Ruby Riott defeated Bayley. (Kickoff Match)
Once again, Ruby Riott proved it pays to have friends at your side, while her opponent learned the hard way that going it alone against the leader of The Riott Squad is an uphill battle.
This time, the unlucky recipient of this lesson was Bayley, who, to her credit, realized that she’d be facing a numbers disadvantage from the jump. Unfortunately, Bayley’s olive branch to her friend-on-the-outs Sasha Banks was declined because of The Huggable One’s conspicuous refusal to help The Boss against Riott and her cohorts on Raw. This left Bayley to go it alone, and Riott capitalized accordingly.
Bayley had clearly scouted Banks’ match well enough to be reasonably prepared for Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan’s inevitable interference. She even tried to dismiss them pre-emptively, taking out Logan despite competing on unsteady legs after Riott drove her face-first into the turnbuckle. Morgan, however, remained very much in play, and her distraction of Bayley after a top-rope elbow to Ruby opened the door for a fierce match-ending Riott Kick.
As always, Bayley’s effort cannot be denied, but if anybody wants to get past Ruby Riott, they’ll clearly need a little help from their friends. (Via WWE.com)
This time, the unlucky recipient of this lesson was Bayley, who, to her credit, realized that she’d be facing a numbers disadvantage from the jump. Unfortunately, Bayley’s olive branch to her friend-on-the-outs Sasha Banks was declined because of The Huggable One’s conspicuous refusal to help The Boss against Riott and her cohorts on Raw. This left Bayley to go it alone, and Riott capitalized accordingly.
Bayley had clearly scouted Banks’ match well enough to be reasonably prepared for Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan’s inevitable interference. She even tried to dismiss them pre-emptively, taking out Logan despite competing on unsteady legs after Riott drove her face-first into the turnbuckle. Morgan, however, remained very much in play, and her distraction of Bayley after a top-rope elbow to Ruby opened the door for a fierce match-ending Riott Kick.
As always, Bayley’s effort cannot be denied, but if anybody wants to get past Ruby Riott, they’ll clearly need a little help from their friends. (Via WWE.com)
Intercontinental Championship: INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION, Seth Rollins defeated The Miz.
The Miz’s quest to claim his ninth Intercontinental Championship ended at WWE Backlash when Raw’s Seth Rollins defeated The A-Lister to retain the title, thus sending Miz back to SmackDown LIVE without his signature prize.
That’s a bitter pill to swallow for Miz, who has essentially hitched his identity to the Intercontinental Title over the last two years. In fact, he’s weeks shy of the all-time cumulative record reign, and a victory here would have tied him with Chris Jericho at nine stints as champion. With history at stake, Miz brought a near-perfect game plan to WWE Backlash, but Rollins — who christened himself as a “fighting champion” this past week on Raw in an effort to distance himself from Universal Champion Brock Lesnar — fought with all his heart to finally earn the checkmate.
Miz had taken an L before the match even began, as The Miztourage declined to rejoin their former leading man at ringside. Miz still rose to the occasion at first, countering everything Rollins threw at him and rolling outside the ring to slow the match down each time The Architect began to heat up. The A-Lister’s excellent game plan forced Rollins to go high-risk, and while one maneuver — a picture-perfect Frog Splash from the rafters — hit its mark, The Architect’s attempt at a Revolution Knee on the apron did not, and he smashed his knee full-bore into the ring post.
Miz seized his moment and wrenched Rollins into the Figure-Four Leglock, but Rollins showed his heart, which made the difference as the match entered its final stretch. The Kingslayer not only powered his way out of the Figure-Four, but he kicked out of a pair of Skull-Crushing Finales (one of which came after Miz deadlifted Rollins into position), and in the match’s deciding moment, Rollins used a half-second window in between dueling roll-up attempts to stomp Miz into the mat for the victory.
So, Miz heads back to SmackDown empty-handed but impressive in defeat. Rollins returns to Raw with championship in hand, a line of challengers at his doorstep, and ready to fight the good fight. (Via WWE.com)
That’s a bitter pill to swallow for Miz, who has essentially hitched his identity to the Intercontinental Title over the last two years. In fact, he’s weeks shy of the all-time cumulative record reign, and a victory here would have tied him with Chris Jericho at nine stints as champion. With history at stake, Miz brought a near-perfect game plan to WWE Backlash, but Rollins — who christened himself as a “fighting champion” this past week on Raw in an effort to distance himself from Universal Champion Brock Lesnar — fought with all his heart to finally earn the checkmate.
Miz had taken an L before the match even began, as The Miztourage declined to rejoin their former leading man at ringside. Miz still rose to the occasion at first, countering everything Rollins threw at him and rolling outside the ring to slow the match down each time The Architect began to heat up. The A-Lister’s excellent game plan forced Rollins to go high-risk, and while one maneuver — a picture-perfect Frog Splash from the rafters — hit its mark, The Architect’s attempt at a Revolution Knee on the apron did not, and he smashed his knee full-bore into the ring post.
Miz seized his moment and wrenched Rollins into the Figure-Four Leglock, but Rollins showed his heart, which made the difference as the match entered its final stretch. The Kingslayer not only powered his way out of the Figure-Four, but he kicked out of a pair of Skull-Crushing Finales (one of which came after Miz deadlifted Rollins into position), and in the match’s deciding moment, Rollins used a half-second window in between dueling roll-up attempts to stomp Miz into the mat for the victory.
So, Miz heads back to SmackDown empty-handed but impressive in defeat. Rollins returns to Raw with championship in hand, a line of challengers at his doorstep, and ready to fight the good fight. (Via WWE.com)
RAW Women's Championship: RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Nia Jax defeated Alexa Bliss.
Ever since losing the Raw Women’s Championship to Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss has gone to great lengths to reframe her fractured friendship with The Irresistible Force as a kind of hostage situation where she was at the mercy of an overbearing bully she was too afraid to stand up to.
Unfortunately for The Goddess, she may have gotten under Jax’s skin a little too efficiently. Her trolling “Moment of Bliss” PSAs ended up awakening The Irresistible Force’s inner punisher in earnest, all of which led to a hard-fought victory by Nia at WWE Backlash.
That said, Bliss proved to be both a canny and vicious challenger, using her size disadvantage to her favor by employing a stick-and-move strategy that stopped The Irresistible Force from running roughshod. Even when Jax used her strength to land what seemed like surefire match-enders — whipping Alexa off her shoulders and halfway across the ring, for one — Bliss countered with speed, smarts and the occasional dirty tactic like a DDT onto the steel steps.
For all the advantages Jax posed over Bliss, the challenger was simply proving too shrewd to put away. Once Jax got her hands on Alexa, though, the end came swiftly, with The Goddess attempting Twisted Bliss and landing square atop the champion’s shoulders — right in position for a match-ending Samoan Drop.
With her bully finally in her rearview, Jax took the mic to dedicate her win to everybody who has been made to feel “less than,” offering a message that no matter what anybody says, they are all champions in their own right. It was a true moment of bliss. (Via WWE.com)
Unfortunately for The Goddess, she may have gotten under Jax’s skin a little too efficiently. Her trolling “Moment of Bliss” PSAs ended up awakening The Irresistible Force’s inner punisher in earnest, all of which led to a hard-fought victory by Nia at WWE Backlash.
That said, Bliss proved to be both a canny and vicious challenger, using her size disadvantage to her favor by employing a stick-and-move strategy that stopped The Irresistible Force from running roughshod. Even when Jax used her strength to land what seemed like surefire match-enders — whipping Alexa off her shoulders and halfway across the ring, for one — Bliss countered with speed, smarts and the occasional dirty tactic like a DDT onto the steel steps.
For all the advantages Jax posed over Bliss, the challenger was simply proving too shrewd to put away. Once Jax got her hands on Alexa, though, the end came swiftly, with The Goddess attempting Twisted Bliss and landing square atop the champion’s shoulders — right in position for a match-ending Samoan Drop.
With her bully finally in her rearview, Jax took the mic to dedicate her win to everybody who has been made to feel “less than,” offering a message that no matter what anybody says, they are all champions in their own right. It was a true moment of bliss. (Via WWE.com)
United States Championship: UNITED STATES CHAMPION, Jeff Hardy defeated Randy Orton.
The Jeff Hardy comeback tour rolls on, as The Charismatic Enigma dispatched Randy Orton to retain his United States Title at WWE Backlash, capping a rivalry that has been tenser than anticipated, even though Hardy and Orton have only been on each other’s radars for a short period of time.
Ever since Hardy supplanted Jinder Mahal as U.S. Champion, Orton — who had already invoked his rematch clause after losing the title to Mahal at WrestleMania — has been seemingly overlooked by The Charismatic Enigma. Having reminded Hardy of his skills with an RKO after a tag team match on SmackDown LIVE, The Viper opened the WWE Backlash contest with another display of ruthless efficiency, targeting the champion’s lumbar with a trifecta of backdrops onto the barricade. The veteran Orton was clearly hoping to slow Hardy down and turn the match into the kind of drawn-out beatdown that typically precedes the RKO.
Even when Hardy fought to quicken the pace, the threat of the RKO loomed large. The Charismatic Enigma had to stop cold to avoid the maneuver at one point, allowing The Apex Predator to reclaim the advantage, though the champion was more familiar with Orton’s playbook than he let on. Hardy took a page out of his challenger’s repertoire, surprising Orton with a Twist of Fate and following up with an immediate Swanton Bomb to retain his title.
Even for Randy Orton, it seems, defeat can come from out of nowhere. (Via WWE.com)
Ever since Hardy supplanted Jinder Mahal as U.S. Champion, Orton — who had already invoked his rematch clause after losing the title to Mahal at WrestleMania — has been seemingly overlooked by The Charismatic Enigma. Having reminded Hardy of his skills with an RKO after a tag team match on SmackDown LIVE, The Viper opened the WWE Backlash contest with another display of ruthless efficiency, targeting the champion’s lumbar with a trifecta of backdrops onto the barricade. The veteran Orton was clearly hoping to slow Hardy down and turn the match into the kind of drawn-out beatdown that typically precedes the RKO.
Even when Hardy fought to quicken the pace, the threat of the RKO loomed large. The Charismatic Enigma had to stop cold to avoid the maneuver at one point, allowing The Apex Predator to reclaim the advantage, though the champion was more familiar with Orton’s playbook than he let on. Hardy took a page out of his challenger’s repertoire, surprising Orton with a Twist of Fate and following up with an immediate Swanton Bomb to retain his title.
Even for Randy Orton, it seems, defeat can come from out of nowhere. (Via WWE.com)
Elias’ WWE Backlash performance descended into bedlam.
Elias is as mysterious a man has ever stepped foot in the ring, but he has made one thing very clear: He hates being upstaged. Imagine how he feels after WWE Backlash.
After some potentially misrepresenting comments about his friendship with Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen, Elias found his performance cut off by not one, but two intruders.
First, The New Day came calling with a marching-band rendition of “New Day Rocks.” When Elias sent them packing, Aiden English surfaced to unleash a few bars and introduce Rusev, who argued that since it was Rusev Day, he could do whatever he wanted. Elias attempted to re-start his performance once again, only to suffer another interruption — this time, from No Way Jose, boasting a full conga line that also included, incredibly, Titus Worldwide and Breezango.
An increasingly irate Elias once again demanded his performance be re-started, at which point he suffered his fourth and most humiliating interruption when Bobby Roode appeared out of nowhere and planted Elias with a Glorious DDT.
The Glorious One joined Jose’s now mega-sized conga line (only Rusev Day declined to participate, though English seemed interested) while Elias lay decimated in the ring, bringing the curtain down on a performance no one will ever forget — perhaps not for the reasons Elias would have liked, but as another classic-rock luminary once said, you can’t always get what you want. (Via WWE.com)
After some potentially misrepresenting comments about his friendship with Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen, Elias found his performance cut off by not one, but two intruders.
First, The New Day came calling with a marching-band rendition of “New Day Rocks.” When Elias sent them packing, Aiden English surfaced to unleash a few bars and introduce Rusev, who argued that since it was Rusev Day, he could do whatever he wanted. Elias attempted to re-start his performance once again, only to suffer another interruption — this time, from No Way Jose, boasting a full conga line that also included, incredibly, Titus Worldwide and Breezango.
An increasingly irate Elias once again demanded his performance be re-started, at which point he suffered his fourth and most humiliating interruption when Bobby Roode appeared out of nowhere and planted Elias with a Glorious DDT.
The Glorious One joined Jose’s now mega-sized conga line (only Rusev Day declined to participate, though English seemed interested) while Elias lay decimated in the ring, bringing the curtain down on a performance no one will ever forget — perhaps not for the reasons Elias would have liked, but as another classic-rock luminary once said, you can’t always get what you want. (Via WWE.com)
Daniel Bryan defeated Big Cass by submission.
Toppling the odds is, was, and always will be Daniel Bryan’s bread and butter, but Big Cass is not about to be swept aside. Even though The “Yes!” Man proved he can still shock the world when he defeated Cass at WWE Backlash to earn his first singles pay-per-view victory of his in-ring return, the seven-foot Queens native had the last word of the night thanks to a vicious post-match attack.
Cass’ ambush came at the end of a battle that Bryan had dubbed “size vs. skill” and “height vs. heart.” Since the two Superstars were cleared to return to action on the same day — Bryan with much more fanfare — Cass has made it his mission to take the spotlight from Bryan. Given his size and strength advantages, he seemed to take his win as a foregone conclusion as he tenderized Bryan’s chest with clubbing blows and administered full-body submission holds each chance he got.
The Beard was forced to essentially absorb his punishment and wait for the moment to strike, and that opening came when Cass whiffed on a big boot. Bryan connected with a kick of his own, muscled Cass down to the mat, rained blows on the seven-footer’s face and locked in the “Yes!” Lock to earn the win.
It took only moments for Cass to silence the victorious “Yes!” chants, however, as he attacked The Beard from behind, throwing him around the outside before finally dropping him with a big boot. Bryan may have won the match, but judging by the smirk on Cass’ face as he backed up the ramp, it was clear who won the night.
It was a reminder that, for all the intangibles Daniel Bryan possesses, Big Cass has a chip on his shoulder that won’t be wiped away so easily and a brutality that truly can’t be taught. (Via WWE.com)
Cass’ ambush came at the end of a battle that Bryan had dubbed “size vs. skill” and “height vs. heart.” Since the two Superstars were cleared to return to action on the same day — Bryan with much more fanfare — Cass has made it his mission to take the spotlight from Bryan. Given his size and strength advantages, he seemed to take his win as a foregone conclusion as he tenderized Bryan’s chest with clubbing blows and administered full-body submission holds each chance he got.
The Beard was forced to essentially absorb his punishment and wait for the moment to strike, and that opening came when Cass whiffed on a big boot. Bryan connected with a kick of his own, muscled Cass down to the mat, rained blows on the seven-footer’s face and locked in the “Yes!” Lock to earn the win.
It took only moments for Cass to silence the victorious “Yes!” chants, however, as he attacked The Beard from behind, throwing him around the outside before finally dropping him with a big boot. Bryan may have won the match, but judging by the smirk on Cass’ face as he backed up the ramp, it was clear who won the night.
It was a reminder that, for all the intangibles Daniel Bryan possesses, Big Cass has a chip on his shoulder that won’t be wiped away so easily and a brutality that truly can’t be taught. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Women's Championship: SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Carmella defeated Charlotte Flair.
Give Carmella an opportunity, and she will capitalize.
Not only did The Princess of Staten Island play her Money in the Bank cash-in perfectly to dethrone Charlotte Flair as SmackDown Women’s Champion by pouncing after an attack from the IIconics, she retained the title at WWE Backlash much in the same way she won it: Patience, patience, patience.
It almost cost her. Charlotte showed up Carmella so thoroughly in the early goings of this bout that the champion tried to straight-up take a (moon)walk out of the match. The Queen, of course, would not allow the SmackDown Women’s Title to slip away quite so easily, and she forced Carmella into a bout that was in constant danger of becoming a showcase for the Flair heiress.
Carmella seized every advantage she got with rabid intensity, keeping Charlotte on the mat with a vice-like chinlock that grounded her for an extended stint and surprising Flair with a Code of Silence that seemed as though it would win her the match. Charlotte fought back to tee up a moonsault, but Carmella — who grew more and more comfortable as the match went on — dodged the maneuver. Flair tweaked her knee on the landing, which gave Carmella the opportunity she was waiting for. The champion administered a pinpoint kick to the leg and rolled up the challenger for the win.
The question of whether Carmella had truly beaten the woman to become the woman was fair to scrutinize following the cash-in. After all, Carmella had targeted a vulnerable titleholder with an ace in the hole. This time, she simply made good on an opening and left Newark with the title in tow. Perhaps, now, the answer is clear. (Via WWE.com)
Not only did The Princess of Staten Island play her Money in the Bank cash-in perfectly to dethrone Charlotte Flair as SmackDown Women’s Champion by pouncing after an attack from the IIconics, she retained the title at WWE Backlash much in the same way she won it: Patience, patience, patience.
It almost cost her. Charlotte showed up Carmella so thoroughly in the early goings of this bout that the champion tried to straight-up take a (moon)walk out of the match. The Queen, of course, would not allow the SmackDown Women’s Title to slip away quite so easily, and she forced Carmella into a bout that was in constant danger of becoming a showcase for the Flair heiress.
Carmella seized every advantage she got with rabid intensity, keeping Charlotte on the mat with a vice-like chinlock that grounded her for an extended stint and surprising Flair with a Code of Silence that seemed as though it would win her the match. Charlotte fought back to tee up a moonsault, but Carmella — who grew more and more comfortable as the match went on — dodged the maneuver. Flair tweaked her knee on the landing, which gave Carmella the opportunity she was waiting for. The champion administered a pinpoint kick to the leg and rolled up the challenger for the win.
The question of whether Carmella had truly beaten the woman to become the woman was fair to scrutinize following the cash-in. After all, Carmella had targeted a vulnerable titleholder with an ace in the hole. This time, she simply made good on an opening and left Newark with the title in tow. Perhaps, now, the answer is clear. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Championship: WWE CHAMPION, AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura ended in a no contest.
The hope was surely that a No Disqualification stipulation would allow AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura to finally settle their rivalry. But against all odds, the battle over The Phenomenal One’s WWE Championship ended in a dead heat when both Superstars found themselves down on the mat and unable to answer the referee’s count.
Nakamura had promised Styles would suffer a “knee to face” during their first meeting at WrestleMania. With that strategy having proved insufficient, Nakamura decided to expand his repertoire. Instead of knee-to-face, it was feet, and knees, and fists, and elbows, to every bit of exposed skin The King of Strong Style laid eyes on. The mixed-martial-arts veteran turned his opponent into a human striking dummy for minutes on end, only bringing in an implement when he was sure that Styles was too beaten down to respond.
The Phenomenal One answered with a strategy of his own: Chair to knee. The champion whipped the steel straight into Nakamura’s kneecap right as he was about to land the Kinshasa, giving him the first opening. Still fighting from behind in the No-DQ setting, Styles caught Nakamura’s latest weapon of choice: The low blow. Of course, Styles was free to respond in kind, and the champion dropped Nakamura with a below-the-belt uppercut of his own, bringing the match back down to an even keel.
Despite champion and challenger’s brief flirtation with an on-the-level slugfest, they both came to the simultaneous realization that going low had dealt the most damage. Unfortunately for them, they were a bit too much in sync at this point. Styles and Nakamura each landed simultaneous field-goal kicks to the nether regions, dropping both men to the mat. And there they stayed, unable to answer the referee’s 10-count, bringing the match to a No Contest.
While the result is a bit of just desserts for Nakamura, the fact remains that he did not lose to AJ Styles, and a rematch could be very much in play. It’s unsure what else these opponents could do to each other at this point, but if given the opportunity, it’s safe to say they will figure something out. (Via WWE.com)
Nakamura had promised Styles would suffer a “knee to face” during their first meeting at WrestleMania. With that strategy having proved insufficient, Nakamura decided to expand his repertoire. Instead of knee-to-face, it was feet, and knees, and fists, and elbows, to every bit of exposed skin The King of Strong Style laid eyes on. The mixed-martial-arts veteran turned his opponent into a human striking dummy for minutes on end, only bringing in an implement when he was sure that Styles was too beaten down to respond.
The Phenomenal One answered with a strategy of his own: Chair to knee. The champion whipped the steel straight into Nakamura’s kneecap right as he was about to land the Kinshasa, giving him the first opening. Still fighting from behind in the No-DQ setting, Styles caught Nakamura’s latest weapon of choice: The low blow. Of course, Styles was free to respond in kind, and the champion dropped Nakamura with a below-the-belt uppercut of his own, bringing the match back down to an even keel.
Despite champion and challenger’s brief flirtation with an on-the-level slugfest, they both came to the simultaneous realization that going low had dealt the most damage. Unfortunately for them, they were a bit too much in sync at this point. Styles and Nakamura each landed simultaneous field-goal kicks to the nether regions, dropping both men to the mat. And there they stayed, unable to answer the referee’s 10-count, bringing the match to a No Contest.
While the result is a bit of just desserts for Nakamura, the fact remains that he did not lose to AJ Styles, and a rematch could be very much in play. It’s unsure what else these opponents could do to each other at this point, but if given the opportunity, it’s safe to say they will figure something out. (Via WWE.com)
Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley defeated Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
There’s a certain type of Superstar who would gladly feed their friend to Braun Strowman in order to avoid battling him themselves. As it turns out, Sami Zayn is just such an individual, and it led to him and Kevin Owens losing to Strowman & Bobby Lashley at WWE Backlash.
Ironically, Owens & Zayn came into the match realizing that their hopes lay squarely on keeping Strowman out of the contest, hoping they could get one over on Lashley instead. The two Canadians did indeed get the former ECW Champion under control with a coordinated one-two attack. When Strowman entered the match, however, he ran roughshod so thoroughly over both his opponents that Owens and Zayn began to argue over what they should do next.
Zayn, whose Helluva Kick attempt had just been cut off by Strowman, wanted to call it a day. KO wanted to stay and fight. They ended up trying to feed each other to The Monster Among Men, and after Zayn slapped Owens in the face, KO threw the former NXT Champion into the ring, leaving him to the mercy of both Strowman and Lashley. Unfortunately, Owens was technically the legal man, and they quickly turned their attention to him, with Lashley claiming the win with a stalling suplex to the former Universal Champion.
All of which isn’t to say they were done. Both Owens and Zayn were subjected to extended punishment at the hands of Strowman and Lashley, with the final note being a Running Powerslam to a writhing Zayn, who begged for mercy atop Strowman’s shoulders. Zayn, pointedly, did not rush the ring to save Owens, instead pleading for mercy from ringside.
Even as their friendship once again seems to fray at the edges, Owens & Zayn remain entwined. They fought together. They fought each other together. And at WWE Backlash, they suffered together. (Via WWE.com)
Ironically, Owens & Zayn came into the match realizing that their hopes lay squarely on keeping Strowman out of the contest, hoping they could get one over on Lashley instead. The two Canadians did indeed get the former ECW Champion under control with a coordinated one-two attack. When Strowman entered the match, however, he ran roughshod so thoroughly over both his opponents that Owens and Zayn began to argue over what they should do next.
Zayn, whose Helluva Kick attempt had just been cut off by Strowman, wanted to call it a day. KO wanted to stay and fight. They ended up trying to feed each other to The Monster Among Men, and after Zayn slapped Owens in the face, KO threw the former NXT Champion into the ring, leaving him to the mercy of both Strowman and Lashley. Unfortunately, Owens was technically the legal man, and they quickly turned their attention to him, with Lashley claiming the win with a stalling suplex to the former Universal Champion.
All of which isn’t to say they were done. Both Owens and Zayn were subjected to extended punishment at the hands of Strowman and Lashley, with the final note being a Running Powerslam to a writhing Zayn, who begged for mercy atop Strowman’s shoulders. Zayn, pointedly, did not rush the ring to save Owens, instead pleading for mercy from ringside.
Even as their friendship once again seems to fray at the edges, Owens & Zayn remain entwined. They fought together. They fought each other together. And at WWE Backlash, they suffered together. (Via WWE.com)
Roman Reigns defeated Samoa Joe.
The last few weeks have been rough for Roman Reigns. A pair of losses to Universal Champion Brock Lesnar sent The Big Dog home empty-handed from both WrestleMania and the Greatest Royal Rumble event, but after WWE Backlash, there may finally be some light at the end of the tunnel for the embattled, three-time WWE Champion. Reigns vanquished his longtime rival Samoa Joe, powering his way through a long, protracted effort that was designed to torture, demoralize and deplete the resources of the Raw Superstar.
Joe more than made good on his promise to punish The Big Dog. Reigns’ win was the product of an unfathomable tolerance for pain and his ability to exploit what was, in hindsight, the sole mistake by The Samoan Submission Machine.
Joe ambushed Reigns before the bell and sent him crashing through the Spanish announce table with a Uranage, kicking off a strategy that began with Reigns trapped in holds that targeted his shoulders for minutes on end and culminated in a series of Coquina Clutch attempts that The Big Dog narrowly managed to avoid.
Joe’s strategy was as rudimentary as it was effective. Even when Reigns landed a thunderous Spear, Joe was close enough to the ropes to stop the pinfall, and The Samoan Submission Machine only turned up the heat when he felt it was time to lock in his near-ironclad submission hold. When Joe finally applied the Clutch, grapevine legs and all, Reigns seemed to be drifting into unconsciousness before he rolled over with a last-ditch effort to grab the ropes and force a break.
Perhaps feeling desperation for the first time in the match, Joe perched Reigns atop the turnbuckle to set up a Muscle Buster, but when The Big Dog leapt over his opponent’s head, Joe drove himself head-first into the turnbuckle. Seizing his opening, Reigns administered a final Spear to score the pinfall.
It likely won’t be enough to stop Joe from claiming he made his point and punished The Big Dog past the point of no return. It might not erase the bitter losses to Lesnar. But it’s a big win for Roman Reigns. And that’s a start. (Via WWE.com)
Joe more than made good on his promise to punish The Big Dog. Reigns’ win was the product of an unfathomable tolerance for pain and his ability to exploit what was, in hindsight, the sole mistake by The Samoan Submission Machine.
Joe ambushed Reigns before the bell and sent him crashing through the Spanish announce table with a Uranage, kicking off a strategy that began with Reigns trapped in holds that targeted his shoulders for minutes on end and culminated in a series of Coquina Clutch attempts that The Big Dog narrowly managed to avoid.
Joe’s strategy was as rudimentary as it was effective. Even when Reigns landed a thunderous Spear, Joe was close enough to the ropes to stop the pinfall, and The Samoan Submission Machine only turned up the heat when he felt it was time to lock in his near-ironclad submission hold. When Joe finally applied the Clutch, grapevine legs and all, Reigns seemed to be drifting into unconsciousness before he rolled over with a last-ditch effort to grab the ropes and force a break.
Perhaps feeling desperation for the first time in the match, Joe perched Reigns atop the turnbuckle to set up a Muscle Buster, but when The Big Dog leapt over his opponent’s head, Joe drove himself head-first into the turnbuckle. Seizing his opening, Reigns administered a final Spear to score the pinfall.
It likely won’t be enough to stop Joe from claiming he made his point and punished The Big Dog past the point of no return. It might not erase the bitter losses to Lesnar. But it’s a big win for Roman Reigns. And that’s a start. (Via WWE.com)