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LECLAIR’S WWE FASTLANE 2023 REPORT
OCTOBER 7, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS, IN AT GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE
AIRED LIVE ON PEACOCK (U.S.), WWE NETWORK (Int.)
Announcers: Michael Cole & Corey Graves
-Pat McAfee narrated the show’s cold open.
-Fireworks exploded from all corners of the stage as the camera panned around the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Two Indy cars are positioned to either side of the walkway near the top of the stage. Michael Cole welcomed the audience and noted that three titles will be defended. At ringside, Cole introduced his partner, Corey Graves. He quickly turned his attention to the opening match for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships.
Following a lengthy video package hyping the match, Jey Uso was out of the curtain first to a strong reaction. Cody Rhodes followed to even bigger reaction. Cody slapped hands with Jey in the ring and post atop the turnbuckle, riling the crowd up. Damian Priest and Finn Balor entered, shrouded in darkness. Damian Priest held his Money in the Bank briefcase high above his head.
(1) FINN BALOR & DAMIAN PRIEST (c) vs. CODY RHODES & JEY USO – WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship match
Jey Uso and Damian Priest began the match. Michael Cole noted that Finn Balor was the first leader of the Bullet Club, and Cody Rhodes later led the group. Corey Graves told Cole to “get those Internet points.” The crowd broke into an “Uso” chant as Priest and Jey circled the ring, then locked up. Off the ropes, Jey gave Damian a shoulder tackle. Priest shrugged it off and delivered one of his own, dropping Uso. Balor threw up his arms, cheering on his partner from his position on the apron.
Another strong “Uso” chant rang out as the two wrestlers continued the feeling out process. Priest cornered Jey and broke at the referee’s count. Jey caught Priest with a right hand flying out of the corner. He worked Priest into the corner and tagged in Cody Rhodes. Cody grabbed a side headlock on Priest and settled in. Damian shot Cody off the ropes and missed with a clothesline. Cody worked over the arm and tagged in Jey. Graves noted that Cody and Jey have worked very well, but wondered if it could be sustained throughout the match. Priest dropped Uso with a clothesline and tossed him to the Judgment Day corner.
Cole and Graves talked about the potential alliance being formed between Judgment Day and the Bloodline. Finn Balor tagged in and stomped away at Jey in the corner, throwing up his arms for some heat from the crowd. Jey gave Finn a headbutt as the match hit 4:00. He quickly tagged in Rhodes. Balor dropped under Cody, but was caught in in a stalling front-releasing Suplex. Cody twisted the arm and tagged out again. Rhodes and Uso shared some words of encouragement. Jey whipped Finn into the ropes. Priest tagged himself in, unbeknownst to Uso. Damian caught Uso with a kick to the back of the head.
Priest worked Jey into the heel corner and tagged in Balor. The two hit Jey with a flurry of kicks. Finn covered for a quick two count, then grabbed a grounded side headlock. Jey reached desperately toward Cody, who was just out of reach. Finn tossed Jey to the adjacent corner, then gave him a Snapmare to the mat. He hit a quick basement dropkick for a cover and two count just before 7:00. Finn tagged in Damian Priest. Mr. Money in the Bank drove his knee into Jey’s back while stretching out his arms. Cody stomped on the steps to will the crowd to life for Uso. Jey got to his feet, but Priest cut him off with a forearm to the back of the head.
Finn Balor tagged in after Priest tried to give Cody a cheap shot on the apron. Rhodes was admonished by the official for trying to step in the ring. The camera pulled back as Michael Cole reset the scene – noting that the building is sold out with over 14,000 in attendance. Graves said neither team has been willing to take any big risks thus far. Balor continued to cut the ring off, with Jey trying valiantly to reach Cody. Rhodes even stepped on the turnbuckle, trying to gain the extra millimeters needed. Jey finally was able to meet the outstretched hand.
Cody Rhodes exploded into the ring with clotheslines on both Priest and Balor. He followed up with a Disaster Kick on Finn for a cover and two count just past 10:00. Cody slapped the mat, stalking Balor. Priest leapt onto the apron to thwart his offense. Cody gave Priest a Dragon Screw on the apron, hooking his leg awkwardly in the ropes. Balor rolled up Cody and grabbed the tights for a two count. Cody popped to his feet looking for Cross Rhodes, but Balor broke free and caught Cody with a Sling Blade. He fell to the corner, waiting for Rhodes to stand. Balor looked for the running missile dropkick, but Rhodes evaded.
Balor and Rhodes battled on the turnbuckle. Cody got the better of the exchange, hoisting Balor up and delivering a big Superplex. Both men were down in the ring, partners awaiting tags in their respective corners. Priest was tagged first, followed by Uso a moment later. Jey hit Damian with a series of quick rights. Priest reversed an Irish whip, but Jey ducked a clothesline. He took his t-shirt off and placed it over Priest’s head, then gave him a showy uppercut. Priest stumbled to the corner. Jey looked around at the crowd. He called out his name, and they responded. Jey charged at Priest, but Damian moved. Uso leapt to the top rope and caught Priest with a diving cross body for a two count.
Mr. Money in the Bank rolled out to the apron. Jey stepped to him and ate a kick to the face. Priest gave Uso a Flatliner for a cover and near fall just before 14:30. He mocked Uso’s call and response to the crowd, then charged at Jey in the corner. Uso leapt to the middle rope. Priest pulled him off, in Crucifix position. Jey slid down his back and dumped Priest to the outside to join Finn Balor. Jey dove through the ropes onto both members of Judgment Day.
Jey tossed Priest back in the ring, leapt to the top rope, and delivered a perfect Uso Splash for a cover and very close near fall, saved at the last possible moment by Finn Balor. Cody returned and gave Balor a Cody Cutter. Jey sized up Priest, who struggled to stand in the opposite corner. He charged, but Damian caught him with a kick to the face. He went for South of Heaven, but Jey slipped free and delivered a Spear. Uso began climbing the turnbuckle. Suddenly, the crowd broke into a chorus of boos. Dominick Mysterio and Rhea Ripley were running to ringside. Jey gave Dom a Superkick. Rhea got in his face. She waved and smiled. Graves said Jey can’t be “tempted by this succubus.”
Uso thought better of engaging with Rhea. He climbed the turnbuckle anyway. Priest rose to meet him. Balor tagged himself in. Damian gave Jey a ‘rana from the top. Balor followed up with the Coup De Grace. He covered, but Rhodes broke it up just in time. All four men rose to their feet slowly, meeting in the center. Priest went for a springboard off the ropes, but Cody caught him with a kick. Priest rolled to the outside. Jey rolled up Finn, but Balor pushed him off. Jey launched toward the ropes. J.D. McDonagh caught Jey in the face with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Balor pinned Jey, but Uso got the shoulder up at the last moment.
Priest dragged Cody Rhodes to the outside. McDonagh tried to hit Cody in the head with the briefcase, but Rhodes ducked. He hit Priest instead, right on the injured knee. Cody gave Priest Cross Rhodes on top of the announcers desk. Jey dove through the middle rope onto J.D. and Balor. Rhea was screaming at ringside. Back in the ring, Cody and Jey gave Finn Balor a version of the 1D. Jey tagged in Cody. Rhodes gave Balor a Cross Rhodes and covered him for a three count.
WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso in 20:43 to win the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships
(LeClair’s Analysis: Fun match. This one started out extraordinarily slow, necessitating some extra involvement from Cody at ringside to keep the crowd invested in Jey’s long plight to make the hot tag. Both guys seemed just as over as ever, I think they just built the sympathy spot a little too long, given that it was the opening match and the crowd was ready for action. Once things got going, though, these four worked well together and told a compelling story. Moving the titles to Rhodes and Uso is a curious direction. Clearly, they’re looking to sow further doubt in the Judgment Day alliances. I do wonder what the efficacy of characters like Priest and Mysterio will be outside the faction, but it’s clear that Rhea is ready to move on. On the other side, I expect this to be a short-term reign for Rhodes and Uso. I think they can tell some compelling stories here, and it serves as another benchmark in the ongoing attempt to keep Cody in relevant programs while he awaits the inevitable.)
-Booker T and Wade Barrett were shown in a locker room talking about the show. Xavier Woods stepped in and asked if he could watch the show with them. It turned out to be an ad.
-Cole tossed to a break, teasing the six man tag match up next.
-The Street Profits were out first, sans falling cups. They received a mixed reaction. They stopped just before the crowd barricades and parted to welcome their partner, Bobby Lashley, wearing matching gold and black gear. Santos Escobar entered with Zelina Vega. Rey Mysterio followed. Cole noted that Mysterio told him their potential partner did not return his call, but he still expected him to be there. Graves went on a rant, saying that Dominick was right and Rey has no friends.
(2) BOBBY LASHLEY & THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. REY MYSTERIO & SANTOS ESCOBAR & ??? (w/ Zelina Vega) – Six Man Tag Team match
Santos Escobar started the match off with Montez Ford. The L.W.O. member quickly took control, dropping Ford and taking him down with a leaping cross body from the top rope. Ford recovered quickly, giving Escobar a kick and climbing to the top turnbuckle. Santos rose to meet him. The two battled briefly on the top before Escobar gave Ford a Hurricanrana. Ford rolled toward his own corner. Santos approached, but Ford cut him out at the knee. Ford tagged in Bobby Lashley.
Lashley dominated Escobar with ease. He beat him down, then delivered a stalling vertical Suplex. He tagged in Angelo Dawkins, who covered Escobar for a two count just before 3:00. Dawkins whipped Escobar to the corner and gave him a spinning back elbow. Escobar exploded out of the corner with a dropkick, then reached Mysterio for a tag. Rey tripped up Dawkins, setting him up for a 619. On the approach, Lashley tagged himself in. He caught Rey’s legs. Dawkins punched Mysterio in the face. Lashley swung Rey out of the ring and dumped him on the floor.
Bobby slid Rey back in the ring and gave him a slam. He tagged in Montez Ford, who delivered a standing Frog Splash to Rey for a cover and two count. Graves said that Ford is incredibly gifted, with all the tools to become a “major player.” He said he seemed to be lacking motivation, but Lashley is going to change that. Montez whipped Rey face-first into the turnbuckle, then tagged in Dawkins. Vega tried to will the crowd cheer on Mysterio. Ford jawed with some fans in the front row. Angelo beat down Rey in the heel corner, tagging in Lashley to deliver more punishment. Bobby delivered a hard back elbow to Rey’s shoulder.
Mysterio blocked a charge attempted by Lashley with a kick. He knocked the Profits off the apron, then ducked another running attack from Bobby, sending him crashing into the turnbuckle. Ford tried to rush the ring to cut off Rey, but Mysterio side-stepped him and sent him flying to the floor. Rey finally looked to reach Escobar for a tag, but Ford ripped him from the apron at the last moment. Zelina Vega leapt onto the apron and gave Ford a Meteora. Graves said that should be a disqualification (I mean, he’s right.) Rey found himself crawling to an empty corner. Dawkins grabbed his leg and dragged him back to his cohorts. He tagged in Montez.
Montez tried to slam Mysterio, but the veteran slid free and caught Ford with an Enziguri. Ford spilled to the outside. Music hit and Carlito ran to the ring. He jumped onto the apron and Mysterio reached him for a tag. Carlito dropped Ford. He tossed Dawkins to the outside onto Lashley. Escobar dove onto Bobby and Angelo. Carlito gave Ford a Backstabber for a cover and three count.
WINNERS: Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, & Carlito in 10:03
(LeClair’s Analysis: Not much meat to this one. The crowd struggled to get into the early moments, having just seen a number of extended beat downs in the opening match. Escobar struggled to keep the crowd invested, and most of Mysterio’s offense was cut off by the heels. Lashley and the Profits looked good paired officially for the first time. Carlito’s re-debut was a nice surprise at the end there, but I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed to see Lashley and the Profits took a loss in their very first match. Perhaps they should’ve saved the mystery partner shtick for a little bit later in this program, allowing the three heels to establish themselves as a strong group out of the gate. I am happy to see Carlito back with the company, though. He looked good, and the crowd was excited to see him.)
-In a clip from earlier in the night, Jade Cargill was shown arriving at the arena. She was greeted by Triple H.
-Cole tossed to a break, or a video package for the women’s triple threat match for Premium Plus subscribers.
Charlotte Flair was first out. Cole wondered if she could become a fifteen time champion tonight. Graves said she was “custom made” for moments like this. Asuka danced to the ring next. Iyo Sky was last out, without her Damage Ctrl faction-mates. Cole noted that, on the pre-show, Sky told Dakota Kai and Bayley that she had a strategy she wanted to carry out on her own. Mike Rome gave standard championship match introductions.
(3) IYO SKY (c) vs. CHARLOTTE FLAIR vs. ASUKA – Triple Threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Michael Cole called it “perhaps the biggest night of Iyo Sky’s career.” The three women crouched low, feeling each other out to begin the match. Charlotte Flair gave Iyo Sky a kick to the face. The champion rolled to the outside. Asuka immediately spit mist in Flair’s face. She went for a cover, but Iyo Sky immediately broke it up. The camera showed Charlotte at ringside, surrounded by officials trying to help her wipe the mist from her eyes.
In the ring, Asuka and Sky traded quick holds and take downs. Asuka leapt to the middle rope and gave Sky a quick leaping dropkick. She and Iyo began to trade roll ups for quick two counts. Sky got a very near fall to break the stalemate. Asuka caught Sky with a hip check. Sky followed up with one of her own. Asuka caught Iyo with a kick and hit the ropes. Flair exploded back into the ring and dropped Asuka with a big boot. She gave the champion a Fallaway Slam, then kipped up. Flair chopped away at Asuka, who stumbled into the corner. Flair twisted Asuka’s leg on the middle rope as the match crossed 3:30. Sky thwarted whatever the Queen had planned for Asuka, so Flair dropped her instead.
Asuka and Sky formed a unspoken alliance to work on Flair together. Flair tossed Asuka to the outside. Iyo pulled Flair into a headscissor cross-face, but Asuka quickly broke it up. Iyo climbed to the top rope and gave Asuka a dropkick, formally ending their brief partnership. She climbed the turnbuckles again, but Asuka rose to meet her. She latched onto the champion’s waste and gave her a German Suplex off the middle rope. She followed up with a sliding kick for a cover an two count just before 6:30.
As Asuka struggled to lift Sky, Charlotte Flair climbed to the top turnbuckle and delivered a cross-body to both women. She motioned a title around her waist. She gave both Asuka and Sky rapid-fire chops, leading the crowd in “Woo’s!” Flair gave Sky and Asuka a double Suplex, then kipped up. She called to the crowd, but they gave her a mixed reaction. Flair posted up in the corner. Sky charged at her, but Flair gave her a backbreaker/STO combo into the turnbuckle. She completed a front handstand into double clothesline and covered Asuka for two.
The camera pulled back for Cole to reset the scene again. Back at ringside, Flair missed wildly with a big boot, allowing Sky to wrench the leg over the top rope. Sky flipped into the ring and rolled Asuka into a cover, but it was broken up by Flair. Iyo and Asuka began to trade roll ups again, both scoring twos. Asuka gave Flair a hip check off the apron. Asuka tried to whip Iyo, but Sky dove through the middle rope onto Flair. Asuka climbed out to the apron. Sky tripped her up on the edge of the ring. Iyo leapt to the apron herself, she went for a springboard Moonsault off the middle rope, but missed nearly all of it. Commentary tried to cover it up.
Charlotte Flair climbed to the top turnbuckle, calling for a Moonsault of her own. The crowd booed her. She mostly missed hers, too. Flair tossed Asuka back in the ring and set up for another Moonsault, but Asuka pulled her down. The Empress charged, but Flair caught her with a boot to the face. Flair ascended the turnbuckle again. This time, she was cut off by Iyo Sky on the apron. Sky and Flair teetered on the northwest turnbuckle. Flair pulled Sky onto her shoulders. Asuka came in from underneath for a a towered Samoan Drop/Powerbomb. Asuka covered Flair first and got a two count. She dashed to Sky and covered her for another two.
All three women were down as the match approached 13:30. Asuka and Sky rose. Asuka knocked the champion to the floor. She charged at the recovering Flair, who tripped her up and into a Boston Crab. Asuka fought out of it. Flair transitioned into a Figure Four. Just before the bridge, Sky returned with a running Meteora to Flair. She covered for a two count. Sky applied a Cross-Face to Flair. Asuka sat into a Cloverleaf. Realizing there were dueling holds, Asuka broke hers to attack Sky. The two had a quick exchange before Sky rolled into Flair’s grasp. Asuka pulled her away with a Codebreaker. Flair gave Asuka a Spear and covered for a very close near fall.
Bayley ran to ringside. Iyo told her to leave. Flair caught her with a boot, knocking her to the floor. As Bayley tried to help Sky recover, Asuka dropped Charlotte with double knees from the top rope. She covered for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out in Indianapolis. Asuka looked to apply the Asuka Lock, but Flair slid free easily. She transitioned into the Figure Four, and bridged into the Figure Eight. Bayley leapt onto the apron to distract the referee. Asuka tapped, but the referee didn’t see it. Sky delivered a Moonsault onto the bridged Flair and covered her for a three count.
WINNER: IYO SKY in 17:14 to retain the WWE Women’s Championship
(LeClair’s Analysis: Stop doing the Moonsault! Seriously, it never lands. It never looks good. Just don’t do it. The crowd even booed Flair as she climbed the ropes to set up for it. Other than the back-to-back Moonsault misses – one belonging to Sky, this was a lot of fun. I thought the three worked well together, and I liked that they came hot out of the gates after both previous matches started out very slowly. Asuka and Sky, in particular, are a lot of fun to watch opposite each other. I was worried they’d pull the title off of Sky quickly, given how inconspicuous her reign has been to date. I think they tried to do her a favor by giving her the pinfall over Charlotte. Unfortunately, it was not before a tap from Asuka to give Flair the visual win and establish her as the clear contender for Sky’s title. I’d like to see them try to do something with Charlotte that doesn’t involve a women’s title, just for once. Ultimately, despite featuring good in-ring action, this felt a little underwhelming because of the poor build and lack of rooting interest in any of the three characters. Sky and Asuka are both positioned as heels, or, tweeners at best. Flair is the babyface, but has been sparingly featured on television and is drawing some push back from the audience.)
-L.A. Knight was shown arriving to the arena earlier in the day in a Slim Jim car. Cole tossed to a video package for his tag team match for Premium Plus subscribers.
Out of the break, Pat McAfee’s music hit. He skipped onto the stage, wearing the NFL/WWE Legacy title for the Indianapolis Colts. McAfee saluted the crowd, who gave him a massive, warm welcome. He said there was no chance he’d miss this show in this city. Pat said there are crowds that have no appreciation or juice for WWE, but that’s not Indianapolis. He plugged the idea of a WrestleMania in Indy. The crowd began a big “yes” chant.
He said he planned to join Cole and Graves on commentary, but first, wanted to introduce John Cena. Cena’s music hit and he ran onto the stage. The crowd matched his energy. Cena flashed his “never give up” towel. He saluted the camera and ran to the ring. L.A. Knight was out next to his usual huge reaction. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa entered together, to Jimmy’s music. Paul Heyman trailed them, head held high. McAfee said Heyman has aged in “Presidential years” since Roman Reigns hasn’t been around. Cole teased the return of Reigns on next week’s Smackdown.
A big “L.A. Knight” chant broke out as the music faded out. Cena encouraged it.
(4) JOHN CENA & L.A. KNIGHT vs. JIMMY USO & SOLO SIKOA (w/ Paul Heyman)
John Cena tossed his shirt to the fans and then stepped to center to lock up with Jimmy Uso. He gave him a quick shoulder tackle. Jimmy knelt in his own corner and spoke briefly to Paul Heyman. He stepped to Cena, who gave him a quick arm drag. Jimmy shrugged it off as Solo Sikoa gave him a look from the apron. Jimmy tapped his chest, saying he’s good. He grabbed a side headlock on Cena. Cena broke it quickly and leapfrogged Jimmy. He gave him a leaping tackle. Jimmy stumbled to the corner and tagged in Solo Sikoa.
Solo Sikoa took slow, deliberate steps toward Cena in the center of the ring. John hit the ropes and delivered a shoulder. Solo didn’t budge. He slapped his chest and dropped Cena with ease. He gave John a headbutt and tagged Jimmy back in. Uso and Sikoa split John’s legs. Jimmy taunted him as he used the ropes to stand. He gave Cena a stiff uppercut, then punched the air arrogantly. He delivered a right hand. Cena dropped to the mat. Cena was down on his knees, Uso talking trash above him as the match crossed 4:00.
“Hey Pat, we used to be cool, what happened?” Jimmy yelled to McAfee as he choked Cena against the middle rope. McAfee said they used to be friends, but he’s seen the Bloodline do a lot of awful stuff since he left. Uso tagged in Sikoa. Solo hoisted Cena onto the turnbuckle and hung him upside down in the Tree of Woe. He delivered a leaping headbutt to Cena, and the company-professed greatest of all time crumpled to the mat in a heap. Cena reached blindly for L.A. Knight. He started to crawl toward his corner, but Jimmy cut him off and grabbed a side headlock. “I got him!” Jimmy told Paul as he settled into the hold.
The camera pulled back for another wide shot of the crowd. At the same time, Cena began working his way to his feet. Jimmy broke the hold and tossed Cena haphazardly to the mat, then tagged in Solo. Sikoa stalked his prey as the match approached 8:00. Solo delivered a running hip check to Cena in the corner. Cena looked out of it. He grabbed at Solo’s shorts, trying to pull himself up. Solo just looked down at him, emotionless. He gave Cena another headbutt. John connected with a pair of right hands to the stomach, then one to the face. He hit the ropes, but Solo cut him off with a spin kick.
“Let’s go Cena!” the crowd tried to will the legend on. Sikoa tagged in Jimmy, and Uso mocked the chant. Suddenly, Cena exploded to his feet and gave Jimmy an Attitude Adjustment. Cena crawled desperately toward L.A. Knight. He was just about to reach him when Solo rushed into the ring and knocked Knight to the floor. Knight jumped back onto the apron, trying to enter the ring. The referee held him back. The Bloodline mocked laughed at Knight.
Paul Heyman was delivering play-by-play of the beat down on his phone. Cole surmised he must be talking to Roman Reigns. Solo dropped all his body weight onto Cena from the middle rope, covering him for a two count just before 12:00. L.A. Knight still had not been in the match. Cena again tried crawling. Sikoa cut him off. Uso clapped arrogantly, taunting the crowd. Sikoa climbed to the middle rope again, looking for another drop. Cena got his knees up. His feet caught Sikoa below the belt. Cena crawled, then dove into a tag.
L.A. Knight entered the ring shot of a cannon. Sikoa tagged in Jimmy, who ran right into a flurry from Knight. First a clothesline, then punches in the corner. Solo hit the ring, but Knight gave him a DDT. Jimmy flew out of the corner with a Superkick to Knight. He covered him for a two count. Jimmy climbed to the top turnbuckle. He went for the Uso Splash, but Knight rolled out of the way. He delivered a spinning Powerslam, followed by a big elbow. Sikoa got involved again. He gave Knight a Samoan Drop. Cena was already climbing the turnbuckle. He dove onto Sikoa. Jimmy immediately flew off the adjacent turnbuckle with an Uso Splash to Cena.
All four men were down in the ring. The crowd broke into a “this is awesome” chant. Jimmy and L.A. Knight traded punches. Sikoa got involved with some shots of his own. Knight fired off at both of them. The crowd “Yeah’ed” along with him. Sikoa launched Knight over the top rope. He walked right into the waiting arms of John Cena. Jimmy gave John a Superkick. “Jimmy Uso could put that Air Force One into a key-hole if he had to,” McAfee quipped.
Uso climbed the turnbuckles again. Knight dumped Solo over the top rope, then leapt to the corner that Jimmy was perched on. He gave him a Superplex. The move left Cena in position to deliver the Five Knuckle Shuffle to Jimmy. Cena stood on guard for Solo. Knight delivered Blunt Force Trauma to Uso for a cover and three count.
WINNERS: John Cena & L.A. Knight in 17:19
(LeClair’s Analysis: This was quite a masterful performance from Cena. The match wasn’t particularly strong from an in-ring standpoint, but it didn’t have to be to keep the crowd in the palm of Cena and Knight’s hands from start to finish. This could have played as the main event to any house show just as easily and effectively as on a premium live event. Because the crowd was so invested, it aided the audience at home in being able to buy the drama of an incredibly simple match. Cena sold a beat down for an extended period of time before Knight got the hot tag, then the latter used all the pent up energy the crowd had been building to unleash a final crescendo that got everyone over strong. Not only did Cena defer to Knight, but he gave the rub to Sikoa and Uso by seeming to be no match for them. In the end, it was Knight saving the day for the legend instead of the other way around. This won’t win any match of the year awards, or even be considered for one, but it was a hell of an effective display of pro wrestling just the same. Mission accomplished on all fronts.)
-Backstage, Damian Priest had his arm draped around Dominick Mysterio. We joined the Judgment Day mid-conversation. Balor was trying to convince Priest not to cash in Money in the Bank tonight. Priest was adamant that he not go home empty handed. Priest wouldn’t listen to Balor or Mysterio, but was stopped in his tracks by Rhea Ripley. Priest seemed to acknowledge her advice, and begrudgingly handed his briefcase to her for safe keeping. He sat down to nurse his injured knee.
-Cole set the stage for the World Heavyweight Championship match, following a video package or commercial break.
After the break, Mike Rome announced the rules of a Last Man Standing Match. Shinsuke Nakamura headed to the ring first. Cole said he’s “reverted back to the form that made him a worldwide sensation.” He claimed that Nakamura has succeeded in playing the champion into his hands.
Seth Rollins bounced onto the stage next. The crowd happily and loudly sang his song. Nakamura kept his eyes on him the entire time. The crowd continued to sing as the music faded out. Mike Rome introduced the competitors.
(5) SETH ROLLINS (c) vs. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA – Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Seth Rollins threw himself at Shinsuke Nakamura right out of the gate, looking for a kick. He missed. Nakamura rolled to the outside, begging Rollins to give chase. Seth did, and Nakamura rolled quickly into the ring for his signature “come on” moment. Rollins smiled. He pulled a Kendo Stick out from under the ring and slid inside. Nakamura attacked his back, sending the stick, and Rollins, flying to the outside. The crowd opened up a “we want tables” chant right away.
Nakamura dragged Rollins toward the entrance way, looking for a Suplex on the floor. Seth countered it into one of his own. The referee began counting, but Rollins stared tearing the ringside area apart. He pulled the padding away, revealing the harder flooring underneath. Seth pulled Nakamura into a Piledriver position, but Shinsuke collapsed to his knees and crawled away. Seth followed. He pulled apart the steel steps and hit Nakamura over the back with them. He waited for his challenger to stand, then threw the steps at him. Nakamura ducked. Seth gave him a kick, then tossed him in the ring. He got another Kendo Stick, and a bunch of steel chairs. He added a trash can, then pulled out a table. The crowd popped big.
After a quick shrug, Seth pulled out a second table for another big pop. He climbed back in the ring as Nakamura rolled out to the apron. Shinsuke was lying in wait, surprising Rollins with a falling kick. Seth laid draped over the middle rope. Rollins gave him a leaping knee to the back. Seth crumpled to the outside as the match approached 5:00. Seth rook a walk around ringside. Shinsuke followed. He retrieved a pair of nun-chucks from under the ring. Seth picked up a trash can, but Nakamura cut him off with the chucks. He cracked him a few times, sending the champion reeling to the corner.
Rollins tried to fight Nakamura off with a kick, but Shinsuke slid underneath him for the snap German Suplex. The referee counted Rollins to five. The champion returned to a knee, but ate a kick to the back. Nakamura put the trash can over Rollins’ head, then hit it repeatedly with a Kendo stick. Nakamura began choking Rollins with the nun-chucks. The challenger worked Rollins to the mat, then delivered a leaping knee to the face. Rollins rose slowly, clutching his neck following the long choke. Nakamura grabbed a Sleeper. Seth reached for the ropes, but Cole and Graves noted that it won’t break the hold. Seth reached the ropes, hoping to use it for leverage. Nakamura pulled him away.
Shinsuke went for an inverted Exploder suplex, but Rollins flipped over his back. He caught Shinsuke with a Sling-Blade. Rollins grabbed a Kendo stick. He cracked it across Nakamura’s back once, twice, three times, then over and over and over in rapid succession. Shinsuke rolled to the outside to protect himself. Seth dove through the middle rope onto him, then quickly rolled him back in the ring. Rollins grabbed the stick again. He wound up and swung at the chest of Nakamura. Rollins followed up with a Frog Splash from the top rope. He stood slowly, instructing the referee to count. Nakamura answered the referee at seven.
Both men jockeyed for position as Nakamura stood. He stole the stick away from Seth and used it for a modified Backstabber. Nakamura dragged a table into the ring as the match hit 11:00. He propped it in the northeast corner of the ring, then went back to work on Seth’s neck. He hit the reverse Exploder. Rollins rolled toward the table. Shinsuke sized up the champion and charged. Seth moved, sending Nakamura crashing into the table. It bent, but didn’t break. Rollins quickly hit the Stomp. The referee began to count. Cole wondered if it would be enough. Nakamura stirred at six, grabbed the ropes at seven, and rose to his feet at eight.
The World Heavyweight Champion rolled to the outside, turning his attention toward the announcers desk. He cleared it off, then looked back to the ring for more hardware. He spotted a ladder and pulled it out. Rollins drove the head of the leader into the chest of Nakamura. Shinsuke used the ring post to steady himself and answer the referee’s count. Seth set up the ladder adjacent to the announcers desk. He draped Shinsuke over the desk, then began to climb. Nakamura sprang to life, leaving the table. Rollins climbed to the floor and leapt at Nakamura, walking him around ringside. Cole said the match had broken down, becoming a war of attrition.
Action spilled into the crowd. Nakamura began working his way west across the floor, back toward the entrance. Rollins followed. They exchanged blows to the right of the entrance, right at the base of the lower bowl of the arena. Nakamura dragged Rollins up the edge of the stairs in the last seated section closest to the stage. They traded punches. Rollins bit Shinsuke’s forehead. Nakamura responded with a low blow. He shoved Seth off the steps. The champion went crashing onto a covered area below. Rollins barely answered the referee’s count, returning to his feet at nine. Unwilling to relinquish the advantage, Nakamura walked Rollins back toward ringside with steel chair shots to the injured back. Shinsuke swung the chair at Seth’s head, but Rollins ducked. Shinsuke connected with the ring post instead.
This small opening afforded Rollins the opportunity to utilize the surface he exposed at the start of the match. He set up Nakamura again, but Shinsuke backdropped him onto the floor. Seth barely answered the count again, this time rolling in the ring to break it. Nakamura thought he saw an opportunity to end it. He charged for a Kinshasa, but Rollins caught him with a Superkick. He followed up with a desperation Pedigree. Nakamura barely answered the count. The match approached 20:00.
Champion and challenger rolled to the outside. Seth tried to retrieve the second table, but his back kept giving him fits. He finally managed to get it set up. Rollins looked to bring Nakamura to the table, but Shinsuke sprang to life and drove Seth back-first into the edge of the ring. The crowd began to sing Rollins’ song. Nakamura conducted them, mockingly. He tossed the champion onto the table and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Nakamura delivered double knees through Rollins and the table. The referee began counting both men down. Nakamura answered at six. Cole implored Rollins to stay down to save his career. He rose at nine, then fell again. Nakamura hit him three times in the back with a chair.
“At some point, you’ve got to give a damn about yourself!” Cole cried out. Rollins used the barricade to break the count again. Nakamura was laughing. He grabbed Seth by the hair, but Rollins turned it around, tossing the challenger into the ring post. Seth turned to look up at the ladder. Cole told him not to do it. The crowd began to sing again. Rollins stumbled to Nakamura. He draped him over the table and began to climb. Cole was incensed. Shinsuke stood up and began climbing the other side of the ladder. He spit red mist in Rollins’ face, then shoved him off the ladder. Seth went crashing through the announcers desk.
Nakamura posed atop the ladder as the referee counted Rollins down. He’d barely moved at eight. Rollins popped up after nine, letting his body collapse against the ladder for enough support. Nakamura tossed Rollins in the ring. The mist was clearly made to look like blood. Nakamura gave Rollins a sidewalk slam on an opened chair in the center of the ring. Seth stumbled toward the propped, cracked table. Shinsuke gave him a Kinshasa through it. Rollins was buried under the table wreckage, legs half out of the ring. As the referee reached a count of nine, Seth slid his body out of the ring to reach a standing position on the floor.
Seth collapsed as soon as the count was broken. Nakamura left the ring to retrieve him. He walked Seth back through the crowd, toward the hard cam and technical area. He tossed Seth onto a landing at the base of the lower bowl. Rollins managed to fight him off and deliver a Pedigree on the covered surface. Seth managed to give Shinsuke a Stomp. Both men were down for a count of seven. Rollins answered at eight, Shinsuke at nine. Rollins pulled Nakamura in and gave him a Falcon Arrow off a landing, through a pair of covered tables on the floor.
Both men writhed amongst the wreckage. Nakamura managed to roll toward the floor. The referee counted both to seven. Each man began to stand. Seth got to his feet, using the edge of the table to steady himself. Nakamura couldn’t keep his balance and fell. The referee counted to ten.
WINNER: Seth Rollins in 28:28 to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
Rollins celebrated amongst the fans as the show faded into a recap video package.
(LeClair’s Analysis: I’m not much of a fan of Last Man Standing matches, for a couple of key reasons. First, you’re all but guaranteed an anti-climactic finish. It’s a series of big spot after big spot with a drawn out referee count in between. By the time you reach the end, there’s been so much random violence that it almost seems arbitrary which move is going to put a wrestler down for the ten count. That came into play here. Rollins got absolutely destroyed for fifteen or so minutes, then was able to hit a quick succession of three moves and get a ten count off of a Falcon Arrow through a couple of tables. Cool looking spot? Sure. Worthy of a finish? I guess so, but it didn’t feel much like it in the moment. Second, the way WWE books these kinds of matches means that they need to set up a whole bunch of spot locations throughout the arena. You saw it first with the crash pad next to the entrance stage. Then, the casually built landing platform in the lower bowl and two conspicuously covered tables graced with a single audio cord to be part of the “technical area.” It’s a nit pick to some extent, but it’s painfully obvious to everyone watching that these are not just part of the intricacies of the venue set up, and rather, carefully constructed set pieces for planned major spots.
This wasn’t a bad match by any stretch. In fact, I thought both Nakamura and Rollins stretched themselves to overcome some of the pitfalls of the perception of their rivalry, and the World Heavyweight title to date. Seth, in particular, was great at selling the emotion of his ailing back and building to a big comeback and eventual finish. My qualms are, as previously stated, largely a product of the confines of this particular match type and the beats the wrestlers are sort of coaxed into hitting to tick the “WWE hardcore” box.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: Aside from the title change to open the show, this was a largely inconsequential night. Not every premium live event needs to feel ground breaking or Earth moving, especially in the Peacock era. They were able to get by on a rare Cena match alone, and I thought that angle delivered well enough help along the rest of the card and make things feel important even if a little underwhelming. This was a perfectly fine 3 hours of wrestling content. By no means is it the strongest or most enthusiastic of thumbs ups I’ll give this year, but they did just enough. Positive sentiment, good faith investments and a hot crowd help push this one over the top.
A pointless and boring show.