Live from Sofi Stadium in the heart of Los Angeles, California. Sunday, April 2, 2023
Brock Lesnar vs Omos
The show started with a boom on Sunday, a literal ring shaking boom as these 2 behemoths squared off in the first match of the night. Strange sight to behold indeed to see the Beast Incarnate get outpowered in the ring by anyone, but the first half of this match Omos dominated, easily rag dolling Lesnar and powerslamming him to the mat multiple times. Lesnar was able to rather quickly turn the tables around though sliding off of Omos’s shoulder creating the opening for not 1, not 2, but 3 German suplexes before setting up a ground shattering F-5 to the big man for the win. This was a rather short match, as expected with these mammoths, and ran just under 5 minutes (yes, we timed it).
Result: Brock Lesnar wins
Women’s Showcase Match: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs Natalya and Shotzi vs Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green vs Ronda Rousey and Shayna Basler
Ah yes, the “just get them on the card” match yet again. Night 1 saw the men’s showcase match which added some surprising fun to the night, and Night 2 it was now the women’s turn. They had some shoes to fill after the men’s match the previous night, but still this match had its moments. Raquel Rodriguez had a strong showing as the powerhouse of the match, tossing opponents effortlessly around the ring for a while. Natalya was able to lock in a double sharpshooter momentarily on Deville and Green that seemed to excite the audience, and fan favorite Liv Morgan was able to have a moment hitting a codebreaker off the ropes. Rousey and Basler felt like they had minimal involvement as Rousey entered the match with a legitimate injury and Basler potentially suffered an injury early in the match, which was kinda sad and disappointing to see, but they still found a way in the end. Ronda found herself in the ring with an already downed Shotzi before locking in her patented armbar forcing her to tap.
Result: Ronda Rousey and Shayna Basler win
Intercontinental Championship Match: Gunther (c) vs Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre
Wow, what an absolute heavy hitting slugfest this was between 3 of the company’s scrappiest brutes. The men delivered on what was expected to be a heavy hitting matchup delivering series of chops, punches, and forearms on one another until all 3 men eventually ended up black, blue, and basically every color of the rainbow. Gunther delivered heavy handed blows to both men early in the matchup that could be heard through the echoes throughout the arena. Gunther at one point was traded off from McIntyre to Sheamus, who took turns laying down series of bludgeoning blows to him against the ropes until he fell out of the ring and out of action for a while. Sheamus dang near caved in McIntyre’s chest when he delivered a shattering 25 Beats of the Bodhran to him until Drew physically could take no more and fell to the ring apron. Things looked as if they were heading in Sheamus’s direction at one point after hitting a Celtic Cross on the champion and later on, a Brogue Kick for a near 3 count that was narrowly broken up by McIntyre. Sheamus feeling hurt and betrayed, turned his attention back to Drew in a back and forth exchanging of heavy moves and hits until the “Ring General” himself capitalized on the distraction, reentering the fold and laying out both men, eventually powerbombing Sheamus onto McIntyre for the 3 count.
Result: Gunther retains
Raw Women’s Championship Match: Bianca Belair (c) vs Asuka
I’ve been an Asuka fan for a long while now and I’ve loved what the company has been doing with her in this recent run and Bianca has been an undeniable star for the company over this last year with her title run, so I was really looking forward to this matchup. These women once again had quite the shoes to fill after the banger put on by Charlotte and Rhea the previous night, but if anyone was willing to live up to that challenge and still put on a show in their own right, it was these 2 women. They had great chemistry throughout proving why they’re 2 of the top women for the company and that they deserved to be there, exchanging momentum and powerful moves and tactics throughout. Bianca with her power game and Asuka with her more submission heavy, tactical approach made for a fun back and forth. Asuka at one point countering a moonsault into a smooth looking Triangle chokehold, and Belair later landing a vicious and heavy powerbomb to Asuka ringside. As things began to wind down, Asuka went for her awesome patented spray of mist to the face of Bianca which she dodged, going for a patented hair whip of her own that Asuka was also able to evade. Asuka eventually found herself in position for an armbar on the champion who’s strength proved to be too much, lifting Asuka up onto her shoulders and dropping her for a thunderous KOD and the pin.
Result: Bianca Belair retains
Hell in a Cell Match: Edge vs “The Demon” Finn Balor
This was the biggest grudge match heading into the weekend and the cell was a perfect fit for these 2 men. The entrances from both participating parties helped really set the mood and get you excited for the brutal contest about to take place. Edge coming out as Brood Edge with fire behind him, a pair of bat wings, and a reflective sort of skull helmet, and Balor as his infamous “Demon” gimmick complete with full face and body paint, a spiked and tasseled helmet, and smoke bombs in hand. The 2 wasted no time getting to the action starting the match wielding kendo sticks and handing out lashes to each other’s body. Edge later trapped Balor with a kendo stick wedged by his throat and through the chain-link of the cell, but the Demon later escaped, dropkicking Edge through a table that was positioned on the outside of the ring. Chaos continued to ensue in back-and-forth style until Edge grabbed a ladder and brought it into the ring, chucking it at the dazed Demon’s face and body, creating a gash in Balor’s head that caused the match to be put on hold as the medical team had to enter the ring to doctor his wound. Balor found his way back though, hitting a near fall from his finisher the Coup de Grace and attempting another off the ladder set up in the ring before being stopped by Edge, hitting him with an Edgecution from the ladder. Balor later attempted a game ending Coup de Grace from a platform in the cell through a table on Edge who moved at the last second, causing the Demon’s wore torn body to crash through the table before being hit with a patented Edge spear for a very near 3 fall. Edge fully lost it after that, going into kill mode and laying into the Demon with chair shots before slamming his downed, bitter rival with a con-chair-to and pinning him.
Result: Edge wins
Main Event: Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match: Roman Reigns (c) vs Cody Rhodes
Both men entered like they were the main event, strutting down full of confidence and charisma with pyrotechnics sprinkled in elegantly throughout. In the early portion of the match Rhodes used his technical skills to keep the powerhouse champion at bay until a springboard attack was caught by Reigns, catching Cody mid air and planting him with a powerbomb. The action continued back and forth for a while, spilling to the outside at one point where Solo Sikoa made his presence felt, grabbing at Rhodes and causing the distraction for Reigns to take over the offense. Cody later countered Reigns attempt to powerbomb him through a table, throwing him over his shoulders driving him back first through the announce table much to the delight of the crowd. Rhodes took the reins on the matchup for a while after that hitting Roman with a Cody Cutter and later a suicide dive on the money, before being thwarted by Sikoa again, who took down Rhodes before whipping him with his own weight belt. Luckily the referee was able to assess the situation enough to kick the Bloodline’s enforcer from ringside, causing an uproar from Reigns and the opening for Cody to take back control of the match. He smoked the champ with a superkick before landing another Cross Rhodes for a very near 2 fall. Big moves and near falls continued through the match as each competitor pulled out their hard hitting moves, Rhodes once sunset flipping over Reigns who was attempting a potential match ending spear and locking him into a Figure Four. Rhodes was later cracked with the spear though, but on spirit and heart alone was able to kick out, angering the champion who rained down on him in a fury of punches before locking him into a guillotine. A near lifeless Rhodes was able to battle out though and fired back into action punching away at Reigns, accidentally knocking down the referee in his spirited comeback before both men laid each other out with heavy armed clotheslines. It didn’t take the Usos very long to capitalize and get involved, hitting Rhodes with superkicks and a crashing 1D, before the newly crowned tag champs KO and Sami Zayn got involved laying out the Usos before hitting Reigns with a stunner and a Helluva kick, and fighting the Usos back through the crowd evening the odds up. Rhodes seemed to have the match in the bag after that, channeling his father and hitting Reigns with a bionic elbow before 2 consecutive Cross Rhodes and the very near fall. Cody stayed on the attack, going to the corner and waiting for Roman to reach his feet before a distraction by Heyman ringside and a Samoan Spike from the returning Sikoa to Rhodes throat, set up Reigns for the game ending thunderous spear and the pin.
Result: Roman Reigns retains
Most forgettable match of the night: Women’s Showcase match
This is absolutely nothing against these women either. They put in their best effort to make up for the injured pair of Ronda and Shayna and anyone who knows me knows that I’m a bigtime Ronda Rousey fanboy, this match was just overall a bit clunky with the injuries involved. It was inevitable. Especially considering that the injured team of Rousey and Basler were supposed to be the victors, which I was still happy about at least.
Best entrance of the night: Edge
Edge and Balor both put on an amazing show with their entrances, but I am a sucker for Brood Edge. Whenever he’s came out as Brood Edge in his recent veteran run we know we’re about to see a darker and more brutal version of him and he never disappoints with his entrance to the ring. The shattered, reflective mirror like skull and leather trench coat complete with bat wings and fire rising in the background, to Slayer bumping through the speakers. Chef’s kiss Edge, kudos.
Best match of the night: WWE Undisputed Universal Championship match:
Though this match upset some and shocked everyone it was overall the best put together and most edge of your seat, exciting match of the night. All the near falls, the serious thought and possibility of Roman Reigns’ conquering and dominating reign coming to an end and the shocking outcome that ensued. This match was everything it needed to be and built Cody up to be even hungrier on his chase for the belt after suffering heartbreaking defeat in the main event on the grandest stage of them all. I thoroughly enjoyed myself through this match and hope it’s turned into a well put together long-term build with a sweet payoff.
