KELLER’S WWE MSG SPECIAL REPORT
OCTOBER 3, 2015
NEW YORK, N.Y. AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
AIRED LIVE ON WWE NETWORK

(1) RANDY ORTON & DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. RUSEV & SHEAMUS

WINNERS: Orton & Ziggler in 9:00.

(2) NEVILLE vs. STARDUST

WINNER: Neville in 7:00.

-Renee Young interviewed Paul Heyman about Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show.

(3) CHARLOTTE & BECKY LYNCH & PAIGE vs. NIKKI & BRIE BELLA & ALICIA FOX

Charlotte and Lynch dropped off the ring apron when Paige went for a tag, leading to Paige getting pinned by Nikki.

WINNERS: Bellas & Fox in 9:00.

(4) KEVIN OWENS vs. CHRIS JERICHO - Intercontinental Title match

Before the match Jericho noted that Lance Storm and Don Callis were sitting in the front row. Jericho noted that 25 years ago he wrestled his first match, and it was against Storm. I didn’t realize that Jericho and Bruce Mitchell each started the same week - Jericho’s first match and Mitchell’s first Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter column.

WINNER: Owens in 8:00 to retain the IC Title.

(5) THE DUDLEY BOYZ vs. THE NEW DAY (Big E. & Kofi Kingston w/Xavier Woods) - WWE Tag Team Title match

In the end, the Dudleys hit the 3D on Kingston, so Xavier ran in and broke up D-Von’s pin, prompting the DQ.

WINNERS: The Dudley Boyz via DQ at 6:40.

-They showed Jon Stewart in the crowd with his son.

(6) BROCK LESNAR (w/Paul Heyman) vs. THE BIG SHOW

Big Show came out first. Then Lesnar, without a particularly big pop. Lesnar charged at Show twice, and Show brushed him off, then tossed him over the top rope. Lesnar landed at ringside and smiled. Back in the ring, Show out-powered Lesnar until Lesnar drove his shoulder into Show a few times in the corner. He set up his first suplex, but Show blocked it and chokeslammed him. He chokeslammed him again and a third time for a two count. Brennan asked when they have seen Lesnar manhandled like this. JBL brought up Show often has won with one chokeslam. Show set up a KO punch, but Lesnar ducked and then gave Show a back suplex. That popped the crowd. He did two more, then played to the crowd with a barbaric yell. He lifted Show for an F5, but had to dump him over clumsily as he lost his balance. He stood over Show and smiled as Show stood. Lesnar then gave Show another back suplex, although Show wasn’t going very high in the air on them. Brennan said Lesnar was tossing Show around “with ease.” Lesnar then gave Show an F5 and got the pin. Brennan said he is in absolute shock right now. JBL said you should be because Lesnar just manhandled Show.

WINNER: Lesnar in 4:00.

-Lesnar left and walked to the stage, but then turned around and went back to the ring. Show finally stood up and gave Lesnar the “up yours” arm gesture. Show staggered around as Lesnar re-entered the ring. Lesnar then gave a belly-to-belly toss. Lesnar smiled and stood over Show again. Then he delivered another F5. That is impressive. Brennan said he’s a force of nature they’ve never seen before and likely won’t see again. They zoomed in on Show wincing as he tried to stand. JBL said Undertaker might be the only one who can stop Brock, but he’s not sure even he can. Show stood up again, leaning on the top rope for support. The crowd sang “Na na na na, good bye” as he left. The ring announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for the Big Show.” Nobody reacted. Show’s music played as he walked to the back.

-A commercial aired for NXT Takeover with the entire focus on the women’s title match.

(7) JOHN CENA vs. SETH ROLLINS - U.S. Title match

When Cena came out, he yelled “Center of the Universe,” a reference to the MSG facility. JBL defended Cena, saying some people don’t like him because of his success. Brennan brought up that’s why some people dislike the Yankees, because they win so much. It might be their lopsided payroll advantage, too. Seth took early control, throwing Cena against the side of the cage a couple times. Methodical, almost mundane opening ten minutes. There were some big spots, but there wasn’t a real sense of energy or urgency. Cena rallied at 11:00 and played to the crowd, but the playing to the crowd gave Seth an opening to hit Cena and crawl to the edge of the cage door. Cena stopped him, but Seth hit an enzuigiri for a near fall. Seth took his time after the kickout just looking around for almost a full minute. Cena kicked Seth in the face and quickly went into his finishing sequence including a Five Knuckle Shuffle.

When Cena went for an AA, Seth grabbed the cage to pull free. Cena came right back with an STF. Seth crawled to the cage door while in the STF. Seth escaped and made his way to the stairs. As he touched the floor, Cena yanked him back in and then Cena tried to crawl out. Seth stopped him. They continued this until Seth yanked the cage door into Cena’s face. A minute later Cena knocked Seth down and climbed to the top of the cage. Seth climbed up and stopped him from escaping. Cena then superplexed Seth off the top rope, but Seth rolled through and suplexed Cena, which hurt the whole concept that a superplex means anything. At least after Cena kicked out, both Seth and Cena sold both moves for a while on the mat as they replayed the moves. A half-hearted “This is awesome!” chant broke out. JBL said this is what a cage match is supposed to look like. Seth climbed to the top of the cage. Cena met him at the top and held onto his hair to keep him from dropping. They sat on the top and punched away at each other. JBL said this won’t end well. Cena head-butted Seth. They both climbed down to the top rope. Cena yanked Seth by his hair to the mat, then gave him a DDT off the ropes for a near fall.

Seth climbed to the top of the cage. Cena was going to leave through the cage, but Seth kicked the door onto Cena. As Seth climbed down, Cena met him in the doorway. Cena gave Seth an AA, but Seth landed on his feet. Seth then super-kicked Cena for a two count. Cena came back with a mid-ring STF. Cena made his crazy face, but Seth reversed it into his own STF. Seth made an even crazier face. Cena stood up while in the hold. Seth gave Cena a low-blow from behind. The announcers pointed out it’s legal in a cage match. “It’s desperate, but it’s legal,” said JBL. Seth climbed the side of the cage again. When he got to the top, Kane’s music played. Demon Kane stood under Seth at ringside, so Seth decided not to drop down to win the belt. Instead, he stood on the top of the cage and leaped for a splash. Cena, though, moved and then gave Seth an AA for the win.

WINNER: Cena in 22:00 to retain the U.S. Title.

-Cena left as his music played. Then Kane entered the cage and cornered Seth, who moaned, “Oh, no. No no no.” Kane set up a chokeslam, but Seth squirmed free. Kane chokeslammed Seth to no pop from the crowd. Then he gave Seth a tombstone. Kane’s music played and that ended the show.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The crowd had some enthusiasm for Orton (who played to the crowd way more than usual) out of the gate, but otherwise seemed tepid… The matches were just sort of there, like bigger-name versions of going-through-the-motions matches you might see on a typical Smackdown. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t must-see. Even Cena-Seth had a feeling of two guys who have done it all before going through the motions. It wasn’t bad, but it felt like a slight variation of something that’s been featured way too much. It’s so different than the energy NXT events give off, and it’s not just that NXT is so much better and the talent so much fresher, but NXT benefits from not having to fill five hours of prime time TV every week where every wrestler and match is overexposed.

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