At the first-ever WWE Stomping Grounds pay-per-view, Becky Lynch followed up her Raw Women's Championship victory over Lacey Evans by helping Universal Champion Seth Rollins overcome the nefarious actions of The Lady and Baron Corbin. Plus, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston repelled Dolph Ziggler inside a Steel Cage, Ricochet defeated Samoa Joe to become the U.S. Champion, Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre and so much more.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Drew Gulak defeated Akira Tozawa & WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION, Tony Nese. (Kickoff Match)
After a long, hard-fought campaign, Drew Gulak now finds himself perched at the top of the 205 Live mountain after snapping Tony Nese’s reign to become the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
The saying “every man for himself” was echoed throughout this Triple Threat clash, between bodies flying in and out of the ring and a series of nail-biting near-falls. Nese, the fighting champion that he is, had his work cut out for him. That reminder came moments after the opening bell when Akira Tozawa shot straight through the ropes with a diving attack on Nese and followed up by leveling Gulak with a flying senton on the outside. Not far behind was Gulak and his cache of excruciating submission holds. Combating both of these forces, Nese relied on his awe-inspiring strength, at one point lifting Tozawa with a suplex before flattening him onto Gulak.
The pivotal moment in this roller coaster affair occurred when The Premier Athlete attempted to deliver Running Nese onto Gulak, but Gulak countered with a Torture Rack. As The Philadelphia Stretcher dropped Nese on the apron, the running missile that is Tozawa launched into Nese with a dropkick out of nowhere. With the champion out of the ring, Gulak found an opening to sync in a whiplash-inducing Torture Rack Neckbreaker on Tozawa to pull out the win and finally complete his mission to raise the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. (Via WWE.com)
The saying “every man for himself” was echoed throughout this Triple Threat clash, between bodies flying in and out of the ring and a series of nail-biting near-falls. Nese, the fighting champion that he is, had his work cut out for him. That reminder came moments after the opening bell when Akira Tozawa shot straight through the ropes with a diving attack on Nese and followed up by leveling Gulak with a flying senton on the outside. Not far behind was Gulak and his cache of excruciating submission holds. Combating both of these forces, Nese relied on his awe-inspiring strength, at one point lifting Tozawa with a suplex before flattening him onto Gulak.
The pivotal moment in this roller coaster affair occurred when The Premier Athlete attempted to deliver Running Nese onto Gulak, but Gulak countered with a Torture Rack. As The Philadelphia Stretcher dropped Nese on the apron, the running missile that is Tozawa launched into Nese with a dropkick out of nowhere. With the champion out of the ring, Gulak found an opening to sync in a whiplash-inducing Torture Rack Neckbreaker on Tozawa to pull out the win and finally complete his mission to raise the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. (Via WWE.com)
RAW Women's Championship: RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Becky Lynch defeated Lacey Evans by submission.
After months of animosity and high-octane scraps, Becky Lynch kept Lacey Evans at bay to retain the Raw Women’s Championship in a brutal bruhaha at WWE Stomping Grounds.
A steady dose of trash talk and a fiery scrap at the onset ensured that the title fight wouldn’t be short on haymakers. Lynch out-grappled The Sassy Southern Bell in the early goings and beat her to the literal punch several times. The Lady of WWE struck back by targeting Becky’s mid-section after she swiftly kicked the Raw Women’s Champion into the announcer’s table.
From there, Lacey systematically tore Lynch apart, keeping her grounded at will and applying ample pressure. Though she was in obvious pain, Becky continually attempted to battle back and finally found substantial daylight when Evans got a little too comfortable mocking The Man, as Becky stuffed Lacey’s handkerchief into the challenger’s mouth moments after Evans used it to wipe her armpits and threw it at Becky.
The Scarlet Spitfire then strung together several high-impact maneuvers and evaded several of Lacey’s, and the champion sealed the victory by locking in the Dis-arm-her for an impressive tap-out victory. (Via WWE.com)
A steady dose of trash talk and a fiery scrap at the onset ensured that the title fight wouldn’t be short on haymakers. Lynch out-grappled The Sassy Southern Bell in the early goings and beat her to the literal punch several times. The Lady of WWE struck back by targeting Becky’s mid-section after she swiftly kicked the Raw Women’s Champion into the announcer’s table.
From there, Lacey systematically tore Lynch apart, keeping her grounded at will and applying ample pressure. Though she was in obvious pain, Becky continually attempted to battle back and finally found substantial daylight when Evans got a little too comfortable mocking The Man, as Becky stuffed Lacey’s handkerchief into the challenger’s mouth moments after Evans used it to wipe her armpits and threw it at Becky.
The Scarlet Spitfire then strung together several high-impact maneuvers and evaded several of Lacey’s, and the champion sealed the victory by locking in the Dis-arm-her for an impressive tap-out victory. (Via WWE.com)
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeated The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods).
The WWE Universe will have to endure an endless amount of boasts from Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn this week after the meddlesome duo earned bragging rights with a victory over The New Day’s Big E & Xavier Woods.
The raging war between these parties has been brewing for weeks, but it reached a boiling point under the hot lights inside the Tacoma Dome. Owens got the action started early, launching Big E out of the ring with a nasty superkick before drilling Woods with three more kicks. If that wasn’t enough, Owens took to the air and flattened Woods with a top rope senton before tagging in Zayn, who continued the heavy-handed strategy with a Blue Thunder Bomb that was complemented by a diving frog splash from KO. The nefarious pair’s plan of attack was to neutralize Woods and prevent him from tagging the New Day powerhouse.
Despite their textbook tandem offense, Owens & Zayn were pushed to the limit thanks to an ever-resilient Woods, who fatigued the duo after kicking out of one potential match-ender after another. The worn-down Woods finally created some separation and tagged Big E, who entered the squared circle like a battering ram, pouncing on Owens & Zayn with a barrage of overpowering attacks. At one point, Woods even lifted his supersized pal onto his shoulders to land a sternum-crushing splash on Zayn.
As Big E & Woods looked to get the last laugh against their menacing foes, the calculated efforts by Owens & Zayn proved to be invincible. After Big E took out Zayn and himself with a fearless spear through the ropes, Owens avoided an aerial attack from Woods and landed a match-ending stunner to wrap up a well-played strategy by the infamous pair. (Via WWE.com)
The raging war between these parties has been brewing for weeks, but it reached a boiling point under the hot lights inside the Tacoma Dome. Owens got the action started early, launching Big E out of the ring with a nasty superkick before drilling Woods with three more kicks. If that wasn’t enough, Owens took to the air and flattened Woods with a top rope senton before tagging in Zayn, who continued the heavy-handed strategy with a Blue Thunder Bomb that was complemented by a diving frog splash from KO. The nefarious pair’s plan of attack was to neutralize Woods and prevent him from tagging the New Day powerhouse.
Despite their textbook tandem offense, Owens & Zayn were pushed to the limit thanks to an ever-resilient Woods, who fatigued the duo after kicking out of one potential match-ender after another. The worn-down Woods finally created some separation and tagged Big E, who entered the squared circle like a battering ram, pouncing on Owens & Zayn with a barrage of overpowering attacks. At one point, Woods even lifted his supersized pal onto his shoulders to land a sternum-crushing splash on Zayn.
As Big E & Woods looked to get the last laugh against their menacing foes, the calculated efforts by Owens & Zayn proved to be invincible. After Big E took out Zayn and himself with a fearless spear through the ropes, Owens avoided an aerial attack from Woods and landed a match-ending stunner to wrap up a well-played strategy by the infamous pair. (Via WWE.com)
United States Championship: Ricochet defeated UNITED STATES CHAMPION, Samoa Joe.
Samoa Joe continually welcomed all challengers for his United States Championship, but Ricochet arrived and kicked The Samoan Submission Machine’s door down at WWE Stomping Grounds in a thrilling title contest.
Vying for his first-ever championship in WWE, Ricochet was bombarded by Joe’s smothering attack from the onset, but he fired right back at The Samoan Submission Machine with a dynamic counterstrike, setting a firm tone for the rest of the matchup.
Joe’s powerful blows had Ricochet reeling more than once, but the surging Superstar continued to fight his way back to his feet. In the clutch, Ricochet staggered Joe with a barrage of quick strikes, but he looked to be in trouble when the titleholder caught him in the Coquina Clutch. Perhaps moments from passing out in the excruciating hold, Ricochet escaped by dropping Joe’s neck against the top rope, and the aerial sensation followed up by kneeing The Samoan Submission Machine in the face and sealing the win with an awe-inspiring 630 Splash to secure his first championship victory in WWE.
Ricochet started the contest as a guest in the United States Champion’s house. Now the house was his, and so was the title. (Via WWE.com)
Vying for his first-ever championship in WWE, Ricochet was bombarded by Joe’s smothering attack from the onset, but he fired right back at The Samoan Submission Machine with a dynamic counterstrike, setting a firm tone for the rest of the matchup.
Joe’s powerful blows had Ricochet reeling more than once, but the surging Superstar continued to fight his way back to his feet. In the clutch, Ricochet staggered Joe with a barrage of quick strikes, but he looked to be in trouble when the titleholder caught him in the Coquina Clutch. Perhaps moments from passing out in the excruciating hold, Ricochet escaped by dropping Joe’s neck against the top rope, and the aerial sensation followed up by kneeing The Samoan Submission Machine in the face and sealing the win with an awe-inspiring 630 Splash to secure his first championship victory in WWE.
Ricochet started the contest as a guest in the United States Champion’s house. Now the house was his, and so was the title. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Tag Team Championship: SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONs, "The New" Daniel Bryan & Rowan defeated Heavy Machinery (Otis & Tucker).
In their first attempt to capture the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, Otis & Tucker learned a hard lesson in defeat.
Daniel Bryan, the hometown hero, kickstarted this tussle with Otis, the walking tank. As Bryan tried to cut down Otis with kick strikes early in the match, the size advantage was too much for The Planet’s Champion. As Heavy Machinery muscled Bryan with their 18-wheeler offense, even dropping him with a double-team suplex, Rowan stepped in to shift the tide.
Sharing over a combined 700-pounds, Big Redwood duked it out with Otis & Tucker, proving he was just as much a threat by his lonesome as he is together with his calculative compadre. Be that as it may, the challengers continued to power through the champion’s well-designed tactics. After Otis got the edge following a back-and-forth clothesline contest, which culminated in Otis folding Rowan with a miraculous body slam, Bryan thwarted the blue-collar solid duo's Compactor attempt by forcing Tucker out of the ring before zipping into Otis with a flying right knee from the top rope.
Fueled by the Aroma of Tacoma, Bryan once again felt froggy, attempting to dive into Tucker on the outside before crashing face first into a forearm. With Rowan in his crosshairs, Tucker went to the top rope as well, defying gravity with a body splash on Rowan.
As Bryan was down and out in the ring, Tucker went to land a pinfall, but he quickly realized it was all a trap, as The Planet’s Champion caught him with a roll-up out of nowhere to secure the victory and maintain his squad’s position as Team Blue’s standing tag team crown bearers. (Via WWE.com)
Daniel Bryan, the hometown hero, kickstarted this tussle with Otis, the walking tank. As Bryan tried to cut down Otis with kick strikes early in the match, the size advantage was too much for The Planet’s Champion. As Heavy Machinery muscled Bryan with their 18-wheeler offense, even dropping him with a double-team suplex, Rowan stepped in to shift the tide.
Sharing over a combined 700-pounds, Big Redwood duked it out with Otis & Tucker, proving he was just as much a threat by his lonesome as he is together with his calculative compadre. Be that as it may, the challengers continued to power through the champion’s well-designed tactics. After Otis got the edge following a back-and-forth clothesline contest, which culminated in Otis folding Rowan with a miraculous body slam, Bryan thwarted the blue-collar solid duo's Compactor attempt by forcing Tucker out of the ring before zipping into Otis with a flying right knee from the top rope.
Fueled by the Aroma of Tacoma, Bryan once again felt froggy, attempting to dive into Tucker on the outside before crashing face first into a forearm. With Rowan in his crosshairs, Tucker went to the top rope as well, defying gravity with a body splash on Rowan.
As Bryan was down and out in the ring, Tucker went to land a pinfall, but he quickly realized it was all a trap, as The Planet’s Champion caught him with a roll-up out of nowhere to secure the victory and maintain his squad’s position as Team Blue’s standing tag team crown bearers. (Via WWE.com)
SmackDown Women's Championship: SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION, Bayley defeated Alexa Bliss (with Nikki Cross).
Leading into WWE Stomping Grounds, Alexa Bliss questioned every single facet of Bayley’s WWE career, but The Hugger would give The Goddess all the answers she needed in the Tacoma Dome.
Flanked by her new bestie Nikki Cross, Bliss would get more than she bargained for at the start of the contest, with Bayley quickly showing off her new aggressive side. Bliss took the upper-hand with the cagey tactic of driving The Hugger’s face into the middle turnbuckle. Little Miss Bliss pounced on the champion, smothering Bayley with a gritty attack that would see her both ground and pound her opponent.
Bliss would pour even more on Bayley when she began to zone in on The Hugger’s right arm. Bayley would withstand the onslaught though, battling back despite the injured limb and turning the tides when she connected with a massive sunset flip bomb that saw Bliss’ head slam smack into the same middle turnbuckle that initially gave Bliss the edge.
Matters would continue to intensify when it appeared that Alexa perhaps sacrificed Cross on the outside so that Nikki, and not she, would take the brunt of a diving Bayley. However, Cross wasn’t concerned with Bliss’ actions, but just with Bayley contacting her. In turn, Cross’ anger would cost Bliss valuable time when Nikki stormed into the ring, arguing with the referee about Bayley’s attack. That distraction would allow The Hugger to get her knees up when The Goddess attempted Twisted Bliss, allowing Bayley to connect with the Bayley-to-Belly Suplex for the three-count and the victory.
Alexa Bliss thought she had all the answers re: Bayley heading into WWE Stomping Grounds, but with Bayley holding the title proudly at the end of the night, all Bliss seemingly had now was a whole new slew of questions. (Via WWE.com)
Flanked by her new bestie Nikki Cross, Bliss would get more than she bargained for at the start of the contest, with Bayley quickly showing off her new aggressive side. Bliss took the upper-hand with the cagey tactic of driving The Hugger’s face into the middle turnbuckle. Little Miss Bliss pounced on the champion, smothering Bayley with a gritty attack that would see her both ground and pound her opponent.
Bliss would pour even more on Bayley when she began to zone in on The Hugger’s right arm. Bayley would withstand the onslaught though, battling back despite the injured limb and turning the tides when she connected with a massive sunset flip bomb that saw Bliss’ head slam smack into the same middle turnbuckle that initially gave Bliss the edge.
Matters would continue to intensify when it appeared that Alexa perhaps sacrificed Cross on the outside so that Nikki, and not she, would take the brunt of a diving Bayley. However, Cross wasn’t concerned with Bliss’ actions, but just with Bayley contacting her. In turn, Cross’ anger would cost Bliss valuable time when Nikki stormed into the ring, arguing with the referee about Bayley’s attack. That distraction would allow The Hugger to get her knees up when The Goddess attempted Twisted Bliss, allowing Bayley to connect with the Bayley-to-Belly Suplex for the three-count and the victory.
Alexa Bliss thought she had all the answers re: Bayley heading into WWE Stomping Grounds, but with Bayley holding the title proudly at the end of the night, all Bliss seemingly had now was a whole new slew of questions. (Via WWE.com)
Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre (with Shane McMahon).
And a hard-hitting scrap it was.
Following months of tension, which varied from psychological to physical warfare, the raging war between Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre brought nothing short of flaring fireworks to Tacoma. Though it was McIntyre who promised to “disfigure” and “brutalize” his target, it was The Big Dog who walked away with the last word.
The brawl ensued before Reigns could even hit the ring, as the fervid rivals clobbered each other with one slug after another before taking the action inside the squared circle. After striking McIntyre to the outside, Reigns threw caution to the wind by going airborne and propelling from the ring and onto The Scottish Psychopath with a breathtaking clothesline that forced Shane McMahon to flee into the crowd. Intent on laying hands on Shane-O-Mac, Reigns gave chase but eventually found himself on the receiving end of a vicious attack by McIntyre. This distraction played a big part throughout this highly physical matchup with McMahon tugging the strings from outside the ring.
After finally slowing McIntyre’s sadistic assault, Reigns clocked Shane with two fully loaded Superman punches. Waiting in the wind was the 6’5” hybrid athlete, who launched The Big Dog face-first into the announcer table. As he took pleasure tossing The Big Dog around the ring, McIntyre was done in by his own arrogance. A diving attack by the Scotsman was met with a Superman punch before he later went down with a Spear. Before a pin-count could be registered, however, McMahon pulled the referee out of the ring and delivered a beatdown on Reigns before crashing into him with a Coast-to-Coast. When McIntyre went for the pin, The Big Dog powered out, leaving The Scottish Psychopath and McMahon befuddled.
As the Tacoma Dome erupted into “Ro-man!” chants, the indomitable Reigns soaked in the praise and belted out a superpowered offensive flurry that saw McIntyre’s Claymore attempt meet a hard Superman punch, a Spear and a three-count that buttoned up his loudmouth rivals. (Via WWE.com)
Following months of tension, which varied from psychological to physical warfare, the raging war between Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre brought nothing short of flaring fireworks to Tacoma. Though it was McIntyre who promised to “disfigure” and “brutalize” his target, it was The Big Dog who walked away with the last word.
The brawl ensued before Reigns could even hit the ring, as the fervid rivals clobbered each other with one slug after another before taking the action inside the squared circle. After striking McIntyre to the outside, Reigns threw caution to the wind by going airborne and propelling from the ring and onto The Scottish Psychopath with a breathtaking clothesline that forced Shane McMahon to flee into the crowd. Intent on laying hands on Shane-O-Mac, Reigns gave chase but eventually found himself on the receiving end of a vicious attack by McIntyre. This distraction played a big part throughout this highly physical matchup with McMahon tugging the strings from outside the ring.
After finally slowing McIntyre’s sadistic assault, Reigns clocked Shane with two fully loaded Superman punches. Waiting in the wind was the 6’5” hybrid athlete, who launched The Big Dog face-first into the announcer table. As he took pleasure tossing The Big Dog around the ring, McIntyre was done in by his own arrogance. A diving attack by the Scotsman was met with a Superman punch before he later went down with a Spear. Before a pin-count could be registered, however, McMahon pulled the referee out of the ring and delivered a beatdown on Reigns before crashing into him with a Coast-to-Coast. When McIntyre went for the pin, The Big Dog powered out, leaving The Scottish Psychopath and McMahon befuddled.
As the Tacoma Dome erupted into “Ro-man!” chants, the indomitable Reigns soaked in the praise and belted out a superpowered offensive flurry that saw McIntyre’s Claymore attempt meet a hard Superman punch, a Spear and a three-count that buttoned up his loudmouth rivals. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Championship: WWE CHAMPION, Kofi Kingston defeated Dolph Ziggler by escaping the cage. (Steel Cage Match)
Dolph Ziggler demanded a Steel Cage Match against WWE Champion Kofi Kingston at Stomping Grounds to prevent interference in the title match, but Kofi proved that all he’s ever needed is his heart and fighting spirit.
Surrounded by twisted steel with a chance to capture his first WWE Title, Ziggler used his “should have been me” mentality to nearly escape the cage twice within the first several minutes of the contest. Kingston also made a break for it before the two settled into an incredible back-and-forth matchup.
Dolph delivered on everything he promised, using the cage as a weapon every chance he got. With Kingston staggered, the relentless Showoff continued to brutalize the champion. Kofi answered by literally turning Dolph into the cage, much like Ziggler had done to him. Kofi’s title reign was in jeopardy when he had to survive several devastating leg locks and a Zig Zag, but he twice recovered just in time to prevent Ziggler’s feet from hitting the floor.
In the critical moments, Ziggler created enough space from Kofi to make a clear path for himself to the door, the floor and the WWE Championship. However, with the cage door open and Ziggler mere inches away from certain victory, Kingston delivered one of the most spectacular conclusions to a Steel Cage Match in WWE history when he sacrificed his body with a death-defying, head-first dive through the open door, landing on the floor before Dolph could make his exit and edging out an absolutely incredible victory.
Kingston rejoiced in his first Steel Cage Match victory with his New Day brethren, celebrating with his WWE Championship and definitively proving that it should have been him all along … and it was. (Via WWE.com)
Surrounded by twisted steel with a chance to capture his first WWE Title, Ziggler used his “should have been me” mentality to nearly escape the cage twice within the first several minutes of the contest. Kingston also made a break for it before the two settled into an incredible back-and-forth matchup.
Dolph delivered on everything he promised, using the cage as a weapon every chance he got. With Kingston staggered, the relentless Showoff continued to brutalize the champion. Kofi answered by literally turning Dolph into the cage, much like Ziggler had done to him. Kofi’s title reign was in jeopardy when he had to survive several devastating leg locks and a Zig Zag, but he twice recovered just in time to prevent Ziggler’s feet from hitting the floor.
In the critical moments, Ziggler created enough space from Kofi to make a clear path for himself to the door, the floor and the WWE Championship. However, with the cage door open and Ziggler mere inches away from certain victory, Kingston delivered one of the most spectacular conclusions to a Steel Cage Match in WWE history when he sacrificed his body with a death-defying, head-first dive through the open door, landing on the floor before Dolph could make his exit and edging out an absolutely incredible victory.
Kingston rejoiced in his first Steel Cage Match victory with his New Day brethren, celebrating with his WWE Championship and definitively proving that it should have been him all along … and it was. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Universal Championship: WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION, Seth Rollins defeated Baron Corbin. (No Count-Out, No disqualification match with Lacey Evans as special guest referee)
With Lacey Evans handpicked by Baron Corbin as Special Guest Referee, Seth Rollins had quite the hurdle to clear in his unnerving Universal Championship defense.
With all the forces that have conspired against The Beastslayer in recent weeks – Brock Lesnar, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn – to end his run as champion, Rollins could be forgiven if he appeared uneasy in his battle with Corbin. But even with The Lone Wolf’s convenient decision to have Evans officiate their high-stakes matchup, Rollins barely flinched as he reminded his wily rival of his namesake as The Architect.
Built for challenges, no matter the height of the climb or the cost of the war, The Beastslayer took The Lone Wolf’s paranoia-inducing game plan and raised him a beatdown. But before that could happen, Corbin maintained a stronghold throughout much of the match. In fact, The Lone Wolf took advantage early by tanning Rollins’ back with multiple chair strikes before Evans finally called for the opening bell.
From there, Corbin smothered Rollins with a brutal assault of back-punishing attacks, in and outside the ring. Though the resilient Beastslayer powered through with attacks of his own, including a canvas-rattling Blockbuster and springboard knee attack, he quickly learned just how much of an uphill climb he was facing with Evans in Corbin’s corner. After Evans failed to officiate his pin attempts, Rollins roared back by viciously powerbombing The Lone Wolf through the announcer table. Though Rollins figured that would lead Evans to count Corbin out, the Special Guest Referee got to eight before she decided to declare that the title fight was now a No Count-out Match. That wouldn’t be the last curveball.
When Corbin rebounded, he once again went to work by waylaying Rollins with the steel chair, only for Evans to then decree that it was a No Disqualification Match. Despite Rollins fighting back, even sandwiching Corbin onto the steel chair with a Falcon’s Arrow, Evans continued to stack the deck by striking Rollins with a savage low blow.
When it appeared The Architect was in an unwinnable situation, especially with The Lone Wolf planting him with a well-timed End of Days, Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch dashed into the ring, took down Evans and continued to rain down stinging haymakers before nearly driving The Sassy Southern Belle through the barricade with a Bexploder, as the WWE Universe rose to their feet and roared inside the Tacoma Dome.
With Evans out of the picture, referee John Cone arrived as Rollins countered Corbin's second End of Days attempt with a superkick followed by an emphatic Stomp. As the sweet smell of karma filled the arena, Cone called the three-count, leaving Rollins to live another day as fighting champion and obstacle-slayer. (Via WWE.com)
With all the forces that have conspired against The Beastslayer in recent weeks – Brock Lesnar, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn – to end his run as champion, Rollins could be forgiven if he appeared uneasy in his battle with Corbin. But even with The Lone Wolf’s convenient decision to have Evans officiate their high-stakes matchup, Rollins barely flinched as he reminded his wily rival of his namesake as The Architect.
Built for challenges, no matter the height of the climb or the cost of the war, The Beastslayer took The Lone Wolf’s paranoia-inducing game plan and raised him a beatdown. But before that could happen, Corbin maintained a stronghold throughout much of the match. In fact, The Lone Wolf took advantage early by tanning Rollins’ back with multiple chair strikes before Evans finally called for the opening bell.
From there, Corbin smothered Rollins with a brutal assault of back-punishing attacks, in and outside the ring. Though the resilient Beastslayer powered through with attacks of his own, including a canvas-rattling Blockbuster and springboard knee attack, he quickly learned just how much of an uphill climb he was facing with Evans in Corbin’s corner. After Evans failed to officiate his pin attempts, Rollins roared back by viciously powerbombing The Lone Wolf through the announcer table. Though Rollins figured that would lead Evans to count Corbin out, the Special Guest Referee got to eight before she decided to declare that the title fight was now a No Count-out Match. That wouldn’t be the last curveball.
When Corbin rebounded, he once again went to work by waylaying Rollins with the steel chair, only for Evans to then decree that it was a No Disqualification Match. Despite Rollins fighting back, even sandwiching Corbin onto the steel chair with a Falcon’s Arrow, Evans continued to stack the deck by striking Rollins with a savage low blow.
When it appeared The Architect was in an unwinnable situation, especially with The Lone Wolf planting him with a well-timed End of Days, Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch dashed into the ring, took down Evans and continued to rain down stinging haymakers before nearly driving The Sassy Southern Belle through the barricade with a Bexploder, as the WWE Universe rose to their feet and roared inside the Tacoma Dome.
With Evans out of the picture, referee John Cone arrived as Rollins countered Corbin's second End of Days attempt with a superkick followed by an emphatic Stomp. As the sweet smell of karma filled the arena, Cone called the three-count, leaving Rollins to live another day as fighting champion and obstacle-slayer. (Via WWE.com)