Sunday, June 5th, 2022
Allstate Arena
Rosemont, Illinois
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Triple Threat Match For The Raw Women's Championship
Becky Lynch vs. Asuka vs. Bianca Belair
It's good to see Asuka back. Everybody gets a little bit of offense in to start until Lynch is able to take control. Lynch looks like she just got done auditioning for Labyrinth. Belair accidentally knocks Asuka off the apron and Lynch then hits Belair with a guillotine leg drop for a 2 count. Lynch then explodes for a flurry of offense that leads to Asuka having to break up the pin attempt to save the match. Asuka now explodes and hits a Hip Attack on Lynch and nearly gets the victory. In comes Belair and she hits a big vertical suplex on Lynch. She hits a beautiful handspring moonsault on both opponents and also gets a 2 count. Belair goes for a superplex on Lynch, but here comes Asuka. Belair kicks her away. It leads to 2 Codebreakers by Asuka and then a double Hip Attack, but she's not able to pick up the victory. Asuka then puts on a double Ankle Lock in a cool spot. They're able to roll her out of the move and she falls out of the ring. Belair and Lynch go at it. Belair rolls through on a crossbody and picks Lynch up. Lynch gets out and pushes Belair right into a missile dropkick from Asuka. Lynch hits the Manhandle Slam, but Asuka makes the save. After another chaotic spot, Asuka again makes a last second save for Belair. Lynch and Asuka now have their segment of submission holds and big moves. Belair comes in with an odd interference that leads to her getting dumped again. Lynch hits the Manhandle Slam, but Belair tosses her out and pins Asuka to retain her title. I'm not a huge fan of the typical heel finish there. Other than that, this was a very good match with all three of them looking good here.
Match Rating: ***3/4
MVP is back pumping up Omos until Cedric Alexander comes walking in. MVP tells him to stop and that the Hurt Business is done. Omos tells him to leave.
Handicap Match
MVP & Omos vs. Bobby Lashley
MVP teases starting off the match, but then quickly tags in Omos. The numbers game quickly gets to Lashley and Omos is able to toss him across the ring. In comes MVP to get in some taunting. He tags in Omos and Lashley hits a dropkick to the legs. Lashley goes for a vertical suplex, but Omos counters and does a face-first suplex. Omos hits a series of big splashes in the corner and it's followed up by a running boot to the face of Lashley that sends him over the top to the floor. Omos runs around the corner and hits the Strowman spot through the barricade. Can we please stop with this spot? MVP goes for the Playmaker, but Lashley counters and hits a Spear. Omos quickly makes the save and in comes Cedric Alexander. Omos tosses him out and it allows Lashley to hit the Spear on Omos. MVP misses the running boot and he puts on the Hurt Lock. MVP taps and that is all. Lashley was super over her with the Chicago crowd. We have seen enough of this feud to know this wouldn't be a classic, but I'd say they over delivered here. To be honest, Lashley has really done a nice job for the most part over the last couple of years.
Match Rating: **1/4
They discuss the Cody Rhodes injury situation.
Kevin Owens vs. Ezekiel
I'm not going to lie, I kind of love the Ezekiel gimmick. Ezekiel hits a jumping knee and a top rope elbow drop in an attempt to get a quick victory, but Owens kicks out. On the outside, Owens is able to throw Ezekiel into the ring post. Owens hits a second rope moonsault for a 2 count and it's shown that Ezekiel is bleeding from his forehead. Owens goes for a Swanton, but Ezekiel gets his knees up. Ezekiel hits a spinebuster for a 2 and Owens comes back and hits a pop up powerbomb for a nearfall. Ezekiel fights back with a leaping knee, but is knocked off the top rope and gets hit with 2 superkicks. Owens follows that up with a cannonball and a Stunner for the victory. This one was a little bit more heavy on storyline than action, which is okay. It just felt like something that could have been on TV instead.
Match Rating: **
Six Person Mixed Tag Team Match
Edge, Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan, Finn Balor & AJ Styles
After a brawl to start, Balor launches Morgan into a hurricanrana on Ripley. Ripley mostly dominates Morgan from there on until Morgan tags in AJ. Instead of Edge, Priest comes in instead. AJ hits a Pele kick and then tags in Balor. Edge distracts Balor and it allows Priest the opportunity to attack him from behind. Edge tags in and gets in some offense outside the ring. They continue to isolate Balor for a lengthy beatdown segment. AJ finally gets the hot tag and dominates both male opponents. AJ hits the Phenomenal Forearm on Edge, but Priest pulls him to the floor during the pin attempt. The ladies get another shot in there and both come up with 2 counts. Ripley goes for Riptide, but Morgan tags in Balor and we get another brawl between all competitors. We get a double dive to the floor by the men and Liv hits a bigger dive on Ripley. Balor goes up top, but Ripley shakes the rope to knock him off. AJ hits a Phenomenal Forearm on Priest, but Edge then throws him into the ring post. Balor hits a Sling Blade on Edge. Balor goes up top again, but again Ripley gets in his way. Morgan jumps on her back to get her away. Balor misses with the Coup de Grace and Edge hits the Spear for the victory. That was the only real outcome they could go with here, although it probably would have been wiser to give Priest the win. The match was pretty good, but it felt like they were holding back a little bit.
Match Rating: ***
Lashley is shown walking backstage and runs into Alexander. Lashley says he's proud of him, but to not mess with any of his matches ever again.
No Holds Barred Match
Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss
The action quickly goes out of the ring and Corbin throws Moss into the screen on the stage. They get back into the ring just for Moss to clothesline Corbin right back to the floor. Corbin shoves Moss over the table, but Moss then throws the announcer chair at him. We get a lot of the standard no DQ type match stuff here. Corbin misses in the corner and runs into a chair wedged between the ropes. Moss starts attacking Corbin with the chair and then hits a DDT on the chair. Corbin is able to slow Moss down with a chop block. Corbin puts the chair around Moss's neck and throws him into the table. Corbin brings in the steps and props them up in the corner. Moss hits a fall away slam into the steps and then he puts the chair around his neck. Moss grabs the steps and drives it into the chair and gets the victory. The crowd liked Moss more than I was expecting and the match was pretty decent.
Match Rating: **1/2
United States Championship Match
Austin Theory vs. Mustafa Ali
Hey, look. It's Mustafa Ali. I guess if you're finally going to have him on a big show, you might as well have him on the one in Chicago. Ali sells the knee after moonsaulting off the top rope and then hits a little bit of an awkward superkick. Theory hits an awesome springboard Spanish Fly for a 2 count. Ali hits a tornado DDT off the second rope. He goes up top, but Theory crotches him. Ali is able to escape Theory's next move and slaps on the STF. Theory is able to crawl to the ropes to some mild boos. Ali hits a big tilt-a-whirl DDT from Ali and has the fans on their feet. He goes up top but misses the 450 splash. Theory hits a chop block on the injured knee. Theory hits his finisher and that is all. That wasn't bad, but I had higher hopes for that one. They probably should have been the opener to set it up for the most success.
Match Rating: ***
Hell In A Cell Match
Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes
Rollins is wearing the yellow polka dots here tonight. Cody's chest is a mess. Cody hits an early Cody Cutter and is in pain. He is able to slap on the Figure Four. Rollins grabs the ropes, but it doesn't break the hold. Rollins keeps reaching and grabs a kendo stick to break the hold. Rollins uses the kendo stick to apply pressure on the injury and then shoves him off the apron and into the cell. Rollins puts on Cody's jacket and pulls out a polka dot belt. He whips his back, but the one to the chest got the big reaction. Rollins pulls out a table to a huge pop. Rollins props Cody up on the top rope and goes for a superplex. Cody sneaks out of it and goes for a powerbomb, but Rollins escapes that and sets Cody on the table. Rollins goes for the Frog Splash, but Cody rolls out of the way and Rollins breaks the table into 3 pieces. Cody goes under the ring and grabs a bull rope. Cody ties it around his wrist and challenges and Rollins accepts. Cody levels him with the bell to the head. The action spills outside and Rollins pulls Cody into the ring post. Rollins pulls out another table and props it in the corner. Cody escapes a powerbomb and hits Cross Rhodes for a 2 count. Rollins hits a Buckle Bomb on Cody through the table. Yeesh. Cody somehow kicks out, so Rollins now grabs the sledgehammer. Cody knocks the sledgehammer and hits a Pedigree for a nearfall. Rollins hits the Curb Stomp and again Rollins kicks out. Rollins hits a Cross Rhodes and then Cody hits one and both men are down. They both go for the sledgehammer. Cody gets it, but Cody drops it in pain. He gets up and hits 2 Cross Rhodes. He grabs the sledgehammer and picks up the victory for the clean sweep of their series. Not that I ever doubted it, but Cody proved how tough he was here. I'm not really sure if it was a wise decision, but he sure proved he could do it. The match wasn't quite as good as the other two, but it was different.
Match Rating: ***1/2
This was bookended by two very good matches and the rest kind of felt like filler. I'm not really opposed to that with these minor shows. They gave some of the smaller stars a chance to do their thing and delivered on the major matches. The women's match is definitely recommended and Rhodes' performance was crazy.
Overall Rating: 66%
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