6/29 WWE in Rapid City, S.D.: Seth vs. Ziggler in two-out-of-three falls match, Braun vs. Roode vs. Corbin, Hardy vs. Mojo, Bliss vs. Natalya

WWE LIVE EVENT REPORT – RAW BRAND
JUNE 29, 2018
RAPID CITY, S.D. AT THE RUSHMORE PLAZA CIVIC CENTER ICE ARENA
REPORT BY TOM LEONARD, PWTORCH CORRESPONDENT

The event last 2 hours and 45 minutes and all of the matches were very good “wrestling” matches with the stars getting in their gimmicks and finishes. We had second row seats (first time my wife had ever been ringside) and paid $107.00 each for the tickets. Well worth the money tonight.

(1) Matt Hardy defeated Mojo Rawley in 10:00. Hardy deleted Mojo.

(2) The Authors of Pain beat Rhyno & Heath Slater in 9:00. Both members of AOP using their finishing move to put Rhyno out.

(3) Dana Brooke beat Ruby Riott (w/Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan). Dana won after Liv and Sarah were ejected for interfering with the match causing a distraction and Dana rolled up Ruby for the finish. Gotta say this match surprised me as Dana showed some great wrestling skills against the more experienced Ruby. Maybe a good wrestler can bring out the best in an ok wrestler. Of all the women tonight, Dana looked the best in shape (even better than my favorite, Alexa).

(4) Roman Reigns beat Jinder Mahal (w/Sunil Singh) in about 20:00. Roman won with a spear to Jinder after a Singh brother tried to interfere. Gotta say I am a fan of neither, but a great match put on by them and this was for a Make-a-Wish kid in the front row directly in front of us. Roman truly a “Vince’s boy,” but over great with the kids and women.

Only a 20 minute intermission

(5) Braun Strowman beat Bobby Roode and Constable Corbin in about 12:00 of a Triple Threat match. Braun won after being abused by steps and metal poles. He was laid out the ring for a lot of the match, Braun eliminated Roode and then landed a running bodyslam on Corbin. Great entrance by the Glorious One, Corbin used his old music entrance, and Braun is Braun.

(6) Alexa Bliss beat Natayla after a DDT in about 10:00 to retain the WWE Women’s Championship. Nattie had Bliss in the Sharpshooter, but Alexa made it to the ropes and then pulled the ring cover onto the mat and used that as a distraction to apply her DDT. My favorite match of the night. Love Little Miss Bliss (first time I have seen her). She is a feisty “5 feet of fury.” Nattie brings out the best in young wrestlers, that is her job, and makes them work for it.

(7) Seth Rollins beat Dolph Ziggler in a two-out-of-three falls match in about 25 minutes for WWE Intercontinental Championship. I thought when the announcer said we had another championship match that maybe it could have bee Brock Lesnar coming back to his home state of South Dakota, but oh well!

Dolph won the first fall with a ZigZag on Seth, Seth won the second fall with a jump off the top ropes, and then Drew McIntryre made his appearance and helped distract Seth, grabbing his feet and holding them down (out of the ref’s view) for Dolph to get the pin and retain the championship. Kinda figured this might be the way it goes, but I thought maybe Roman would come back out to help Seth. But Seth had to finish them off and get them out the ring himself to have the fans praise him and go home happy.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall a great time, good crowd (maybe 3,000), best yet for Rapid City and I believe all were entertained and well worth the money… Matches went longer than last time. We were advertised Elias, Bobby Lashley, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt, Sasha, and Bailey but none of them showed up. Rumor has it they missed a connection to get to Rapid City by airline. Would have been great to see Elias, but “card is subject to change”… I believe Seth got the biggest pop, then Braun, but what surprised me was the pop Dana Brooke got (she is one put-together woman), but overall great pops for the good wrestlers and good boos for the bad guys. Even Vince’s boy got a good pop (women just love him).

NOW CHECK OUT THIS RECENT REPORT: 6/23 WWE in Salt Lake City, Utah: Reigns & Seth vs. McIntyre & Ziggler with big cheers for Reigns, Braun & Lashley & Balor vs. Owens & Corbin & Jinder