Live from Coliseo de Puerto Rico in the heart of San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday, May 6th 2023
Raw Women’s Championship match: Bianca Belair (c) vs Iyo Sky
This crowd was red hot from the get-go and wasted no time getting loud from the beginning of this match, letting out loud “Iyo!” chants making the babyface champion seem like she was on a road game. Iyo took advantage early on in the contest, targeting the stronger champion’s arm and damaging it to prevent her from doing her signature powerhouse style. Iyo wrestled smart and kept control through the earlier part of the contest shutting down any momentum Belair would gain by going back to the earlier injured arm. Sky’s double stomp from the top rope to the chest of the champ was the evening’s first near fall before Bianca would roll back into the match. After countering Iyo and connecting with a backbreaker she started powering around the high flyer. There was a scary moment as Belair held Sky over her head with 1 arm for a military press (selling the earlier injured arm) and lost control on the release causing Iyo to fall what looked like face first into the mat, but she seemed to be fine as the match hit a real stride shortly after the moment. Both competitors traded momentum through innovative counters and signature moves as Bianca powered Sky around and the challenger went to the ropes, living up to her name and going to the sky to level the champ. Iyo’s Damage CTRL teammates interfered near the end of the match hoping to distract Bianca and shift the tide over for their partner but to no avail as Bayley was tossed out of the ring by Belair before connecting with the KOD on Sky for the pin. This was an awesome lead off match and a breakout performance for Sky in the WWE, as Bianca become the longest reigning women’s champ of the modern era.
Result: Bianca Belair retains via pinfall
Seth Rollins vs Omos
Rollins struggled to gain momentum on the much larger giant Omos attempting to go to the top rope, chop him down at his legs, and anything else he could do to level him down to size. Omos took over momentum, tossing and rag dolling Rollins around the ring much to the approval of his manager, MVP, on the outside. Rollins was eventually able to find an opening and capitalized, DDTing the big man down to size before attempting a signature Stomp, but the giant didn’t budge under Rollins body weight coming down on top of him, causing Seth to collapse on the large man. Seth went for one more, this time landing it and driving his head into the mat, but only for a 2 count. So, Rollins (who wouldn’t be denied) went for one last stomp, this time off the ropes, connecting off the beast’s head for the 3 count. This match was entertaining enough, a classic David and Goliath story that is going to be the usual when it comes to Omos PLE matches it seems.
Result: Seth Rollins wins via pinfall
United States Championship match: Austin Theory (c) vs Bronson Reed vs Bobby Lashley
Lashley came in hot, taking down Theory and Reed early on in the match to avoid the double team scenario. Soon enough though, his worries became reality as the 2 men together overpowered Lashley and began performing double team offense on him in the corner. The alliance was temporary though as Reed took advantage of the opening and body checked Theory to the mat. Later, Reed would drag Lashley to the outside and lay him out with a powerbomb ringside. In the closing sequences of the match things heated up as each man got their moment to shine. Theory hit Lashley with a blockbuster and got the gigantic Reed up on his shoulders before he powered out squishing Theory. Bronson Reed attempted to show off his athleticism with a moonsault onto Theory from the top, which was dodged, setting Lashley up for an enormous spear onto Reed before being tossed out of the ring by Theory who capitalized by pinning the downed Reed and retaining his belt. This match was decent and showed more of Theory’s slimy heel champion ways, as he seized the opportunity and ultimately out witted his much larger opponents more than outperformed them to retain his gold.
Result: Austin Theory retains via pinfall
Smackdown Women’s Championship match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs Zelina Vega
Zelina Vega received the warmest of welcomes from her home crowd as she came to the ring head to toe in a Puerto Rican flag outfit and donning the Puerto Rico flag behind her back as she greeted her family sitting ringside before entering the ring. She fought to hold back tears during the ring announcer’s introduction as the crowd rose to their feet in admiration for her. This truly helped Rhea get that heel heat she so desperately tries for anywhere else but just can’t because the crowd loves her too much, she was the true heel here. Vega gained early control coming at the larger champ like a firecracker before stealing a flip flop from her mother and throwing at the champ. This only seemed to enrage Ripley though, as she took control of Vega overpowering her with heavy strikes and slams mocking the crowd along the way and getting heavy boo’s in the process. Vega attempted to fight back into the match though laying out flurries of strikes onto the champion before connecting with a tornado DDT sending Ripley into the ropes and setting her up for a 619 followed up by a frog splash by Vega, paying homage to mentor and fellow LWO member, Rey Mysterio and the late-great Eddie Guerrero. This created a near fall for Vega and her best opportunity of the night, before Rhea laid her out with a heavy kick to the head and a Riptide for the pin and victory. After the match, Rhea walked out with her belt and Zelina was met with a standing ovation by the home Puerto Rico crowd. This was a solid contest and very heartwarming to see Zelina have her moment, fighting for the belt in Puerto Rico and helped Rhea gain momentum as a dominant heel champion breaking the hearts of the home crowd.
Result: Rhea Ripley retains via pinfall
San Juan Street Fight: Bad Bunny vs Damian Priest
This crowd man. They went absolutely ballistic for Bunny with a thunderous roar for him from the moment his music hit, all the way down the ramp, and into the ring. Making him feel like a Grammy award winning Puerto Rican Superman. He stopped in the entrance way, before unveiling a shopping cart full of weapons (classic Street Fight schtick) and wheeled it down to ringside with him. The crowd was into this match from the get-go as Bunny got Priest down quick and went to ringside for a kendo stick but, Priest intercepted it on the swing before snapping it in half. Priest began toying with Bunny with his in-ring superiority before hitting him with a thunderous chokeslam and going for the first pinfall of the night before peeling Bunny’s shoulders off the mat at 2 to inflict more punishment. Bunny had to fight back in using the hardcore stipulation to his advantage, throwing a chair at Priest’s head before laying him out with a flying crossbody ringside. Bunny brought out the garbage cans bouncing Priest’s head between the lids as he retreated into the ring before Priest battled back, smashing Bunny with a garbage bin and dragging him into the crowd with him. He fought Bunny up onto an equipment platform before dumping him off with a Broken Arrow through tables that were set up below, a huge spot drawing a big reaction from the crowd. Priest dragged Bunny’s limp body back towards the ring, but the heart of the Bunny wouldn’t die, as he fought back, whipping Priest with nasty kendo stick shots and hyperextended his knee, causing Priest to retreat and plead with Bunny to stop but he showed no mercy. Taking it to him with chair shots to the injured knee before Priest could counter with a boot to the face out of desperation. Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio (Priest’s Judgment Day brothers) hit the ring shortly after beating down Bunny, before Rey Mysterio ran down ringside in an attempt to rescue him before the numbers game proved to be too much. Enter Puerto Rico’s own, Carlito “Caribbean Cool” ran down to the ring before laying out both Finn and Dom in quick fashion, spitting an apple in Dominik’s face (classic!). Balor and Dom attempted to retreat up the ramp before being met by legend Savio Vega and the rest of the LWO. They beat them both down into the backstage, Vega delivering heavy chops to both men. Back in the ring, Priest and Bunny exchanged big moves near the end of the match before Bunny beat Priest down with a chair and connected with a Canadian Destroyer for the victory. This was a fun, hodgepodge mess that kept the crowd entertained from start to finish.
Result: Bad Bunny wins via pinfall
The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn
The tag team champs and Riddle had the advantage early over the Usos, before Solo Sikoa tagged himself in and started ferociously beating on Zayn. Zayn eventually got a hot tag to Riddle after getting toyed with for a while by the Bloodline members. The Original Bro, Riddle came in with a fire sending all 3 Bloodline members ringside before laying them all out with a Floating Bro. Owens got the tag and narrowly avoided a superkick by Jimmy as he accidentally connected with his brother Jey’s face instead. Owens capitalized on the momentary distraction, hitting Jimmy with a pop-up powerbomb for a near fall. Later in the match, The Usos took back advantage nearly pinning Zayn after a double superkick. Jey got in Sami’s face, screaming at him for tearing the family apart and blaming him for his current problems. He looked to be ready to finish things before Sikoa tagged himself in, much to Jey’s dismay. Jey stared intensely at Sikoa before angrily tagging himself back in, slapping Sikoa hard in the chest and getting in his face. This opening is exactly what Sami needed, laying out both members with Heluva Kicks for a very near 2 count, before being broken up by Sikoa who laid out Owens with a Samoan Spike as he entered the ring and grabbed his brother Jey by the throat before having his arm smacked away. As the match came to a close, Sikoa tagged himself in yet again without Riddle knowing and laid him out with a Samoan Spike for the pin. Jey and Solo stared each other down in the ring as their brother Jimmy cluelessly celebrated with them both over the victory. This was a solid match further showing the cracks in the foundation of the Bloodline even in victory, as Solo Sikoa gets more confident and dominant in the ring. Things seem to be reaching the boiling point.
Result: The Bloodline wins via Solo Sikoa pinning Matt Riddle
Brock Lesnar vs Cody Rhodes
Rhodes was dying to get his hands on Brock and wasted no time, catching him by surprise with a suicide dive as he came down the ring. He walloped him with anything he could get his hands on ringside (chairs, steps, etc.) in an attempt to cut the Beast down, before getting back into the ring and the bell finally ringing for the match to begin. Rhodes quickly brought Lesnar down to a knee with 2 disaster kicks before being caught by Lesnar on the 3rd and entering Suplex City, as Lesnar began tossing Rhodes aimlessly around the ring with suplexes. Rhodes found his break as Lesnar charged at him in the corner, but Cody rolled out of the way causing Lesnar to go face first into a turnbuckle that was exposed earlier in the match. This busted Brock wide open across his forehead and he began “bleedin’ like a stuck pig” as JR would say. Rhodes dropped Brock with another Disaster Kick and started working further on that wound, punching away at his forehead. Brock bled away as Cody connected with a Cody Cutter and 2 Cross Rhodes before going for the pin, but Brock kicked out narrowly at 2 much to Cody’s disbelief. Lesnar snapped to life, popping up and ripping Cody off his feet and onto his shoulders for an F-5 and a 2 count. Lesnar went back to his ground wrestling bag and locked in a Kimura Lock on a downed Rhodes, wrenching it in and sporting a crimson mask to really drive it home (a pretty cool image in the modern era). He narrowly had Cody ready to submit before he posted up off the mat, causing Brock to lean back further onto the mat, pressing his shoulders down and gaining a 3 count. A cool match and a good enough main event. One of the better Lesnar matches in recent history I would say, probably helped by the unexpected blood adding to the drama.
Result: Cody Rhodes wins via pinfall
Most forgettable match of the night: Austin Theory vs Bobby Lashley vs Bronson Reed: United States Championship match
This match did what it needed to do and gave Theory another feather in the cap and another successful title defense, but something has to be the most forgettable and in an evening of stacked matches and loud crowd reactions this match seemed to take that title. It was kind of the “let me up” match to give the crowd a quick breather between singing Rollins theme and losing their minds for Zelina. Not taking away anything from these men either, they showed off their talents as well in this match. Bronson’s athleticism shocked a lot of people, Bobby was still protected as a strong force, and Theory was able to walk away with the belt against 2 big forces. Just in a card where the focus certainly wasn’t on this match, this has to take the cake.
Best match of the night: San Juan Street Fight: Bad Bunny vs Damian Priest
This match was just awesome man. The crowd really sold it as they hung on to every moment and went ballistic for Bad Bunny. From Bunny’s impressive in ring work and taking some of the heavy bumps he took, to Damian selling his heel work to perfection, to the returning Puerto Rican legends interfering and hearing the pop for them in their homeland. I hope Carlito makes a return, even for a short stint. That man looked physically amazing, and I lost it when I heard that theme song come on. This match was something special and will likely be remembered for years to come in wrestling lore, especially for Puerto Rican fans.
