Sunday, May 8th, 2022
Dunkin' Donuts Center
Providence, Rhode Island
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Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes
I appreciate them putting a big match as the opener, but I always like it when the show gets going right away and not with 10 minutes of hype video. We have a nice opening with both men trying to get a one up, but slowly getting there. Rhodes chases Rollins around the ring and gets turned inside out with a clothesline. Rhodes does come back with his springboard enzuigiri. Neither man has been able to sustain a lengthy amount of offense. As I type that, Rollins puts on a sleeper hold. Even all of that doesn't last long, as Cody hits a superplex to slow the momentum. We get a fast-paced series that leads to a clothesline over the top and then Cody crashing and burning to the outside. Rollins then goes for a dive, but runs into a forearm. Cody runs in the ring and hits a Cody Cutter for a 2 count. Rollins battles back and hits a Falcon Arrow for a 2 count. They have done the back and forth match very well here so far. It hasn't felt as unbelievable as a lot of matches that go for that type of story. This has just felt like two very evenly matched competitors having problems sustaining momentum. Rollins hits a Buckle Bomb and a huge Frog Splash, but Cody is able to kick out. Cody avoids Rollins off the top rope, he rolls through and Cody hits him with a superkick. He goes up top, but Rollins leaps up and hits a superplex. Rollins rolls for another one, but Cody counters and hits CrossRhodes. Rollins is able to get hit foot on the bottom rope and Cody is losing his temper. Cody goes for a moonsault, but misses. Rollins hits the Pedigree, but Cody kicks out. Seth mocks Dusty which leads to a bunch of counters and it ends up with Cody countering a roll up and holding the tights for the victory. I appreciate them not going 50/50 as they normally do with non-title feuds. I liked this better than the WrestleMania match, as I thought the action was quicker and the story was stronger.
Match Rating: ***3/4
Omos vs. Bobby Lashley
As you would expect, Lashley tries to get something going, but Omos then dominates the match. I feel like MVP is missing one more person in his stable, as it just feels kind of empty with it just being him and Omos. Lashley gets an opportunity open up when Omos gets tied up in the ropes. I'm glad so see they are going for all of the old tricks with Omos. Lashley gets distracted by MVP and tries putting on the Hurt Lock. Omos reaches over and grabs him back in the ring. Lashley hits a Flatliner and then goes for the Hurt Lock on Omos and gets it on. Omos starts to fade, but then backs Lashley into the corner to break it. Lashley ends up running his shoulder into the ring post and MVP hits him in the face with his cane. Omos hits a Khali slam and that is all. They had to put him over after losing at WrestleMania in this scenario, as I'm sure they are hoping that he takes off as their monster. The match was pretty basic and about what you would expect.
Match Rating: *1/4
Edge vs. AJ Styles
Damian Priest is barred from ringside for this one. It's kind of weird to me that Styles is less than 4 years younger than Edge. We get a brawling start and Styles hits a dropkick through the ropes to Edge on the outside. He follows it up with a springboard moonsault to the floor. He goes for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Edge hits him with a dropkick. Edge goes to work on Styles shoulder and throws him into the steps outside. We get a double crossbody, with both guys getting the wind knocked out of them. Styles recovers quicker and hits a running forearm. Styles pulls out a top rope hurricanrana. Edge is able to hit a backbreaker and puts on the Crossface. Styles is able to escape and puts on the Calf Crusher, but Edge is eventually able to grab the bottom rope. Edge takes off the second turnbuckle during a German suplex, but it backfires when he goes for a Spear and he runs into it. He's able to kick out, which felt to early for that spot. Edge hits a Spear, but AJ is able to kick out as well. He goes for another Spear, but Styles hits him with a knee. Styles then hits the Styles Clash and Edge kicks out. Out comes Damian, Finn Balor is out and attacks Priest from behind. Styles is up top, but a masked person pulls Styles off the top. Edge puts on the Crossface in the center of the ring. Edge cranks back and Styles is out and the ref calls for the bell. The mystery person takes off the mask and it's Rhea Ripley. This was pretty good overall, but more of a setup for the addition of Ripley.
Match Rating: ***1/4
So...many...commercials.
I Quit Match For The SmackDown Championship
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair
We get lots of brawling here to begin. Ronda uses the kendo sticks out in the aisle. They battle into the crowd and Charlotte attempts a submission using a rail. They head back towards the ring and Charlotte pulls out a powerbomb to the barricade on the outside, but Ronda refuses to say I quit. Ronda tries to make a comeback, but Charlotte is quick to put a stop to it. Ronda is able to put in an armbar to an upside down Charlotte, who is hanging from the top turnbuckle. Both women then both crash to the floor and are down. Charlotte brings a chair into the mix and hits Ronda in the back with it. Back in the ring, Charlotte hits Natural Selection onto the chair. Charlotte slaps on the Figure Eight despite Ronda trying to stop her. Ronda is able to grab the chair and use it to break the hold. Charlotte goes to try to use the chair again and wishes Ronda a happy Mother's Day. Ronda grabs the arm through the chair and slaps on the armbar. Charlotte eventually says I quit and we have a new SmackDown Women's Champion. I liked the WrestleMania match a lot more than most and I thought this was also quite good. It seemed like this crowd was more into Rousey than the crowd in Dallas.
Match Rating: ***3/4
Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss
I'll be honest, I didn't even know that these two broke up. I appreciate that they've given these guys a midcard story, even if I still don't ever care to watch Corbin wrestle. Corbin dominates for a lot longer than I care to watch, but Moss eventually hits a fall away slam. Corbin eventually bounces back and hits a Deep Six for a 2 count. Moss hits a sunset flip out of nowhere and gets the victory. This was just a TV match put in the death slot on the show.
Match Rating: *
Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro vs. Roman Reigns & Usos
When was the last time a six man tag main evented a pay per view? In Your House: International Incident? Either way, this one follows the usual formula to start where the head heel stays out of the match. Reigns comes in when Riddle is down and hits him with a big reverse elbow. It eventually comes down to Drew and Roman and we have a big man battle. McIntyre gets the better of Reigns until he's able to get a Superman Punch in to knock Drew out of the ring. This show seemed like a good candidate to end 20 minutes early, but these guys just aren't having it. It's kind of a miracle that I'm still awake. McIntyre is able to hit a Claymore Kick out of nowhere and it allows a tag to Orton, who is super over here. Orton hits a draping DDT on one of the Usos and a big RKO on Roman. He hits another on Jimmy Uso, but Jey breaks up the pin attempt. Maybe they should go with Orton and Reigns next. McIntyre is in and goes for another Claymore Kick, but he gets hit first with a superkick and then a double superkick. Riddle is now back up on the apron and waiting for a tag and he gets it. Riddle hits a really nice burst of offense and this match has kicked into the next gear. Reigns dumps McIntyre through the table and then we get some dives to the outside. Now it's Riddle and Jey destroying each other back in the ring. Jey is up top, but Riddle runs up and hits a RKO off the top rope. In runs Roman and he hits a Spear and pins Riddle for the victory. Those last 5 or so minutes were really incredible. It was sort of an odd choice to put on last with Ronda winning the title tonight, but they definitely delivered a main event match.
Match Rating: ***3/4
4 out of 6 matches definitely delivered here tonight and the other just felt like filler. This didn't feel like essential viewing, but we did get a title switch and Rhea Ripley joining Edge, so it wasn't like nothing memorable happened in terms of storyline. We got some very good wrestling and even if nothing was an all timer, it just reminded you that they do have a lot of guys on the roster that can deliver in the ring.
Overall Rating: 73%
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