4/24 WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT: Ruby Riott vs. Dana Brooke, EC3 vs. No Way Jose, Otunga responds to Sam Roberts commentary

WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT
APRIL 24, 2019
HULU STREAMING TV
REPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Announcers: Renee Young, Byron Saxton, David Otunga

REASONS TO WATCH…

• Aftershocks of last week’s Sam Roberts commentary.
• Ruby Riott begins her solo journey.

(1) DANA BROOKE vs. RUBY RIOTT

When asked for his opinion on Brooke, David said, “I think Dana’s one of the hardest workers we have here, I don’t know what Sam Roberts’s problem was last week.” Brooke got the upper hand early, both in power and grappling Riott from behind. Brooke hip tossed Riott, performed a motion-wasting cartwheel, then kicked Riott in the face. Riott soon turned the tide by slamming Brooke into the turnbuckles twice, then covered for a two-count.

Regarding the splitting up of Riott Squad, Byron reported that the Squad is just going to expand their chaos between both Raw and Smackdown. The wrestlers had some back-and-forth exchanges before Riott applied a side headlock on the canvas. Riott tangled Brooke up in the ropes then landed a big front kick, sending Brooke crumpling down to the mat. After another two-count cover, Riott applied another headlock.

This time, Brooke got to her feet with Riott on her back and knocked loose the extra baggage against the corner turnbuckles. Brooke began to gain momentum but was briefly interrupted by a sneaky roll-up pin, but she kicked out at two. Brooke quickly got to her feet and hoisted Riott into a fireman’s carry and quickly transitioned to a sit down power bomb for the pin and victory.

WINNER: Dana Brooke by pinfall.

(Meyers’s Analysis: Not much to see here. There was definitely some lost energy without the Squad present, but it was still evident that Riott is working with more tools than Brooke. The audience had mild reactions to a couple of Brooke’s flashier moves.)

-Main Event recap session:

• Recap of Vince McMahon, Elias, Reigns segment from Smackdown
• Replay of Shane McMahon addressing Reigns from Smackdown
• Replay of Styles vs. Corbin from Raw to determine Universal Championship challenger from Raw
• Match rundown for upcoming PPV, Money in the Bank
• Replay of Firefly Fun House from Raw and Smackdown
• Replay of Kofi vs. Nakamura, including Owens’s turn on New Day from Smackdown

(2) EC3 vs. NO WAY JOSE

David reminded us of EC3’s recent annihilation at the hands of Strowman, and Renee said EC3 must be softened up, which is good news for Jose who was dancing his way toward the ring with the conga line in tow. As Jose merrily climbed into the ring, EC3 stood motionless, staring sideways at his opponent, before closing his eyes and shaking his head.

Once EC3 had Jose in a rear waist lock, Jose began swiveling and thrusting his hips as a deterrent to insecure men everywhere. The plan worked, and EC3 relinquished his hold and pushed Jose away. David indicated he had spoken to EC3, and EC3 told him he’s redirecting himself, and is going to be doing everything the opposite of how he did before. There was no evidence of this claim. We cut to commercial.

EC3 had Jose in a chinlock before tossing him to the mat for a cover and two-count. He splashed Jose in the corner, then jogged across the ring and landed a twisting neck breaker, good for another two-count. Still on the mat, EC3 locked a full nelson onto Jose. Jose got to his feet and slowly moved his arms downward to power his way out of the hold, but EC3 rewarded Jose’s efforts by punching him between the shoulder blades. EC3 gestured his name to the crowd and landed an elbow drop on the prone Jose.

Jose escaped a fireman’s carry by landing elbows against EC3, then executed a back suplex – both wrestlers lingered on the mat. EC3 climbed up at the ropes while Jose pumped both fists to recharge. Jose repeatedly knocked EC3 to the mat before splashing him in the corner and booting him in the face. Jose sprung off the corner into a high cross body and pin for a two-count.

Jose wound up his right hand and charged at EC3, but EC3 intercepted and planted Jose to the mat and covered for another two-count. EC3 finally lined up Jose to execute his modified DDT which was good for the three-count.

WINNER: EC3 by pinfall.

(Meyers’s Analysis: Not much to see here either. The commentary crew did nothing to establish either wrestler as anything but C-team time filler.)

SHOW SCORE (0-10): 5.8

FINAL THOUGHTS: A skippable episode, except for the beginning of Ruby Riott’s new solo career. Sam Roberts, on the April 25th episode of his podcast, Notsam Wrestling, indicated that he has received Internet backlash for his commentary on last week’s episode of Main Event. In particular, listeners made accusations of Roberts having sexist tendencies after hearing his criticisms of Dana Brooke. Roberts countered these claims by citing multiple male wrestlers he has criticized with equal harshness, as well as other female wrestlers who have earned his praise.

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