It’s Satur… Sunday, which means it’s time for the UK Wrestling Analysis of Saturday Night’s Main Event! Previously live from the Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
The UK Wrestling Archive, as the name suggests, is UK Wrestling-centric however in conjunction with the TWIST Network, we will also be offering reviews of major events which feature UK and Irish wrestlers.
Joe Tessitore and Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura welcome us to Saturday Night’s Main Event. No time is wasted though as Nia Jax makes her way to the ring, and we discover our announcement team for the evening is Michael Cole & Pat McAfee. First though, “THIS IS MY BRUTALITY” which doesn’t really make a great deal of sense but sounds pretty cool. It also announces the entrance of ‘Mami’, the WWE Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley, set to make her 1st defence of her 2nd reign.
Lillian Garcia does the honours and we are underway, with Jax interrupting Garcia’s introductions by headbutting Ripley. Ripley recovers to dominate early until another headbutt from Jax. Jax mostly dominates though has a very limited moveset which consists of pushing people over, Samoan Drops, and trying continuously, with looong pauses for crowd taunting, for the Annihilator Banzai Drop. Ripley retains after a Riptide, which the slow-motion reply makes look considerably better than it did in the moment.
WWE World Women’s Championship Match:
Rhea Ripley (Champion) defeated Nia Jax by Pinfall
Hall of Famers, Alundra Blayze and Mark Henry (who gets around since his retirement) are shown before our first UK or Irish Wrestler of the evening, Sheamus, makes his way to the ring to challenge Bron Breakker for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, the only main roster Title he has never held.
‘The Body’ makes his way to the commentary table for this one. The dogs bark and sirens wail in homage to his Father and Uncle respectively, as the IC Champ makes his entrance.
Sheamus dominates early before Breakker begins taking control. Interesting, though unsurprising, to note that we’re on a few second broadcast delay, giving enough time for Ventura’s WWF reference (the F) to be partially muted. We go to another break however I’m going to trust that the YouTube broadcast is in real time and keep the clock counting.
Sheamus is a veteran and Breakker couldn’t really have asked for better trainers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner, the afore mentioned Father and Uncle) if you are unaware, so the match is fluid.
Sheamus tries for the Brogue Kick however Breakker counters with a Spear and that’s all she wrote.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match:
Bron Breakker (Champion) defeated Sheamus by Pinfall in 11:31
Jesse Ventura is absolutely convinced that a Pinfall attempt by Sheamus over Breakker was actually a 3-count before Breakker placed his foot on the bottom rope. It didn’t appear so at the time and a replay confirms it wasn’t even especially contentious.
Thankfully we don’t have to dwell on the matter for long as the ‘Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels makes his way to ringside to moderate the contract signing between ‘Undisputed’ WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and the guy who simply carries a replica of the ‘Winged Eagle’ World Championship, introduced by Hulk Hogan in 1988 and retired by ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin in 1998 after he introduced his own custom ‘Smoking Skull’ design, Kevin Owens.
Shawn Michaels requests both men sit. Both remain standing. Despite previously assertions that he would not sign until Owens’ has, Rhodes doesn’t hesitate to sign when prompted. Some jaw jacking and an Owens rant, interrupted by HBK who tells Owens he’s jealous. Owens berates HBK and then signs. A referee is requested to place both titles into the symbolic harness, symbolic because the Royal Rumble event where the match will take place is in a different area, which is then raised but only a few feet, above the ring.
Owens with a cheap shot to Rhodes. HBK reprimands Owens who, attacks and tries to powerbomb HBK, interrupted by Rhodes who kicks Owens. HBK ‘tunes up the band’ as Owens gets back to his feet, A Sweet Chin Music superkick later and Owens is knocked to the outside as HBK retrieves his hat.
Braun Strowman Vs. Jacob Fatu is match #3. With Braun having already made his way to the ring, a promo by Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu transitions into Fatu’s entrance. No one should have expected a technical masterpiece but equally so no one could have expected was Fatu (billed at 6’2”) being disqualified for throwing the referee from the ring after he tried to stop Fatu from continuing his beatdown of the much larger (billed at 6’8”) Strowman. Tama Tonga returns to ringside, having left shortly after Fatu’s entrance, persuading, albeit briefly, and after a couple of tries, Fatu to relent. Jacob Fatu eventually leaves, to chants of “Fatu” from the crowd. I never really bought into Jacob Fatu but, since the ‘New Bloodline’ was dissolved, the man can actually cut a legible promo, and has a certain something something which makes him tough to dislike.
Braun Strowman defeated Jacob Fatu by Disqualification
It’s time for the Main Event of Saturday Night’s Main Event. The World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther, takes on ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso. Jey Uso is out first and I still wonder if it’s correction fluid (think Tip-Ex) he uses to write YE ET onto his sunglasses. Der Ring General makes his entrace as Michael Cole advises he (Gunther) has been a champion (NXT UK (870 Days)/ Intercontinental (666 Days)/ and World Heavyweight (175 Days at time of defence)) for 80% of his time in WWE.
A decent if unspectacular match followed. I want to believe Jey Uso is ‘main event’, I do but he’s just missing, something. Somewhat formulaic Gunther match, with Gunther being in a degree of jeopardy before turning the tide. Taking the W with a pair of Powerbombs.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Gunther (Champion) defeated Jey Uso by Pinfall
If you made is this far, consider leaving a comment. Constructive feedback is always welcome and it needn’t be positive. Don’t like something? Let me know. If you’re looking for more of my ramblings, a more in depth argument, or just want to berate me in a more public setting, consider joining the Infinite Realities Discord server where you can engage with members of the community and follow the general happenings.
Opinions are my own. I am in no way affiliated with/ or incentivised by, any of the promotions or wrestlers referenced. I have no bias towards any single promotion and any suggestion to the contrary is made insincerely, in bad faith, and in ignorance of this stated fact. Any and all links were valid at the time of writing.