Day 1 2022 Review

Saturday, January 1st, 2022
State Farm Arena
Atlanta, Georgia

Follow me on Twitter: @WorkTheNetwork2

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
New Day vs. Usos

These two have had some pretty classic matches over the years that it's kind of weird that they are on the same show. I know that I'm in the minority here, but I don't really care for Pat McAfee as a wrestling announcer. Anyway, the Usos are dominating the early portion of the match here. Kofi hits a DDT off the top rope and makes the tag to King Woods. He hits the rolling clothesline and a dropkick to the back. Woods hits a dropkick through the ropes to the floor, but Jimmy attacks Woods right after and hits a corkscrew clothesline off the top rope for a 2 count. They hit a double team pop up Samoan drop for another 2 count. Kofi finally gets tagged back in and hits a top rope crossbody for a nearfall. The Usos then hit a splash off the top rope and we have another kick out. I wouldn't be surprised if they just didn't tell these teams to add another 5-10 minutes or so to their match to help make up for the loss of Brock/Roman. Kofi gets a couple of roll ups for nearfalls and then SOS for a 2 count. Woods hits a double stomp to the face off the top rope and it's still not enough. Kofi then gets hit with a superkick and then a double superkick. They hit the double Uso splash but Woods is able to get in to break up the pin attempt. The Usos hit a 3D and pick up the victory. Well that was a fricken fantastic way to start the show. These two teams couldn't have a bad match if they tried. Nice work by all four men in here. 

Match Rating: ****1/4

Big E is backstage with his reaction of Brock Lesnar being added to the title match tonight, but he says that he will knock them all down. 

Kayla Braxton is now with Migos and yet again, I have no clue who they are. I swear that I'm not 70 years old. 

Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre

It may not be any good, but I will say that at least Baron Corbin's character has evolved over the years. Moss is one of those guys who feels like has been on the roster forever, but I know nothing about. Drew rips off Moss's shirt and gives him a big chop. McIntyre's post-title run kind of feels like Bret Hart in 1995 wrestling Bob Backlund, Hakushi, Lawler and Pierre Lafitte. Corbin tries to distract Drew, but he just hits a belly-to-belly suplex with a release to the mat. Moss is able to get in some offense, but the crowd could not care less. Drew sidesteps Moss and he hits his head face-first into the turnbuckle. I actually liked that instead of the usual shoulder in the ring post spot. Drew hits a pop up sit down powerbomb, but Moss is able to kick out. Moss catches McIntyre in the air, loses his balance, but uses the ropes to get it back and hits a fall away slam for a 2 count. I really didn't think this match would be this long. McIntyre, goes for a superplex, but Moss counters. He gets Drew into the tree of woe, but Drew curls up and throws Moss off the top rope. He goes for the Claymore Kick, but Moss hits a boot. It doesn't matter because McIntyre just bounces back and hits the Claymore Kick anyways and that's all. That was way more competitive than expected and really not too bad, it just didn't feel like it mattered much. 

Match Rating: **1/2

Kevin Owens isn't happy with all of the changes in his match tonight. 

Raw Tag Team Championship Match
Street Profits vs. RK-Bro

It really is still sort of bizarre to see Randy Orton in the tag team division with Riddle no less. We get a lot of back and forth action, with neither team really staking their claim so far. The Profits get to work on Riddle for a little bit after a spinning splash in the corner by Dawkins. Orton gets an early hot tag and hits a double draped DDT on both opponents. The action breaks down and Ford hits his awesome dive over the ring post and hits both Orton and Riddle. Orton avoids a Ford top rope splash and Riddle comes in and tosses Ford to Orton for the pop up RKO and that is all. That was a solid match, but just couldn't come close to the opener. After the match, the two teams show each other respect and high five with Migos. 

Match Rating: ***

McIntyre is being interviewed but is attacked by Corbin and Moss, so the feud...must...continue. They Pillmanize him with a chair around the neck. 

Brock Lesnar is here and he mimics Paul Heyman. 

Miz vs. Edge

Edge comes out to the Brood music and entrance. I don't care what anyone says, Miz is one of the best WWE performers of this century. Despite the fact that both of their careers did cross one another for a few years, it feels like they are from such different eras. Maryse is able to distract Edge for a moment and that is all that Miz needs to throw him into the ring post. Miz hits his leaping clothesline in the corner and Edge is able to hit a neckbreaker from the second rope. Edge goes for the crossface, but Miz is able to dump him out of the ring. Edge trips Miz up on his way out and he hits a seated Edge-cution to the floor. Miz is able to hit Edge face-first on the ring apron. He goes for Skull Crushing Finale on the announce table, but Edge counters and slams Miz face-first on the table. Edge goes up ot the op and hits a kind of weird looking crossbody for a 2 count. Miz puts on the Figure Four. After a lengthy stay, Edge battles out of it, but Miz hits him with a slingshot in the corner. He tries for the pin, but gets caught with his feet on the ropes. Edge slaps on the crossface again, but this time it's in the middle of the ring. Miz is able to get out and they hit a double boot to the face. Miz this time hits his clothesline in the corner and decides to go up top. Edge meets him up there. He hits a hip toss from the top rope, which I don't think I've ever seen. Edge leapfrogs Edge's Spear attempt and pretends to have hurt his knee. This allows Maryse to interfere and Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale, but Edge kicks out. Beth Phoenix is out and chases Maryse off. This distracts Miz and Edge hits the Spear for the victory. Obviously Beth was going to get involved in this eventually, I just thought Miz should have gotten the victory here. This was a good match that just didn't quite hit that next gear. 

Match Rating: ***1/4

Lashley and MVP are confident in their chances tonight. 

Raw Women's Championship Match
Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch

Liv feels so fresh in the women's division and is just so easy to root for. It's actually kind of disappointing that her chance is in the no man's land of the time between SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. Liv starts out aggressive and tries to lock in Disarm-her on Becks. The crowd hasn't acted disinterested, but it hasn't come across as very loud either. After a little bit of Becky offense, Liv fights back again and hits a Lou Thesz press and a series of right hands. Liv hits a missile dropkick off the second rope and gets a 2 count. Liv climbs up to the top rope, but Becky hits a forearm. Liv slips under and she hits a unique sunset powerbomb for a 2 count. Becky comes back with a vengeance and sets Liv up for an atomic drop, but then drops her face-first. Liv fights back and this time she hits a top rope missile dropkick, but Becky rolled out of the ring. Liv hits a dive through the ropes and again Becky runs through the ring and to the outside. Becky starts slamming Liv into the table repeatedly and rolls back in the ring. Liv is able to break the count, but Becky tosses her out of the ring again. Liv throws Becky into the steps and then stomps on her arm. Liv locks in the Rings Of Saturn, but Becky counters into a pin attempt. Becky hits the Manhandle Slam and retains her title. That was a good match, but just off from being beyond good. 

Match Rating: ***

They show Johnny Knoxville's announcement from Instagram earlier today that he wants to be in the Royal Rumble. 

Fatal Five-Way Match For The WWE Championship
Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Big E vs. Brock Lesnar

Rollins and Owens go right after Lesnar and he greets them with suplexes. Big E runs in and rocks Lesnar with two clotheslines, the second sending Lesnar over the top rope and with an ugly looking fall for Lesnar. Lashley puts Big E on his shoulders and rams him into the ring post. Lashley then hits a Spear through the barricade onto Lesnar. Really had to do that spot again? Rollins and Owens team up on Lesnar and then move onto Lashley. After hitting him with the ring steps, they clear off the announce table. They try to double suplex Lashley, but he battles out of it. In comes Big E and he hits a Rock Bottom through the table. Owens hits Big E with a superkick and they then DDT Lesnar on the steps. Big E gets the knees up for the Senton Bomb from Owens, but then Rollins comes from another corner and hits the Frog Splash. This match is already killer. Rollins goes for the Stomp on Big E, but Lesnar comes in and hits him with the F5. He then gives F5 to Big E and Owens. Lashley comes in and hits the Spear on Lesnar, but Lesnar kicks out at 2. Lashley puts the Hurt Lock in the middle of the ring, but Big E comes in and hits the Big Ending on Lashley. Lesnar gives Big E the F5 and we have a new WWE Champion. I didn't think they were going to give him the belt here until I saw Big E's intensity and had a feeling that was part of the reason why. This match was bonkers and completely my style of match. I wouldn't be shocked if this ended up in my top 5 "Premier Live Event" matches of the year. 

Match Rating: ****1/2

This show was bookended by two really awesome matches, so it's hard to give this anything but a thumbs up. Everything honestly was good on here, even if a couple things felt like TV matches. WWE may not be anywhere where they need to be in terms of weekly television, but they are still are capable of putting on good shows and this was one of them. This one is definitely worth watching. 

Overall Rating: 80%