I was going to put together an entire preview for this card, but Blogger freaked out and deleted all my work, which I have absolutely no desire to attempt to re-create. Instead, I'm just going to launch into the event itself and give you brief explanations of the build for matches as they happen. We're starting with the pre-show, consisting of two bouts from SmackDown and one from Raw. No need for a logo or a fancy intro or anything, it's a pre-show, no one needs pageantry. Let's go!
Big E(c) vs Andrade "Cien" Almas vs Rusev vs Samoa Joe- Intercontinental Championship Match
Rusev earned a title shot back at Fastlane, but in order to rid this contest of any New Day interference, had to team up with former IC Champion and ex-rival Andrade, plus the last challenger for the belt in Samoa Joe, to win a six man tag match and ensure Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods couldn't interfere. As you could expect, this match was pure carnage, with the crowd in MetLife Stadium entirely behind Big E, who put on another great showing. He went on a wild run near the end, taking down Samoa Joe with the Big Ending, Rusev with a massive overhead belly-to-belly suplex before launching himself off the top rope to hit Andrade with a flying splash. That left Almas in a bad state, and he surely would've been out for at least a three count, had Joe not recovered to intervene. "The Samoan Submission Machine" took Big E down with the Coquina Clutch and never let go, forcing the champion to tap out.
Winner and the NEW Intercontinental Champion: Samoa Joe
The Bludgeon Brothers(c) vs The War Raiders- SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
Luke Harper and Erick Rowan claimed these belts for a fourth time at Fastlane, and were quickly challenged by Erik and Ivar. The two Norsemen laid siege on this night, all over one of the best tag team in Universe Mode history. Their athleticism and array of tag team moves proved to be unstoppable, as Harper and Rowan were just too slow to keep up with this dazzling display. Harper, on the outside, was taken down after both Erik and Ivar launched into him, leaving Rowan to be finished off by Fallout.
Winners and the NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The War Raiders
Post-Match
As Erik and Ivar celebrated, it seemed like Harper and Rowan might not be willing to take defeat so lightly, fetching their mighty hammers. They rose up from behind the new champs, who turned around to face their doom. Instead, both Harper and Rowan knelt before their conquerors, offering the hammers as tribute. SmackDown is now run by a new pair of monsters.
Kevin Owens vs Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns has been a terror backstage since being betrayed by Randy Orton last month, Spearing "The Viper" through an electrical box before powerbombing Brock Lesnar onto a car after "The Beast Incarnate" confronted Reigns about his own elimination. Paul Heyman offered Reigns another chance to earn a Universal Championship match, though he would have to defeat former ally Kevin Owens. KO expressed some reluctance to fight Roman, as he could empathize with a man trying to reach the top of the industry to provide for his family, but we know from Owens' past, particularly his actions against former best friend Sami Zayn, that he wasn't about to miss out on a chance to be a bastard.
This match was two desperate men attempting to do whatever it took to out-manuever the other, with Reigns poking at the eyes and Owens getting his feet on the ropes during a pinfall. They traded big dives to the floor, before it devolved into a battle of strikes. Owens sent Reigns back a few steps with a stiff superkick, but "The Big Dog" nailed a Superman punch. Roman bounced off the ropes with incredible velocity to deliver the Spear, winning a title match fair and square.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Coming soon, the WrestleMania IV main card, featuring Johnny Gargano challenging Robert Roode for the WWE title in the main event!
- Henry
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