WWE NXT Full Show Live Streaming WWE NXT Highlights

 

WWE NxT Live 1/20/21 January 21st 2021

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WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 20

Sana Ejaz Khan

Credit: WWE.com

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has taken over WWE NXT. This tournament is no longer just a single-gender tag team experience as the women will now compete at the same time as the men.

The January 20 edition of NXT included three big matches in the Dusty Classic. First, for the men, Johnny Gargano teamed up with Austin Theory. The two members of The Way would fight their recent rivals Kushida and Leon Ruff.

Lucha House Party also dropped by from Monday Night Raw to compete in the tournament. Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado hoped to win against the former NXT tag team champions Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner.

The first round of the women's Dusty Classic began with underdogs Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter fighting two of the most dangerous women in NXT. Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez have been after Io Shirai but were glad to make history in the tag team tournament first.

All of this was building up toward the main event where Tommaso would step into the NXT Fight Pit against the man who brought it to the black-and-gold brand, Timothy Thatcher. All that could be predicted was pure unadulterated violence.

This show had a packed card that was promised a week back, setting up some of the best wrestlers in the world to go out and compete at the highest level.

Men's Dusty Classic: Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory vs. Kushida and Leon Ruff

1 OF 7

Credit: WWE.com

Austin Theory showed an impressive ability to counter the speed of Leon Ruff and Kushida, keeping the heels in the match after Johnny Gargano got overconfident. Theory, though, made the big mistake of trying to grapple with Kushida, who was able to easily counter him.

The heels found the best strategy was to isolate Ruff. The Way looked cohesive throughout its domination, though Ruff fought through. He kicked out of an elevated spinning neckbreaker and hit a springboard cutter to get the tag to his partner.

Kushida planted The Rebel Heart on the outside with a DDT and then locked the NXT North American champion in a cross armbreaker. Theory barely saved his mentor. Ruff dived onto Theory to take him out of the action and then pinned The Rebel Heart clean with a double underhook suplex.

          

Result

Kushida and Ruff def. The Way by pinfall to advance in the men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

           

Grade

B+

            

Analysis

Gargano and Theory have instantly established chemistry as a tag team. The Rebel Heart has found a rhythm with the young star that no one else could. Hopefully, they will continue to work as a tag team, even though it was not their time in the men's Dusty Classic.

Kushida pinning Gargano clean was a surprise but a welcome one. The Japanese Superstar has built up serious momentum lately. It almost feels inconceivable that he would not win the NXT North American Championship in the next month.

Karrion Kross vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

2 OF 7

Pete Dunne cut a pretaped promo on Finn Balor, explaining that he was better than The Prince and both of them knew it.

Ashante Thee Adonis tried to get in a few good kicks, but Karrion Kross badly injured his neck on a trio of Saito suplexes, sealing an emphatic win. Afterward, he locked in the Kross Jacket.

NXT showed a video package for MSK where Ember Moon put over the innovation of Wes Lee and Nash Carter.

          

Result

Kross def. Adonis by pinfall.

           

Grade

D

            

Analysis

What Kross needs right now is a chance to fight worthy opponents. He needs to do more than just hit a few suplexes and win. Adonis is established enough that he could have gotten in a little offense. Instead, he was squashed like every other Performance Center talent.

We have all seen it at this point. It is clear that Kross can be dominant. He can take longer than one minute to wrestle and still seem dominant. The important piece is to help the former NXT champion get back in ring shape before facing Finn Balor.

Men's Dusty Classic: Imperium vs. Lucha House Party

3 OF 7

Credit: WWE.com

Imperium tried to set a steady pace early, but Lucha House Party was too explosive. Gran Metalik got into the action and dived onto Marcel Barthel with a splash off Lince Dorado's shoulders. The luchadors fought to the outside and got slammed by Barthel and Fabian Aichner on the hard floor.

Metalik fought back with a springboard hurricanrana and springboard moonsault to Aichner for a near-fall. Lucha House Party then hit a combination dropkick/sunset flip powerbomb, forcing Barthel to save his partner from the pinfall. Action broke down as both teams closed in on signature tag team finishers.

Dorado finally got Barthel alone to connect with a superkick and shooting star press for the win. Alexander Wolfe appeared on the stage to look upon Barthel and Aichner after their loss.

          

Result

Lucha House Party def. Imperium by pinfall to advance in the men's Dusty Rhodes Classic.

           

Grade

A

            

Analysis

This match had potential going in, but it was absolutely above and beyond any expectations. Barthel and Aichner have been wrestling sprints so often that it was nice to see them get time and work as the true heels. Lucha House Party pushed Imperium with some incredible moves throughout.

It was great to see Metalik and Dorado working so motivated. It was the best the team has looked in years. While Imperium deserves a major run in NXT down the line with only a short NXT Tag Team Championship reign so far, this was the time to take a chance to put over an underused team.

Women's Dusty Classic: Carter and Catanzaro vs. Storm and Martinez

4 OF 7

Credit: WWE.com

Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez admitted backstage they aren't friends, but they wanted to win and felt they were better than anyone else. General manager William Regal introduced Beth Phoenix, who put over how important and historic it is that the women finally got their own Dusty Rhodes Classic.

Kayden Carter set a pace from the outset that Mercedes Martinez ruined when she planted Kacy Catanzaro with a tilt-a-whirl slam. Toni Storm got into the action but ran into a buzz saw in a purely motivated Carter.

Catanzaro crashed into Martinez outside, sending both into the announce table. Storm planted Carter with a German suplex and then locked in a single-leg Boston crab. Io Shirai attacked Martinez outside, leaving Storm to take a spin-through leg lock to set up a corkscrew 630 splash for the win.

Backstage, Carter and Catanzaro made clear they would win the whole tournament. A brawl broke out between Storm and Shirai after the result.

          

Result

Carter and Catanzaro def. Storm and Martinez by pinfall to advance in the women's Dusty Classic.

           

Grade

B+

            

Analysis

This was a true arrival for Carter and Catanzaro. Arguably the only true women's tag team in NXT, the two have worked hard to get an opportunity like this. Working with absolute veterans, they pulled out the best work of their careers.

While they needed to win over a team that was not established, the situation was set up well. The two heels are arguably the closest to challenging The Genius of the Sky for the NXT Women's Championship next. This sets up perfectly for Shirai vs. Martinez at the next NXT TakeOver.

Bronson Reed vs. Tyler Rust (w/ Malcolm Bivens)

5 OF 7

Malcolm Bivens waited outside William Regal's office while Tyler Rust asked for a match against Bronson Reed. Bivens wanted Rust to face an easier opponent, but he just tried to motivate Rust once the contest was set.

The Colossal dominated Rust while Bivens seemed uncertain how to coach his client in this mostly impromptu match. Even though Rust found a few openings, he still could not stop the bigger man from planting him with the Avalanche for three. Afterward, the manager told his client to let him pick the battles next time.

          

Result

Reed def. Rust by pinfall.

           

Grade

C+

            

Analysis

The idea of Reed vs. Rust was better than the execution. The talented wrestlers worked fine together, but there was not much story and focus to the contest. The Colossal works well with those who have confidence in their ability to improvise and build a story.

Bivens and Rust are an awkward pairing. It may come together soon, and it is good to see Bivens on television again. However, the manager is still looking for his ideal client.

Lucha House Party and Curt Stallion Clear Out Legado del Fantasma

6 OF 7

Finn Balor demanded a match with Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch from William Regal, and the NXT general manager only agreed if the NXT champion could find a partner. The Prince cashed in a favor and asked Kyle O'Reilly to team with him. The Undisputed Era star agreed.

Legado del Fantasma took the ring as Santos Escobar mocked the entire roster. He was certain he was the absolute best champion in NXT. As he put over Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde, Lucha House Party arrived and began brawling with the trio. Curt Stallion arrived to help clear the ring of the heels.

Drake Maverick put over MSK, but he was certain he and Killian Dain would win the Dusty Classic.

           

Grade

C

            

Analysis

The series of segments leading up to Balor asking O'Reilly to team with him worked; however, it is ridiculous that NXT thinks fans couldn't believe The Prince could team up with his biggest recent rival. The two have been helping each other just as much as hurting each other for weeks.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Lucha House Party is a fun rivalry that luckily did not end early. This segment was a time-waster, but it was nice of WWE to acknowledge the No. 1 contender to the NXT Cruiserweight Championship finally. Stallion does not feel like the man to dethrone Escobar yet.

NXT Fight Pit: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher

7 OF 7

In the pre-match weigh-in, Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher almost got into a fight, but William Regal separated them.

The two men started above the Fight Pit where The Blackheart brutalized the technician early. The two fell off the top into the steel pit below. Thatcher turned the action by targeting the left elbow with suplexes and elbow smashes. The heel smiled as he nearly broke his opponent's fingers.

It was only with a low blow that Ciampa got back in the fight, hitting the Willow's Bell for a near knockout. The Blackheart planted Thatcher with the Fairytale Ending and then went for a submission, but the heel fought through. He trapped Ciampa's leg in the steel and used a stretcher muffler to force a tapout.

The two stared at each other with malice and a tinge of respect to end the night.

          

Result

Thatcher def. Ciampa by submission.

           

Grade

B+

            

Analysis

Thatcher needed to win this match, and he did just that. He looked incredible battling through the best that Ciampa could give him. He got creative but never played scared. He went after Ciampa to the point that The Blackheart resorted to more underhanded tactics to stay in the fight.

This was what it needed to be. It was physical and brutal. The technical side from both men was excellently sold. The lighting made it hard to watch in moments, but ultimately the goal was achieved. Thatcher came out looking like an unstoppable monster in his style of match.

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WWE raw Full Show 18 January 2021 WWE Raw Highlights 18 January 2021

 

WWE Raw 1/18/21 January 18th 2021

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WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 18

Sana Ejaz Khan

Credit: WWE.com

It's not often a WWE show ends with a fireball. Alexa Bliss made a lasting impact when she threw a fireball into the eyes of Randy Orton. Just one week later, The Goddess was set to speak on the January 18 edition of Monday Night Raw, only the beginning of a major night for Bliss.

She also returned to the ring in a huge non-title clash against Asuka. The Raw women's champion has been absolutely dominant, but she has never faced this new dangerous form of The Goddess.

The Hurt Business has tormented everyone on Raw. One man constantly on the group's radar has been Riddle. This week, The Original Bro teamed up with Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik to face Bobby Lashly, Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin.

WWE Royal Rumble is less than two weeks away, and that means it is time for wrestlers to build lasting momentum. Only one man and one woman can get to WrestleMania 37 through the Rumble match.

This January 18 episode did not promise much before the show, but three hours on the road to Royal Rumble cannot be anything less than memorable.

Randy Orton Addresses His Burn Wounds at the Hands of Alexa Bliss

1 OF 7

After a video package celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Randy Orton spoke in a dark ring, wearing a mask to protect his burned face. He explained that he was lucky, only taking first-degree burns to his face.

He warned that his compassion was now gone. He blamed The Fiend for what happened, even though he was burned alive. He told Bray Wyatt that he would not stop him from winning his third men's Royal Rumble match. He promised he would compete even masked.

           

Grade

D-

            

Analysis

This was all too much, even for WWE. The dramatic music in the darkened ring just did not land. The mask looked too absurd to sell the idea that The Viper was burned in any way. It all came off as WWE taking an already ridiculous story too far.

There is so much happening right now with Wyatt, Bliss and Orton. The production focus is selling this like a completely different show when the three are involved. If WWE is not careful, this angle will come crashing down into the realm of self-parody.

Charlotte Flair vs. Peyton Royce

2 OF 7

Backstage, Charly Caruso asked Lacey Evans and Ric Flair about their relationship. The Sassy Southern Belle was not interested in any gossip.

Evans did not have time to get her front row tickets before Peyton Royce attacked Charlotte Flair from behind. Evans' partner dominated early in this contest, blasting The Queen at every opportunity. Fully distracted, Charlotte struggled to even put together a comeback.

An elbow smash set up a hanging neckbreaker from The Queen, but Ric and Evans finally arrived. The Sassy Southern Belle came out in a dramatic Flair robe, setting up Royce to blast the former women's champion with a big boot. However, neither women went down easily.

Royce hurt her left knee, and The Queen knew exactly what she needed to do. She set up her signature finisher with a series of knee drops then locked in the Figure-Eight, forcing a tap out. Afterward, Charlotte refused to relent, holding the submission well past the bell.

          

Result

Charlotte def. Royce by submission.

           

Grade

B-

            

Analysis

This was a major opportunity for Royce, who rarely gets to work solo, let alone in matches this long. While it was not a mess, there was certainly room for improvement due to what seemed to be a lack of strong communication.

The story was there, but the two did not carry it through. Charlotte was not nearly as aggressive as she sold at the end of the match, and Royce was too focused on kicking Charlotte rather than wearing her down with a focused attack and clever shortcuts.

She used an impressive varied move set that could pair well with Charlotte in the right type of match. It was a showcase that Royce has the stamina for contests this long but may need a stronger road agent behind her to help frame the work.

Xavier Woods vs. Mace

3 OF 7

Riddle played nice with Hurt Business until he decided to throw a snide comment toward Bobby Lashley. The All Mighty attacked and injured The Original Bro's foot.

WWE showed the interview Mustafa Ali recorded earlier in the day where he explained that he wanted to hurt Xavier Woods to break Kofi Kingston's spirit, the man that stole his opportunity two years ago.

Ali talked trash to Woods before the match and got a fist to the face for it. While Woods kept that fire, the group at ringside was too much of a distraction. Ali took a baseball slide into the table and lost his cool. He demanded Mace finish it, hitting a leg lariat and spin-out fireman's carry slam for the win.

The leader of Retribution smiled at the fallen Woods and told him that he would soon join Kofi out of action.

          

Result

Mace def. Woods by pinfall.

           

Grade

B-

            

Analysis

Other than a sloppy finish, Mace looked good working with Woods. This was a fast-paced contest built around the overwhelming odds that Woods had to overcome. He fought hard but clearly needs help against Retribution's size and power.

Ali's explanation for coming after Woods was further proof that he is carrying Retribution through all of this. He sold a midcard angle by putting it in focus with a WWE Championship opportunity he lost because of Kofi. His anger felt real in every word. It will be fun to watch Ali vs. Kofi soon.

Asuka Walks Off of Alexa Bliss' Playground in Fear

4 OF 7

The video aired on Sunday announcing the location for the next three WrestleManias was replayed. Asuka was asked about what she expected from Alexa Bliss tonight, and The Empress of Tomorrow seemed uncertain and perhaps worried about the dark side of Bliss.

The Goddess introduced Alexa's Playground and Asuka before making clear she would enter the women's Royal Rumble match. Asuka tried to play nice with Bliss, but she only seemed to get on The Goddess' nerves. After she invoked Bray Wyatt's name, The Goddess scared the Raw women's champion into walking away.

           

Grade

B+

            

Analysis

This was a much better angle than the first part of the Wyatt/Bliss story for the evening. The Goddess carried this segment with her manic energy.

From speaking to an empty swing set that Bray Wyatt once sat on with her to almost exploding when Asuka invoked Wyatt's name, the dynamic between these women was well set up. It will be interesting to see if this leads to WrestleMania.

The Goddess is well established as a rival for Asuka and probably the clearest cut challenger to The Empress of Tomorrow on the current Raw roster.

Shayna Baszler (w/ Nia Jax) vs. Mandy Rose (w/ Dana Brooke)

5 OF 7

Jeff Jarrett predicted that Goldberg would defeat Drew McIntyre at Royal Rumble. Shayna Baszler explained that she was willing to do anything including going through Nia Jax to win the women's Rumble, which ticked off The Irresistible Force.

Jax watched on commentary as The Queen of Spades went after the elbow of God's Greatest Creation. A vicious stomp on the left elbow left Rose working with only one good arm to fight back. A fierce comeback was not enough as Baszler manipated the elbow and caught her in the Kirifuda Clutch to win.

Dana Brooke knocked Jax into the steel post as the heel team argued on ringside. Backstage, Baszler demanded another shot at the WWE women's tag team champions Charlotte Flair and Asuka. The Queen said in an interview that she was now focused on hurtung Lacey Evans.

          

Result

Baszler def. Rose by submission.

           

Grade

C-

            

Analysis

This was a solid short squash where Baszler and Rose worked the style that works best for both of them. However, this contest did not need to happen. This was close to the same match from last week with the same result.

Rose and Brooke are supposed to be a tag team with some clout while Baszler and Jax continue to fracture. Despite this, the heels have dominated to the point of ending this feud weeks ago. It is time to move on.

It is not surprising that Jax and Baszler are falling apart. The two were never a well-established team and add little to the women's tag team division. It is a shame that the two have not already broken up so that Baszler could go after the Raw Women's Championship alone.

Royal Rumble Opportunity on the Line: AJ Styles (w/ Omos) vs. Ricochet

6 OF 7

Adam Pearce explained to Ricochet that he would only earn a spot in the men's Royal Rumble match if he won against AJ Styles. The Phenomenal One mocked The One and Only as a loser not worthy of the Rumble.

Ricochet came out confident from the outset, faster and more aggressive than Styles. Omos caught The One and Only jumping and dropped him to the floor. This allowed The Phenomenal One to take over with vicious focus, even nearly taking the win with a brainbuster.

Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm that The One and Only turned into the Recoil for a nearfall. The two fought on the top rope, and Styles knocked him down. He bounced Ricochet off the top rope right into the Styles Clash to win.

          

Result

Styles def. Ricochet by pinfall, confirming The One and Only would miss out on the men's Rumble match.

           

Grade

A-

            

Analysis

Ricochet came to fight on Raw, putting one of his best performances on Raw to date. He and Styles brought it throughout. This may have been their best match together. It truly showcased why The One and Only deserves so much better than he gets.

That was the main part of this segment that hurt. Ricochet should be able to declare himself for the Royal Rumble. He is a former United States champion and made an impact in last year's Rumble. It makes no sense to keep him out of the match.

WWE's insistence that certain stars must earn a spot in the Rumble establishes a bad message to the roster. It shows fans that there is an unspoken hierarchy where certain stars earn their opportunities while others are given those spots. Either anyone should be able to declare, or everyone should have to earn it.

The Miz and John Morrison Host Gillberg and "Drew McIntyre" on The Dirt Sheet

7 OF 7

The Miz and John Morrison introduced the biggest star to ever appear on The Dirt Sheet, Goldberg. However, it turned out Miz and Morrison had actually brought Gillberg. Drew McIntyre's music hit, but it was another impersonator.

The A-Lister and The Shaman of Sexy quickly lost interest their terrible McIntyre impersonator from New Jersey. Miz took over and explained that McIntyre and Goldberg would lose come the Royal Rumble because Miz would cash in and take the WWE Championship.

           

Grade

D-

            

Analysis

The only thing keeping this above a completely failing grade was seeing Gillberg again. The Goldberg impersonator suffered a heart attack in November. Getting this chance to return to his role in January is a testament to his strength.

Beyond that, this was a trainwreck. The McIntyre impersonator was bad intentionally, but Miz and Morrison added nothing to any of this by ultimately announcing Miz might cash in soon. It was just a way to keep people talking about McIntyre vs. Goldberg with neither available.

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WWE SmackDown Full Show 15 January 2021 WWE SmackDown Highlights 15 January 2021

 

WWE Smackdown Live 1/15/21 January 15th 2021

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WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 15

Sana Ejaz Khan

Credit: WWE.com

Vengeance, thy name is Roman Reigns.

It is a reality that faced Adam Pearce again Friday as the WWE official signed the contract for his Universal Championship match against The Tribal Chief at Royal Rumble on January 31.

The tense in-ring promo segment headlined a SmackDown that continued the march to the annual extravaganza, with both men and women announcing their entries into the namesake matches.

What fate awaited Pearce and who cashed their ticket to the Rumble pay-per-view?

Find out with this recap of the January 15 episode.

Match Card

1 OF 9

Announced for Friday's show are:

• Contract signing for the Universal Championship Match at Royal Rumble
• Shinsuke Nakamura vs. "Main Event" Jey Uso
• Rey Mysterio vs. King Corbin

    

Coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. 

Shinsuke Nakamura Silences Jey Uso

2 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

Moments after Paul Heyman vowed to fix the contract for a dissatisfied Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship defense against Adam Pearce at Royal Rumble, Jey Uso hit the ring to kick off the evening’s broadcast.

“We run this show!” Uso said of him and Reigns. He warned Pearce about what awaits him at Royal Rumble and suggested WWE officials thank The Tribal Chief for their success. He declared his entry into the Men’s Royal Rumble Match and vowed to go to Raw, where he would win the WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre. 

Uso said Shinsuke Nakamura should be thanking him and his family for letting him survive last week. This brought The Artist out, to his old theme music, for the first match of the night. Nakamura fanned the flames, calling Uso the puppy to Reigns’ Big Dog. He caught him with a kick ahead of the commercial break.

    

Grade

B

    

Analysis

Uso was strong here, coming across as natural rather than scripted. He was passionate and put over the current nature of his relationship with Reigns, talking up The Tribal Chief and putting his family over as the most badass entity in the sport.

Yet, the moment Nakamura appeared and confronted him, he ate a big boot to the face that silenced him.

As it should any yapping heel. It worked well and set the stage for the opening match on the night.

The return of Nakamura’s old theme would suggest a babyface turn is either in the making or is already completed.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jey Uso; Cesaro Joins the Commentary Team

3 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

Nakamura and Uso went back-and-forth early until Cesaro’s music played and The Swiss Cyborg made his way to the ringside area, apparently in support of his longtime tag team partner. Fueled by his partner’s presence at ringside, Nakamura launched Uso into the ring post heading into the commercial break.

The Artist controlled the match coming out of the timeout as Cesaro joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary, excusing his absence from last week’s show by claiming Tropicana Field was too big for him to get to the ring and help his partner as he was beaten down by Uso and Reigns. 

Uso turned the tide in his favor, working over his opponent in the corner with a barrage of boots. Nakamura recovered and delivered a sliding German suplex but Uso answered with a belly-to-back suplex for two.

Nakamura set up for the Kinshasa but Uso caught him with a superkick. The top-rope splash by the former tag team champion was met with knees to the midsection. Still, Uso recovered and scored a rollup using the ropes. Charles Robinson counted to three but waived it off. The ensuing argument allowed Nakamura to deliver the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory.

    

Result

Nakamura defeated Uso

    

Grade

C+

     

Analysis

The match was hurt by the poorly-placed commercial break. It hurt the flow and the viewers’ ability to really invest in it.

The effort was there and there was definitely chemistry about it that makes one wonder what the performers would have accomplished had the contest not been plagued by the break so early on.

Nakamura winning was the right move, though it would have been more effective clean. We have seen Jey lose in that manner in the past and recover quickly due to his spot on the card. It would have benefited The Artist more than the screwy nature of the finish.

Keep an eye on Cesaro, whose convoluted excuse for not saving Nakamura suggests there is a riff or even jealousy on his part that will spell the end of their team.

Liv Morgan vs. Natalya

4 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

Despite Heyman getting Pearce to sign a contract for a No Disqualification Match against Reigns at Royal Rumble, an unsatisfied Tribal Chief expressed his desire for a Last Man Standing Match and said he would sign that contract in the ring.

Interestingly enough, Apollo Crews sat in on the exchange moments after having knowledge imparted on him by the universal champion.

Back from the break, Natalya hit the ring for singles competition, Tamina in her corner. Her opponent? The Riott Squad’s Liv Morgan, accompanied by Ruby Riott and Billie Kay.

Early chain wrestling gave way to the self-proclaimed B.O.A.T. (Best of All Time) dominating the action with her strength and experience advantages. Morgan fought back but a distraction from an overzealous Kay allowed Natalya to score the win off a schoolgirl rollup.

    

Result

Natalya defeated Morgan

    

Grade

C-

    

Analysis

This was not good, nor was the execution.

Kay was the focal point, and given the emphasis on her character in recent weeks, that is fine. What was not was how convoluted the booking of the finish was.

Kay didn’t have to get in the ring, tripping and stumbling around. She could have accomplished the distraction from the floor and Natalya still could have won.

It is disappointing in some respects to The Riott Squad’s Morgan and Riott, who were building momentum for themselves as a team but are now in danger of being overshadowed in their own faction by Kay. That is through no fault of the Aussie, though, who is absolutely nailing everything she is being asked to do.

Except for the finish of this week’s match.

Rey Mysterio vs. King Corbin

5 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

A week after King Corbin sent him into the steel steps during the gauntlet match, Dominik Mysterio watched as his father Rey battled the heel in singles competition.

The bigger, stronger, more ferocious Corbin dominated the action, pummeling Mysterio for the majority of the match. Commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves even asked Dominik how he could sit by and watch. The third-generation star cited his father’s wishes to stay out of the match.

Mysterio created separation and set up for the 619 but Corbin caught him with the Deep Six.

The action spilled to the floor, where Corbin blasted Dominik. Back in the ring, the young star attempted to defend himself but Corbin sent Rey into his son and finished him off with End of Days for the win.

     

Result

Corbin defeated Mysterio

    

Grade

C

    

Analysis

Do the Mysterios ever win anymore?

The perpetual losers suffered a familiar fate this week as Corbin continued to build heat for himself. The eventual moment in which Dominik stands up for himself, his own man, and fights back will ultimately make him an even more viable young star.

Until then, he needs some wins to build up his resume because right now, he looks like a perpetual loser.

The match was perfectly fine for what it was, which was an extended squash that saw Corbin steamroll Rey until he needed a distraction to score the win. 

Ding Dong Hello! with Bianca Belair

6 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

Michael Cole threw to the ring for the debut episode of “Ding Dong Hello!” with Bayley.

The former SmackDown women’s champion introduced her first “G-U-EST,” Bianca Belair.

Belair made herself at home, stealing Bayley’s chair from her. The hostess threw to the video screen for what was supposed to be a preview of Belair’s upcoming edition of WWE Chronicle but was actually a recap of her own win over The EST a few weeks back.

Bayley insisted she is the best for having beat Belair. The back-and-forth argument between the two gave way to Bayley laying down the challenge for an obstacle course on next week’s show.

Belair eagerly accepted as the two continued their argument to close out the segment.

     

Grade

C

    

Analysis

This was ok, but hardly the sort of debut talk show that was memorable in any way.

There was more bickering than actual dialogue and the result was a messy segment that accomplished what it set out to by setting up next week’s obstacle course.

Bayley’s over-the-top heel persona was never fully allowed to shine, no was Belair’s natural charisma.

It simply did not, but that is not to say it cannot. Bayley is too good on the mic under this current character to not make it successful. 

Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro

7 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

Daniel Bryan and Cesaro took to the squared circle for singles competition and wasted little time taking to the mat for some chain wrestling. Cesaro took a nasty bump that left him nursing the back of his head. Bryan took advantage, sailing off the top rope with a splash.

An errant kick by Bryan saw him crash into the ring post heading into the break.

Back from the commercial, Bryan and Cesaro teed off on each other with hard-hitting strikes. Bryan punted the left arm and applied the Yes Lock. Cesaro countered and applied the Sharpshooter. Bryan countered and reapplied the Yes Lock.

Cesaro narrowly forced the break, draping his foot over the bottom rope. The fight headed to the ropes, where Cesaro delivered a vertical suplex for a near-fall. The action continued, encompassing reversals and counters until Bryan set up for the running knee.

Cesaro caught him mid-run with an uppercut and finished Bryan off with the Neutralizer for the win.

    

Result

Cesaro defeated Bryan

    

Grade

A

    

Analysis

Give us all of this.

Bryan and Cesaro are master craftsmen between the ropes and here, they turned in a beautiful match.

Counter-heavy and full of punishing strikes, it ultimately came down to Cesaro capitalizing on an opening created by a Bryan misstep and scoring a much-needed victory.

It was a defining win for The Swiss Cyborg and, hopefully, the start of things to come for the most underrated wrestler in the world.

In consecutive weeks, former world champion Bryan has been selfless, putting over both Nakamura and Cesaro in an attempt to strengthen the overall quality of the SmackDown roster. Others within the company would be wise to learn from this.

Apollo Crews vs. Sami Zayn

8 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

On the same night he joined Roman Reigns in his locker room, learning under The Big Dog, Apollo Crews battled Sami Zayn in singles competition while intercontinental champion Big E watched from a sofa at ringside. 

Crews overwhelmed and dominated Zayn early and often, overpowering him and proving himself worthy of another IC title opportunity.

Late, Zayn delivered an exploder suplex into the corner. Crews recovered, rolling him up and holding the tights for the win. Big E questioned the means of victory on commentary. Crews grabbed hold of the IC title and stared at it, then tossed it back to Big E before engaging in trash talk.

    

Result

Crews defeated Zayn

    

Grade

B

    

Analysis

Sami Zayn’s conspiracy gimmick is one of the best in WWE so it is no surprise he stood out here, protesting the means by which he lost to Crews in a manner that suggests he will be making a much bigger deal about it in the weeks to come.

Speaking of Crews, he was great here as the arrogant heel, cheating to beat Zayn, then sparking a verbal confrontation with Big E as their rivalry continues to escalate.

Theirs is a feud that can elevate the IC title and one that will ultimately make a star our of Crews.

Especially if he is aligned with Reigns.

Big E defends against Crews next week in a match with significant implications on the entire title picture.

Contract Signing for Royal Rumble

9 OF 9

Credit: WWE.com

Roman Reigns bullied and intimidated Adam Pearce into signing the contract for their Last Man Standing Match at Royal Rumble before taking his place at the head of the table. Reigns put pen to paper, apparently pleased with his actions and the way things unfolded.

“I’ve waited all night for you to do that,” Pearce said before he exited the ring and made his way up the ramp. 

Feigning a knee injury, he revealed that the card is subject to change. With that, he introduced Kevin Owens, who signed the contract for the Rumble title shot.

     

Grade

A

    

Analysis

After months of Reigns manipulating things in his favor, his overconfidence proved costly as Pearce one-upped him and put The Tribal Chief’s universal title reign in jeopardy.

Owens vs. Reigns in a Last Man Standing Match should be fantastic based on the strength of their recent encounters. 

Even better will be Reigns’ response to this development on next week’s show.

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