it would be hard for them to not know how to do it. Is this supposed to help develop either of these two? I’m not sure why WWE thinks having them face each other time after time is going to help things but they certainly see some kind of benefit to this booking. It isn’t benefiting the people who watch this show, though I think the half dozen of them or so will get over their issues.
Long video on Roman Reigns’ attacks, including Erick Rowan being revealed as a possible attacker.
From Smackdown.
Here’s Daniel Bryan to demand an apology from Roman Reigns. The fans rather approve of Bryan, who thinks it means they finally understand him. People think that Bryan is guilty by association but now we know he had nothing to do with it. Bryan has never lied to anyone and he hates liars of all kinds. Therefore he wants and gets Reigns out here but Erick Rowan jumps Reigns from behind. A powerbomb sends Reigns into the post and the claw slam makes it even worse.
Rowan grabs the mic and says Daniel had nothing to do with this. He yells at Bryan for thinking he can control Rowan and offers to fight Bryan right now. Come slap him again like he did last week. Bryan isn’t sure what to do so Rowan talks about being proud of what he did to attack Reigns, which included attacking him with the car. What makes him most proud though is the pain that Reigns is going to feel at Clash of Champions. Rowan throws him outside and hits him with the steps, drawing Bryan over to slap Rowan again. The claw slam puts Bryan through the table to end the show.
Overall Rating: C. The recap game was strong this week with a nice balance of Raw and Smackdown. The most important thing to come out of this week though was how the stories crossed over a bit more. If you want to blur the lines between Raw and Smackdown, having the stories go from one show to the other is a good way of doing things. That worked here, though it isn’t going to mean anything in just a few weeks. Still though, fine use of an hour here, assuming you aren’t totally fed up with Logan vs. Brooke.
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