Sunday Night’s Main Event, a switch-up from the usual ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’ events we get about 4 times a year, took place this past Sunday, September 6th from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was a brisk 2 hours and featured 4 matches, it felt like they really kept things moving in this show and didn’t hammer us with advertisements and skimp on the in-ring action like WWE has been guilty of at least a couple times this year at bigger marquee events. The show started hot and the crowd stayed hot and lively for the whole 2 hours because we kept things moving. So, with that being said, let’s keep things moving and get into it!
The show started with Quavo (ATL native) performing a song from his new album for the live crowd. I am kind of happy we started the show with this honestly and that it wasn’t placed awkwardly after like 2 matches or whatever and this bled right into the Lil Yachty match which also felt like fitting placement since they’re both Atlanta-based rappers. Yachty came out wearing a boxing style robe and was flanked by his entourage, with the stipulation that if he could last 5 minutes in the ring with US Champ Baron Corbin then Corbin would be forced to give Trick Williams a title shot. Yachty hit a cheap shot before the bell but was quickly caught up to and taken down by Corbin. Corbin controlled the pace and offense of the contest as most would’ve figure, outside of Yachty getting in a few flurries of offense thanks to his trusty blinged-out kendo stick and a top rope hurricanrana and crossbody. Corbin beat himself in the end. He had Yachty beat after an ‘End of Days’ in the middle of the ring, but took his time getting a table and setting it up and taking Yachty up to the top rope in hopes of driving him through the table and making a statement. Yachty fought back and crotched him on the top rope instead as time expired…and out came Trick Willy for his title shot.
Trick came to the ring with a head of steam and took the fight to Corbin, with Corbin only fighting back and getting some breathing room eventually by using the commentary table and ring steps to his advantage. Corbin again controlled the pace and psyche of the matchup through the middle portions and wore Trick down in the ring while continuously getting distracted and talking trash in the way of Lil Yachty ringside. Trick fired back up with a neckbreaker and ‘Book End’ but got dropped by a Deep Six from Corbin moments later for a near fall. Corbin started to get desperate and went to grab his title belt and use it as a weapon, but Yachty yanked it from him and the distraction almost cost him the match as Trick got a near fall. Corbin did utilize the title off the dome of Trick moments later but was still only able to score a 2 count. A frustrated Corbin went for his patented End of Days, but Trick flipped out of it and dropped him with a Trick Shot for the pin and win to become new United States champion once again. The match was okay and the result was certainly expected once Trick got his match and Yachty survived the 5 minutes. Not sure where this leaves Corbin now, but hopefully they find something for him, he’s a good and reliable heel.
Next up, was the much anticipated ‘Clash of the Young Titans’ to determine “the future of WWE” as Bron Breakker took on Oba Femi. Look, honestly, I don’t think it was that drastic. Both these guys likely have a very bright future ahead of them in the WWE, but it was still really neat to see 2 young, agile monsters going to war with one another and it was a match I’ve been highly anticipating these last few weeks. Oba started off the match hot and cut off every bit of offense Bron tried to throw his way, eventually sending him to the floor and continuing the brawl out there. Oba’s confidence perhaps got the better of him though as he took too long to clear off the commentary table and Bron capitalized, hitting Oba with a jumping clothesline from the apron and sending both men over the table. Back in the ring, Bron hit Oba with a thunderous running clothesline and then he began to taunt. Bron tried to stay on him though, stomping him and grinding him into the ropes. Later on, the 2 began to trade shots as Oba was starting to fire back up, before Bron hit Oba with a German suplex that brought him to life. Oba dropped Bron with several clotheslines, followed by several European uppercuts in the corner, followed up by a chokeslam for a near fall. Austin Theory made his way to ringside, and the distraction was enough to leave Oba open for a running spear from Bron on the outside. Bron drug him back to the ring and connected with a 2nd spear, but Oba still kicked out at 2. Logan Paul’s music hit and he ran to the ring where he was almost immediately tossed out by the ref, but the distraction allowed Maxxine Dupri to slip Bron a pair of brass knuckles that he slid on. He went for a dome shot on Oba with the knucks, but Oba ducked it before scooping and tossing Bron across the ring.
Then, a returning Bronson Reed made his way into the ring and he began to attack and lay out Oba Femi with a steel chair as the bell rang and the match was thrown out. Bron and Bronson began the beatdown of Oba before laying him out with a series of Spears and Tsunamis as officials barked and screamed at them from outside the ring. The Vision exited together standing tall. I really enjoyed this match while we had it before all the interference, and even with the interference it was still very fun. I’ll be curious and excited to see that rivalry hopefully for years to come still. It’s nice to see Bronson back as well though.
Next up was the 6-Women’s Tag match as Jade Cargill and her Baddies (Michin & B-Fab) took on the oddball but highly entertaining team of Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, and Tatum Paxley. Tatum just cracks me up sometimes man and her recent interactions with them that are making Charlotte a mix of confused, disgusted, and frustrated have really been making me laugh. Some of my favorite backstage segments going on these last number of weeks. Paxley started the match for her team and handily took control in the early portions, much to the happiness of her tag partners. The numbers game eventually did catch up to the smaller Paxley though as Jade took control. Tatum did eventually get the tag in to Bliss, and Alexa came in and built a head of steam on B-Fab. As Alexa went for ‘Sister Abigail’ though, Michin distracted her on the ropes and tilted the momentum back in favor of the Baddies. Jade and the Baddies kept Alexa trapped away from her corner and worked her over methodically, ya know playing the heels. Alexa did eventually get the hot tag into Charlotte though who came in firing, ripping off a series of chops before hitting a somersault clothesline followed up by a headstand-rana for a 2-count. Jade made a blind tag and almost finished off Flair with ‘Jaded’ but Charlotte reversed it for a near fall of her own. Chaos started to break down, as it does in 6-man tag matches often, with all 6 women starting to brawl in and around the ring. Back on the inside, Flair was going for the Figure-Eight on Jade, and Paxley decided to join in on the fun across from her by locking in a Figure-Eight of her own on Michin. Michin kicked Paxley off her though, causing her to incidentally collide headfirst into Charlotte which opened the door for Jade to drop her with Jaded for the pin and win.
Sort of chaotic and clunky near the end, but that’s how it goes with these sorts of matches. Miscommunications and having too much fun cost the good girl team and the cracks are beginning to show as Tatum continues to wedge her way into the friendship of Charlotte and Alexa. I hope they keep them together a while longer though, like I said I think they’re fun and funny together, but this is definitely not a great sign for their longevity.
Then it was time for the main event as ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes took on his former mentor and friend, ‘The Viper’ Randy Orton as they added another chapter to their intensifying blood feud in Cody’s backyard of Atlanta. Cody caught Orton trying to sneak into the ring behind him and began beating and battering him into the crowd and around the arena until Randy eventually fought his way back to the ringside area where he used the ring steps to his advantage to finally fight off Cody. Orton stopped ringside to talk trash to Cody’s family before entering the ring and allowing the match to get underway. Cody immediately hit a Cody Cutter on Randy and locked him into a Figure-Four. Orton fought back utilizing some dirty and underhanded tactics, which he continued to utilize to his advantage throughout the matchup to keep Cody from ever taking over too strongly or beating him down too badly. Orton eventually dropped Cody back first off the commentary table twice before losing focus again and barking at Cody’s wife Brandi who was sitting ringside. Brandi tossed a drink in Randy’s face and Cody took advantage of the distraction, dropping Randy with a powerslam before following up with a Disaster Kick and a Bionic Elbow. He set up for the Cross Rhodes, but Randy went back to the dirty tricks and thumbed Cody in the eye before following up with a powerslam of his own. Orton went for an RKO, but Cody reversed it into a Cross Rhodes for a near fall. Cody fought off another RKO but crashed into the ref in the process and off the distraction, Randy did finally hit that RKO. He set up for the punt, but Cody rolled out of the way of it and hit another Cross Rhodes and Randy fell to the outside of the ring. Cody continued the beatdown on the outside of the ring, eventually hitting Randy with the ring steps and busting him open. Cody drug him back to the ring and hit him with a Cody Cutter and another Cross Rhodes before setting up for a punt of his own. Randy began to beg, face covered in blood, and Cody hesitated on the kick as another ref ran to the ring. Off the distraction and hesitation, Randy capitalized and nailed Cody with a low blow before dropping him with an RKO for the pin and win.
This was certainly a piece of drama more so than a standard wrestling match, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t entertaining, and that’s how it tends to go with guys like Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes who are known more for storytelling than anything else almost I’d say. Especially when they’re in the ring with one another, where they have history and a story to bite into. Of course, not having Pat McAfee wedged in the middle of them for no apparent reason helps too. Who would’ve thought? This certainly isn’t the end of this story or rivalry, just a chapter in the story. Cody couldn’t pull the trigger and fully go to that dark place and Randy capitalized on his weakness. He’s going to have to go to that place to put the old gunslinger down, but can he?
Match ratings: 1-10 scale (.25s applicable)
5-minute time limit: Lil Yachty vs Baron Corbin- 7/10
United States Championship match: Baron Corbin (c) vs Trick Williams- 7.5/10
Oba Femi vs Bron Breakker: 8.75/10
6-Woman Tag Match: Jade Cargill, Michin, & B-Fab vs Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, & Tatum Paxley- 7.5/10
Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton- 8.5/10
That’ll do it for this one though folks! Thanks for taking some time out to read along with me today. Make sure to like the page on social media or come back to the website often to keep up with up with weekly posts over pro wrestling, horror films, NFL football, and more! Thanks again, and until next time, be good to one another!
