WWE Main Event review
March 11, 2014
Live in Little Rock, Ark.
Aired on WWE Network
Re-aired 3/12 on Ion TV
By Greg Parks, PWTorch Columnist (Twitter: @gregmparks)


- WWE Open.

- Main Event Open.

1 – LOS MATADORES vs. CURTIS AXEL & RYBACK

Curtis Axel did an inset interview throwing his proverbial hat into the ring for the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania XXX. Ryback and one of the Matadores went back-and-forth. High-low by Diego and Fernando, but a pin couldn’t even garner a one-count. A butt splash from Ryback missed the mark. Axel tagged in for the first time, 2:15 into the match. Hurricanrana by Fernando. However, a corner charge missed and Axel clotheslined Fernando from behind. Ryback used his power to keep Fernando at bay after the big man tagged back in. Fernando found some momentum, but Ryback knocked Diego off the apron so Fernando couldn’t make a tag. Axel came in and gave Fernando a back-breaker. Rear chin-lock applied by Axel. Diego interrupted a pin attempt but the heels continued to do a nice job keeping Fernando cornered. Big splash by Ryback missed. Hot tag finally made by Fernando at 7:11. Diego hit a springboard cross-body on Axel, and even let out a Tito Santana (El Matador)-like “Arriba!” Fernando dove over the top onto Ryback outside the ring. El Torito readied for a move, but Axel kicked him, with Torito falling on top of Ryback. Diego rolled up Axel for the win.

WINNERS: Los Matadores, at 8:38. The action was just okay here. Los Matadores are a good opening-match tag team, while Rybaxel is almost the perfect lower-card tag team.

Replays of the finish were shown.

- A.J. Lee and Tamina were walking backstage. A.J. puts the Divas Title on the line against Natalya next.

- A trailer for the WWE-Scooby Doo movie aired.

- They showed Big Show KO’ing Kane at the end of Smackdown last week. That led to the signing of Big Show vs. Kane for Smackdown this week.

2 – A.J. LEE vs. NATALYA – DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

During A.J’s entrance, they showed Natalya beating A.J. in their tag match on Smackdown last week. A.J. seemed a little overconfident on the mic before the match, complaining about the lack of competition and having to face Nattie again. Tony Chimel handled formal ring introductions for this one. Quick roll-up by Natalya at the start, but A.J. reached the ropes before a one-count. Natalya worked a long side headlock. A bodyslam by Natalya was followed by an abdominal stretch. A.J. was dropkicked to ringside as they took a break at 4:11 of the match.

- An ad aired for a special Wrestlemania edition of WWE Magazine.

- Daniel Bryan merchandise was hyped for WWEShop.com

Back to the match at 5:22. A.J. hooked on a potential submission hold, but while Natalya was able to escape, she couldn’t capitalize. Natalya snuck in with a roll-up for a near-fall, leading to A.J. hitting her with a clothesline. Seated dropkick and both women were down at 8:18. A.J. choked Nattie with a boot to her throat in the corner. Another guillotine submission applied by A.J. She showed some resourcefulness in turning it into a sleeper hold. Nattie made her comeback with suplexes and a dropkick. Natalya tried a back-breaker or side slam, and A.J. applied the Black Widow. Nattie powered out but couldn’t put her in the Sharpshooter. She did finally apply it in the middle of the ring. A.J. seemed ready to tap but crawled toward the ropes. Nattie pulled her back. A.J. finally made the ropes thanks to Tamina pushing the bottom rope toward A.J. An enraged Nattie turned her attention to Tamina, which Tamina took advantage of. A.J. hit Nattie with a running knee, then applied the Black Widow for the submission win.

WINNER: A.J. via submission, at 14:12. That was a marathon for a women’s match in a national promotion. And the time was well-deserved as it was a really good match. Credit as well to announcers Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton in calling the match with no nonsense.

Highlights of the match were shown.

- A pre-tape of Santino and Emma’s first date was shown – in catering. They even had a private table. Their awkwardness was highlighted, with Santino leaving in embarrassment after some physical comedy.

- Next, a video of Occupy Raw.

- Wrestlemania: Just 26 days away.

- Phillips and Saxton talked about the Yes Movement and the results of Occupy Raw on Monday. They sent it to the Raw Rebound.

- Dean Ambrose and The Shield entered the arena. Ambrose’s match is next.

- A commercial for the Monday Night War show aired.

- An ad for the next season of Total Divas was shown.

3 – DEAN AMBROSE vs. MARK HENRY – UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

Henry broke out of an early rear waist-lock and slammed Ambrose. Ambrose took a break at ringside and was then brought back in the hard way. Henry whipped Ambrose into the buckle, and Ambrose took a bump to the outside. Ambrose caught Henry coming back in with a dropkick to the knee. Jumping knees to the back of Henry by Ambrose. They cut away from the match at 2:52.

- WCW’s Greatest PPV Matches, Vol. 1 DVD was advertised.

- A preview of the Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar Wrestlemania match was shown.

Back at 4:26 of the match. Ambrose continued working the left knee of Henry. Ambrose went to the second rope and came down with a chop-block to the back of Henry’s knee. After another chop-block, Ambrose locked in a single-leg Boston crab. My feed keeps freezing and I’m having to refresh often, so bear with me here. I just missed more Henry selling. At 8:37, Henry finally stood up and slammed Ambroes off the top. Henry gingerly gave Ambrose a powerslam, selling the pain in the leg. JYD headbutts followed. Seth Rollins advised the ref that Ambrose’s leg was on the ropes on a pin attempt. Henry went outside and took out Rollins. Big boot to Ambrose in the ring. Henry appeared to set up for a Vader Bomb, but Roman Reigns climbed the stairs to provide a distraction. Ambrose pulled Henry off the middle rope by the leg, then gave Henry his finish (with Henry on his knees) for the win.

WINNER: Ambrose, at 11:06.

A replay of the finish was shown.

The Shield celebrated in the ring as the show went off the air with a plug for Wrestlemania Rewind, next.


Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. He is the host of “Moonlighting with Greg Parks,” a PWTorch VIP-exclusive audio show posted each weekend. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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