Manchester, England
This week’s episode takes place on English soil from the sunny city of Manchester. Fellow colleagues Dean Puckering and Michael Owen were lucky enough to catch all the action live as it happened. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it all the way up to Manchester this week so I had to view it from the comfort of my armchair.
No early promo this week. This week the episode kicks off straight away with a match.
The Wyatt’s Luke Harper and Erick Rowan vs. The Uso’s
Jay Uso tries a quick attempt at gaining the advantage but Erick Rowan quickly counters and tags in his partner Harper. Harper immediately attacks Jay with a big uppercut and tries to follow up with a charge to the corner but Jay counters with a kick. Jay tags in Jimmy and the Usos regain control.
The match goes back and forth for a minute or two with some big Clotheslines and kicks. Harper catches Jay with a big uppercut to regain control and tags in Rowan to continue the assault. Jay eventually manages to tag in his brother Jimmy who finds himself quickly on the defence. The Wyatt’s continue to punish Jimmy keeping him isolated from his corner.
The Wyatt’s make a couple of quick tags continuing to wear down Jimmy. Jimmy gets the hot tag to Jay who explodes with a Clothesline followed by a Big Splash in the corner. Jay hits Harper with a Samoan drop and attempts to follow up with the Rikishi Big Bum Splash but it is countered with a Big Boot from Harper. Harper is distracted by Jimmy and Rowan and watches them tumble to the outside before turning around to taste a big kick from Jay. Jay rolls Harper up for a two count. Jay gets caught with a punch from Harper who follows up with his powerful Spinning Clothesline and rolls Jay up for the win.
After the match Bray Wyatt enters the ring, the Uso’s attempt to fight back but it does not last long. Bray delivers a vicious assault to Jimmy and finishes it off with a kiss from Abigail. Bray tells the WWE universe that at Survivor Series he will teach the world how to leave a scar and turn hero’s into victims and they will never forget the taste of tragedy. He advises CM Punk and Daniel Bryan to run.
Good opening match, nice to see the Wyatt’s still getting a decent push. Good build up to the match at Survivor Series. The Uso’s are so hot right now, and rightly so. I don’t think they lose any heat from putting over the Wyatt’s.
Backstage Ryback tells Curtis Axel that he refuses to team up with him tonight because he is no longer a Paul Heyman Guy. He said after the remarks from Paul Heyman on Monday Night Raw he will no longer be in Heymans camp. Curtis tells Ryback that he is no longer a Paul Heyman guy either and tonight the two of them should stick together. Axel suggests that they go out to the ring and take out all of their frustrations on Punk and Bryan.
A quick comic backstage rap off featuring R-Truth and the Primetime Players followed.
Natalya vs. Tamina Snuka
Natalya kicks the match off with some aggression against Tamina but this is short lived when Tamina hits Natalya with a Samoan Drop. Tamina tries to capitalise with a knee drop but Natalya rolls out of the way and follows up with a Spinning Clothesline. AJ makes her way to the apron to distract Natalya, Tamina tries to attack Natalya from behind but Natalya ducks and she ends up hitting AJ instead. Natalya locks on the Sharpshooter and Tamina taps out.
I cannot express enough how pointless, boring and ridiculous this match was. I just can’t believe that the current women cannot be booked much better than this. The women’s division is in tatters at the moment.
Brad Maddox and Vickie Guerrero backstage. Brad tells Vickie that when the authority comes back on Monday she is going to be in trouble for booking Randy Orton in the match on Monday. Vickie responds by telling Brad that he and Kane should have overruled her decision so in reality it is Brad and Kane that will be in trouble on Monday.
Primetime Players and R-Truth vs. 3MB AKA The Union Jacks
Everybody but R-Truth gets a jobbers entrance. R-Truth does his usual What’s Up routine to hype up the English crowd who look underwhelmed by his performance.
As you can tell from previous reviews I am not the biggest fan of 3MB or R-Truth. This was not the greatest match and it was a little sloppy at times. This match didn’t really do anything for me luckily it only lasted around four minutes. R-Truth hits Slater with his finish for the win. After the match the Primetime Players and R-Truth celebrate in the ring wearing 3MB’s Union Jacks jackets.
John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio in an arm wrestling contest
After praising John Cena for his match in the main event last week I can’t say I was looking forward to a gimmicky arm wrestling challenge this week. I am hoping Del Rio has set this up merely as a trap to inflict more pain on Cena’s injured arm.
As the crowd shouts out let’s go Cena the two men take their positions and lock arms hands in the centre of the ring. The referee counts to three and the John Cena proves his superiority beating Del Rio within a second. Del Rio is outraged and demands a rematch. The two are about to lock hands again but then Cena gives Del Rio the You Can’t See Me sign.
They eventually lock up for a third time and Cena beats him again but this time just as I suspected Del Rio attacks Cena. Del Rio puts Cena’s arm between one of the chairs but Cena begins to fight back. Cena charges towards Del Rio but Del Rio counters with a Spinebuster Slam through the table. Del Rio removes his T-Shirt and lays it over the chest of Cena before leaving the ring.
I thought this bit worked fine for what they are trying to set up. Personally I would have liked to have seen Cena take more of a beat down over the last two weeks leading up to Survivor Series. I would have liked to have seen Del Rio using more wit and cunningness to bring down the champ so when Cena eventually wins at least it feels like it was difficult for him.
The Funkadactyls vs. The Bella Twins
This confusing tale of the Bella Twins continues this week with Nikki starting things off against Cameron. Nikki hits Cameron with a big Alabama Slam followed by a slam to the floor. She throws Cameron to the corner but is countered by a kick Cameron when she tries to charge at her. Cameron tags in Naomi but Naomi quickly loses control of the match. A screaming Brie Bella charges into action with a Clothesline and a Dropkick. Brie attempts a charge towards Naomi but Naomi counters with the Rear View and rolls Brie up for the win.
I was surprised the Funkadactyls won this match because I thought that the Bella’s were the ones that were getting the push at the moment. In no way was this a great match but like I said last week I do think the Funkadactyls have the potential to be really good if given the right people to work with. I hope they continue to pick up wins and mould themselves into something other than Divas.
Hunico and Camacho vs. The Great Khali in a handicap match
Hunico and Camacho get a jobbers entrance and Khali come out to huge pops from the English crowd. Khali starts off against Comacho and delivers Big Chop after Big Chop before Comacho tags in his partner Hunico to receive more of the same followed by a Choke Slam. Khali wins.
This was a very quick squash match, nothing else to say about it really. I think the fans enjoyed seeing The Great Khali though.
CM Punk and Daniel Bryan vs Ryback and Curtis Axel
The match begins with CM Punk against Curtis Axel. Punk gains advantage quickly and tags in Bryan. Bryan loses momentum for a second and allows Axel to tag in Ryback. Bryan quickly regains control and tags in punk. Punk attempts a Crossbody but Ryback counters by showing strength and catches Punk and slams him into the mat.
Ryback tags in Axel and Axel hits Punk with a series of elbows followed by a pin but only get a one count. Punk quickly finds some adrenaline and hits Axel with the Running Knee in the Corner followed by a Clothesline. He attempts to the go up to the top rope to deliver the Big Elbow but Ryback enters the ring and pulls Axel out of the way. Axel and Ryback try to regroup on the outside but Punk and Bryan attack them by flying through the ropes to the outside.
We return from the break to find Axel in control of Punk. Axel tags in Ryback who hits Punk with a long Vertical Suplex followed by two big Leg Drops. Ryback continues to stomp on Punk before tagging Axel back in to continue the assault. Punk tries a sneaky roll up but Axel kicks out and follows up with a Clothesline. Axel wears down Punk who now desperately needs to tag in his partner. Axel lands a neat Drop Kick and goes for the pin but only get a two count.
Axel and Ryback double team Punk in the corner. Axel attempts a charge towards Punk but Punk ducks and Axel hits Ryback who goes tumbling to the floor. Punk hits Axel with the Swinging Neck Breaker and starts a slow crawl towards Bryan. Bryan gets the tag and springs into action like the little goat he is. Bryan delivers his signature Running Drop to Ryback and hits Ryback with the five lethal kicks. Bryan goes for the pin but Axel makes the save.
Bryan slaps on the Yes Lock to Ryback and the arena lights go out. The lights come back on to find The Wyatt’s in the ring with Ryback lying on the mat but Punk and Bryan are gone. Ryback begins to regain composure and shoves Axel into Harper. Harper and Rowan attack Axel. After they finish with Axel they turn their attentions to Ryback and out power him before tossing him to the outside.
CM Punk and Bryan come out from under the ring and run back into the ring to attack a surprised Harper and Rowan before running off down the ramp to applauding fans.
Not a definitive ending but it was a funny ending and I enjoyed it. Nice to see the Wyatt’s being outsmarted and it adds further tension and frustration for Bray Wyatt at trying to get his hands on Punk and Bryan.
Final Thoughts
This week’s show was a bit of a disappointment for me. The quality of some of the matches was fine but I would have liked to have seen a lot more of the build up for the feuds leading up to Survivor Series. With only nine days left I don’t feel like we are heading towards one of the big four PPV’s.
The best match of the night is a tossup between the first and last one and both of them involved the Wyatt’s in some way. Nothing really blew me away but overall I was still pleasantly entertained.
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