WWE Main Event Results
July 22, 2014
Orlando, Fla.
Aired on WWE Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

This week's Main Event opened with a plug for Jack Swagger vs. Rusev tonight in a re-match from Battleground.

But, first, Seth Rollins. Rollins was introduced to the ring dressed to wrestle - or surf the Atlantic Ocean - while displaying his MITB briefcase to the crowd. Fandango's music then played and Rollins seemed surprised to see Fandango as his opponent. Fandango came to the ring sans dance partners as Rollins stood by not amused by his opponent's dancing.

1 -- SETH ROLLINS vs. FANDANGO

So, it's a top heel, Rollins, against a heel player who was recently dumped by his female dance partners. The crowd rooted for the player early on, while also chanting "You Sold Out" at Rollins. Rollins answered the crowd with a Bucklebomb, then a Curb Stomp planting Fandango face-first into the mat. It was good for the pin and the win. WWE showed restraint not involving Summer Rae and Layla in the proceedings, keeping the focus on Rollins.

WINNER: Rollins at 3:08. Fine for reinforcing Rollins as a credible threat in the ring.

Announcers: Tom Phillips and Byron Saxton set up a video package on how John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar was set up for Summerslam. The marketing is The Champ vs. The Beast.

Up Next: WWE tag champs The Usos in action.

[Break]

2 -- WWE tag champion JEY USO (w/WWE tag champion Jimmy Uso) vs. RYBACK (w/Curtis Axel)

"Goldberg" chants directed at the Big Guy early on. Ryback took control of the match as Axel taunted from the outside: "You're a champion?!" Ryback settled on a chinlock to continue wearing down Jey, which Jey escaped, but Ryback stuffed him with a spinebuster. The crowd chanted along with his Feed Me More shoulder warm-up, but Jey blocked the meathook clothesline. Rikishi Bomb in the corner, but Axel provided a momentary distraction that allowed Ryback to smash Jey in the face with the Meathook. Ryback pinned Jey for the win.

WINNER: Ryback at 4:47. One of those losses that can be explained by the Usos being better as a tag team than singles, but the focus was instead on Ryback & Axel as the next team in-line for a Tag Title shot.

Backstage: Renee Young brought in the unlikely duo of Heath Slater and Titus O'Neil. "Slater and Gator!" Slater said. Titus was unconvinced as Slater hyped them as the next best tag team in WWE. O'Neil said they are not a team, then told Slater to sit down, shut up, and follow his lead. Slater said he did not mean any of that; he's just misunderstood and doesn't believe in himself. Slater vowed to beat their opponents and become the greatest tag team ever.

[Break]

Friday on Smackdown: Roman Reigns vs. Alberto Del Rio.

In-ring: Titus O'Neil and Heath Slater were in the ring back from break. Titus tried to talk sense into Slater, who wanted to lead on his own. Big E. and Kofi Kingston were introduced next flanked by Xavier Woods trying to pep them up on the way to the ring. Saxton said he's still trying to digest Xavier's message from last night on Raw.

3 -- HEATH SLATER & TITUS O'NEIL vs. BIG E. & KOFI KINGSTON (w/Xavier Woods)

Kofi was aggressive going after Titus early on, angering Titus, who retaliated with repeated backbreakers. Slater then tagged himself in and worked on Kofi while Titus stood in the corner upset. Xavier, who the announcers noted is using his psychology training on his new team, encouraged Kofi to make the tag to Big E. while Titus and Slater argued in their corner.

Big E. took the tag and ran over Slater, then Titus. Big E. tagged in Kofi, who came off the top turnbuckle with a double foot stomp to Titus's chest. Xavier then shouted at Kofi to take out Slater. So, Kofi tagged in Big E., who set up Slater for a follow-up double foot stomp from Kofi. Big E. then placed Slater on top of Titus and pinned both men for the win.

WINNERS: Big E. & Kofi at 3:22. Intriguing first match under Xavier's leadership. Still potential for this to become another uncomfortable WWE TV program, but at least it drew out missing intensity from Big E. and Kofi.

Backstage: Renee Young brought in Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter for an interview ahead of Swagger facing Rusev in a Battleground re-match. Zeb said it appears those "two commies" did not pay attention to their America history lesson in Russia. Zeb said it also appears that Rusev and Lana have been slamming vodka, then warned them not to under-estimate a motivated Real American. Zeb asked all the Real Americans to please rise and declare in a loud, clear voice: "We The People."

[Break]

Raw Rebound: Stephanie McMahon was "arrested" on Raw. The announcers relayed the storyline update on Stephanie being released from a Miami jail early Tuesday morning.

In-ring: Rusev's music played to bring out one-half of tonight's main event. Rusev waved his giant Russian flag down to the ring as Lana followed close behind.

[Break]

Smackdown announcement: Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro in a No DQ re-match from the Raw main event.

In-ring: Lana had a microphone ready to speak to the Orlando crowd. Lana waited out "U-S-A" chants, then talked about the white flag signifying surrender. She said Americans surrendered a long time ago and are a mere shell of what Americans used to be. For instance, earlier today in New York City, a white flag was planted on top of the Brooklyn Bridge. Lana laughed to herself, then predicted that Jack Swagger will surrender to Rusev tonight. She then introduced a photo of Vladimir Putin on the screen, calling him the most respected leader in the world, continuing to push forward with the Putin aspect. Jack Swagger's music interrupted to bring out Swagger and Zeb Colter for the main event.

4 -- JACK SWAGGER (w/Zeb Colter) vs. RUSEV (w/Lana)

Swagger dumped Rusev over the top rope to the floor early on. Rusev hopped to his feet, but sold re-injuring his right ankle from their Battleground match on Sunday. Rusev paced ringside trying to collect himself as Main Event cut to break.

[Break. Included was the first work-out hype video for John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar. WWE titled it "The Biggest Fight of the Summer" on August 17.]

Back from break, Swagger was on the defensive as Rusev yelled down at him. Swagger tried to fight back, but Rusev roadblocked him and talked more trash. Zeb sold concern ringside as Rusev stomped away at Swagger's head and neck area. Swagger made a comeback as the announcers wondered how much Swagger wants to be the first man to give Rusev a singles loss.

Swagger slapped on the Patriot Lock at 7:30, causing more pain for Rusev, but he windmilled toward the bottom rope to get a rope break. Rusev fell to the outside to get a breather as Swagger caught his breath in the ring. Rusev hobbled around ringside favoring his ankle, then Swagger blasted Rusev from behind. Like on Sunday, Swagger tried a ringside Patriot Lock, but this time Rusev broke free. Rusev then jabbed his Russian flag into Swagger's gut, causing a DQ.

WINNER: Swagger via DQ at 8:26. So, there's Rusev's first singles loss. Now the deal will be who can give Rusev his first pinfall or submission loss?

Post-match: Zeb Colter got involved to allow Swagger to jab Rusev to send him packing. Swagger then picked up his American flag and stood proudly in the ring as Rusev backed away from ringside with his Russian flag and an angered Lana. Back-and-forth shots wrapped up Main Event.

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