3/30 WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT: Finn Balor vs. Apollo Crews, Mahann vs. Alexander, more

WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT
MARCH 30, 2022
HULU STREAMING TV
REPORT BY MIKE F. MEYERS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

WWE Main Event Announcers: Byron Saxton, Kevin Patrick

REASONS TO WATCH…

• Mahaan’s last Main Event before alleged Raw debut

(1) VEER MAHAAN vs. CEDRIX ALEXANDER (w/ Shelton Benjamin)

Alexander attempted to grapple Mahaan’s left leg, but Mahaan leaned over and tossed Alexander across the ring by his waist. Mahaan missed a backhand strike, allowing Alexander to land two blows. Alexander nailed Mahaan with a drop kick but he would not go down. Mahaan held his jaw, then knocked Alexander down with a big boot to the face. He whipped Alexander across the ring back-first into the turnbuckles, then choked him against the middle rope with a knee in his back. Alexander landed two chops to the chest, but Mahaan pressed on and planted Alexander with a sidewalk slam.

With his back against the ropes, Alexander hit two front kicks and went for a tornado DDT but Mahaan tossed him through the air instead. Mahaan dropped a vertical elbow to Alexander’s neck, then covered for a two-count. Mahaan latched both hands onto Alexander’s shoulders from behind. Alexander got free and hit a couple more futile blows before being tossed through the ropes onto the apron by Mahaan. Alexander hit a dragon screw leg whip to Mahaan through the ropes. Alexander splashed Mahaan twice in the corner, but was intercepted and leveled on his third attempt. Mahaan took Alexander down again with a big clothesline, then locked in an intense chin lock that caused Alexander to tap out within seconds.

WINNER: Veer Mahaan by submission in 5:20.

(Meyers’s Analysis: A predictable final victory for Mahaan on Main Event. Looking forward to seeing him get squashed by Omos in his Raw debut after WrestleMania.)

-Main Event recap session:

• Replay of Belair / Lynch in-ring segment from Raw
• Replay of Rollins / Vince McMahon office segment from Raw
• Replay of Omos / Lashley in-ring confrontation from Raw
• Replay of RK-Bro vs. Usos from Raw
• Match rundown for upcoming PLE WrestleMania

(2) FINN BALOR vs. APOLLO CREWS (w/ Commander Azeez)

Balor went behind Crews to start, but Crews knocked him off with an elbow strike. Crews hit a somersault senton over the top rope and made quick early cover; Balor kicked out at one. Crews applied a chin lock on the mat. Balor powered out but Crews stunned him with a body blow. Crews rolled up Balor but Balor kicked out and hit a low-altitude drop kick. Crews rolled out to ringside, so Balor ran the ropes and dove over the top rope, taking out Crews on the floor. We cut to break.

In spite of Balor’s offensive outburst, Crews had control after the break. He choked Balor against the middle rope, and when the ref backed him off, Azeez stepped in for a cheap shot to the exposed Balor. Crews whipped Balor into a corner, but when he charged in after him, Balor got up both boots up and into his face. Balor went on the offense and covered Crews for two. Balor ducked a clothesline and went for a high cross body but Crews caught him and tossed him onto his shoulders and hit a Samoan drop. He covered Balor for two.

Crews went for a delayed vertical suplex, but Balor slipped down and rolled Crews up for a two-count. Crews instantly got to his feet and knocked Balor down with an enziguri. Crews landed a standing moonsault and covered for another two. Balor hit a sling blade, then blasted Crews into the opposite corner with a double-barrel drop kick. Balor climbed to the top rope and hit the Coup de Grace, then covered for the three-count.

WINNER: Finn Balor by pinfall in 5:30.

(Meyers’s Analysis: Refreshing matchup for Main Event. It felt pretty rushed, but Crews’s snappy Samoan drop was a highlight.)

SHOW SCORE (0-10): 7.8

Find Mike Meyers on Twitter: @themikeshow42

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S MAIN EVENT TV REPORT: 3/23 WWE MAIN EVENT TV REPORT: Veer Mahaan in action, T-Bar vs. Cedric Alexander, more